MN50421: Dissertation
[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]
 Academic Year: | 2020/1 |
| Owning Department/School: | School of Management |
| Credits: | 30 [equivalent to 60 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 600 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 100% |
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| Description: | Aims: The dissertation unit enables students to explore a particular topic that has been covered during the programme in-depth. Given the combined management and engineering nature of the programme, students may either choose to produce a dissertation that spans both management and engineering perspectives and methodologies or study perspectives from within one or other stance. The unit consists of a) a taught element to develop the students' understanding of the range of research methodologies that may be applied in engineering and management disciplines; b) an independent research project where students are responsible for pursuing a piece of academic research under the guidance of a supervisor from either Management or Engineering. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will be able to: * design and systematically undertake engineering management dissertation research including the ability to select and justify the focus, scope and methodology of such research * evaluate the rigour and validity of existing research in engineering management and assess its relevance to new situations * extrapolate from existing engineering management research and scholarship to formulate focused research questions * analyse a range of empirical data relating to engineering management, relating findings to existing research and drawing appropriate conclusions * provide a new interpretation of existing information or provide an original view on an issue * capture the findings from a research project in a written report. Skills: * Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (e.g. essays) (Taught/Facilitated/Assessed). * Ability to select, analyse and present numerical and/or non-numerical data (T/F/A). * Ability to select, summarise and synthesise written information from multiple sources (T/F/A). * Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models (T/F/A). * Ability to synthesise multidisciplinary perspectives on the same problem (T/F/A). * Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer (T/F/A). * Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (T/F/A). * Ability to work independently, without close supervision or guidance (T/F/A). Content: The dissertation may address any area of engineering management which is (i) relevant to the programme and (ii) for which an adequate level of supervision can be offered. Dissertations require review of published literature and data analysis of data (this could be analysis of secondary data or of primary data collected by the student, for example through administering a questionnaire, conducting an in-depth case study, or conducting an experiment or simulation). The dissertation should include a discussion of the methodology employed in its production and will usually make explicit reference to at least one important engineering management issue or theme covered as part of the Certificate or Diploma stage of the programme. It is the students' responsibility to choose their research area, organize their research activities and negotiate access with external organisations if required. |
| Programme availability: |
MN50421 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Mechanical Engineering
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