• University of Exeter Business School
• Module

Organisational Research Project

Module title	Organisational Research Project
Module code	BEM3018DA
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Stavroula Bibila (Lecturer)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks			12

Number students taking module (anticipated)	25

Module description

This module provides the structure and support for you to successfully complete and report on a work-based project that brings together your learning from different parts of the BSc (Hons) in Responsible Business Management/CMDA programme. The module builds upon knowledge gained in earlier modules, and in particular the Project Management and Decision Making module, and it will help you think about the design, implementation and reporting of your project, as well as its actual and potential value to your organisation. Working on this module will allow you to deepen your understanding of your chosen subject area (e.g. Marketing, leading people, operational strategy, ethical management), and to contribute to your immediate professional context, whilst addressing End Point Assessment (EPA) criteria.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module provides you with the opportunity to revisit learning that has taken place during the Project Management and Decision Making module, and other taught parts of the BSc (Hons) in Responsible Business Management/CMDA programme  More specifically, the module will prompt you  to critically evaluate your practice as a project manager and leader of change and to review project results and key actions and decisions you took throughout the lifecycle of your project. Towards the end of the module, you will be asked to consider and select appropriate terminology, style and register to communicate the outcomes of your project, and its actual and potential value, to academic and work/professional audiences, including module and End Point assessors.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Exemplify how you applied project management principles and techniques, at different stages of your project’s life cycle, to deliver agreed project outcomes (B1 & B4)
• 2. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of your approach to managing project risk by considering specific outcomes, as well as theoretical insights or established information, risk management models and established practices (B2 & B5).
• 3. Apply widely recognised project management tools and techniques to monitor progress and close your project. (B1 & B7).
• 4. Review project results and activity, focusing on your efforts to manage scope, time, resources and quality, and on wider organisational goals and future opportunities (B3).

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of your approach to initiate, lead and drive change within your organisation focusing on specific knowledge, skills and strategies you used to overcome barriers and challenges (B6).

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Analyse, interpret and disseminate relevant project and operational information and data in a report format (L1 & F1).
• 7. Communicate clearly, effectively and persuasively with academic and professional audiences, including module and End Point assessors, using appropriate terminology, style and register (F1 & F4).

Syllabus plan

Week 1:

• Monitoring progress of your work
• Reviewing and evaluating learning for and from work-based project activity

Week 2:

• Masterclass series (selected topics from weeks 1,3,4,5,6)

Week 3:

• Managing projects vs managing change
• The need for change  
• Scoping a project & scope management

Week 4:

• Stakeholder engagement 
• Managing project risk
• Estimating your project 
• Drafting assessments: Working with Data

Week 5:

• Monitoring and communicating project progress 
• Change control  
• Quality management

Week 6

• Project success & benefits
• Value & value management
• Organisational learning

Week 7

• Communicating effectively with work/professional and academic audiences
• Enhancing capacity for reflection and further learning

Week 7+

• Portfolio & EPA preparations with academic mentor

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
30	84	186

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	24	Masterclasses: Lectures and workshops
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	4	Webinars and EPA preparation: online action learning sets and workshops
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	2	Group and individual tutorials
Guided independent study	84	Web-based activities and reading
Placement	186	Time at work

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Weekly activities including online fora and exercises, peer and tutor-led discussions and tutor-led webinars	Various (Approximately 30 minutes for activities and between 200-1000 words written work)	1-7	Written comments by tutor and verbal feedback through webinars and individual and group tutorials

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
60	0	40

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Presentation: A Voice Over PowerPoint Presentation (VOPP)	40	As specified by the EPAO (i.e. 15-minutes). Access/references to portfolio of evidence and project report are allowed	2, 3, 5, 7	Written feedback and final grade
Project Report: A 3.500-word project report	60	As specified by the EPAO (i.e. 3,500-word project report)	1, 2, 4, 6	Written feedback and final grade

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Presentation	As specified by the EPAO (i.e. 15-minutes). Access/references to portfolio of evidence and project report are allowed	2, 3, 5, 7	Referral/deferral period
Report	As specified by the EPAO (i.e. 3,500-word project report)	1, 2, 4, 6	Referral/deferral period

Re-assessment notes

All passed components of the module will be rolled forward and will not be reassessed in the event of module failure.

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%. 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

CMI - Management Direct - an online management resource portal.

Key words search

Organisational Research Project, CMDA

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	Yes
Origin date	13/10/2020
Last revision date	11/04/2024