1 London School of Business & Management QCF Level 5- HND Unit Outcomes Covered: LO1 Understand how to formulate a research specification LO2 Be able to implement the research project within agreed procedures and to specification LO3 Be able to evaluate the research outcomes LO4 Be able to present the research outcomes GRADING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Outcomes/ Grade Descriptors AC 1.1 AC 1.2 AC 1.3 AC 1.4 AC 1.5 AC 2.1 AC 2.2 AC 2.3 AC 3.1 AC 3.2 AC 3.3 AC 4.1 V V V V V V V V V V V V Outcomes/ Grade Descriptors M1 M2 M3 D1 D2 D3 V V V V V V Assessor: Signature: ______________ Date: ___/___/___ Centre No 79829 Unit No & Unit Title Unit 8: Research Project Assessor’s Name Dr Knowledge Mpofu Assignment Title & Type RP Individual Assignment Date Set 17th January 2017 Due Date 10th April 2017 Semester / Academic Year January 2017 Semester 2 Assignment Brief Introduction: Relevant For All Tasks 1- 4 Research is a process of inquiry about problems that do not have immediate solutions. The world is full of problems that require research-informed solutions. The purpose of research in business and management contexts is to inform action and decision-making, while enhancing knowledge on how best to address problems emerging in organisations. A systematic investigation is required through qualitative and/or quantitative methodology in order to generate results (primary or secondary data) that can help to inform actions and decision-making. The choice of appropriate methods for data collection (e.g interviews and questionnaires) and data analysis is critical in order to produce useful information and knowledge which is applicable for the organisation and other settings. High quality research findings have implications for policy, practice and further research. Publishing results from research studies in secondary sources such as books, journal articles business reports and on-line based sources make it easier for the global community to access useful information and knowledge needed for decision-making in business and management contexts (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). . Pursuing a research project will be a challenging and rewarding experience. This opportunity enables you to carry out an in-depth original study on a topic of interest. In this module, you are expected to develop skills of independent inquiry and critical analysis by undertaking a research investigation on topic of interest within a business, management or organisational context. You will be required to think about a problematic issue or problem in an organisation that you want to investigate and conduct primary and secondary research accordingly, in order to produce findings that should be analysed and clearly presented using appropriate methods. The TASKS will include the following :: Firstly: you will learn h ...

1. 1
London School of Business & Management
QCF Level 5- HND
Unit Outcomes Covered:
LO1 Understand how to formulate a research specification
LO2 Be able to implement the research project within agreed
procedures and
to specification
LO3 Be able to evaluate the research outcomes
LO4 Be able to present the research outcomes
GRADING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
Outcomes/ Grade
Descriptors
AC
1.1
AC
1.2

2. AC
1.3
AC
1.4
AC
1.5
AC
2.1
AC
2.2
AC
2.3
AC
3.1
AC
3.2
AC
3.3
AC
4.1
V V V V V V V V V V V V
Outcomes/ Grade
Descriptors

3. M1 M2 M3 D1 D2 D3
V V V V V V
Assessor: Signature: ______________ Date: ___/___/___
Centre No 79829
Unit No & Unit Title Unit 8: Research Project
Assessor’s Name Dr Knowledge Mpofu
Assignment Title & Type RP Individual Assignment
Date Set 17th January 2017
Due Date 10th April 2017
Semester / Academic
Year
January 2017 Semester
2

4. Assignment Brief
Introduction:
Relevant For All Tasks 1- 4
Research is a process of inquiry about problems that do not
have immediate solutions. The world is full
of problems that require research-informed solutions. The
purpose of research in business and
management contexts is to inform action and decision-making,
while enhancing knowledge on how best
to address problems emerging in organisations. A systematic
investigation is required through
qualitative and/or quantitative methodology in order to generate
results (primary or secondary data) that
can help to inform actions and decision-making. The choice of
appropriate methods for data collection
(e.g interviews and questionnaires) and data analysis is critical
in order to produce useful information
and knowledge which is applicable for the organisation and
other settings. High quality research
findings have implications for policy, practice and further
research. Publishing results from research
studies in secondary sources such as books, journal articles
business reports and on-line based
sources make it easier for the global community to access useful
information and knowledge needed for
decision-making in business and management contexts
(Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009).
.
Pursuing a research project will be a challenging and rewarding
experience. This opportunity enables
you to carry out an in-depth original study on a topic of

5. interest.
In this module, you are expected to develop skills of
independent inquiry and critical analysis by
undertaking a research investigation on topic of interest within
a business, management or
organisational context. You will be required to think about a
problematic issue or problem in an
organisation that you want to investigate and conduct primary
and secondary research accordingly, in
order to produce findings that should be analysed and clearly
presented using appropriate methods.
The TASKS will include the following ::
Firstly: you will learn how to produce a Research Proposal for a
short Research Project.
Secondly: you will be expected to complete the Research
Project in accordance with Research
Specifications (Structure) agreed with your Tutor.
Thirdly: you will be expected to analyse and present your
findings (primary and/or secondary data) in a
suitable format using appropriate methods, tools and techniques
such as Microsoft Excel graphs, tables,
diagrams etc)
and Finally:
You will be expected to submit your Individual Research
Project, which shows evidence of
evaluation of the findings from your investigation. The
Research Project should clearly demonstrate
your understanding of the research process.

6. 3
The following Research Project Structure is recommended:
Cover/Title Page
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction/Research Background
1.1 Research Aim
1.2 Research Objectives
2.0 Literature Review
3.0 Methodology
(Qualitative or Quantitative?)
3.1 Samples (sampling considerations of your data sources/
research participants)

7. 3.2 Data collection methods (what methods are you using to
collect primary data?)
3.3 Data analysis methods (what methods are you using for
analysing your data?)
3.4 Ethical considerations
3.5 Research Limitations
3.6 Research Work plan (Gantt Chart)
4.0 Findings and Discussion
5. Conclusion and Recommendations
6.0 List of References
7.0 Appendices
4
Tutor Notes

8. Key Points:
the deadline.
structure that is
appropriate for a Research Proposal.
answers to the tasks.
ferencing system to
acknowledge any secondary
sources of information used to support your work in the
assignment.
before submitting your work.
t Cover sheet
should be used in every
submitted work.
content and understanding of the
subject, critical analysis, evaluation, justifications, key
arguments, correct use of appropriate
models or framework.
-submission) will result in
FAIL as final grade.

9. Submission Regulations
1. “Assignment Front Cover Sheet” must accompany every
submitted work [Cover sheet is available
from our Virtual Learning Environment - Moodle].
2. Assignments must be submitted on or before the due date, via
Turnitin. Please refer to Moodle
for detailed assignment submission instructions.
5

10. Task 1: The Research Proposal
You are expected to prepare a Research Proposal relating to a
specified topic from an area of
business as agreed with your tutor, and you must address the
following areas:
(a) Based on your chosen research problem, formulate and
record possible research
project outline specifications (Covers AC1.1)
(Guidance: Here, you are required to create an outline (or
Proposal) of your research project
and you must follow the recommended research project
structure)
(b) You are required to demonstrate relevant knowledge of the
research process by identifying
the factors that contribute to the process of Research Project
Selection and evaluate
them. (Covers AC1.2)
(Guidance: There are several factors that influence the selection
of a research project e.g. 1.
Your research project must meet the requirements of the

11. examining body, making sure it
is following the recommended guidelines and structure. This
should be well written at the
correct level, clearly demonstrating your interest in the topic.
(c) You are expected to undertake a critical review of literature
relevant to your chosen
research problem (Covers AC1.3)
Guidance: You should provide a critical review of relevant
literature focusing on your research
topic. All cited sources should be presented in correct Harvard
format in both citations and the
reference list.
(d) Produce a Research Project Specification for your research.
(Covers AC1.4)
Guidance: Here you are expected to select your research
methodology (qualitative or
quantitative) and justify your selection. Explain your data
sources (sampling considerations/
research participants), Data collection methods (e.g
observations, action research, interviews,
questionnaire surveys etc.) You should also explain your Data
analysis methods (e.g using
Microsoft Excel for table and graphs etc), and how you will
present the findings. Research
limitations and Ethical issues involved should be clearly
explained.

12. 6
(e) Provide an appropriate plan and procedures for the agreed
research specification (Covers
AC1.5)
Guidance: Research Project plan should include - Introduction,
Aim, Objectives,
Literature review , Methods, Findings/Discussion, Conclusion
and recommendations,
References, Appendices
(f) Research requires a different set of resources and you will
need to match resources
efficiently to the research question or hypothesis chosen by you
(Covers AC2.1)
Guidance: You will need several resources to undertake your
research project. You will have to
match the resources efficiently to the research question and
research objectives. Common
resources include time, books, academic journals, electronic
databases, peer reviewed
academic papers, magazines, conference papers, trade journals
and government report,

13. computer and access to internet. In searching for relevant
materials your key words will be
based on the research question and research objectives or
hypotheses
M1 – Appropriate research methods/approaches and techniques
to find appropriate resolutions
have been applied.
D3 - Suggested innovative solutions around research
methodology have been applied.
(Task 1 covers assessment criteria AC1.1, AC1.2, AC1.3,
AC1.4, AC1.5, AC2.1, M1 & D3)
Task 2: Implementing the Research Project
You must be able to implement the research project within
agreed procedures and to
Specification to cover the following:
(a) Based on your chosen research methodology, undertake the
proposed research
investigation in accordance with the agreed specification and
procedures (Covers
AC2.2)
(b) Record and collate relevant data where appropriate, by
adopting systematic recording
approaches and appropriate methods (Covers AC2.3)
M2 - Relevant research methods/approaches/practices and

14. techniques have been applied.
(Task 2 covers assessment criteria AC2.2, AC2.3 & M2)
7
Task 3: Evaluation of the Research Outcomes
for the Project
Having carried out the research project, you should demonstrate
your understanding of
the research outcomes by addressing the following:
(a) Discuss the findings by using appropriate data analysis
methods and techniques
(Covers AC3.1)
Guidance: Evaluate your results to establish how they address
the research questions and
objectives. Are the Data analysis methods and techniques
appropriate for the type of data
presented? Are the discussions and conclusions logically
following through from the analysis of
findings? Are these credible and free from bias?

15. Have all ethical issues involved in the research been addressed?
Research limitations have been clearly explained?
(b) Based on the findings, interpret and analyse the results in
terms of the original
research specification. (Covers AC3.2)
Guidance: Here you have to use the findings to analyse and
interpret the results with reference
to the research problem, research question, research objectives
(or Hypotheses). Explain to
what extent you consider the findings to be a true representation
of the facts
(c) Based on your analysis in 3.2 above, make recommendations
and justify areas for
further consideration (Covers AC3.3)
Guidance: Your recommendations must clearly explain what the
researched organisation must
do to solve the problem. Your recommendations must also
include areas that require further
research to strengthen your findings. Further research on your
topic would be required to
include the dimensions that you have not measured in your
research
M3 - A range of methods of presentation and correct
terminology in the research project have

16. been used.
(Task 3 covers assessment criteria AC3.1, AC3.2, AC3.3 &
M3)
8
Task 4: Presentation of Research Findings
At this final stage, you must present the outcomes of your
research :
Use an agreed format and appropriate media to present the
outcomes of the research to an
audience. (Covers AC4.1)
Guidance: Here you have to present your findings in an
appropriate report format with headings
and sub-headings in a logical manner. Your findings must be
related to the research problem,

17. research question, research objectives (or hypotheses). You
should also explain any limitations
of your research
D1 - Conclusions for appropriate research have been reached
through combination of analysis
and have been justified.
(Task 4 covers assessment criteria AC4.1 & D1)
D2 – Project has been managed in an effective way, and
evidenced independence in the
research process. Harvard referencing format has been correctly
used in both citations and the
reference list. This should be demonstrated throughout the
research project.
9
Grading Criteria (Pass, Merit, Distinction)
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria for Pass
LO1 Understand how to formulate a

18. research specification
AC1.1- formulate and record possible research project outline
specifications
AC1.2- identify the factors that contribute to the process of
research project selection
AC1.3- undertake a critical review of key references
AC1.4- produce a research project specification
AC1.5- provide an appropriate plan and procedures for the
agreed research specification
LO2 Be able to implement the
research project within agreed
procedures and
to specification
AC2.1- match resources efficiently to the research question
or hypothesis
AC2.2- undertake the proposed research investigation in
accordance with the agreed specification and procedures
AC2.3- record and collate relevant data where appropriate
LO3 Be able to evaluate the research
outcomes

19. AC3.1- use appropriate research evaluation techniques
AC3.2- interpret and analyse the results in terms of the
original research specification
AC3.3- make recommendations and justify areas for further
consideration
LO4 Be able to present the research
outcomes
AC4.1-use an agreed format and appropriate media to
present the outcomes of the research to an audience
Grade Descriptors for MERIT Possible evidence
M1 Identify and apply strategies to find
appropriate solutions
M1 - Various research methodologies/approaches to find
appropriate resolutions have been applied (Tasks 1 and
Task 2).
M2 Select / design appropriate methods
/ techniques
M2 - Relevant research approaches/practices and
techniques have been applied (Tasks 2 and Task 3).

20. M3 Present and communicate
appropriate findings
M3 - A range of methods of presentation and correct
terminology in the research project have been used.
(Tasks 3 and Task 4).
10
Grade Descriptors for DISTINCTION Possible evidence
D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate
own work and justify valid conclusions
D1 - Conclusions for appropriate research have been
reached through combination of analysis and have been
justified (Task 3 and Task 4).

21. 2 Take responsibility for managing and
organising activities
D2 – Project has been managed in an effective way, and
evidenced independence in research. Harvard referencing
format has been correctly used. This can be show
throughout with regard to organisation of the project.
D3 Demonstrate convergent/ lateral /
creative thinking
D3 - Suggested innovative solutions around research
methodology. There are opportunities to show this in Task
1 and Task 2.