MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship / Course details

Topics covered address the following:

• Course unit requirements, expectations, introduction to social science research methods, understanding your dissertation, research ethics
• Epistemological foundations of management research
• Using literature: searching, reading and reviewing techniques (building upon semester 1 BMAN 71751 Tools and Methods for Innovation)
• Research topics, research questions
• Theoretical and conceptual frameworks
• Research strategy and sampling, using secondary data, statistical questions and analysis of data sets (building upon semester 1 BMAN71751)
• Data analysis: qualitative data analysis, case study designs, qualitative data collection and interviews
• Systematic literature review
• Research proposal structure
• Proposal writing
• Advanced academic writing
 

BMAN72352 Programme Req: BMAN72352 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc IME

BMAN72352 Programme Req: BMAN72352 is only available as a core unit to students on MSc IME.

The course aims to provide the foundations of practical research training and skills in management research. It will promote understanding of the main epistemological issues and debates relating to research in management. The unit focuses on acquainting students with a variety of research methodologies used in innovation and entrepreneurship studies and the basis for and epistemological implications of the choice of a particular quantitative and/or qualitative methods. The course will feature guest lectures from method specialists and links to relevant video materials. More specifically, the unit aims to: (i) prepare MSc students to design their dissertation and to have the skills and tools needed for its execution; and (ii) teach students critically to assess research. The research skills will be transferable to work situations such as investigations of new technologies and markets, evaluation of evidence, policy analysis, collecting market evidence and presenting the results of research.

On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to design and implement a small-scale research project and will have demonstrated an understanding of the use of a range of research methods in the area of innovation research. Skills related to data collection, analysis and interpretation are also an outcome as well as ability to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of different methods. These skills will feed directly into students' work on their dissertation projects. Beyond that project, the course aims to provide students with the skills and background to assess research proposals, and to assess the design of finished research presented to them in their potential future roles as managers or analysts. Upon successful completion of the course unit students will be able to give critical and constructive feedback on research (proposed and finished) that they will encounter in their professional activities.

Individual Coursework: Research Proposal  (100%)

Formative non-assessed coursework – individual – powerpoint presentation.

Informal advice and discussion during a lecture, or workshop.
Responses to student emails and questions from a member of staff including feedback provided to the group via an online discussion forum.
Specific course-related feedback sessions - one at the last meeting
Written and/or verbal comments on non-assessed coursework -feedback on formative ppt from lecturers and peer feedback
Written and/or verbal comments after students have given a group or individual presentation during workshops
Feedback on final assignment (research proposal).
 

Required reading:

Saunders, M. N. Research methods for business students. Pearson Education India. 6 edition (2012) or later.

General/Comprehensive Texts:

Blaxter L., Hughes C., Tight M. (1996). How to Research, Open University Press, Buckingham, 1996
Robson, C. (1993). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner- researchers. Oxford: Blackwell.
Creswell, J. W. (2009) 3rd edition Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Easterby-Smith, Mark, Thorpe, Richard and Jackson, Paul R. (2008) 3rd edition Management Research Sage.
Burns, R.B. (2000) 4th edition Introduction to Research Methods Sage
Dixon B.R., Bouma G.D., Atkinson G.B.J. (1987). A Handbook of Social Science Research: a comprehensive and practical guide for students, Oxford University Press, NY. Ackroyd, S. and Hughes, J. (1992) 2nd edition Data Collection in Context London and New York: Longman.
Gill, J., Johnson, P., (1997) Research Methods for Managers, Paul Chapman Publishing. Hakim C. (1987). Research Design: Strategies and Choices in the Design of Social Research, Allen & Unwin, London.
 

Online lectures are followed by small group workshops with lecturers, while the statistics sessions include online lectures followed by workshops in the computer labs.