Assessment Information Subject Code: BUS606 Subject Name: Business Research Proposal and Literature Review Assessment Title: Assessment 3 – Final Research Proposal and Literature Review Weighting: 40 % Total Marks: Length: 40 3000 (not including reference list) Due Date: Submission due Week 12 – Sunday at 11.59 pm COURSE: Master of Business (Research) Unit: Business Research Proposal and Literature Review Unit Code: BUS606 Type of Assessment: Assessment 3 – Final Research Proposal and Literature Review Unit Learning Outcomes addressed: (a) Demonstrate an advanced ability to initiate and prepare an original research proposal. (b) Demonstrate an advanced ability to prepare a literature review based on the support of an original research proposal. (c) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the ethical issues associated with an original research proposal and their implications for the research and for the acceptability of the research by an ethics review committee. (d) Critically evaluate the coherence, relevance and methodological merits of a given body of literature. (e) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the theoretical, practical and professional contexts and significance of the research. (f) Prepare a literature review that identifies and discriminates between concepts, issues, key findings and relevant theories most pertinent to the research proposal which the review supports. Criteria for Assessment:  Knowledge and Understanding  Content and exploration of theories and ideas  Analysis, synthesis and critical engagement  Technical skills and referencing Assessment Task: In this task, you will develop a research proposal for a research project addressing Leadership and Management issues that is aligned to one of the Research Clusters in the School of Business. This research proposal will be used to allocate your Research Supervisors who will be appointed to supervisor your Master of Business Research thesis and will also be reviewed by the Research Committee to complete your Confirmation of Candidature requirements. Drawing on your synthesis of the existing research literature in business and allied fields, you will identify a research question based on the theoretical, professional, or organizational 'gap' for a business problem that your proposed research will address. You will analyze the implications of various theoretical approaches in order to choose and develop an appropriate theoretical framework for your research. You will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various methodological approaches before choosing and justifying a preferred methodology for your research. You research proposal and literature review should comprise the following sections: Research Project Title: A working title for the Master of Business Research thesis that is no more than 12 words Research Cluster: Identify ...

1. Assessment Information
Subject Code: BUS606
Subject Name: Business Research Proposal and Literature
Review
Assessment Title: Assessment 3 – Final Research Proposal and
Literature
Review
Weighting: 40 %
Total Marks:
Length:
40
3000 (not including reference list)
Due Date: Submission due Week 12 – Sunday at 11.59 pm
COURSE: Master of Business (Research)
Unit: Business Research Proposal and Literature Review
Unit Code: BUS606
Type of
Assessment:

2. Assessment 3 – Final Research Proposal and Literature Review
Unit Learning
Outcomes
addressed:
(a) Demonstrate an advanced ability to initiate and prepare an
original research proposal.
(b) Demonstrate an advanced ability to prepare a literature
review based on the support of an original research
proposal.
(c) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the ethical issues
associated with an original research proposal and their
implications for the research and for the acceptability of the
research by an ethics review committee.
(d) Critically evaluate the coherence, relevance and
methodological merits of a given body of literature.
(e) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the theoretical,
practical and professional contexts and significance of the
research.
(f) Prepare a literature review that identifies and discriminates
between concepts, issues, key findings and relevant
theories most pertinent to the research proposal which the
review supports.
Criteria for
Assessment:

3. nowledge and Understanding
Assessment Task:
In this task, you will develop a research proposal for a research
project addressing Leadership and Management issues that is
aligned to one of the Research Clusters in the School of
Business.
This research proposal will be used to allocate your Research
Supervisors who will be appointed to supervisor your Master of
Business Research thesis and will also be reviewed by the
Research Committee to complete your Confirmation of
Candidature
requirements.
Drawing on your synthesis of the existing research literature in
business and allied fields, you will identify a research question
based on the theoretical, professional, or organizational 'gap'
for a
business problem that your proposed research will address. You
will
analyze the implications of various theoretical approaches in
order
to choose and develop an appropriate theoretical framework for
your research. You will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of
various methodological approaches before choosing and
justifying a
preferred methodology for your research.

4. You research proposal and literature review should comprise the
following sections:
Research Project Title: A working title for the Master of
Business
Research thesis that is no more than 12 words
Research Cluster: Identify the Research Cluster aligned to your
research project
er 1: Leadership and Management of Large
Corporations
-for Profit
Organisations
-ups, SMEs
and Family Business
Technological and
Digital Transformation Cluster 5: Leadership and
Management of Sustainable Business Operations
Multilateral Organisations
d
Hospitality Organisations
Executive Summary of the Research Project: In one paragraph
state the purpose of the research, the research approach and the

5. conclusion from the project.
Introduction: The introduction should provide an overview of
the
research project and issues addressed by the research. Place
your
project in conversation with other projects on similar topics.
Justification for the Research: Provide justifications for your
project by explaining the need for the research, why your
proposed
research is important and what is the expected contribution of
your
research to the field of study.
Review of literature: The literature review should address and
synthesise the relevant literature and prior research in the
parent
disciplines and relevant sub-disciplines.
Identification and definition of key terms: All key terms used
need to be identified and definitions justified.
Evaluation of current theory and practice: Critically evaluate
the
current theories relevant to the research and identify gaps and
related issues that the research project will address.
Research Objectives: State the general purpose of the project
and
outline the specific objectives you want to achieve by
undertaking
the research project.

6. Research Questions: Specify the key research questions you
want
to address in your research project. These questions should be
consistent with your objectives.
Statement of the Research Problem: Clearly define your
research problem. This section must address the following
questions: “What is the gap that needs to be filled?” and/or
“What is
the problem that needs to be solved.
Statement of proposed research methodology: Outline the
proposed research methodology such as quantitative methods,
qualitative methods, or mixed methods. Also outline your
research
paradigm, research design, research strategy, sampling design,
data collection method, and data analysis method. You must
provide justifications for all your methodological decisions.
Statement of data sources and data collection methods: Outline
how you propose to collect data for your research. Ensure this
is a
practical proposition and that you have taken account of the
time
required to collect data and any costs associated with data
collection.
Evaluation of all ethical considerations: Identify the ethical
concerns you anticipate and demonstrate how you will address
them.
Statement of Expected Research Contribution: Prepare a
statement outlining what is the expected contribution of your
research project to the filed of research in the areas of
theoretical

7. development, methodological practice, leadership and / or
management practice, policy or regulatory development or other
areas of contribution.
Research timetable: Develop a timetable that will enable you to
complete your proposed research thesis within the two
semesters of
study for the Master of Business Research thesis. This timetable
must be realistic and you will be held accountable to meeting
this
timetable by your supervisors.
Bibliography: The research proposal should be supported by an
extensive bibliography comprising at a minimum 30 references.
Submission Date: Week 12 (online submission).
Total Mark &
Weighting:
40 marks | 40%
Students are advised that any submissions past the due date
without an approved
extension or approved extenuating circumstances incur a 5%
penalty per calendar
day,
calculated from the total mark e.g. a task marked out of 15 will

8. incur a 1.75 mark penalty
per calendar day.
Marking Rubrics

9. Criteria
HD (High Distinction)
85%-100%
DN (Distinction)
75%-84%
CR (Credit)
74%-65%
P (Pass)
50%-64%
F (Fail)
0%-49%
Knowledge and
u n d e rs t a n d i n g
5 m a rk s
Comma nd of th e
topic, u nus ual
creat ivity,
perception and
insight, all
suggesting that
work should be

10. pub lish ed i n a n
academic forum.
Dem onstr ates
comman d of the
topic by showing
creativity,
perception and
insight — a
serious
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o
t h e academic
debate.
Dem onstr ates a
wel l- informed
understanding of
the to pic by
showin g
creativity and

11. insight — a
serious
contribution to
the academic
debate.
Understanding
of contemporary
academic
debate, with
some
creative input and
insight, with a
tendency toward
description.
Limited/poor
understanding
demonstrated. Any
creative input is

12. somewhat off the
point.
Content and
exploration of theories
and ideas
15 marks
Outstanding
selection that
makes a
substantial
contribution to
academic
debate.
O u tst a n d i n g
s e l ect i o n from a
wide relevant and
innovative range
of perspectives

13. and sources.
Selection from a
wide and
rel eva nt r an ge
of perspectives
and sources
that draws
upon
contemporary
academic
debate.
Relevant selection
from a ra ng e of
pe rspectiv es
and sources.
Sources are
mostly
inte gr ate d int o

14. the overall
argument.
Narrow selection,
minimal use of
sources, to support the
argument.
Analysis,
synthesis and
critical engagement
15 marks
Outstanding use
of source
material.
Excellent
argument that is
S ourc es very
wel l integrated
into the overall
argument. Clear

15. well
Sources well-
integrated into
the overall
argument.
Clear, cogent
Mostly clear,
cogent and well-
structured
argument.
Dem onstr ates
Sources are not
properly integrated
into the a rgument.
A bs enc e of clear
and c og ent
of the hig hest

16. acad em ic quality.
Critical distance
and outstanding
analysis of the
question, to a
high degree of
excellence.
structured
argument that is
well crafted and
cogent. Critical
distanc e and
outstanding
analysis of the
question.
and well-
structured
argument.

17. Critical
distance and sound
analysis of the
question.
criticality a n d
g e n e r a l ly g o o d
analysis.
argument.
Incomplete analysis
with a tendency to
accept the source
material at face
value.
Technical skills
and referencing
5marks
Referencing
impeccable

18. using
appropriate
conventions.
No errors in
grammar or
spelling.
Referencing clear
and accurate using
appropriate
conventions.
Virtually no errors i n
grammar or
spelling.
Referencing
clear and
accurate
using
appropriate

19. conventions. Good
grammar and
spelling.
Referencing
sufficiently clear
and using an
appropriate
convention.
Adequate
grammar and
spelling.
References
limited/inappropriate.
Many errors in
grammar and
spelling, making it
difficult or impossible
to read.