SG7007

Applied Project Management Project

Term(s): TERM 3

p. 1 Last Updated: 1 June 2021, Version 1

CONTACT INFORMATION

MODULE LEADER

The Module Leader/Other Tutors and Contact Details were correct at point of
publication. You will be notified of any changes.

KEY INFORMATION

1. The module is CORE to MBA Project Management Pathway students.

2. All the announcements and communications regarding the module will be through
Moodle and MS Team. You should regularly check the module site and MS Team
for up-to-date information.

p. 2 Last Updated: 1 June 2021, Version 1

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Assessment:

Research Project.

Weighting:

100%.

Due date / time:

Assessment Submission Date: 6 Sept 2021, 16.00

Learning outcomes assessed:

Learning outcomes 1 to 12 will be assessed by the Research Report.

Assessment criteria:

Details regarding the marking criteria are provided in this guide.

How to submit your work:

Online Submission using Turnitin Link on the module site.

REASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS

Reassessment as per UEL policy.

MODULE INTRODUCTION

AN INTRODUCTION TO APPIED PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROJECT

Welcome to SG7007 Applied Project Management Project module.

This module guide provides essential background to the module, information about the
staff on it, the assessment details and advice about how to ensure you are successful
with your module study. Please make sure that you are familiar with its contents.

This is the applied project for MBA Project Management Patthway students and the
module requires students to conduct project management research under the
supervision of an academic member of staff. This Module handbook is intended to be
a definitive guide, for both students and supervisors.

MODULE AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this module is to enable you to conduct a live applied business project that
should address a project management problem. This could include a work-based
project or a case study or other empirical research that will demonstrate understanding
of applied research and the relationship between Project Management Theory and its
practical implication in real life.

Students will need to conduct a research-based project on a topic related to Project

Management, to present their findings and provide a list of recommendations. This will
involve designing and developing a research project outcome that demonstrates
scholarship in the field of Project Management.

In this module students will complete a research project of their own choice. Students
will have an assigned project supervisor who will advice regarding the choice of
projects for the assessment. These might include: applied research on a contemporary
project management issue based on primary or secondary research, a work-based
project, business simulation, project management report, case study or other empirical
research.

The module aims to develop students’ critical thinking, methodological, analytical and
writing skills through the research process in undertaking a project. Students must
choose a project on offer within the course they are undertaking, and work under the
supervision of the allocated supervisor for a period of 12 weeks. Students will be
allocated 6 hours of supervision time. In undertaking an applied project, students will
critically engage with literature on their chosen topic, formulate valid questions and
objectives, evaluate different methodological alternatives, execute appropriate data
collection and analytical techniques, develop academic explanations of their findings
and address the project question and objectives originally posed in their study.
Students should also be able to provide recommendations for academic theory and/or
project management practice as an outcome of their research project.

The applied project aims to help students to understand the dynamics of research, to
develop their research skills and test & apply their project management learning
through a research work. It provides students with a unique opportunity to specialise in
a particular area of project management field, and is extremely valuable if students’
wish to work in a project management field/industry or undertake research in future
study/employment. Overall, the module aims to develop both students’ independent
research and their employability skills in PM.

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

Knowledge
1) Demonstrate the ability to analyse complex Project Management problems
critically and rigorously and make evidenced based management
recommendations for an improved Project outcome.
2) Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between Project
Management theory studied in previous units and practical application.

Thinking skills
3) Demonstrate synthesis of knowledge and skills by applying appropriate
research strategies and philosophies to organisational issues.
4) Reflect on the benefits and challenges of conducting applied research.
5) Comprehend the difference between the researches methods followed in
applied project management contexts.

Subject based skills

6) Identify, interpret and engage in critical analysis and discussion of
contemporary Project Management literature.
7) Demonstrate the ability to effectively analyse business problems from a Project
Manager perspective and make meaningful and where appropriate costed
business recommendations that can implemented by Project Managers.
8) Demonstrate the skills of logical thought, critical evaluation, data analysis and
reflection that will enhance influencing and negotiation capabilities as a Project
Manager.
Skills for life
9) Demonstrate the ability for self-directed learning and the ability to reflect on
learning, and emotional and social intelligence, which will inform future practice.
10) Exhibit digital proficiency in computer aided research skills that promotes the
effective presentation of research findings and recommendations.
11) Demonstrate ethical behaviour when conducting primary research.
12) Design and present a well-defined and structured report covering the
investigation with appropriate and justified conclusions and recommendations,
while showing awareness of their limitations.

GENERAL READING AND RESOURCES LIST

Reading for Subject Specific Knowledge:

 APM Body of Knowledge. 7th edn, (2019), Association of Project Management.

 Burke, R. (2017) Project management: planning and control techniques. 5th
edn. Chichester: John Wily & Sons.
 Gray, C. and Larson, E. (2021) Project management: the managerial process.
8th edn. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.
 Kerzner, H. (2017) Project management: A systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. 12th edn. Chichester: Wiley
 Maylor, H. (2017) Project management. 4th edn. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall
 Meredith, J.R.; Mantel, S.J; (2018) Project management: A managerial
approach. 9th edn. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.
 Pinto, J.K. (2019) Project management: achieving competitive advantage, 5h
edn. Harlow: Pearson
 Shenhar, A.J. and Dvir, D.; (2007) Reinventing project management: the
diamond approach to successful growth and innovation. Harvard Business
Press, 2013
 Shtub A. and Rosenwein M. (2016) Project management: processes,
methodologies, and economics. 3rd edn, Harlow: Pearson.

Reading for Research Specific Knowledge:

 Bell, E., Bryman, M. and Harley, B. (2018), Business research methods,

Oxford: Oxford University Press.
 Birkinshaw, J. and Brannen, M.Y. and Tung, R.L. (2011) ‘From a distance and
generalizable to up close and grounded: Reclaiming a place for qualitative
methods in international business research’, Journal of International Business
Studies, Vol. 42, Issue 5, pp 573–581
 Boles, B. (2014) The Art of self-directed learning: 23 tips for giving yourself an
unconventional education. 1st ed. USA: Tells Peak Press
 Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2003) Business research: a practical guide for
undergraduate and postgraduate student. London: Macmillan Press Ltd.
 Creswell J.W. and Creswell J.D. (2018) Research design: Qualitative,
quantitative and mixed methods approaches. London: Sage Publications
  Crowther, D. and Lancaster, G. (2012) Research Methods a concise
introduction to research in management and business consultancy. 2nd ed.
Hoboken: Taylor and Francis
 Davies, M.B. and Hughes, N., 2014. Doing a successful research project: Using
qualitative or quantitative methods. Basingstoke: Macmillan International Higher
 Doz, Y. (2011) ‘Qualitative research for international business’, Journal of
International Business Studies. 42 (5), pp. 582-590
 Eva, M., Hindle K. and Rollason C. (2014) Business analysis. 2nd edn.
Swindon: British Informatics Society Ltd.
 Ketchen, D.J. and Bergh, D.D. (2004) Research methodology in strategy and
management. Vol. 1. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald
 Krivokapic-Skoko, B. and O’Neill, G. (2011) ‘Beyond the qualitative–quantitative
distinction: Some innovative methods for business and management research’,
International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches. 5, (3) pp. 290-300
 Saunders, M., Lewis,P and Thornhill, A (2012) Research methods for business.
6th ed. London: Prentice Hall
 Somekh, B. and Lewin, C. (2005) Research methods in the social sciences.
London: Thousand Oaks, Calif.
 Strangman, L. and Knowles, E. (2012) ‘Improving the Development of Student's
Research Questions and Hypotheses in an Introductory Business Research
Methods Course’, International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and
Learning. 6 (2) pp. 1-13.
 Tarí, J. (2011) ‘Research into Quality Management and Social Responsibility’,
Journal of Business Ethics. 102 (4) pp.623-638

SUGGESTED RESEARCH TOPICS

Students must choose a topic that is relevant to project management area/field
only. If a topic is selected that is not relevant to project management, the
submission will be awarded a mark of zero. Examples of broader topics in project
management are listed below.

 Waste management in construction projects

 Stakeholder management in project environment

 Risk management in project environment

 Project leadership, team development and role of project managers in multi-

cultural project environment.

 Scope management and scope changes in projects.

 Strategic alignment of projects to organisational vision and mission.

 Budgeting and costing in project management.

 Project learning, documentation and lessons learnt.

  Project governance in dynamic environment.

 Issue of sustainability in projects.

 Managing innovation and novelty in projects.

 Evaluation and management of project life cycle for mega projects.

 Project Management in the times of uncertainties or pendamic.

 Impact of culture in project environment.

 Collaboration and decision making process with project contractors in

multicultural outsourcing project.

 The analysis, evaluation and factors of success and failure in projects.

 Concept of Agile projects in traditional projects.

 The future research trends in project management field.

If you decide to choose any one from the above list, your work should be more specific
and narrow based on the specific research questions and objectives. The above list is
only an indicative and suggestive list of some broader topics in project management
areas. However students can select any other area of project management as per
their interest, motivation and/or previous work experience. It is strongly advised that
the final topic be discussed with the assigned supervisor as soon as possible.

SUPERVISOR ALLOCATION
Students will be allocated a supervisor to supervise their project and provide advice on
the specific research topic and project they select for the module. All supervisory
allocations will be made available to the student in the beginning of the term.

SUPERVISOR RELATIONSHIPS
Once students have been allocated a supervisor, they will work with that academic
member of staff for the duration of the term (12 weeks). Students will be allocated 6
hours of supervision time Once students establish who their supervisor is, they should
email them with their research proposal (Appendix A) to organise their first meeting.

ROLE OF THE SUPERVISOR

The role of the supervisor is to oversee the research process and act as a sounding
board for the student’s ideas and research approach. The supervisor’s role is not to
“co- produce” the work, but to provide critical commentary on the development of the
work and offer advice for improvement. All key decisions regarding literature, research
question, methodology and data analysis approaches are made by the student, and
ultimately it is the student who is responsible for his/her final grade. The student
should
therefore take ownership of their project and adopt a proactive approach with
their supervisor; students’ should not wait to be instructed by their supervisors
at each stage of the research process. The supervisor is there to offer guidance to
the student and ensure the project is progressing adequately, and students’ are
advised to maintain a professional relationship with their supervisors.

SUPERVISORY CONTACT TIME

Students are entitled to 6 hours face-to-face contact time with a supervisor and four
separate supervisory sessions. This includes email contact and the time it will take a
supervisor to read a chapter draft, students and supervisors can agree MS Team or
Skype contact as part of these contact hours, but only if this is acceptable to both
parties (students on Tier 4 Visas must attend supervisory meetings in person).
Supervisors are expected to provide comments upon only one draft per chapter and
will not read multiple drafts of the same chapter. Students should not bombard
supervisors with email contact and attachments, and should provide for a period of 72
hours to allow a supervisor to respond to an email communication (particularly if this is
in the summer period) and comment upon the work. Students are responsible to keep
regular contact with their supervisors throughout the dissertation process, and not
leave all communications until the final weeks and days prior to submission. If
students choose not to engage with a supervisor until shortly before the dissertation
deadline, the supervisor can reserve the right to deregister the student from the
module. Any student who is having difficulty contacting a supervisor should email the
module leader for assistance.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
The student is ultimately responsible for his/her dissertation project and should see
the supervisor as an academic advisor for their work. Supervisors do not necessarily
have to be experts in a particular research topic; their role is to supervise the research
process itself.

Students have the following responsibilities in the supervisory relationship:

 To attend meetings regularly and punctually.

 To email draft work in advance of any scheduled meeting.
 To treat supervisors with respect and consider their advice.
 To inform the supervisor of any difficulties or issues they may be experiencing.
 To minimise email contact to essential communication and allow a reasonable
period of response.
 To be professional and take ownership of their own work.

CONDUCTING FIELDWORK FROM ABROAD

International students (on Tier 4 visas) must write their dissertations from the UK, and
a record of their dissertation supervision and attendance must be kept by supervisors
should this be requested by the UK Border Agency. However, international students
are
permitted to travel to their home country during the dissertation period should they
wish to collect research data. Permission must be obtained from their supervisor and
Head of School of the Royal Docks School of Business and Law. Students must return
once their data collection has been completed and must write up their dissertations
from the UK – students on Tier 4 visas cannot write their dissertations from their home
country unless this has been pre-agreed with the supervisor and the Royal Docks
School of Business and Law.

Any plans to collect research data from home must be discussed with your supervisor
at the outset of your dissertation, as research ethics approval will need to be attained
prior to conducting the fieldwork. Students who are not on an International visa can
write and conduct dissertations from their home country (as there is no visa
requirement for attendance), provided prior agreement has been sought with the
allocated supervisor.

ASSESSMENT DETAILS
The research project for Masters programmes at the Royal Docks School of Business
and Law, requires students to conduct applied research under the supervision of an
academic member of staff. It is a 6000-word project which accounts for 30 credits of
your programme of study.

The expectation for this module is that you will undertake an applied business project
which is appropriate to project management area. This could include primary or
secondary research into a business problem, a work-based project, business
simulation, management or business report, case study or other empirical research.

COLLEGE RESEARCH ETHICS BOARD (CREB)

All research projects involving primary research using human participants in
the Royal Docks School of Business and Law must first seek approval from our
College Research Ethics Board (CREB). When students have been allocated a
supervisor, they will work with their supervisor to develop their research ethics
application and submit it for consideration. Primary research undertaken without
ethical approval will achieve a mark of 0.
STUDENTS MUST CHOOSE ONLY ONE TYPE OF RESEARCH
PROJECT AS SHOWN BELOW:

1. TYPE 1: APPLIED RESEARCH BUSINESS PROJECT OR

2. TYPE 2: BUSINESS OR MANAGEMENT REPORT

TYPE 1: APPLIED RESEARCH BUSINESS PROJECT

If you are undertaking a dissertation style business project, involving primary or
secondary research, this section guides you on what is required. Students are
required to produce applied research that contains six chapters – Introduction,
Literature Review, Research Methodology (Interviews/Questionnaires/Case
Study/Secondary data, etc.), Data Analysis, Conclusions and Recommendations. The
nature of research should be applied rather than theoretical and focused on a
contemporary business/management problem/issue.

Students must evaluate the literature on their chosen topic, formulate a valid (applied)
research question and objectives, design an appropriate research methodology,
collect relevant primary and/or secondary data, analyse the findings and develop
cogent conclusions and recommendations on the basis of their analysis. The following
is a brief outline of the approximate length and contents of each section and chapter.

Title
The Title of a dissertation style business project is important. It is, however, expected
to evolve with the research process. Students can choose a provisional title for their
dissertation proposal and use a working title for their dissertation as they conduct their
research. The title should as much as possible encapsulate the topic and approach
taken to the research.

Abstract
The Abstract is typically 250 words long, and is not included in the 6,000-word count
for the dissertation. It should provide the reader with an overview of the focus of the
dissertation, the theory incorporated into the project, the methodological approach and
data collection, key findings and conclusions and recommendations of the project. The
abstract should not contain academic references and is intended to provide a short
summary for the reader of the work. Students should invest time into this section, as
it’s often the very first paragraph an examiner will read. Although the abstract appears
first, it should be the last thing you write.
Acknowledgements
An Acknowledgements page is optional, but some students like to use this opportunity
to thank their family, friends, colleagues, sponsor and supervisor for support during
their studies. Students should not feel compelled to include this section however. The
acknowledgements section is not included in the overall word count for the
dissertation.

Table of Contents
A Table of Contents is absolutely essential for a dissertation style business project
and is used by examiners to navigate the various sections of the project. A Table of
Contents can be quite simply added using Microsoft Word®, and students should
familiarise themselves with how to use this function. There are also some excellent
tutorials available on Youtube for students who wish to develop their skills in this area.
The Table of Contents is not included in the overall word count for the dissertation.

Introduction
The Introduction chapter should be 500 words in length approximately. It sets the
scene for the entire thesis and introduces the topic. In this chapter, the student should
outline the focus of the project, and the origins of the research question. If possible,
the student should frame the professional/industry context for the inquiry, and provide
some industry insights in the form of media commentary and/or statistical facts. In this
chapter, the student introduces the research question and objectives/hypotheses, and
provides rationale and justification for them. Students should ensure that their
research question is phrased as a question (i.e. a sentence expressed in such a way
as to elicit information), the research objectives are relevant to the research question
and phrased in appropriate Masters Level language (EG: “To critically evaluate…”, “To
investigate…”, “To determine…” etc.). In this chapter, students should also introduce
the structure of the thesis and provide readers with an overview of the contents of
each chapter.

In summary, the introduction should:

 briefly describe the context

 identify the general subject matter
 describe the issue or problem to be reported on
 state the specific questions the report answers
 outline the scope of the report (extent of investigation)
 preview the report structure
 comment on the limitations of the report and any assumptions made.
Critical Literature Review
The Critical Literature Review should be 1,500 words in length approximately. It is the
chapter in which students critically evaluate academic scholarship on their chosen
topic. The student should read the literature on their topic, form key headings for the
literature review and critically evaluate previous research on the topic. In the context of
a literature review, “critical” means that the student is intellectually engaged with the
key debates in the literature on the topic in question. Students conduct the literature
review to understand the academic conversation on a particular topic or subject and
determine what the expert perspective is. There may well be a divergence of opinion
on a subject, or that different aspects of the subject have been previously explored.
The goal of the literature review is to evaluate the current body of knowledge and
formulate an academically relevant research question from this review. Students
should try, wherever possible, to identify gaps in the current body of knowledge and
ways in which they could contribute to the discourse on a particular topic. For students
engaging in quantitative research, it is useful to refer to hypotheses formulated during
the research process in the Critical Literature Review, so examiners can see a clear
link between the hypotheses and the extant literature.

Research Methodology
The Research Methodology should be 1,000 words in length approximately. In this
chapter, the student should re-state the research question and objectives/hypotheses
for the benefit of the reader, having completed the literature review the focus of the
research project should be made clear. Students should explain the research methods
used and provide rationale and justification for the research design of the study. They
should explain how they have collected their data, and the sampling strategy they
adopted for the work. Students should also explain how they have conducted their
analysis and interpretation of the data they have generated during the inquiry, and the
ways they have ensured the trustworthiness, reliability and validity of their data and
analysis.

In this chapter, students should also discuss the limitations of their research, and any
challenges they may have encountered in the research process (access to
interviewees, survey response rates, etc.). Students can use a single methodology
(EG: Questionnaires/Depth Interviews), or use multiple data collection approaches as
part of either a case study or mixed methods study. Primary and/or secondary data
collection approaches are acceptable for the dissertation project. Students are advised
to collect a minimum of 8 hours of qualitative data (for a qualitative study), 100
questionnaires (for a quantitative study), or whatever appropriate balance for a mixed
methods study. The nature of the topic and the methodology must also be considered
in how much data the student will collect, and consultation with the supervisor is vital
prior to the data collection phase of the project. Students collecting secondary data as
part of a Case Study or other secondary data project should agree an appropriate
level of data collection with their supervisors.
Data Analysis
The Data Analysis chapter should be 2,000 words in length approximately. This
chapter accounts for 35% of the marks, and is a vitally important chapter for the
dissertation. In this chapter, the student must analyse the data collected and identify
key patterns from the analysis. These can take the form of overarching themes (in
qualitative research), hypothesis testing (in quantitative research), or key tabulations
from secondary quantitative data using SPSS, Eviews or other statistical software.
Students should read their data with their research question and objectives in mind
and ensure that the analysis adequately helps to address the overall aims of the
research project. In this chapter, students should also compare and contrast their
findings with previous studies for consistency, and evaluate the significance of their
findings. It is also useful if students formulate a clear thesis (argument) from their
analysis of the data collected in this chapter.

Conclusion
The Conclusion chapter should be 500 words in length approximately. In this chapter,
students should reflect upon their research question and objectives/hypotheses, and
the answers they have developed from the findings of their research project. They
should also consider the theoretical (do the findings challenge existing theory?) and
managerial implications (what do the findings imply for practicing
managers/practitioners/public sector leaders of the research project). Crucially,
students must show how they have addressed the research question and objectives
they originally formulated for the research project.

When writing conclusions:

 interpret and summarise the findings; say what they mean

 relate the conclusions to the report issue/problem
 limit the conclusions to the data presented; do not introduce new material
 number the conclusions and present them in parallel form
 be objective: avoid exaggerating or manipulating the data.
Recommendations

The Recommendations chapter should be 500 words in length approximately.

Recommendations are oriented to the future: what changes are recommended, or
what actions are recommended for the future? They are specific, action-oriented
suggestions to solve the report problem. Students should make recommendations for
management practice, wider society (if applicable) and importantly for future research
projects, which may be particularly helpful for students undertaking dissertations in
future cohorts. Students should also critically reflect upon their findings and consider
their implications.
When writing recommendations:

 make specific suggestions for actions to solve the report problem

 avoid conditional words such as maybe and perhaps
 present each suggestion separately and begin with a verb
 number the recommendations
 describe how the recommendations may be implemented (if you were
requested to do this)
 arrange the recommendations in an announced order, such as most important
to least important.

Bibliography and Appendices

The Bibliography of sources should include all sources cited in the dissertation as well
as all sources which helped to formulate the approach to the topic, this is not included
in the overall word count. All references should be cited using “Cite Them Right”, and
dissertations should all conform to this referencing standard. Footnotes and/or
Endnotes can be provided if students wish to further elaborate on a particular point
made in the text of the dissertation. All references cited in the Bibliography must be in
alphabetical order. Students can also include an Appendices which should include a
sample of the questionnaire used, interview guides, sample interview transcripts (a
minimum of three), or any other secondary documentation referred to in the
dissertation. Any material in the appendices in any language other than English must
be translated for the benefit of the reader.

Summary of the Applied Research Project Structure

You have been asked to produce a postgraduate piece of applied research
(dissertation). In summary it should contain the following:

* Title Page, including the given title in full.

• Word count; excluding abstract, appendices and reference list
• Abstract (No more than 250 words and not included in the overall word count)
• Contents Page
• Introduction Chapter (500 words)
• Literature Review (1,500 words)
• Research Methodology (1,000 words)
• Data Analysis (2,000 words)
• Conclusion (500 words)
• Recommendations (500 words)
• Appendices, which should be numbered - Make sure you refer your reader to them
as required.
The marking scheme for the Applied Research is as follows :

Applied Research
Introduction - 10%
Identification of a valid topic, research question and objectives framed to Masters
Level standard with academic rationale developed, clear industry contextualisation
of the research topic
Critical use of literature - 25%
Depth and breadth of literature used, engagement with seminal authors and papers,
evidence of a critical approach toward the scholarly literature
Research Methodology– 15%
Evaluation of research philosophies and perspectives. Justification of
methodological approach, sampling strategy, data analysis and reliability and validity
measures as applicable
Data analysis and interpretation 35%
Evidence of rigor in data analysis and interpretation procedures, identification of key
patterns and themes in the research data, integration of academic theory into
explanation of findings
Conclusion and Recommendations – 10%
Research question and objectives addressed with implications to theoretical and
managerial concepts considered. Recommendations provided for theory, practice
and future research

Organisation, presentation and references – 5%

Well-structured and ordered dissertation with correct use of grammar and syntax. In-
text citation and bibliography conforming to “Cite Them Right”
TYPE 2: BUSINESS OR MANAGEMENT REPORT
If you are writing a business or management report, involving primary or secondary
research, this section guides you on what is required. Students are required to
produce an analytical report that contains five sections – Introduction or Terms of
Reference, Procedure or Research Methodology, Findings and Discussions,
Conclusions, and Recommendations. The nature of research should be analytical
rather than informational and focused on a contemporary business/management
problem/issue. The main purpose of a business report is to make data that is relevant
to the company, such as information regarding efficiency, financial health, competition,
or procedures, easily available to stakeholders. In general, it provides information and
analysis to assist business in making informed decisions. Students must design an
appropriate research methodology, collect relevant primary and/or secondary data,
analyse the findings and develop cogent conclusions and recommendations on the
basis of their critical analysis. The following is a brief outline of the approximate length
and contents of each section and chapter.

Title
The Title of a business project is important. It is, however, expected to evolve with the
research process. Students can choose a provisional title for their project proposal and
use a working title for their project as they conduct their research. The title should as
much as possible encapsulate the topic and approach taken to the research.

Executive summary
The executive summary is typically 250 words long, and is not included in the 6,000-
word count for the report. It should provide the reader with an overview of the focus of
the report, the methodological approach and data collection, key findings and
conclusions and recommendations of the project. The executive summary should not
contain academic references and is intended to provide a short summary for the
reader of the work. Students should invest time into this section, as it’s often the very
first paragraph an examiner will read. Although the executive summary appears first, it
should be the last thing you write.

Acknowledgements
An Acknowledgements page is optional, but some students like to use this opportunity
to thank their family, friends, colleagues, sponsor and supervisor for support during
their studies. Students should not feel compelled to include this section however. The
acknowledgements section is not included in the overall word count for the
dissertation.

Table of Contents
A Table of Contents is absolutely essential for a business project and is used by
examiners to navigate the various sections of the project. A Table of Contents can be
quite simply added using Microsoft Word®, and students should familiarise
themselves with how to use this function. There are also some excellent tutorials
available on Youtube for students who wish to develop their skills in this area. The
Table of Contents is not included in the overall word count for the dissertation.

Introduction or Terms of Reference

The Introduction chapter should be 500 words in length approximately. It sets the
scene for the entire report and introduces the topic. In this section, the student should
outline the focus of the project. If possible, the student should frame the
professional/industry context for the inquiry, and provide some industry insights in the
form of background commentary and/or statistical facts. In this section, the student
introduces the research question and objectives/hypotheses, and provides rationale
and justification for them. Students should ensure that their research question is
phrased as a question (i.e. a sentence expressed in such a way as to elicit
information), the research objectives are relevant to the research question and
phrased in appropriate Masters Level language (EG: “To critically evaluate…”, “To
investigate…”, “To determine…” etc.). In this chapter, students should also introduce
the structure of the thesis and provide readers with an overview of the contents of
each chapter.

In summary, the introduction should:

 briefly describe the context

 identify the general subject matter
 describe the issue or problem to be reported on
 state the specific questions the report answers
 outline the scope of the report (extent of investigation)
 preview the report structure
 comment on the limitations of the report and any assumptions made.

Procedure or Research Methodology

The Procedure or Research Methodology should be 1,000 words in length
approximately. In this chapter, the student should re-state the research question and
objectives/hypotheses for the benefit of the reader. The focus of the research project
should be made clear. Students should explain the research methods used/procedure
of gathering data and provide rationale and justification for the research design of the
study. Students should also explain how they will be conducting their analysis and
interpretation of the data they have generated during the inquiry, and the ways they
have ensured the trustworthiness, reliability and validity of their data and analysis.

In this chapter, students should also discuss the limitations of their research, and any
challenges they may have encountered in the research process (access to
interviewees, survey response rates, etc.). Students can use a single methodology
(EG: Questionnaires/Depth Interviews), or use multiple data collection approaches as
part of
either a case study or mixed methods study. Primary and/or secondary data collection
approaches are acceptable for the dissertation project. Students are advised to collect
a minimum of 8 hours of qualitative data (for a qualitative study), 100 questionnaires
(for a quantitative study), or whatever appropriate balance for a mixed methods study.
The nature of the topic and the methodology must also be considered in how much
data the student will collect, and consultation with the supervisor is vital prior to the
data collection phase of the project. Students collecting secondary data as part of a
Case Study or other secondary data project should agree an appropriate level of data
collection with their supervisors.

Findings and Discussions

The findings should be 3,500 words in length approximately. The discussion is the
main part of your report and should present and discuss your findings. It should give
enough information, analysis, and evidence to support your conclusions, and it should
provide justification for your recommendations. Its organisation will depend on your
purpose, scope, and requirements, but it should follow a logical and systematic
organisation. The discussion should be subdivided into logical sections, each with
informative, descriptive headings and a number.

Where your report’s purpose is to recommend the best solution to a problem, you
should show clear analysis of all options. You should explain any analytical framework
you used, such as SWOT or cost benefit analysis. This analysis of options can often
be presented effectively in tables.

Conclusion
The Conclusion chapter should be 500 words in length approximately. In this chapter,
students should reflect upon their research question and objectives/hypotheses, and
the answers they have developed from the findings of their research project. They
should also consider the theoretical (do the findings challenge existing theory?) and
managerial implications (what do the findings imply for practicing
managers/practitioners/public sector leaders of the research project). Crucially,
students must show how they have addressed the research question and objectives
they originally formulated for the research project.

When writing conclusions:

 interpret and summarise the findings; say what they mean

 relate the conclusions to the report issue/problem
 limit the conclusions to the data presented; do not introduce new material
 number the conclusions and present them in parallel form
 be objective: avoid exaggerating or manipulating the data.
Recommendations
The Recommendations chapter should be 500 words in length approximately. It
should consider what recommendations would be made on the basis of the findings of
the study and the answer to the research question/objectives/hypotheses posed.
Students should make recommendations for management practice, wider society (if
applicable) and importantly for future research projects, which may be particularly
helpful for students undertaking dissertations in future cohorts. Students should also
critically reflect upon their findings and consider their implications.

When writing recommendations:

 make specific suggestions for actions to solve the report problem

 avoid conditional words such as maybe and perhaps
 present each suggestion separately and begin with a verb
 number the recommendations
 describe how the recommendations may be implemented (if you were
requested to do this)
 arrange the recommendations in an announced order, such as most important
to least important.

Summary of the Business or Management Report Structure

You have been asked to produce a postgraduate piece of applied work. In summary it
should contain the following:

• Title Page, including the given title in full.

• Word count; excluding abstract, appendices and reference list
• Executive summary (No more than 250 words and not included in the overall word
count)
• Contents Page
• Introduction or Terms of Reference (500 words)
• Procedure or Research Methodology (1,000 words)
• Findings and discussions (3,500 words)
• Conclusion (500 words)
• Recommendations (500 words)
• Appendices, which should be numbered - Make sure you refer your reader to them
as required.
The marking scheme for the Business or Management Report is as
follows:
Business or Management report marking scheme
Introduction or Terms of Reference – 10%
Identification of a valid topic, research question and objectives framed to Masters
Level standard with academic rationale developed, clear industry contextualisation
of the research topic
Procedure or Research Method – 20%
Evaluation of research philosophies and perspectives. Justification of
methodological approach, sampling strategy, data analysis and reliability and validity
measures as applicable
Findings and discussions – 50%
Evidence of rigor in data analysis and interpretation procedures, identification of key
patterns and themes in the research data, integration of academic theory into
explanation of findings
Conclusion and Recommendations – 10%
Research question and objectives addressed with implications to theoretical and
managerial concepts considered. Recommendations provided for theory, practice
and future research

Organisation, presentation and references – 10%

Well-structured and ordered project with correct use of grammar and syntax. In-text
citation and bibliography conforming to “Cite Them Right”
Presentation of Business Projects
Your work should be word processed in accordance with the following:

• Font style, Arial or Times New Roman, font size 12

• 1.5 line spacing.

• The page orientation should be ‘portrait’

• Margins on both sides of the page should be no less than 2.5 cm

• Pages must be numbered

• Your name should not appear on the script.

• Your student number must be included on every page.

Skills Advice
Pay particular attention to:

• Your introduction,

• Your conclusion,

• The use of headings and/or signpost words

• Paragraph structure

• Include any additional commentary on aspects of the dissertation in endnotes or

footnotes

Guidance on referencing
As a student, you will be taught how to write correctly referenced essays using UEL's
standard Harvard referencing system from Cite Them Right. Cite them Right is the
standard Harvard referencing style at UEL for all Schools apart from the School of
Psychology which uses the APA system. This book will teach you all you need to know
about Harvard referencing, plagiarism and collusion. The electronic version of “Cite
Them Right: the essential referencing guide” 9th edition, can be accessed whilst on or
off campus, via UEL Direct. The book can only be read online and no part of it can be
printed nor downloaded.

Further information is available at

https://uelac.sharepoint.com/LibraryandLearningServices/Pages/defa

ult.aspx
Word Count
Your word count should not include your abstract, contents, reference list or
appendices. You should provide your word count at the end of your report. Exceeding
the word count by more than 10% will result in a penalty of 10% of your marks for your
work. If your work is significantly shorter, then you will probably have failed to provide
the level of detail required.

Submitting Assessments Using Turnitin:

Turnitin is required for coursework assessments, such as report/research papers or
projects in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and in PDF format. There are two main
reasons we want you to use Turnitin:

• Turnitin can help you avoid academic breaches and plagiarism. When you use
Turnitin before a submission deadline, you can use the Originality Report feature to
compare your work to thousands of other sources (like websites, Wikipedia, and even
other student papers). Anything in your work that identically matches another source is
highlighted for you to see. When you use this feature before the deadline, you will
have time to revise your work to avoid an instance of academic breach/plagiarism.

• Turnitin saves paper. When using Turnitin to electronically submit your work, you will
almost never have to submit a paper copy.

LATE SUBMISSIONS
We strongly suggest that you try to submit all coursework by the deadline set as
meeting deadlines is expected in employment. However, in our regulations, UEL has
permitted students to be able to submit their coursework up to 24 hours after the
deadline. The deadline will be published in your module guide. Coursework which is
submitted late, but within 24 hours of the deadline, will be assessed but subjected to a
fixed penalty of 5% of the total marks available (as opposed to marks obtained).
However, you have to be very careful when you are submitting your assessment.
If you submit your work twice, once using the original deadline link and then again
using the late submission link, your assignment will be graded as late with the 5%
deduction.

Please note that if you submit twice, once before the deadline and once during the 24
hour late period, then the second submission will be marked and 5% deducted.

This rule only applies to coursework. It does not apply to examinations, presentations,
performances, practical assessments or viva voce examinations. If you miss these for
a genuine reason, then you will need to apply for extenuating circumstances, or
accept that you will receive a zero mark.

Extenuating Circumstances are circumstances which:

 impair your examination performance prevent you from attending examinations or
other types of assessment, or
 prevent you from submitting coursework or other assessed work by the scheduled
deadline date, or within 24 hours of the deadline date

Such circumstances rarely occur and would normally be:

 unforeseeable - in that you could have no prior knowledge of the event

concerned, and
 unpreventable - in that you could do nothing reasonably in your power to prevent
such an event, and
 expected to have a serious impact on performance

You can make an application for extenuating circumstances by following this link:
https://uelac.sharepoint.com/StudentSupport/Pages/Extenuation-information.aspx

RETURN OF WORK AND FEEDBACK

Arrangements for the publication of results is stated in the Course Handbook. Formal
results are ONLY available in UEL Direct, and will be published within 8 working days
of the Board, where results are formally confirmed. Any other results are provisional /
indicative but not approved.

You will receive feedback throughout your course through the following:

one-to-one or individualised (i.e. tutorials, conversations

with supervisors, or individualised comments on
assignments)
generic feedback (i.e. use of rubrics, ‘Quickmarks’ in Turnitin
or standardised forms)

peer feedback (i.e. feedback from other students)

informal feedback (i.e. through in-class discussions or online forums)

self-evaluation (i.e. online checklists or reflective submissions)

other (see below)

If you selected ‘other’, please provide details here

Feedback and students’ marks should be provided within 15 working days of the due
date for summative work (i.e. work that counts towards the final course grade) and
formative work (i.e. work that is developmental and designed to help you improve).

Whilst feedback will be given on draft/formative work, it shouldn’t be assumed that

every aspect will be identified.

ONLINE SYSTEM FAILURES

If you experience a problem submitting your work online, you should notify your
lecturer/tutor by email immediately. However, deadlines are not extended unless there
is a significant systems problem with Turnitin. UEL has specific plans in place to
address these issues. If UEL finds that the issue with the system was significant, you
will receive an email notifying you of the issue and that you have been given a 24 hour
extension. If you don’t receive any email that specifically states you have been
given an extension, then the original deadline has not been changed.

Best advice: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your assessments electronically.

A guide to submitting your work through Turnitin:

https://moodle.uel.ac.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=762499&chapterid=46648

A guide to viewing and understanding the similarity report in Turnitin:

https://moodle.uel.ac.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=793923&chapterid=46752

Guide to Extenuating Circumstances:

https://uelac.sharepoint.com/sites/studenthandbooks/SitePages/Extenuation.aspx

Assessment & Feedback Policy:

https://www.uel.ac.uk/Discover/Governance/Policies-Regulations-Corporate-
documents/Student-Policies (click on other policies)
TEACHING SCHEDULE

There is no scheduled teaching for SG7007- Applied Project Management Project

module. The only scheduled “contact” time is between the student and his/her
supervisor, during the term.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
As a UEL student you are expected to attend all scheduled sessions, including
lectures, seminars, group work and tutorials – whether online or face to face. You are
also expected to be punctual, to be respectful of others’ time as well as your own, to
participate whilst present, to put in time to study between classes, to prepare for taught
sessions and to be active participants in both group work and your own learning
experience.

Link to your personal timetable:

https://uelac.sharepoint.com/students/Pages/Timetable-and-Attendance.aspx

Link to the University of East London Campus Maps:

https://uelac.sharepoint.com/Pages/Maps-and-key-buildings-at-UEL.aspx

Link to the Guide to Room Numbers:

https://uelac.sharepoint.com/sites/studenthandbooks/SitePages/Guide-to-Room-
Numbers.aspx

REFERENCING

As a student you will be taught how to write correctly referenced essays. UEL's
standard Harvard referencing system is from Cite Them Right. Cite them Right is the
standard Harvard referencing style at UEL for all Schools, however professional body
requirements will take precedence for instance the School of Psychology which uses
the APA system.

Link to the Student Handbook page on Cite Them Right:

https://uelac.sharepoint.com/sites/studenthandbooks/SitePages/Cite-Them-Right.aspx

Video guide to using referencing software Zotero: https://youtu.be/WXGdRBN1Ovk

Link to the Student Handbook page on Academic Misconduct and

Plagiarism:
https://uelac.sharepoint.com/sites/studenthandbooks/SitePages/Academic-
Misconduct-and-Plagiarism-Home.aspx

ASSESSMENT FEEDBACK

WHAT IS FEEDBACK?

Feedback is crucial for your learning and it is an important part of the academic cycle.
It tells you what the strengths are of your work, what its weaknesses are and how it
can be improved.

WHY IS FEEDBACK IMPORTANT?

Feedback is the most effective way to: Help you understand how to succeed in your
assessments; Help you produce better work for the future; Signpost you to other
resources for assistance.

If you pay attention to feedback, particularly where the same comment is made in
several modules, you can use the information to improve.

WHERE DO I GET FEEDBACK?

 When a tutor comments on your answers in seminars/lectures/workshops

 General comment on assessment performance in lectures and seminars

  General comment on questions prepared for seminars

 When another student makes comments on your presentation

 When you produce practice questions for a tutor who gives comments

 When you receive written comments on your work submitted either as

coursework or exam

 When you look at general feedback on module performance on UEL Direct.

 When you see your Academic Adviser with all your assessment feedback
for general advice. You should always do this after each assessment period.

Link to information about the Centre for Student Success:

https://uelac.sharepoint.com/sites/studenthandbooks/SitePages/The-Centre-for-
Student-Success.aspx

KEY LINKS

Academic Appeals
https://www.uel.ac.uk/Discover/Governance/Policies-Regulations-Corporate-
documents/Student-Policies/Student-Appeals

Academic Integrity
https://uelac.sharepoint.com/LibraryandLearningServices/Pages/Academic-
integrity.aspx

Academic Tutoring
https://www.uel.ac.uk/centre-for-student-success/academic-tutoring

Assessment and Feedback Policy

https://www.uel.ac.uk/Discover/Governance/Policies-Regulations-Corporate-
documents/Student-Policies (click on other policies)
Bus Timetable
https://uelac.sharepoint.com/EstatesandFacilitiesServices/Pages/Timetable.aspx

Centre for Student Success

https://www.uel.ac.uk/centre-for-student-success

Civic Engagement
https://www.uel.ac.uk/Connect/Civic-Engagement

Complaints procedure
https://www.uel.ac.uk/Discover/Governance/Policies-Regulations-Corporate-
documents/Student-Policies/Student-Complaint-Procedure

Counselling
https://uelac.sharepoint.com/StudentSupport/Pages/Health-And-Wellbeing.aspx

Disability support
https://uelac.sharepoint.com/StudentSupport/Pages/Disability-And-Dyslexia.aspx

Engagement & Attendance Policy

https://www.uel.ac.uk/Discover/Governance/Policies-Regulations-Corporate-
documents/Student-Policies (click on other policies)

Equality and Diversity Strategy

https://www.uel.ac.uk/Discover/Governance/Policies-Regulations-Corporate-
documents/Student-Policies (click on other policies)

Extenuation Procedures
https://www.uel.ac.uk/Discover/Governance/Policies-Regulations-Corporate-
documents/Student-Policies/Extenuation-Procedures

Frequently-Asked Questions
https://uelac.sharepoint.com/sites/studenthandbooks/ModuleGuides/SitePages/Freq
u ently-Asked-Questions.aspx

Health and Safety

https://uelac.sharepoint.com/EstatesandFacilitiesServices/Pages/health-&-safety.aspx

IT Support
https://uelac.sharepoint.com/sites/ITServices/SitePages/Problem_Reporting/Reporting
-Problems.aspx

Library Archives and Learning Services

https://www.uel.ac.uk/lls/

Manual of General Regulations

https://www.uel.ac.uk/Discover/Governance/Policies-Regulations-Corporate-
documents/Student-Policies/Manual-of-General-Regulations

Mentoring
https://www.uel.ac.uk/centre-for-student-success/mentoring
APPENDIX A:

Project Proposal Template

SECTION A:
(to be completed by the student)

U
Student Number:

Programme:
Module Title: (e.g. Applied Project Management Report
Studying for Business)
Module Code: SG7007
Name of Supervisor: Word Count:

I confirm that no part of this assignment, except where clearly quoted and
referenced. has been copied from material belonging to any other person e.g.
from a book. handout, another student. I am aware that it is a breach of UEL
regulations to copy the work of another without clear acknowledgement and
that attempting to do so renders me liable to disciplinary proceedings.

SG7007– Applied Project Management Project Proposal

A note for students undertaking the Applied Project Management Project:

A supervisor cannot and must not decide what you are going to research and
examine. It is your project and therefore, your responsibility to tell your supervisor
which area you are going to investigate and give justification/reasons why you have
chosen the area. Your supervisor cannot lead you in any specific direction because
this is your project and your problem identification skills need to be assessed. S/he
can merely support and guide you to conduct your project successfully.
1. Project Title: The project management context of your proposed work. The
title should fit and be specific to your proposed research.

Example: An investigation of perceptions of project managers towards waste

reduction in construction projects in London, UK

2. Research Aim, Rationale and Problem Identification : Include a brief

description of the background to your project. Explain and justify the
research context. Provide research question(s) and objectives.

Example:
Research Rationale: Waste from construction project has had a significant
impact on environment all over the world. More and more construction
projects are emerging due to growth in economy, populations and demand
in the market. This increase in construction projects is creating negative
impacted on the environment every day with significant increase in CO2
footprints and amount of landfills.
Research Question:
How project manager perceive waste in the construction projects?
What waste reduction techniques project managers use to reduce the
carbon foot prints from their projects.
What are the recycling and reuse practices, if any, being used in the
construction projects in the London area?

3. Current/ preliminary research and relevant theory: Provide an overview

of the literature that will inform your project. You should also ensure that
your review is coherent, well organised and critical.

4. Planning: Provide a Gantt Chart to depict the major research activities with
the time scale to complete these activities.

5. Research Methodology. Provide an brief evaluation of research

philosophies and perspectives. Justification of methodological approach,
sampling strategy, data analysis and reliability and validity measures as
applicable.
6. References: Provide key references that will be used in the research work
and in the research proposal. (Using ‘Cite-it-right’ system)