MSc Sustainable Business

The Sustainable Business Research Project will enhance your skills by requiring you to independently design and deliver research and produce compelling evidence-based arguments for actionable solutions to sustainability challenges. During your career as a sustainable business professional and change agent, you may choose to work in a variety of organisations.  To support your ambitions, there is a choice between two research project pathways:  

1) a traditional individual academic dissertation; or

2) a group-based project and individual reflective report. Group projects are based on real world challenges (framed by sustainable business practitioners). Projects will be sourced through a variety of channels, including the University of Manchester’s Living Labs.
 

The unit aims to:

- provide the opportunity for students to plan, manage, conduct, and communicate research on a topic related to sustainable business

- apply students’ theoretical knowledge from the taught part of the programme to either 1) a real-world decision-making context or 2) an empirical sustainability problem of their choice

- develop students’ knowledge of, and competence in, conducting academically rigorous research, including the synthesis and evaluation of findings, and critical analysis

-apply problem solving skills to produce compelling evidence-based arguments for actionable solutions to sustainability challenges

- equip students with the competencies and skills of a sustainable business professional as required by employers in private, public and third sector organisations

Students will develop a range of practical skills and key competencies that are required to work in a variety of sustainable business roles. Students will be able to translate sustainable business challenges into researchable problems and select and apply relevant research techniques to acquire and analyse data. Students will be able to synthesise and evaluate findings, as well as communicate to academic and non-expert audiences. These are important skills for sustainability practitioners who are required to conduct, interpret, and/or translate research, critically reflect, take a position on sustainability challenges and compelling communicate this position to drive action. Students will also develop the project management skills required to deliver change.

Students following the Group Project pathway will further develop their collaboration and negotiation skills, which are critical for working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder environments.
 

Syllabus (indicative curriculum content):

This unit requires students to undertake an independent research project. Students can choose between two pathways:

1) a conventional individual academic Masters dissertation; or

2) group-based project and individual reflective essay to develop reflective practice and encourage continual professional development. Group projects may be based on real- life sustainable business problems (framed by sustainable business practitioners), including projects sourced from the University of Manchester University Living Lab.

This course unit provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours developed in previous units.  Students are introduced to the research project pathways during workshops in semester 1 onwards and prepared for their chosen pathway by the Research Process and Sustainable Business Projects course unit in Semester 2, which introduces students to the research process, equips them with knowledge of a variety of research techniques and supports students to design, develop and deliver their research proposal.  Students will meet with supervisors regularly after second semester teaching.
 

Teaching and learning for this course unit is built around an independent research project.

Considerable thought has gone into preparing students for the independent research project.  Live instructor-led interactive workshops are to be held in semesters 1 and 2 to familiarise students with the possible research project pathways of 1) academic dissertation and 2) group report and reflective essay. The aim of these workshops is to support students as they decide which pathway they will choose to progress along. These live workshops are complemented by online resources (e.g. Blackboard page, Research Project Handbook, presentations) so that students can work through the material in their own time and at a pace that suits them.

A live instructor-led interactive workshop will be provided with the support of AMBS post-graduate careers service (PCS) on group dynamics and collaboration to raise self-awareness and provide training on techniques for successful collaborative working.

The Research Process and Sustainable Business Projects course unit in Semester 2, introduces students to the research process, equips them with knowledge of a variety of research techniques and supports students to design, develop and deliver a research proposal that will inform their dissertation or group report.

Supervision will also be in person and interactive.  An individual dissertation/group project supervisor will be allocated during semester 2. Students will have regular supervision meetings during their independent research. Dissertation supervisors will offer feedback on an outline of the student's dissertation project, give advice on ethical approval processes where appropriate and provide formative feedback on 1) research proposal; 2) literature review; 3) research design and collection; 4) empirical data and analysis; and 5) one full draft of the dissertation. 
 

KU1 Identify, explain, and critically apply relevant theories, concepts, and ideas from the programme to a sustainability problem.

KU2 Demonstrate knowledge of sustainability challenges faced by businesses and their role in addressing these challenges.

KU3 Examine how sustainable businesses can develop and support solutions to meet sustainability challenges.
 

IS1 Design, develop and carry out academically rigorous research and draw evidence-based conclusions.

IS2 Apply a systematic understanding of the theoretical basis of ‘sustainable business’ to a real-world problem.

IS3 Synthesize and analyse complex issues in a critical and systematic way.

PS1 Communicate theory and evidence-based arguments through academic and/or business writing.

PS2 Research, synthesise and critically analyse data and information from published literature, databases and digital sources.

PS3 Apply problem solving skills individually or collaboratively to produce compelling arguments for actionable solutions to sustainability challenges.
 

TS1 Use written communication skills to communicate ideas and evidence to expert and non-expert audiences.

TS2 Demonstrate effective project management processes.

TS3 Demonstrate critical analysis, research and data presentation skills.
 

Individual Dissertation Submission September.

Feedback is provided by the internal examiners via marksheets in time for relevant exam boards.

Group Report Submission September.

Feedback is provided by the internal examiners via marksheets in time for relevant exam boards.

Individual reflective learning essay Submission September.

Feedback is provided by the internal examiners via marksheets in time for relevant exam boards.

ENHANCEMENT OF DIGITAL LITERACY  

Students will learn a range of digital skills, including:
- Using digital data sources (e.g. searching for and analysing online data and documentation)
- Online research methods (e.g. conducting online interviews)
- Collaborating with team members during group projects

STATEMENT TO SUPPORT EQUALITY,DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

All previous course units introduce and explore aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion. The Sustainable Business Research Project builds on this. Assessment allows for student choice, providing an opportunity for students to select their preferred research pathway, to focus on something that matters to them and aligns with their values and cultural backgrounds, for example, students will either select their own topic, or negotiate with their group on which topic they will research.