HR9729 - Management Investigation

You will be supported by a series of sessions based around formal input, workshop activities, case discussions and practical exercises on research methods and choosing a research topic. This will be supported by online activities on an e- learning platform supported by resources and materials such as podcasts and videos.

You will discuss your progress with an appointed personal supervisor on a regular basis throughout the year and/or with other students as part of an action learning set. Independent Learning is central to this module. In independent learning you will identify and pursue areas of interest and gain deeper or broader knowledge of the subject area, through a range of learning activities that might include, reading, reflection, research etc. The teaching and learning strategy also involves directed learning utilized to meet module learning outcomes. Directed learning will engage you in further research to support and enhance learning in the sessions. You will be given the opportunity to demonstrate this knowledge in the discussions, working groups and assignment.

Critical reflection on knowledge, experience and practice underpins the learning and teaching process along with the explicit development of your professional competence. The module is supported by a teaching and learning plan which outlines the process, and frameworks for directed and independent learning and reading. The necessity of directed work and independent reading are critical dimensions of the module, thus developing you as an independent learner.

Importantly, you will also learn at work, through reflecting on your experiences and applying your knowledge from the module to your practice in the workplace. During the workshops you will be encouraged to discuss the theories and concepts with the tutors and your peers to understand how these relate to your own work based experiences. The module will provide directed activities to enable you to transfer the learning into your workplace and provide an opportunity for you to apply and evidence the development of your own professional practice. Finally, there will be an opportunity for you to reflect and review your learning with your executive coach.

A range of approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

During the first week of this module, you will receive information about the module and Teaching & Learning Plan. The teaching and learning plan (TLP) sets out
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• Directed reading references (text and journals) and core texts for the module

Further supporting this learner journey, the first taught of this module will discuss the rational and learning objectives of this module and how it contributes to your overall programme goals. The formative and summative assessment strategy will be outlined as will a refresher on key academic skills and resources critical to your success as a learner on this module. This session will also be available as a video/podcast for further reinforcement.

During this module your module tutor, a subject specialist, will provide academic support including:
• Delivering workshops
• Providing guidance in relation to assignments
• Development of key resources, made available through the VLE
• Specialist subject advice, particularly in linking your work to academic research, concepts and emerging knowledge in the field
• Assessing assignments and assess or review any other agreed summative or formative outputs as appropriate

All students will have a dedicated personal supervisor who will guide you through the Management Investigation providing a series of supervisor meetings where your work will be discussed, and support and advice given.

For those of you studying on a Degree Apprenticeship you will also be supported by an Executive Coach who provides your consistent support throughout your Degree Apprenticeship. This Executive Coach will support with:
• Helping you to understand the requirements of this module and how it relates to your workplace context
• Helping you to understand how you can apply and evidence the knowledge, skills and behaviours covered in the module to your own practice in the workplace
• Visiting you at work and engaging with your manager and/or mentor to ensure alignment between your learning and opportunities for applying and demonstrating a positive impact in your work organisation.

E-Reading Lists
The module will also have an e-reading list which directs learners to specific reading for each session. You will be provided with an advanced reading list structured to support each of the issues addressed in taught sessions. The reading list will contain academic articles as well as books, book chapters, case studies, video links and current newspaper articles. You will also be provided with access to a significant set academic research sources via the Northumbria University library portal.

Less formally, all members of the teaching team will provide support and assistance in the taught sessions. Given the practical nature of the work, there will be ample opportunity for discussion and provision of formative feedback in the class contact time.

You will also have opportunities to receive formative feedback from your tutor in response to opinions you express and issues you raise during workshop sessions and face-to-face or online tutorials. These formative feedback sessions are formally scheduled at key points throughout the module, including any support that may be accessed outside formal scheduled teaching.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1:
Have a critical understanding of both management research and how organisations work
ML02:
Have a critical understanding of the ethical principles underpinning business research.
ML03:
Identify an organisational problem or issue and decide on a suitable methodology for investigation.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

ML04:
Be able to critically evaluate management thinking and knowledge in terms of research rigour and design.
ML05:
Critically analyse the problem/issue within the organisational context
ML06:
Apply theory to a practical problem / issue and evaluate / assess a range of possible options
ML07:
Make recommendations for change and improvement in management report

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
ML08:
Demonstrate intellectual curiosity, exploring theory and research broadly and not merely in pursuit of tackling a specific problem.

Formative assessment will take place through group work, assignment discussion and reflection, discussion board activity on the e-learning portal, case study activity, and theory/practice related discussions.

Summative Assessment:
You will be assessed through two separate tasks.
• 2000 word Research Proposal covering your topic to be investigated, an initial literature review and description of your intended methodology

• 10,000-word management report. You will be expected to critique and analyse literature relating to the issue under investigation and produce a critically argued report that makes appropriate recommendations for change and/or improvement.

Criteria will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected of you and how you will be assessed on your performance. You are required to demonstrate self-reflection and reflective practice where appropriate.

Feedback on your summative performance in this module will be provided as follows: Your assessment will be returned to you with annotated comments directly related to the assessment task. You will also be provided with a written comment on actions to be taken to improve performance in assessment overall.

Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module, particularly in relation to Supervision sessions. You should, however be aware that formative feedback can, and will, occur in any communication with an academic tutor. Formative feedback will be provided in the taught sessions by the module teaching team.

(Together these will meet all learning outcomes)

None

None

The module is Research/Enquiry Based and you will be required to identify, and give a convincing rationale for, a researchable work based topic, which addresses an issue or problem in an organisation. You will identify and critically review relevant literature and synthesise a theoretical framework, which will guide you to chose and execute an appropriate research methodology including the gathering and analysis of relevant data. From the research findings, you will offer a discussion of the academic relevance of the results and any further research prompted. Finally you will derive and present a set of realistic recommendations which the organisation could take into practice and which addresses the initial research topic.