HRM9030M Human Resource Management Dissertation, University Of Lincoln

Introduction

In order to demonstrate professional competence students will be required to undertake a dissertation during the final stage of the course. The dissertation must be linked to an HRM issue which is of relevance to an organisation. The dissertation should be 15,000 – 18,000 words.

Module outline

In order to demonstrate professional competence students will be required to undertake a dissertation during the final stage of the course. The dissertation must be linked to an HRM issue which is of relevance to an organisation. This module constitutes the distinction for the qualification of MSc HRM. The focus of the dissertation will determine the award.

Dissertations should provide an opportunity for evaluating theory in a practical context so allowing links between theoretical ideas and practice to be developed. The dissertation will normally be based upon an in-depth investigation into a managerial or HRM related problem within a ‘real’ organisation and it is anticipated that the contacts that students have made during their project undertaken in the Research Methods in Action module will prove useful here. The work should demonstrate an awareness of strategic issues and have the potential to make a contribution to improvements in organisation performance and to professional standards. In addition, the dissertation should demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of existing literature, contemporary Personnel and Development practices, and of policy issues in the subject area chosen for the dissertation. The dissertation should be 15,000 – 18,000 words. As this work needs to be accessible to senior personnel professionals within the organisation under investigation students will be asked to provide an Executive Summary or an abstract. The final date for submission will normally be in September however there will be the option for student to extend until the following January.

The preparation of the dissertation is supported by a workshop programme in research methodology, which is provided as a taught module earlier in the programme. An appropriate dissertation supervisor is allocated to students.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the module, you should be able to:

LO1 Critically evaluate a business practice that is of strategic relevance to an organisation.
LO2 Critically evaluate existing literature, contemporary HR policy and practice relevant to the chosen issue.
LO3 Identify and discuss the relative merits of different research methods and their relevance to different situations.
LO4  Identify and discuss research strategies and methodologies and demonstrate a strong rationale for their application to the dissertation.
LO5 Based on their understanding of research draw realistic and appropriate conclusions and make recommendations based on costed options where appropriate.
LO6  Develop students' critical understanding of management and business issues in the work environment.
LO7  Develop an understanding of and reflecting on one’s professional practice.