ULMS790 Strategy, Planning and Implementation Dissertation Module Handbook | UOL

ULMS790 Module Aims and Learning Outcomes:

• Analyze ambiguous information and make reasoned judgements and recommendations within a dynamic and changing environment.
• ​Research and present convincing and reasoned arguments to formulate solutions for strategic action.
• ​Select and apply appropriate models, frameworks or tools to provide critical analysis of a business case.
• Demonstrate critical awareness of current research in business and management through independent analysis of a relevant business case.

How will this module develop my ULMS Graduate skills?

This module helps students to develop the skills set out in the module specification: Section 3, Module Outcomes. Details of how the stated skills will be tested are shown in the module specification: Appendix 1: Assessments and the Outcomes Tested.

In addition, the Management School has identified a set of key skills which it expects its students to develop throughout their studies.  These are skills which are actively sought by employers and which together form the “ULMS Graduate” (see appendix A at the end of this module guide).

Teaching and Learning Strategies:

You will be given tasks/activities for each topic. If applicable, students are expected to participate actively in learning exercises provided on Canvas since these form an integral part of the input on this module. 
    
Students will be expected to undertake background and follow-up reading, and to access materials via the library, web and University’s Canvas network. Your private study hours should total around 500 hours for this module, spread across the academic year. Most communication and support for learning will be posted on Canvas. You should, therefore, access Canvas on a regular basis.
    
For the business simulation you will work in teams.  Full instructions of how these will work will be provided.
    
Your attention is drawn to the support the University provides for your learning via the Study Skills web page. Your Student Handbook (and Study Skills Booklet) also provides advice on the skills required for your assessments (e.g. ULMS Academic Masterclasses and/or KnowHow sessions).

Key Dates:

Assessment Strategy:
Assessment One:        
Type(s) of assessment:     Dissertation
Duration:15,000 words.
Weighting:100% 
Submission Type:An electronic copy through Canvas. You must submit a Microsoft Word file. 

Summary of Assessment:

This is an opportunity to engage in a meaningful piece of work concerned with a specific topic of interest to display to onward academic institutions or employers a degree of mastery and excellence regarding a specific topic.
Your chosen topic, choice of approach, research question, method, structure of thesis etc. will be decided between you and your supervisor in one of four meetings (dates to be agreed with your supervisor).
More information is given in week one of ULMS719 and can be gleaned from attending the three dedicated lectures associated with ULMS790. 

Tips for achieving good marks in assessments: To do well in your dissertation project you should read widely, consult all teaching material available, attend all lectures and work closely with your supervisor who will guide and support your progress.

Students are asked to note that the word count is the absolute upper limit. There is no leeway over this, i.e. you will be penalised if you submit work that exceeds the word limit (the suggestion that you may exceed the word count by 10% is a myth!). Something to note is that the word count on Turnitin is not usually an accurate reflection of an assignment's word count, and is likely to be higher than the Microsoft Word word count.  This should be considered when determining if penalties for exceeding the word count should be imposed. It is recommended that you ask students to submit assignments as Word documents as this will then allow you to download their original submission (i.e. the Word file) and accurately check the word count in Word. This should be done after you have marked the assignment anonymously as you must deanonymize the assignment in order to download it. As the norm for ULMS regarding assignments is “first and final”, students will have no way of resubmitting should they breach the word count as calculated by Turnitin.

The following are not included in word counts:

• Reference lists/bibliographies and question titles
• Appendices/footnotes - provided these have been used only when necessary. If appendices or footnotes are used excessively, or contain material which should clearly be included in the main body of the essay/report, it is at the markers’ discretion to include these in the word count.
• Tables/graphs - provided these have been imported from elsewhere (correctly referenced) and not produced by the student.
• Contents pages and front pages of reports
• As well as the essay/report itself, the following are included in word counts:
• Citations/quotations - this includes the material paraphrased/quoted itself as well as the name, date and page information.
• Tables and graphs - if they have been produced by the student.
• Executive summaries in reports - unless otherwise stated.

Marking Criteria for Dissertation

Will feedback on draft assessments be given? 
Your supervisor will provide, as a minimum, feedback on one draft chapter of your work. You should communicate directly with your supervisor regarding their availability and the amount of work they are able to review for you.

Policies for the below can be found via: 
Re-sits; Penalties, use of Wikipedia, late submission; Referencing work; Marking criteria; ULMS group work policy; Requests for extensions etc. can all be found here.
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/intranet/management-school/assessment/

Feedback to Students
You are welcome to discuss any comments, concerns or questions with the module leader during office hours.

How can I feedback my views on this module?
Your feedback on the module is welcome at any time. You will be given an opportunity to provide early module feedback informally, and then formally at the end of the module via the formal module evaluation process. The sooner you alert us to any issues you might have the quicker we can resolve them. Please don’t leave it to the end of the module to tell us if you are struggling! 

Please be reminded of the ULMS Guidance on Providing Feedback (see your student handbook). Giving constructive feedback is a skill that you will need to develop in the workplace. We welcome feedback that is constructive and specific (it helps us improve), but please remain polite and be aware of the right of every staff member to Dignity at Work. There is lots of evidence of unconscious bias in module evaluation – based on gender, age, race, etc. – so please be aware of this and try to be fair to all staff.

Teaching Programme
You are reading for a Masters Level award.  You will therefore be required to read and critically evaluate cutting-edge academic research in your learning for the programme, not just this module. You are also required to produce an independent study project, your dissertation.
    
To be successful in writing your dissertation the following teaching programme (in addition to the teaching programme delivered on ULMS719) has been designed and will be supported by supervisory meetings and feedback during the completion of your independent study projects. There will be three additional lectures, above what is delivered on ULMS719 which will be added to your timetables with information and teaching material being available to Canvas in preparation for these sessions.

Tips for achieving good marks in assessments:

• Make sure that you attend the preparatory lectures.
• Make sure that you have a viable proposal that has been approved by your supervisor.
• Engage fully with the learning and teaching materials.
• Always send your supervisor material to look at before you meet
• Think about questions to ask you supervisor before the meeting
• Make sure you attend all of your supervisory meetings (you are entitled to four supervision meetings, timings to be agreed with your supervisor)
• Plan your work carefully and allow time for any unexpected circumstances
• Keep a 100 word record of each supervision meeting

Learning Tips

• The dissertation is a precise piece of work; make sure that your thesis is coherent with clear research questions that are addressed in the findings section
• Academic integrity and good academic practice are of primary importance

The library aims to provide a minimum ratio of one book per ten students for essential texts. But if more copies are needed and funds permit, it can purchase extra copies. The Library needs to find out which books are in greatest demand and you can help by taking these steps:

1.Place a reservation on the book. Once you have the book details on the library catalogue screen, click Request. This means as soon as a copy is returned, you will be notified and can borrow it. It also means that library staff are notified of the demand on the book. 
2.Fill in a book suggestion form, talk to staff at the library's information support desks or contact your Liaison Librarian to let us know more copies are needed. The library will confirm who the current liaison librarian is for your programme. 

The ULMS Graduate is:

Flexible and adaptable

Our graduates understand that the business world develops and changes quickly, and ULMS will provide them with opportunities to develop the skills needed to be open to the challenges this brings.

A problem solver
Our graduates are provided with opportunities to develop their critical and analytical skills from the day they join the School. By learning to think creatively, to persevere with an issue and to draw on the resources available to them, our graduates approach difficult situations confident that they can reach a successful outcome and make a difference.

Numerate
Maths is an essential element of all of our programmes and our graduates are confident and competent when using numbers to analyse situations, solve problems and make decisions.

Commercially aware
The teaching at ULMS is drawn from the latest business and management research, ensuring that our graduates understand the environment in which they begin their careers.  

A team player
Our graduates understand the importance of contributing to a team. By contributing to group work our students understand the dynamics of a team and the importance of individual roles and how each can make a difference to achieving a result.

Organised and able to work under pressure
ULMS graduates learn to manage their time carefully during their studies. Our graduates are motivated to learn outside the classroom and are adept at managing deadlines and dealing with conflicting demands upon their time.

An excellent communicator
The ULMS syllabus requires students to demonstrate their aptitude for communicating throughout their studies. Their skills include writing essays, business reports and case studies, giving presentations, listening to and questioning guest speakers and using negotiating and persuasion skills to argue a point during a class debate. Our graduates understand the difference that effective communication can make to a situation.

IT literate
Our graduates understand the importance of IT in the modern business environment and ensure that their digital literacy skills are up-to-date in order to use it successfully. They understand how to prepare and analyse spreadsheets, can write reports and use IT to enhance presentations. They are confident users of electronic databases and are skilled at finding and evaluating appropriate and relevant information from electronic sources. 

Internationally aware
The ULMS teaching and research community is drawn from around the world and our students are exposed to business ideas and cultures from beyond the UK. Many graduates make the most of international opportunities available to them, from participating in overseas exchanges to participating in international inter-university business games.
  
A lifelong learner
ULMS graduates understand that the end of their degree programme does not mean the end of their learning journey. Our students understand the importance of continually building skills and knowledge in order to maintain commercial awareness, to be able to follow a flexible career path and to continue to make a difference throughout their working lives.

Ethically aware
The ULMS teaching, learning and assessment strategy ensures that all graduates are exposed to ideas of business ethics whilst studying and that they have an understanding of the difference business can make in the wider community and across the world.

A leader
We instil our graduates with the confidence to lead others by providing opportunities within the curriculum to debate ideas, present research, solve problems and make difficult decisions.