MBA Dissertation Guidelines

FacultyofEconomics,ManagementAndAccountancyUniversityofMaltaMBADissertationGuidelines2Aspartofthedegreeformationyouareexpectedtopresentadissertationproject.ThisbookletcontainsdetailsofexpectedpracticewithrespecttothecompletionoftheMBAdissertation.Clearlygeneralguidelinessuchasthesemaynotcoverallcircumstances.Particularemphasisandminoradjustmentsmaybenecessaryinindividualcases.Itisthusimperativethatyouconsultyourtutorsforspecificadviceandguidanceonmatterspertainingtothedesignandcontentofyourstudyandofcourse,thereportingofit.NadiaTheumaJune20013CONTENTSPART1:TheMBADissertation……………………………..…4PART2:StructuringtheResearchProposal………………………..6PART3:NotesonSpecificAspectsoftheDissertation……………7PART4:SomeOtherConsiderations…………………………….…10PART5:SourcesforFurtherReading……………………………….12AppendicesAppendix1PrototypeofTitlePage………………………….…..134PART1:THEMBADISSERTATION1.1GeneralFrameworkoftheDissertationThefollowingoutlineisindicativeoftheoverallstructureofadissertation.Clearlyitwillhavetobeadaptedtotheparticularstudyyouhavecarriedout.SECTIONPAGETitlePageAbstractStatementofAuthenticityAcknowledgementsTableofContentsListofTablesListofFiguresCHAPTER1IntroductionCHAPTER2LiteratureReviewCHAPTER3MethodologyCHAPTER4PresentationofDataCHAPTER5AnalysisofDataCHAPTER6DiscussionandInterpretationofFindingsCHAPTER7Conclusions,ImplicationsandRecommendationsReferencesAppendices1.2WordLengthThetotallengthofthedissertationis20,000-25,000words.Thislengthisexclusiveoftitleandcontentspage,figures,tables,appendicesandreferences.1.3PlagiarismPlagiarism,thatis,thewillfulrepresentationofanotherperson’swork,withouttheacknowledgementorthedeliberateandunacknowledgedincorporationinastudent’sworkofmaterialderivedfromthework(publishedorotherwise)ofanother,isUNACCEPTABLEandwillincurthepenaltyofoutrightfailure.1.4PlanningYourWorkYouareadvisedtobeginworkingonyourdissertationimmediately.ThelecturesinResearchMethodsheldduringthefirsttermofyourcourseareusefulinhelpingyoutoplanbackgroundmaterialandtochooseyourmethodology.Youshouldseeyoursupervisoronaregularbasis–atleastonceeverytwoweeksinthebeginning.Itisalsoadvisabletostartwritingassoonaspossible.Donotworryifyoufeelthatyourmaterialisnotgoodenough,almostallearlymaterialisweakatthebeginning.Startingtowriteatanearlystagewillenable5yoursupervisortoseewhatdirectionyouaretaking,whereyourweaknessesareandgiveyouconstructiveadviceandyouwillgainconfidencefromthisfeedback.1.5TheRoleofYourSupervisor1.Discusspossibledirectionsforthestudyandadviseonaimsandobjectives2.Suggestsomegeneralareasofresearchforconsiderationandwherepossible,anyexamplesofcurrentresearchrelevanttothetopic.3.Beavailableforregularmeetings4.Examinewrittenworkandprovideconstructivecriticism.Itisnottheresponsibilityofthesupervisortocorrectspellingmistakes,etc.otherthantopointoutthesearepresent:norisitthedutyofthesupervisortoorganisethepresentationcontentofthework,althoughadvicemaybeprovidedifenoughworkhasbeensubmitted.5.Makestudentawareofinadequateprogressoranyotherfactswhichcouldimpedethecompletionofasuccessfulpieceofwork.6.Markthedissertation,conferwiththeexaminerandsubmittheagreedmarktotheChairmanoftheDissertationBoard.1.6YourResponsibilities1.Itisyourresponsibilitytomakeappointmentsonaregularbasis.IfyoudifficultyinarrangingappointmentsyoumustcontacttheResearchMethodsCourseCo-OrdinatorortheHeadofDepartment.2.Providewrittenworkforyoursupervisortocommenton;maintainyourownprogress.3.Wherepossible,submityourwrittenworkinadvanceofyourappointmentinorderthatyoursupervisorhastimetoofferyouconstructivecriticism.4.Complywiththeregulationsasdetailedinthishandbook.6PART2:STRUCTUREOFTHERESEARCHPROPOSAL2.1IntroductionAlthoughthereisnosinglewayofstructuringaprojectordissertationproposalthefollowingstructureidentifiestheareaswhichshouldbeaddressedwithintheproposal.Ifalloftheseareasareconsideredaspartoftheproposalthentheactualresearchprojectshouldbemorecoherentandyourresearchshouldbemoreproductive.Theareastoconsiderintheresearchproposal:Theresearchquestion/problem/topic/hypothesisIntroductionandrationaleforresearchResearchObjectivesResearchMethods2.2.TheResearchProposalTheareascoveredintheresearchproposalareexpandedbelow.TitlePage•ProposedTitle•NameofStudent•Course•Supervisor’sNameTheResearchQuestion/Problem/TopicorHypothesis•identifyyourareaofresearchkeepingitbroadenoughtoembraceexistingliteraturebut•sufficientlynarrowtoallowadetailedinvestigation•theareaidentifiedcouldformaworkingtitleIntroductionandRationaleforResearch•explainwhyyouthinkthisisavalidresearchtopic•whatwilltheresearchcontributetothefield?ResearchAimandObjectives•theaimofthedissertationshouldindicatewhatyouwishtoachieve•theobjectivesarealistofgoalswhichmustbecompletedinordertosatisfytheaim(usuallyabout6)Eg.toprovideastateoftheartreviewtodeterminehowaparticularmarketoperatestoestablishatypologytoassesstheimpactofsomethingResearchMethodology•choosemethodswhichwillallowyoutomeeteachoftheobjectiveslistedabove;justifyyourmethodschosenandthedisadvantagesofthemethodsrejected•trytouseamixofmethods7PART3:SOMENOTE