MBA

GRADUATE MAJOR
PROJECT
10,000 words
20% reading by tutor
Your topic, your project
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 Welcome
Thank you for making me your choice
You are not going to regret it
More than 50% will get an A
I am going to read your work so dont walk
with your hands swinging

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 Word count-10,000words
Chapter 1-1000-1200words
Chapter 2-2200 -2400 words
Chapter3-2200-2400 words
Chapter 4and 5- 4000words excluding charts and
diagrams
In order to maintain this word count
Interviews-10questions
Questionnaire-about 15 questions based on theory in
your literature review- see how to design questions

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 1Topic :
Must be strategic-decisions made at the upper
level- involves competition/ competitors or
the industry, trying to gain some competitive
advantage in the industry, can also include
organizational transformation , new legal
aspects Osha , environmental
------- not operational as UG in the company,
no cause and effect

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CHAPTER ONE
1000-1200 words

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 Intro to chapter-
What will follow in this chapter, every chapter
must have an introduction
In this chapter the author is going to----------

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 Intro to topic
Gives the reader/second marker a snippet or
understanding of what area or topic you are
doing, may include definition, explanation or how
it is done at other companies
Topics
Emotional intelligence
Employee commitment
Employee engagement
Management development
Organisational strategy

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Company or industry background-
About the company /industry- sufficient to
understand the business the company is in and
what it entails
No need for organogram or 7 S, PEST or detailed
descriptive info that is irrelevant.
If the data is relevant it would be part of your
data collection and be used in your analysis
Masters level the industry even if it is a case
study of a company, must compare with other
companies, departments or even sections

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 Research issue/ background to
research
These are the present issues related to the research that
shows that there is relevance
It may include
intense competition,
prices,
change in customer attitude,
decrease in sales,
high turnover,
absenteeism,
poor reward,
poor succession,
reduced oil prices,
image,
some foreign issue etc ,etc
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 Rationale
Some statistical information that shows that
there is a problem
It may include decrease in sales, decrease in
volume, rate of turnover, absenteeism,
comparison of rewards with other companies
accompanied with a table over a time period
May even one of the burning research issue that
warranties the research
Source of info
Show data and graphical representation

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Potential value or use of study to company/industry-
/relevance of study

Not about student completing degree

The usefulness to the company and to you the
researcher
May be work related, your field, further
studies in that particular area
To the company- about market forces , worker
behavior, best HR practice for the company,
dynamic environment

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 Topic
About 10 words using the strategic and higher
level words--- if using one company a case
study but comparison must be made with
other companies in the questionnaire or
literature (strategic)

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 Research aim-
What will be the outcome or final fulfillment
What are you trying to achieve

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 Research question
What do you want to solve.
Can the company develop a policy framework
for customer service that gives them a
competitive advantage?

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 Objectives
3-4 that will solve the question by obtaining data from
stake holders- directors, customers, shareholders,
employees, 1, 2 data
To critically review the current marketing strategies used
by the pharmaceutical industry in Trinidad to promote
their prescription drugs.- interview/2data
2. Evaluate the customer response to the adoption of e
detailing into the current marketing strategy used by the
pharmaceutical companies in Trinidad.-pharmacies
3. Make recommendations based on best practice for the
best fit for e detailing in the Trinidad pharmaceutical
industry.

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 Scope
What area you are studying
Only banks in north Trinidad ,
Or time period from 2000- 2014
Or production/marketing sector for companies
A,B,C

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 Structure-
Only 5 chapters- no separation of chapter 5
into conclusion and recommendation
See mark sheet,
What is attempted in each chapter
CH1 COMPRISES OF
CH1 CH2
CH2 COMPRISES OF

CH3
CH3 CH4
CH4

CH5
CH5
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 Summary
What you did in this chapter
A recap of your topics and important issues

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 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
2200 words

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 INTRODUCTION
Every chapter
What are you going to present in this chapter
Reminder of objectives-how are you going to
solve/obtain data related to your objective

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New approach- easier to follow

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Philosophy-why and why not
Positivist Paradigm Phenomenological Paradigm

Tends to produce quantitative data Tend to produce qualitative data

Uses large samples Uses small samples

Concerned with hypothetical testing Concerned with generating theories

Data is highly specific and precise Data is rich and subjective

Location is artificial The location is natural

Reliability is high Reliability is low

Validity is low Validity high

Generalizes from sample to population Generalizes from one setting to another

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 Having outlined the characteristics of each OF
THE COMB USING THEORISTS up to DATA
COLLECTION then give your choice and
justification.
This is the intelligent part for which you get
marks. No marks for copying from text
Then say why not the other
All business thesis would be qualitative unless
you are measuring /weighing some element
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 Do the above for all combs of the honey comb

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 Ontology-choice and justification and
why not
Objectivism
Positivists believe that only
phenomena which are
observable and measurable
can be regarded as valid
knowledge
They try to maintain an
objective and independent
stance
This leads a Positivism or
Realism Paradigm
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Subjectivism
Phenomenologist s believes
that knowledge is based on
the perception of the
individuals
They attempt to minimize
the distance between the
researcher and that which is
being researched
This leads to
Phenomenological or
Interpretivism Paradigm
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 Approach choice and justification, and why not
Deduction emphasizes the other
Induction emphasizes

Scientific principles
Moving from theory to data Gaining an understanding of the meanings
The need to explain causal relationships humans
between variables attach to events
The collection of quantitative data A close understanding of the research
The application of controls to ensure context
validity of data The collection of qualitative data
The operationalization of concepts to A more flexible structure to permit
changes of
ensure clarity of definition research emphasis as the research
A highly structured approach progresses
Researcher independence of what is A realization that the research is part of
being the research
researched process
The necessity to select samples of Less concern with the need to generalize
sufficient size in order to generalize Source: Saunders
conclusions

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 Research design- choice and
justification and why not the others
Qualitative
Quantitative
Mixed methods research
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Research is an approach for exploring and
understanding the meaning individuals or
groups ascribe to a social or human problem.
The process of research involves emerging
questions and procedures, data typically
collected in the participants setting, data
analysis inductively building from particulars
to general theme
Research is an approach for testing objective
theories by examining the relationship
among variables. These variables, in turn,
can be measured, typically on instruments,
so that numbered data can be analysed
using statistical procedures
Is an approach to inquiry involving collecting
both quantitative and qualitative data,
integrating the two forms of data, and using
distinct designs that may involve
philosophical assumptions and theoretical
frameworks.
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Research types-which one and why

Research Types Descriptions

Exploratory The aim of this research is to look for patterns and ideas
rather than testing a hypothesis. It gives guidance to further
research rather than answers to issues
Descriptive Aims at identifying and obtaining information on the
characteristics of a particular problem to portray an
accurate profile.
Explanatory This research attempts to explain the causal relationship
between variables.

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Research strategies-which one and why
why not others
Research strategies Explanations
Case study This study investigates the phenomenon in its real context. It
involves techniques as documentary analysis, interviews,
observations and questionnaires
Experimental The purpose of this strategy is to study causal links. This is used
in exploratory and explanatory research
Action research This attempts to bring about change in an organisation.
Grounded theory Involved in research that aims to predict and explain behaviour

Survey This strategy is associated with the deductive approach. It is be

likely to be used for exploratory and explanatory research

Ethnography This research extends over a long period of time. It is not

dominant in business research
Archival This research uses administrative records and documents as a
principal source of data. It is relevant to exploratory, descriptive,
explanatory research

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 Data collection
How did you collect your data
Interviews
Questionnaires
Observation
Focus group
Sampling how you went about it
Type of sampling why, how much(calculation)
How many questionnaires, interview, focus group
Observation when, where, why
Response rate-%

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 Data analysis
Excel
SPSS
Content analysis
Visual analysis-observation

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 Reliability
Validity
Research ethics

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 Limitations
Problems
Companys permission
In getting data
In analysis
Support
Personal problems-time

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 Summary
Every chapter must have a summary
Refresh the marker mind as to what was
presented in the chapter

Draw a framework of
your choices
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 Closed-ended questions

TYPES OF QUESTIONS
Design to trap info for analysis
Yes /no very little that you can do
with it
One type booooring-only likert. Banks
Show academic excellence
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 Closed-ended questions
Carded questions (age e.g.- 15-25, 26-35, 36-
45.)
Dichotomous questions ( yes no ). WHY
Multiple choice a list of options. Best for
aanalysis
Semantic differential between two bi polar
words e.g.- large_ _ _ _ small and modern _ _
_ _ old fashioned.

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 Figure 8-9: A Semantic Differential
for Two Stores

8-39 patricksamuel2017
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 Closed-ended questions
Likert scale amount of agreement or disagreement.
( strongly disagree > disagree > neither > agree >
strongly agree ).
Importance scale (same as above).1-5
Rating scale poor to excellent ( excellent > very
good > good > fair > poor).
Intention to purchase scale (definitely > probably >
not certain > probably not buy > definitely no).

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 Closed-ended questions
Likert scale amount of agreement or disagreement.
( strongly disagree > disagree > neither > agree >
strongly agree ).
Importance scale (same as above).1-5
Rating scale poor to excellent ( excellent > very
good > good > fair > poor).
Intention to purchase scale (definitely > probably >
not certain > probably not buy > definitely no).

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 Open-ended questions
Completely unstructured e.g.-What is your
opinion of the prison breakout?
Word association e.g. carnival- party,
costumes
Sentence completion
When I purchase from --------- the most important
consideration in my decision is:

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 Open-ended questions
Story completion ( Kaitlyn
Jenner?
Picture completion.
Thematic apperception test
(TAT). Make up a story
about pictures

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 Question Types may be not at MBA level
Picture (Empty Balloons)

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 Thank you
End of 1st session

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