BMGT7075 Integrated Business Reserch Project Pathway (IBRP) Module Handbook 2025

BMGT7075 Purpose of this handbook

The purpose of this Module Handbook is to provide you with specific information that under-pins the design, delivery and management of this module. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the contents of this Module Handbook and to talk to your seminar tutor if you have any questions. This isn’t the only handbook available to you. Alongside this handbook you will also have access to the Institutional University Handbook which will provide you with information that is central to your studies, including policies and regulations, student support and wellbeing and all the services available to you through Student Support. You will also be given a Programme Handbook which will detail the design, delivery principles and management of your programme. It will also provide you with an overview of your key contacts for your programme of study and list all the modules you will be / might be studying throughout the duration of your award.

Section 1 : Module introduction

Overview of Role

Your Module Leader is responsible for the student experience within this module. They ensure that the teaching and learning approach will enable you to achieve all of the learning outcomes for this module and that all of the learning resources are made available to you. They also have responsibility to ensure that you understand what is expected of you regarding the assessment package and that there are
appropriate adjustments in place if you have any specific learning support entitlements. Your Module Leaders will also ensure that the marking of your assessments is fair, consistent and reliable.

Section 2 : How your teaching and learning is organised

Module Aim

This is a capstone module in which students are expected to integrate, apply and extend the knowledge and skills gained within the core modules of the field. It is conceptualised as a retrospective and integrative academic experience. This module provides students with a structured opportunity to integrate their learning by developing their capacity for synthesis, and applying and connecting the learning
gained in core modules of the programme.

Module Learning Outcomes

1. Synthesise and apply knowledge to new contexts in meaningful ways demonstrating a systematic understanding of key aspects of business and management some of which are at the forefront of business and management knowledge.
2. Demonstrate a pluralistic ‘way of knowing' that acknowledges the complexity of multiple perspectives, including an appreciation of the contextuality and the uncertainty and limits of knowledge
3. Devise, substantiate and sustain a convincing and sustained argument 
4. Select, structure, design and apply tools of research, analysis, decision making and evaluation to a substantive and authentic international business and management case or problem
5. Communicate synthesised and complex understandings in both written and oral form.

Module Teaching and Learning Strategy

Students apply business and management knowledge to a complex, integrative, international case with the expectation that they demonstrate within an extended piece of writing their academic and research literacies through a critical understanding and application of relevant disciplinary concepts, intellectual and research skills.

In addition, the module requires students to demonstrate a systematic understanding of current business and management issues and the ability to synthesise understandings drawn from a number of key knowledge areas within an oral examination. The oral exam assesses students’ critical understandings drawn from their project, integrated learning from prior modules and their position on responsible
management and current business issues.

The module is largely self-directed and therefore requires students to show initiative and personal responsibility supported by formative tutorial discussions on draft work that enable student discussion and feedback on their performance.

Module Teaching and Learning Resources Moodle

The Moodle site is organised under semesters and weeks. As this module runs differently from most of the modules you have studied previously it is important that you ensure on a weekly basis what is expected and how the teaching is organised

Reading List and Other Resources

The indicative reading list is largely drawn from core texts used in the pre-requisite and co-requisite modules of the programme. On Moodle under ‘Module Information’, you will find other key resources that we consider useful to read in the first instance.
● Clippinger, D. (2016) Planning and Organizing Business Reports, Sterling Forest: Business Expert Press.
● Saunders, M.N.K. & Lewis, P. (2018) Doing research in business and management: an essential guide to planning your project. 2nd edn. Harlow, England: Pearson.
● Sharp, J.A., Peters, J. & Howard, K. (2002). The management of a student research project. Aldershot, England: Gower.

Reading list specific to the international business case study:
● Tapper, J. (2023) 'Brands to avoid': Mars and Cadbury among chocolate firms criticised in ethics report, The Guardian, 2 December. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/dec/02/brands-to-avoid-mars-cadbury-chocolate-firms-criticised-ethics-report
● Poelmans, E. and Rousseau, S. (2016), "How do chocolate lovers balance taste and ethical considerations?", British Food Journal, Vol. 118 No. 2, pp. 343-361. BFJ-06-2015-0208Savage, S. (2023)

Reasons Not To Take
● Chocolate For Granted, Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensavage/2023/07/21/reasons-not-to-take-chocolate-for-granted/.
● Stichting Social Enterprise (2022). Tony's Chocolonely: How a Social Enterprise Is Changing the Chocolate Industry. The Case Centre.

Section 3: How your assessment and Feedback is organised

Module Assessment Strategy

This module follows the principles of the University’s Assessment and feedback policy developed in conjunction with the Student Union, to ensure good practice and transparency in assessment and feedback processes. The Assessment and feedback policy can be found on your Programme’s Moodle site. Please note: the Institutional University Handbook which will provide you with information that is central to your studies, including policies and regulations, student support and wellbeing and all the services available to you through Student Support.
The core information is also available on Moodle via the drop-down menu under ‘Student Help’. Learning on this module is largely self-directed requiring students to demonstrate personal initiative and responsibility. The module is a capstone that pulls together prior learning and runs over two semesters.

There are two assessments. In the first assessment students apply business and management knowledge to a complex, integrative, international case study with the expectation that they demonstrate a critical understanding and application of relevant disciplinary concepts and research skills. Four workshops support students in undertaking the case study along with formative, one-to-one or small group tutorials similar in nature to dissertation supervision.

The second assessment is a 15-minute oral exam that assesses students’ critical understandings drawn from their project, integrated learning from prior modules and their position on responsible management and current business issues. A final workshop is offered in support of the oral exam. Opportunities for formative feedback on your work are provided at multiple points in this module. Individual or small group tutorials provide opportunities for students to obtain formative feedback from tutors in Weeks 5, 6, 7, 10, and 13 on drafts of their international case study. Upon submission of a draft of the first question of assessment 1 students’ will receive written formative feedback.

Key Dates

BMGT7075 Summative Assessment Tasks

Inclusive Support Plan (ISP) arrangements

Recommendations for Reasonable Adjustments are made in accordance with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010. These are detailed in Inclusive Support Plans (ISPs) and need to be implemented unless there is a clear rationale for this not being possible, in which case we are accountable as a university for this decision. Students who have an extension because of an ISP, please contact your Module
Leader if you are unclear about your revised deadlines. If you would like to request a review of your Inclusive Support Plan (ISP) or to have your needs assessed for an ISP, contact the Inclusive Support Service.on inclusivesupport@brookes.ac.uk

The Blue Marking Card adjustment is only available to students who have an Inclusive Support Plan (ISP) specifying this adjustment. Eligible students who wish to use this adjustment must add a blue card:
 inclusive support service of exams and assessments

Inclusive Support Plan (ISP) extensions of up to 3 weeks are applicable for some students on all assignments in this module. If you have an Inclusive Support Plan you can check the full details of the adjustments, including whether you have coursework extensions, in Student Self Service. BannerExtensibility

Coursework Brief 1: International Case

Assignment 1: International Case Study (60%)

Assignment Questions:

1. Critically evaluate Mondelez International’s external and competitive environment specifically in the chocolate industry and its effects on the company’s current and future strategic position.
   
2. Critically evaluate the challenges that Mondelez International has as a mass producer of chocolate in managing its sustainability approaches.
   
3. Based on your research, give recommendations to enhance Mondelez International’s current and future success in the chocolate industry.
   

You are expected to use all of the following readings in answering the question. Note: this is just a starting point. You will have to do substantive further research to be successful on this module.

BMGT7075 Assessment criteria rubric assessment 1 – International Case

BMGT7075 Oral Examination

Summary information

Assessment instructions

The complex oral examination (sometimes referred to as a viva) aims to test your systematic understanding and learning of business and management. It seeks to assess your capacity to synthesise and apply knowledge from a range of subject areas, and your ability to engage in personal reflection.

The content of the complex oral examination will focus on TWO overarching areas:

(i) In-depth critical questioning about your first assignment (the international case study).
In this part of the oral exam, you will be expected to defend your written work on the international case study, and demonstrate developed and wider knowledge of the subject area than is asserted in the case study.

(ii) Complex questioning about your knowledge of previously taken modules.

In this part of the oral exam, you will be expected to demonstrate systematic knowledge and understanding of the modules you have been taking on the MSc degree programme. Questions may be about theories, concepts, issues and themes within these modules as well as your position on current business events and issues.

Assessment criteria rubric assessment 2– Oral Examination