Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier

ABM5560

Module Title

Managerial Reports

Academic Year

2020/2021

Co-ordinator

Professor Andrew Thomas

Semester

Semester 3 (Dissertation)

Other Staff

Course Delivery

Assessment

Due to Covid-19 students should refer to the module Blackboard pages for assessment details

Assessment Type	Assessment length / details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Research Project 10,000 word report	70%
Semester Assessment	Strategic Analysis 4,000 word report	30%
Supplementary Assessment	Research Project 10,000 report	70%
Supplementary Assessment	Strategic Analysis 4,000 word report	30%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

* Identify a suitable topic for research on a specific company /organisation/institution or management-related issue or problem

* Plan, organise and manage an extensive research project on the chosen topic under the guidance of the module co-ordinator and/or supervisor

* Make use of library and electronic resources to identify literature and locate data

* Synthesize and critically appraise a body of academic and professional literature

* Apply appropriate analytical, statistical, IT, writing and other research skills in order to present relevant theoretical and/or empirical evidence on the chosen topic

* Compile, edit, and present a substantial research report in a form consistent with the typical 'management report' format employed in business and industry

Brief description

The Report offers the opportunity for students to demonstrate investigative and research skills that are taught during the contact sessions of the module. The separate components include a Strategic Analysis to scope the chosen subject area and supervised research into real-world organizations.
The Report will provide some description of, for instance, financial data and product-market strategy. Examiners will seek to specifically award grades to students that address the following:

Critical analysis of the company/organizational/ institutional situation
Demonstrate the use of tools, techniques, frameworks and analytical approaches to diagnose the company /organizational/institutional situation
Demonstrate an appreciation of 'time' illustrating the dynamic elements involved in strategic and organizational evolution (students are strongly recommended to consider the longitudinal issues over time rather than purely adopt a static view point of the issues today).
Use appropriate referencing (both managerial and academic sources) so as to anchor analyses to literature, rather than make the project self-opinion-based.

Students should appreciate that this assignment is deliberately broad. There is no definitive structure and the scope given in the brief above is designed as integral to the assessment process. This latitude provides an opportunity for students to compile the most incisive report that analyses the company/organizational/institutional situation. An implicit part of the assessment is that students devise the structure that they feel is most appropriate to their critical analysis.

Content

Understanding of strategy
Report writing, structure, and style
Designing & analyzing Qualitative and Quantitative research
Interpretation of research data
Managerial implications for research findings
Company /organizational/institutional analysis
Using theory and practical knowledge gained in modules taught across the MSc and MBA programmes in the sub-disciplines of: Economics, Human resource management, Organizational behavior, Corporate governance, Operations management, Strategy, Financial management, Management accounting and Marketing to inform students’ own research.

Module Skills

Skills Type	Skills details
Application of Number	The module will develop a student’s ability to read and understand data
Communication	Discussion-based group seminars facilitate critical thinking and help to develop good presentation skills. The use of electronic journals and reports are highly relevant for the successful preparation of the Report. In addition, although not required, students may choose to use electronic library database skills. Independent work on assessed essay helps to develop writing skills which will be of use when writing the assessment
Improving own Learning and Performance	Students will improve their learning by undertaking directed but independent study and work. Time management will be crucial in preparation for the assessments
Information Technology	The use of electronic journals and reports are highly relevant for the successful preparation of the Report. In addition, although not required, students may choose to use electronic library databases
Personal Development and Career planning	The module provides content which will prove highly valuable for students in their later careers. Knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues in the research study area as well as research skills developed in connection with the preparation of assessed individual coursework contribute to transferable skills
Problem solving	The module demands the participants to apply analytical skills to reason and understand the challenging nature of the subject. By introducing a variety of theoretical as well as empirical topics, the module enables students to develop creative thinking approaches to problem solving. These skills will have to be applied in seminar discussions, preparation of the Strategic Analysis and the Report
Research skills	Students will be mostly working with influential theoretical as well as empirical research papers published in management journals. This will introduce them to a range of research methods, which will facilitate development of appropriate research skills necessary to produce a high quality Report
Subject Specific Skills	Use of strategic models to understand developing topic issues Capacity for overseeing tools for data collection and analyses techniques
Team work	Team work ethics are encouraged in seminars. During seminars students will be encouraged to participate in interactive group discussions/presentations

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7