Curriculum Information

The module will involve an induction period which will revisit and summarise many of the approaches adopted by the students throughout their degree. The project will draw on many aspects of modules previously studied (such as Business Analytics for Management and Financial Decision Making).

This module has been written and the assessments designed to provide students with a period of immersive learning within the first weeks of the final year (during module induction). This module creates conditions whereby students are provided with the opportunity to settle into their final year and revitalise working relationships with their peers.

Formal work groups will be established, and students will be expected to conduct a short period of intensive group research in order to identify key issues in the field of HRM of suitable scope to be investigated during their individual critical enquiry projects.

The groups will present their findings outlining the:

• what (areas for research),
• why (importance, currency etc.) and
• how (methods of investigation),

prior to embarking on their own individual projects on one of the topics explored.

Proposals will be reviewed to determine the appropriateness of the topic and the allocation of a suitable supervisor.

Typical content reviewed during the taught element of the module will include:

• Stages in the research process: range of research methodologies and the applications of quantitative and qualitative methods.
• The parameters and limitations of different research instruments.
• Identifying a researchable area: for example, an aspect from one of the professional areas in the CIPD Profession Map or from an area of business practice.
• Reviewing data: sources of UK and international information relating to HR and management practice, including online databases and search facilities, academic and professional journals, professional and regulatory bodies and sector skills councils’ reports, organisational policy and financial accounts, industry reports.
• Conducting the critical review of the information sources: types and purposes of literature reviews, literature review process.
• Drawing meaningful conclusions: analysis and interpretation of trends, patterns and metrics; evaluation of data collected to inform the conclusions; the business case for change, incorporating cost–benefit and resource analysis; critical success factors to assess the effectiveness of change.

The applied nature of the report requires a critical evaluative approach, empirical investigation and analysis and a combination of academic research and business report writing skills. It requires reflection on the implications for professional practice from an ethical and continuous professional development standpoint.

1. The submissions will be in three parts:

2. Proposal (presentation) successful completion will allow the students to be allocated a supervisor and progress onto the next stage.

The Report (two main components):

• Main report – comprising of an introduction, literature review and methodology; the findings, analysis and discussion section, along with a section for conclusion and recommendations
• Critical reflection - of the research process using a recognised framework for reflection.

3. Presentation – Students will be expected to provide a short, concise oral presentation of their research report using any appropriate media to support the oral presentation, for example poster, infographics, leaflet etc.

This module is mapped to the following CIPD unit(s):

5IHRv2 Using Information in Human Resources