Research Problems and Methodologies in businesses

Consultancy Project Proposal template
MA / MSc / MBA

Summary Project Proposal Guidelines

Dear Student,

Now that you are enrolled onto the Masters top-up progarmme, you are required to submit a summary research proposal to your supervisor for approval before you can proceed. Please read the guidance below and complete the template for submission to your supervisor.

You have completed a research proposal as part of your Level 7 diploma, and you may decide to use this as a basis for your Consultancy Project. Whether or not you decide to do so or start afresh, you are required to submit a summary proposal of approximately 500 words (+/- 10%), which must be approved by your supervisor and comply with the Universities ethical guidelines.

Although this is not a long document, serious thought should be given to the content. A good project proposal will save hours of work during the programme as it will develop initial focus for your project report.

Your project proposal will be reviewed by your Supervisor prior to you commencing Week 1 of your programme It is at the discretion of your Supervisor as to when the proposal is fit for purpose and your registration with the university can be completed.

We advise you to have most of this in place (as an initial draft) prior to the induction week so you can commence on time – that will allow you to take part in the workshop (webinar) sessions as opposed to catching up.

• Your Project Proposal must be sent to your supervisor within two weeks from the date of your enrolment letter.
• Your supervisor’s and programme manager’s contact details are in your enrolment letter.
• Your Project Proposal must be signed off by your supervisor before you can be registered with the University.

 
Consultancy Project Proposal template
Approx. 500 words

Consultancy Project Topic/ Title
Provisional topic and title for the report.

Project Description
Please explain the problem, issue or opportunity that the research will try to address. You need to give evidence to support your explanation – for example, if the research is going to be about staff absenteeism, provide evidence of the current rate of absenteeism, how this compares with relevant sector rates, whether the problem is getting worse, what consequences there are for the business (direct costs and wider impacts on staff and customers) etc.

Background
Please include a summary of relevant factual background necessary for the reader to understand the proposed topic, such as what the organisation does, location, size, profitability, etc.

Core Literature
Please list the sources you have already found which will be key for your research.

Aim and objectives
Please set out the overall aim of the research in one sentence, with supporting objectives for the background research/literature review, primary research and recommendations.

Methodology and Data Resources
Please indicate the proposed method, including the planned sample size and whether you have confirmed access to the chosen organisation(s).

Data Collection Approach
Please summarise the data collection methods to be applied

Data Analysis Approach / Method
Please summarise the data analysis methods to be applied

Ethical Considerations
Please highlight any specific ethical issues that may be of concern, such as the research involves people aged under 18, or deception of research participants. Otherwise, explain how you will address ethical matters

Referencing system to be used
Confirm use of recognised Referencing Systems e.g. Harvard including expectation for appropriate in- text citations

Confirmation of Originality
Please confirm that this project and the final report will be your own work and will not be copied, written by another or plagiarised. Should this be suspected, the work will be referred to the University in line with item 8E of the Academic Regulations.

Student name :
Signed :
Date :

Supervisor name :
Signed :
Approval date :