| The individual applied project component of the programme enables participants to conceptualise, develop and deliver a significant research-based assignment that has potential to provide impact and management learning in the learner’s organisation or in the wider commercial context. While building on the taught programme, it offers the participant the opportunity to gain deep insights into a particular area of study from their course work and in the workplace. Participants have a choice of project areas from which to select and within which they have significant scope to shape their study according to their personal learning objectives and their enterprise’s needs. The project options have been selected on the basis that they have potential to integrate learning from across the programme and also provide participants and their enterprises with outcomes that have high utility. The aim of the project is to enable the participant to undertake a learning ‘journey’ which is largely self-directed and self-motivated, and which is substantially different to the pedagogy encountered to date. It allows the participant the opportunity to integrate the various dimensions and domains of knowledge acquired thus far and to achieve a knowledge and familiarity of breadth and depth with an area of ideas not usually possible in normal course work. |
The project is essentially about investigating a live product management issue using appropriate investigation and analytical frameworks and incorporating theoretical concepts. This will normally take the form of a study of a product management related issue in the participant’s company.
It is envisaged the participant will show convincingly that s/he has engaged in depth with the range of ideas in an area drawing on key practice and academic literature.
Theoretical frameworks will be used in an applied context to address specific company or industry-based issues.
The recommended structure is as follows:
Problem Statement: The participant will set out clearly the issue or business challenge being addressed and the reasons for the choice of issue.
Literature Review: The literature review should provide a thorough analysis of relevant works in the research context. The literature review should be developed thematically and must address theoretical debates. It will provide a critical and analytical overview of the existing literature. The literature review should identify the main debates which in turn provide a framework for the research.
Method: The participant should set out the research approach selected and a justification for this selection. The research methods section may be in the journal style selected by the author.
Context Review: The research project will be located in a particular context. In most cases this will be within a specific organisational context but it could also include a sectoral context. This will be described using a framework developed from the literature review. It is important that this section is concise and the participant does not employ purely descriptive detail.
Results and Discussion: The results section should take elements of the findings and integrate them with current theoretical debates and previous research findings. There should be a strong focus on argument and debate.
Conclusions, Managerial Implications and Recommendations: The conclusion should provide an overall discussion of the research findings and how they have developed academic debate in the chosen area. The research project should present issues for further research. These areas should be set out as possible future projects.
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While the task is largely self-directed and self-motivated, participants will work with an academic advisor who will provide advice on research approaches and the requirements of the project. In their community of practice, participants will meet with their advisors at agreed intervals and review progress. Programme participants are advised to provide written material to the advisor in advance of meetings.
The participant is strongly recommended to maintain a consistent dialogue with their advisor and submit appropriate drafts of work in progress. The interaction between participant and their academic advisor is an important part of the learning process and facilitates the evaluation of the participant's work. It must be noted however that it is not the function of the academic advisor to provide ideas or structure to the participant.
The participant must be the prime originator of ideas, structure, methodology and overall approach.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |