Research Methods for Strategic Managers

Project Cover Sheet
Course/Unit Information
Unit Name Research Methods for Strategic Managers
Instructor Information
Name
Phone
Email
Project Information
Full/ Part Project
Date Project Issued
Date Project Due
Turnitin Class ID
Turnitin Password
Student Information
(To be filled by the student prior submitting the project)
Name
Email
Date of Submission
Student Declaration
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I, Savio Francisco Afonso hereby confirm that this project is my own work and not
copied or plagiarized. It has not previously been submitted as part of any assessment for
this qualification. All the sources, from which information has been obtained for this
project, have been referenced as per Harvard Referencing format. I further confirm that
I have read and understood the Westford School of Management rules and regulations
about plagiarism and copying and agree to be bound by them.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Feedback
Name of the Assessor Ashima Keluskar
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria (AC) Assessor Feedback
LO 1
AC MET
Understand how to select
a research question
1.1 - Select a research question
1.2 - Explain the factors that contribute to the
process of successful research question
selection
NOT MET
1.3 - Justify their choice of research question NOT MET
LO 2 AC MET
2

Be able to conduct a
literature review
2.1 - Conduct research to find literature
relevant to the research question
2.2 - Undertake a critical review of the key
literature for inclusion in a research proposal AC MET
LO 3
NOT MET
Understand techniques
used to interpret data in a
research proposal
3.1 - Evaluate techniques for use with
quantitative data in a research proposal
3.2 - Evaluate techniques for use with
qualitative data in a research proposal NOT MET
LO 4
NOT MET
Be able to choose the
appropriate methodology
to research the question
4.1 - Evaluate appropriate research
methodologies in terms of the research
question
4.2 - Choose an appropriate methodology in
terms of the research question NOT MET
NOT MET4.3 - Justify the methodology selected in
terms of the research question
LO 5
Be able to present the
findings of a research
proposal
5.1 - Record findings on a research question,
literature review and methodology in an
agreed format
AC MET
5.2 - Summarise the findings using suitable
methods NOT MET
5.3 Present the findings using suitable
methods AC MET
5.4 Critically analyse the findings NOT MET
Internal Verification Report
Internal Verification Done By Date
Project Brief
3
Over All Result/Grade REDO Date: 07/09/2019
Summative Feedback:
Overall Feedback on
current work with
emphasis on how the
student can further
improve in future.
Some of the answers seems missing. Also Recommendations seems
missing.

Assessors Decision
General Guidelines
(Please read the instructions carefully)
1. Complete the title page with all necessary student details and ensure that the signature of the student is
marked in the declaration form.
2. All projects must be submitted as an electronic document in MS Word to the LMS (Use 12 Times New
Roman script).
3. Project that is not submitted to the LMS by the prescribed deadline will be accepted ONLY under the
REDO and RESIT submission policy of Westford.
4. You will PASS the full project task only if you achieve “AC Met” in each of the Assessment Criteria.
5. The results are declared only if the student has met the mandatory attendance requirement of 75%
and/or a minimum of 50% under extenuating circumstances approved and ratified by the Academic
Director. The student has to repeat the module (with additional fees applicable) if the attendance is
below 50%.
6. The project should not contain any contents including references cited from websites like
www.ukessays.com, www.studymode.com, www.slideshare.net , www.scribd.com.
7. Students can refer Wikipedia as a source of information, but the references cited in Wikipedia
has to be mentioned.
8. Submit the project in a MS Word document with the file name being:
First Name Last Name_ abbreviation of the subject.
Example: John Smith_RMSM.
Quick reference Checklist for the Faculty/Instructor to accept/reject the project before evaluation:
1. Adherence to the deadline of submission date.
2. Original cover sheet and format retained.
3. Student information and signature intact.
4. Font style and size used as instructed.
5. Harvard Referencing System and Citations are strictly followed.
Task: Report covering LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 & LO5.
Project title Research Methods for Strategic Managers
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Prepare a research project report based on a chosen area of study pertaining to any of the
management functions like HR, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Logistics, etc. Research report
can also be prepared on cross-functional domains or on any of the major contemporary issues of
management. You will choose your own company or a company of your choice and actually carry
out research based on collection of primary data, as well as secondary data pertaining to the area
of your research work. Following structural guidelines must be adhered to, while preparing the
research report:
Structural guidelines:
1. The word limit for report should be between 5000-6000, excluding cover pages, references and
appendices.
The report must contain a cover page with the topic title, table of contents, brief abstract, list of tables,
figures and diagrams specifying their numbers and respective page numbers.
The report should be concluded with a proper referencing, prepared on Harvard Referencing Style,
which must be reflected in in-text citations.
4. The appendices and/or annexures must provide the sample of the questionnaire, interview questions,
used to obtain data through feedback for the purpose of the research.
The report also must contain logical conclusions and recommendations in the end.
Project (Project Report)
Note1. The first chapter must contain a brief Introduction of the chosen company, including selection of
aim, objectives and research question(s).
1. The project report should start with the company particulars, leading onto specific issues/
problems the researcher wants to research upon. Draw out the main Aim of your research, give
out your main Objectives (approx. 3-4), and also select your Research Questions (one or two).
2. Explain the factors that contribute to the process of successful research question(s) selection.
3. Based on the factors enumerated above in 1.2, justify the choice of the research question(s)
selected by you in context of your chosen organisation.
Note 2. The second chapter must contain relevant literature pertinent to the research question(s) and the
same should be critically analysed by bringing out clearly the voids/ gaps observed from the available
literature and the research work objectives the researcher wants to accomplish, through his/ her basic
research question(s).
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4. The review of literature should comprise both academic and non-academic literature, and should
be a fair combination of literature available from academic sources such as published journals and
articles, as well as other non-academic sources like reports, manuscripts, publications, etc. A
proper research judgment must be applied by conducting research to find literature relevant to the
research question(s). The evaluation should undertake a critical review of the key literature for
inclusion in your research proposal
Note 3. The third chapter of the project will bring out the research methods and methodology chosen by
the researcher to justify how these methods and methodology will help him/ her to find answers to their
research question(s).
5. Evaluate appropriate research methodologies you could choose to help you find answers to your
research question(s), and thereafter choose the most appropriate methodology which will help
you to find answers to your research question(s), bringing out clearly the rationale and
justification of why have you chosen the said methodology.
Note 4. The fourth chapter of the project on the data collection should reflect the understanding of
techniques used which will help you to effectively interpret your data in a research proposal.
6. The process of research for collection of data can be Quantitative and/ or Qualitative. You will
carry out both Quantitative and Qualitative process of research during your research work.
Evaluate the techniques you will use for acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data in your
research proposal. Also, during collection of data, you must justify in terms of fundamental
judgments like how will you collect this data, as well as bring out the population involved,
sampling method and sample size you intend choosing.
Note 5. The fifth and final chapter of the project requires you to record your findings, critically analyse
the quantitative and qualitative data collected by you, and thereby help you to come to firm conclusions
and recommendations.
7. Based on the collection of your primary and secondary data, record the findings of your research
work with respect to finding answers to your research question(s), the literature review done by
you, and the methodology chosen by you. The findings will be recorded and presented with the
help of graphs, charts, tables and use of simple statistical tools like percentages, mean, median,
etc. The findings must be critically analyzed by highlighting similarities and dissimilarities with
the findings of other researches and the literature reviewed. The limitations of the present
research, implications of present research should also be highlighted in brief. Summarize the key
findings, come to firm conclusions and recommendations.
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