Diploma in ManagementThe Project

Please note: these slides are a summary of the Diploma in Management”Project Handbook” 2007 University of Leicester School of Management

About the Project

• Final stage of the Diploma in Management

• 6000 (+/- 10%) word written report or extended essay on an area of your choice

• Can be broadly on any topic related to one or more of the subjects covered on the programme

• Submitted bound in hard copy form

Which Topic to Choose?

• Usually involves identifying and analysing a management problem, devising and evaluating solutions and producing realistic & acceptable recommendations for action

• But, it could also be a more theoretically focused piece of work which analyses in detail an issue of management thought

What makes a good project?

• Original• Well written• Critically informed• Interesting• Valuable• Adds something

Three Stages to Writing the Project

1. Preparation & Planning• Identifying a potential topic

• Assessing the feasibility of the project

• Formulating the research question (& sub questions)

• Reviewing the literature (and perhaps revising your research question based on this)

• Developing your research methodology

2. Doing the Research• Collecting the data

• Analysing the data

3. Writing up your report

1. Preparation & Planning

• Select a project that is:• Interesting to you and/or the organisation

• Relevant to your career plans

• Perhaps a hot topic in the media/academic literature

• Is it feasible in terms of:• Timing, access to information, your own skills & interests

• Resources, legal/ethical

1. Preparation & Planning

• Formulating a research question – an example:

”Are there gender differences in the experience of work-life balance in Denmark?”

• Subquestions might be:

To what extent is work-life balance an important issue for Danish men compared to Danish women?

Do Danish men deal with work-life balance differently from Danish women?

Do Danish men & women see work-life balance as a source of stress?

• It is important to make your research question as narrow & specific as possible – vague or over ambitious questions make for superficial projects that try to cover too much ground and never really ”get to the point”

1. Preparation & Planning

• Reviewing the literature will help you to:

• Refine your research question & objectives

• Place your project in context

• Develop a sound methodology

1. Preparation & Planning

• Information Sources• It’s important your literature review is

comprehensive & up-to-date• Primary sources – theses, Email, meeting

minutes, business & conference reports• Secondary sources – Books, Journals,

Newspapers, Internet etc.• Tertiary sources – Indexes, abstracts,

dictionaries, enclopediasr

1. Preparation & Planning

• Information Sources• The most recognised in

academic terms are books reporting research or journal articales but you can also use:

Textbooks Reports (e.g. from Mintel) Conferance ppapers Student theses &

dissertations Newspapers Radio/television

1. Preparation & Planning

• Developing the Research Methodology• Research methods:• Questionnaires• Interviews• Direct observation• Case study

• I suggest you do some additional reading about research methodology

2. Doing the Research

• Collecting data – this can be extreamly time consuming – be realistic

• Analysing data – go back to your research question and focus on & identify the data that will assist you in reaching your conclusions

3. Writing up the Report

• It’s easy to underestimate how long this takes

• Keep accurate notes about your literature review – record all your references

Report Structure

• Title page• Table of contents• Acknowledgements• Executive summary / abstract• Introduction• Main body of the report – often including separate

chapters or sections for the literature review, methodology, results & analysis

• Conclusions & recommendations• Reflections• References• Appendices

Executive Summary

• A ”shop window” for your project• Should occupy no more than an A4 including:• Introduction to the project• Research questions• Key findings from the literature review• An overview of the methodology• Summary of the results• Key conclusions & recommendations

Introduction

• Sets the scene & may include:

• A statement of the topic issue or problem to be studied & the research question

• Any notable exclusions • Relevant contextual information • An overview of the literature review• Brief details of data sources, data collection & analysis

methods• The importance of the work • Any recognised limitations

Main Body of the Report

• Usually contains several chapters, sections or sub-sections (e.g. chapter 1, section 1.1 etc.)

• The main body may include the following chapters/subsections:

• Literature review• Methodology• Results• Analysis/commentary

Assessment Criteria used by the University

• Clarity of purpose• Use and critical

understanding of theory• Relevance & justification

of the methodology• Critical understanding &

analysis• Demonstration of study’s

implications & limitations• Conclusions &

recommendations• Quality of presentation

Final Thoughts

• One hard copy must be submitted• Deadline for submission – maximum

two years from registration• Graded in the same way as your

previous assignments including an AGC form

• The university’s Project Handbook (available on Blackboard) contains valuable information about all aspects of ”The Project”

• Sample projects are available on Blackboard

Specimen Title Page

Management & the AvoidanceOf Pain

Student Number

Name

Carried out in conjunction with XYZ MarketingServices Ltd. Leicester

Project submitted to the University of LeicesterIn partial fulfilment of the requirements for the

Award of Diploma in ManagementApril 2008

Management & the AvoidanceOf Pain

Student Number

Name

Carried out in conjunction with XYZ MarketingServices Ltd. Leicester

Project submitted to the University of LeicesterIn partial fulfilment of the requirements for the

Award of Diploma in ManagementApril 2008