BUS9720M Professional Inquiry Project Assessment Brief: Project Proposal

BUS9720M Description of Assessment Task and Purpose: 

The first assessment on this module is a 3,000-word project proposal, presented using the template provided on Blackboard.

The purpose of this assessment is to assess the relevance and feasibility of your proposed project. The introduction and literature review sections should demonstrate your understanding of the existing knowledge base and the methodology section should be as detailed as possible at this stage.

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

LO1Communicate the aims, objectives and relevance of their chosen research project.
LO2Assess ethical issues and determine ways in which resources can be managed in a socially responsible manner.
LO3    Develop achievable and logical plans to guide the implementation of their chosen research project.

Knowledge & Skills Assessed: 

• Knowledge and Understanding: topical issues in business and management informed by contemporary organisation (PO5)
• Subject-Specific Intellectual Skills: assess and solve complex and unpredictable problems and make decisions based on identifying and evaluating appropriate alternatives (PO11)
• Subject-Specific Practical Skills: effectively use information and communication technologies relevant to the Management discipline (PO15); ability to evaluate, integrate and apply theory, practice and reflection in an ethical and responsible way (PO16); acquire, evaluate and synthesise a range of information for diverse organisational purposes including new situations (PO17)
• Transferable Skills and Attributes: plan and implement projects in an autonomous and independent manner, and take responsibility for acquiring new knowledge and skills (PO23).

BUS9720M Assessment Submission Instructions: 

You are required to submit your assessment before 12 noon on Thursday 19 June 2025 using the Turnitin submission point on the Blackboard module site. Pay careful attention to instructions provided at the time of submission. 

Late submissions, whether measured against an original or formally extended deadline, shall be penalised.  The penalty shall consist of a reduction in the mark of 10 percentage points for each whole or partial day late (even a few minutes), including weekends. For example, where an assignment warranting a merit mark of 58% is submitted late within the first 24 hours, a mark of 48% shall be recorded.

Please note that the total word limit of 3,000 words for this assignment is an absolute maximum. Misrepresentation of word counts in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage in assessment may be referred as an academic offence. The word count should be clearly stated on the first page of the assignment.

Students should be aware that the marker will not include any work after the maximum word limit has been reached within the allocation of marks. Students may therefore be penalised for a failure to be concise and for failing to conclude their work within the word limit specified. Likewise, a failure to meet the maximum word limit may result in lower marks based on the quality of the work because they may not have included the necessary information required for the assessment and met the intended learning outcomes.

The word count includes everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes etc.). It does not include your cover sheet, reference list or Gantt chart.

Where students experience unexpected and exceptional difficulties in preparing for, or completing coursework, and have evidence for this, they may request an extension for coursework submission. Further advice about making an extension request can be found on your OneUni homepage.

Date for Return of Feedback: The expected date to return grades and feedback is Thursday 10 July 2025.

Format for Assessment:

The proposal should be submitted as one document using Microsoft Word (not a pdf).  As a University of Lincoln student, you will have access to Microsoft 365. 

You must use the template provided on the Blackboard module site.

Please comply with the following formatting guidelines: 

• Font / Size:   Calibri/Arial/Times New Roman / 12
• Spacing:  1.5
• Page numbers required?   Yes
• Margins:   at least 2.54 to left and right and text ‘justified’
• Referencing:    full compliance with Harvard protocols 
• The word count should be clearly stated on the cover sheet.

BUS9720M: Marking Criteria for Assessment: 

Please see Assessment Criteria Grid: Project Proposal.

Please note that all work is assessed according to the University of Lincoln Management of Assessment Policy and that marks awarded are provisional on Examination Board decisions (which take place at the end of the Academic Year.

Feedback Format: 

Grades and written feedback will be available electronically on Blackboard. If you have any specific questions relating to the feedback comments, please email your facilitator to discuss.

Additional Information for Completion of Assessment: 

• Please ensure that you use the proposal template provided on Blackboard.
• Your work should discuss the potential ethical dilemmas posed by your research and identify how it connects with the principles of responsible management education (PRME). 
• Your proposal must include a Gantt Chart indicating your schedule of work.
• Ensure all sources referenced in your assessment are correctly listed according to the Harvard System of referencing. 
• Include only sources that you have cited in the work. If you consult any sources which you have not cited, they should be listed in a Bibliography.
• It is very important to use appropriate academic books/e-books and journals/e-journals as the basis for your research.
• Whilst you may use the internet, take great care to ensure that the sites are valid and appropriate for academic purposes. Sites such as Wikipedia, Businessballs, MindTools etc. are inappropriate for academic research.

Assessment Support Information: 

Learning Resources which will support this assessment include: 

Postgraduate Study Skills: Managing the Dissertation Process

Important Information on Dishonesty & Plagiarism:

University of Lincoln Regulations define plagiarism as 'the passing off of another person's thoughts, ideas, writings or images as one's own. Examples of plagiarism include the unacknowledged use of another person's material whether in original or summary form. Plagiarism also includes the copying of another student's work'.

Plagiarism is a serious offence and is treated by the University as a form of academic dishonesty. Students are directed to the University Regulations for details of the procedures and penalties involved.

For further information, see plagiarism.org