BST302 MSc Dissertation All LOM Programmes Academic Year 2013/14

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BST302 MSc Dissertation

All LOM Programmes

Academic Year 2013/14

Daniel Eyers

Module Leader

Your MSc Research Proposal

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If you have questions for today...

• Raise your hand during class or

• Send me a text message – I will answer it at the end of the lecture

07594 534254• Please do not use this number after today’s class

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The Research Proposal

• From the classes attended this semester you

should now have a good grasp of the range of

methods that can be utilized in LOM/MP/IT

research

• You might also have ideas for research topics from

your other taught courses or industry

presentations

• Today we shall explore how these can be brought

together to form your MSc Dissertation Proposal

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Module Assessment

• 1,500 word Research Proposal 10% due 14/02/2014

• 15,000 word Dissertation 90% due 12/09/2014

• You will submit a paper copy (to A04) and an

electronic copy (upload to Learning Central) by 14:00

on these dates

• Failure to submit in advance of the deadline will result

in a mark of zero

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Electronic Submission

• Must be a single PDF file

• Must be submitted via Learning Central

• Must use conventional Arial or Times New Roman

fonts

• Must be carefully checked by you before

submission

• All submissions will be check for Unfair Practice

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Reminder: Unfair Practice

• Please make sure that you have read and

understood the following guidelines concerning

unfair practice and plagiarism:

http://www.cf.ac.uk/regis/sfs/regs/index.html

• If you are suspected of cheating you will be

referred to the unfair practice board. In the worst

cases you can be expelled from the University.

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The Research Proposal

• A research proposal is a document which deals

with:

– What the proposed research is about

– What is it trying to find out or achieve

– How it will go about doing that

– What we will learn from it and why that is worth

learning

Punch (2006)

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Attracting Your Audience

Your research proposal

forms the first

communication with your

advisor

Use this as an opportunity

to get their attention for the

right reasons!

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Three Basic Questions to Consider

• What?

– What is it that you want to find out?

– Is there a gap in the research that you want to fill?

• How?

– What methods will you use in the conduct of your research?

– Where will the data come from to support this?

• Why?

– What is the purpose of this work?

– Why should anyone care about it?

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What should I explore?

• Something that is manageable with the time and

resources at your disposal

– Must have enough to be stretching (i.e. non-trivial)

– Must be an academic research project

– Must be complete by September 12th 2014

2004 – 13 Project Titles

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2012/13 Project Titles

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Choosing a topic for your research

• Three options to choose from:

1. Select a pre-packaged research project

from the list as the basis for your

proposal

2. Develop a project proposal based on

LOM faculty research interest keywords

3. Create you own project based on a topic

of your choice that is relevant to LOM

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Alignment with LOM Seminar Series

• We are pleased to offer students the chance to work with selected companies on a real-life industrial project

– These are great experience for you & your CV

– Fully supported by experienced academic supervisors

• Note: Eligibility to work with companies from the seminar series will be determined based on the standard of your proposal submission

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The Proposal Document• Available for download from Learning Central

• Please use the template provided and ensure that you complete all sections

• This is an academic piece and you should adopt an academic writing style

• Avoid using bullet points

• You may attach appendices, but only if they are relevant

• Tables & figures may be included and are exempt from the word-count

• The following notes are for guidance only and are not exhaustive

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The Proposal Document

• I *hope* that I don’t need to guide you here….

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• Think carefully about the title of your work: it is the

first thing the assessor will see.

– Good: Succinct, informative, self-explanatory

– Poor Examples: “E-commerce”; “Make better operations”;

“An assessment of the way in which operations

management is able to help the manager who is very busy

in a difficlt job make good decisions and benefit the whole

world, especially in th case of the south-west region of the

county of Somerset in the county of England”

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• What are the questions that you will answer?

• What are the motivations for adoption of Lean principles in

hospital trauma units?

• What are the unique characteristics of the agile supply chain?

OR

• What are the outcomes that you envisage?• An understanding of the factors which influence port policy in

Malaysia

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• We will use these keywords to match you with

your supervisor: so choose them wisely.

• Be as specific as possible: don’t use “Operations

Management” if you are really focusing on

“Inventory Management”

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• Qualitative/Quantitative/Both?

• Conceptual Framework?

• Data instruments?

• Procedures?

• Techniques for Data Analysis?

• Will you need Research Ethics approval?

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• Where will you get your data?“Operations Managers from FTSE 100 Companies will be surveyed in this study. Their contact details will be obtained from company websites”.

“Interviews will be conducted with 20 sailors working for White Star Line. Five staff from four different ranks of sailor will be questioned”

“A systematic review of all published journal articles on the subject of TQM will be conducted. Journals will be accessed using the Cardiff University subscription”

• Think about sample sizes

• Be realistic about what is achievable and if you already have access mention this

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• 1,000 words

• A critical evaluation of the relevant literature

• Choose the right level of abstraction

• Ensure that you are up-to-date

• Make good use of scholarly texts– Show that you understand the theory

– Support this with web / other materials if it helps contextualize your research

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• Must be complete and accurate

• You will lose marks for poor citing/referencing

– Can also lead to issues with Unfair Practice

• Consider using tools such as EndNote to help you

with your referencing

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• Your dissertation has all the characteristics of a project

• A Gantt chart is required

– You can choose how much detail to provide, but weekly plans are probably adequate at this stage

– Your research will not be a linear activity

– Start your Gantt chart plan post-examinations

– Build in some contingency time

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Online Resources

Lecture handouts, directed reading,

electronic version of proposal form

Discussion boards haven’t received much use, so these

will be shut down. We will instead have some support

surgeries in late January for those who need help

Submit your proposal electronically

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Enjoy the Winter Recess!• Have a good vacation and enjoy your break

• If you are travelling: go safely

• If you are staying in Cardiff: enjoy the city

• Lectures for taught modules resume week commencing 13 January 2014– There are no further classes for BST302

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Daniel EyersBST302 Module Leader

Lecturer in Manufacturing Systems Management

Office Aberconway B07

Email [email protected]

Tel +44 29 2087 4516

Web http://business.cardiff.ac.uk/contact/staff/eyers

My office hours for this semester are Tuesdays 14:00 to 16:00

Note: Questions concerning research methods classes should be directed to

the appropriate lecturer

If I am not available, or you wish to see me at another time please email first

My secretary is Elaine Adams ([email protected]) in Aberconway C52

Documents

BST302 MSc Dissertation All LOM Programmes Academic Year 2013/14