Business Strategy & Research Project Combined Assignment

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Brighton School of Business and Management Limited


Business Strategy and Research Project

Combined Assignment

Word Count for the Research Proposal should be 1,000 to 1,250 words

Word Count for the Final Report should be 9,000 to 10,000 words + Appendices

Stage 1

Prepare a Research Proposal for an investigation into:

The ECCO Approach to Business Strategy

You may choose to focus on any Division within the ECCO organisation

You will need to:

prepare an action plan with target dates and methods for monitoring and updating the plan

show how you will use primary and secondary research methods

justify the chosen methodology in terms of the research topic

devise a code of ethics for the conduct of the study

prepare and agree your Proposal with your Tutor

Please see Assessment Notes and Guidance on Research Stages and Techniques, below, fordetailed guidance on this activity

Stage 2

Carry out the Research:

You will need to show that you have:

Analysed how the business environment is considered in strategy formulation, by:

• defining the contexts of business strategy• explaining the significance of stakeholder analysis• shown how strategic positioning techniques can be applied

Examined different approaches to strategy evaluation, selection, and implementation, by:

• evaluating alternative strategic planning models• preparing an organisational audit of the organisation• evaluating the organisation’s current strategy • evaluating the organisation’s current approach to strategic planning

Show that you understand and can apply the process of strategic planning, by:

• select an appropriate future strategy for the selected organisation• prepare a strategic plan to implement the proposed strategy• identify the roles and responsibilities for the implementation of the proposed strategy• identify resource requirements to implement the proposed strategy• propose targets and timescales for achievement in a given organisation to monitor a given

strategy





Stage 3

Present Your Report

You will need to:

present and summarise the findings as a written report make recommendations which identify and justify areas for future research

Stage 4

As a Supplement to the main report:

evaluate the planning and research activity process undertaken

evaluate the methodology used

critically analyse the quality of the findings

make recommendations for improvement for use in future research projects

Please see Assessment Notes and Guidance on Research Stages and Techniques , below, for detailed guidance on this activity





Assessment Notes

Evidence for this assignment should be generated through a written report on the selected issue

The report should look at the present day and the current culture and operation of the organisation,with a view on the issues which impact most strongly upon it. There should also be an appreciation of

current and imminent events, and emerging trends, which impact most strongly on current structure,operations, and strategies.

The report should demonstrate a sound understanding of research methods and protocol.

The study should show evidence of both primary and secondary research

The student will need to demonstrate the ability to work independently, and to provide evidence of anindividual approach in the finished work.

Tutor approval must be sought before beginning the study.

To achieve each outcome a student must demonstrate the ability to:

1 Prepare a research proposal relating to a specified area of business• identify a research question or hypothesis and justify choice • justify the chosen methodology in terms of the research question• prepar e an action plan with target dates and methods for monitoring and updating• devise a code of ethics for the conduct of the study

2 Conduct research using primary and secondary sources of information• undertake primary and secondary research relating to the proposal• describe and justify the chosen methodology

3 Carry out the research project into the specified area of business• prepare for the research project and agree process and action plan with supervisor

• monitor and revise schedule when required• collect and review data using appropriate methods, including primary and secondary research techniques• analyse and interpret appropriate qualitative and quantitative data

4 Present and evaluate the findings with regard to the initial proposal• record findings in an accepted format• present and summarise the findings using suitable methods and format• evaluate the methodology used and critically analyse the findings • make recommendations which identify and justify areas for future research

* for guidance on research techniques and support materials, please see below





Guidance on Research Stages and Techniques

1 Research proposal

Research methodologies: intervention, non-intervention, action research.

Hypothesis: definition, suitability, skills and knowledge to be gained, aims, objectives, terms

of reference, duration, ethical issues. Action plan: rationale for research question or hypothesis, task dates, review dates,

monitoring/reviewing process, strategy.

2 Primary and secondary sources

Primary: questionnaires — type, layout, distribution, original research data gathered by thestudent; interviews, selecting interviewees, bias, verification of data, time, place, style.

Secondary: eg books, journals, library search, use of IT, internet, media.

3 Research project

Preparation: identifying ideas/topics/areas of investigation, research question(s), scope andfeasibility, hypothesis, literature search, agreeing the process, targets, milestones, actionplan, timetable and procedure, monitoring and revision.

Methodology: literature search, eg library, internet, sector data sources; pure and appliedresearch, developmental, longitudinal, survey, case study, research and development,concepts and theories, terminology, validity and reliability.

Qualitative data analysis: interpreting transcripts, coding techniques, categorisation,relationships, trends, use of computers; presentation of data.

Quantitative data analysis: coding/values, manual/electronic methods, specialist software;presentation of data, eg bar/pie charts, graphs, statistical tables; comparison of variables,trends, forecasting.

4 Present and evaluate

Presentation: formal written format, diagrammatic or graphical figures.

Methodology: presentation via formal written format, critique of the methods used in thestudy, recommendations, eg using the findings, recommendations for the future, areas forfuture research.

Evaluation: planning, objectives, focus, benefits, difficulties.

Criteria: purpose, editing, format, sequencing success, critical analysis, discussion ofevidence and findings.

Support materials

BSBM Course Text Book

Bell J — Doing your Research Project 3rd Edition (Open University Press, 1999) ISBN: 0335203892

Gill J and Johnson P — Research Methods for Managers 2nd Edition (Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd,1997) ISBN: 185396350X

Lock D — Project Management (Gower publications, 2000) ISBN: 056608225X

McNiff J — Action Research: Principles and Practice (Routledge Falmer, 2001) ISBN: 0415219949

Robson, C — Real World Research (Blackwell Publications, 2001) ISBN: 0631213058

Business Strategy & Research Project Combined Assignment

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