BUSI46Q60: Placement (MSc Management)

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• The module is an alternative to the dissertation, based on a work placement, which must normally be a minimum of 8 weeks full time. The aims are:
• To enable students to use a range of critical perspectives to review and apply relevant management and business knowledge and understanding to complex situations, both systematically and creatively, to improve business and management practice and contribute to organisational performance.
• To develop appropriate attitudes, skills and behaviours to contribute to employability and enable effective contribution in the workplace or as preparation for further research and study in the area. This includes encouraging positive and critical attitudes towards change and enterprise, so as to reflect the dynamism and vibrancy of the business environment.

• Research methods:
• introduction: approach to social research;
• formulating a research question;
• developing a research strategy that fits your question;
• the nature of qualitative research;
• the nature of quantitative research;
• an overview of data gathering methods, including interviews, questionnaires and experiments;
• the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data;
• ethics of research.
• Planning and managing a research project.
• Planning and managing a placement.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module students should have:
• a critical appreciation of the range of philosophical approaches to research in business and management;
• knowledge of the facilities available for conducting literature searches and obtaining relevant data to facilitate empirical investigation;
• a critical understanding of a relevant topic through utilisation of appropriate techniques of research and analysis.

Subject-specific Skills:

• By the end of the module students should have:
• the ability to apply relevant knowledge to critically analyse business problems and decisions, and plan the responses and changes required in an uncertain and changing environment.

Key Skills:

• The ability to think critically and creatively, and to argue coherently and generalise appropriately, based on theory and evidence, for a wide range of situations and organisational problems including new and unfamiliar circumstances
• The capacity for sustained independent work and learning at an advanced level, including the ability to manage time effectively over a series of projects
• The ability to use a toolkit of specialist skills and practices for inquiry into problems, identifying opportunities and implementing change, working with others in projects and communities, and communicating with stakeholders
• The ability to take responsibility for continuing to learn through reflection on practice and developing their own critical self-awareness, knowledge and skills

• The module combines a range of approaches to learning and teaching. Students take part in research methods seminars and lectures to provide a foundation for the research element of the module and also to ensure that they have the option to complete a dissertation (if a placement is not possible). A pre-placement workshop session provides support in preparing for the placement and a post-placement workshop allows students to come together and reflect on the learning from the placement. In addition students have support from the module team to help them plan for and take part in the placement.
• The assessment is closely linked to the learning and allows the students to learn from planning, completing and reflecting on the placement.

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