QA1S005 - Professional Enquiry 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: QA1S005
Module Title: Professional Enquiry
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: FBCI Faculty
Faculty Sub Group: FBCI Faculty
Module Leader: Lorna Loy, Khalid Solaiman
Module Team: Liam Newton
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake: 2026
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

This module aims to guide students understanding of the role, relevance and importance of business enquiry to their chosen academic and professional context. In beginning to develop critical thinking skills, students will identify, analyse and evaluate sources of business information (understanding the content, context, credibility and validity of said sources) and apply the source content to a range of business disciplines.
In addition, the module aims to support students’ personal development to aid the transition into HE learning, whilst starting the development of lifelong learning skills, ensuring they can identify their own development needs and take charge of future learning. These skills, along with person, digital, numeric and informational, will lead to effective learning and academic achievement, as well as contributing to society at large.

Content Summary

Sessions address the following broad topic areas, though context and content will be driven by the particular student groups course, with a focus on the important role of Business and Management in a contemporary societal context. Overall, this module will develop a critical, informed, scholarly and appreciative spirit of enquiry among Business School students that is applicable in both academic and professional contexts. The context for this module focuses on a range of contemporary business issues in both British society and the wider global environment. Through this, students are supported in asking critical questions, and appreciating the academic tools available to address these issues.
Key themes covered are contemporary business issues such as:
• The changing nature of work and employment. Sustainability.
• Globalisation and internationalisation.
• Political and Social Change.
• Patterns of Inequality and Social Mobility. The knowledge economy.

These broad themes offer an opportunity for students to engage in current, critical and challenging business debates. At the same time, the module is designed to establish the skills required to perform academically over the course of a university degree.
Introduction
• The importance of research to business and the importance of enquiry and academic skills to students’ employability.
• Developing an evidence base for problem solving and decision making in organisations.

Understanding business research
• An introduction to approaches to enquiry - organisational research in its broadest context. The literature review role and process.
• Being ethical in business research/the modern business school.

Academic skills
• Evaluative skills, tools and techniques.
• Planning, researching and presenting information.
• An academic writing master class.

Evaluating business research
• Interpreting and evaluating quantitative research.
• Interpreting and evaluating qualitative research.
• Interpreting and evaluating critical management research approaches.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminar 48
Independent Study 65
Directed Study 75
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 4
Groupwork 8
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Apply knowledge of the existence of a series of continuing debates in the contemporary business and management landscape.
LO2 Engage in researching topics, developing perspectives and synoptic accounts and have started to develop critical thinking skills - constructively critiquing the research of others, identifying strengths and weaknesses in technique, analysis and conclusions.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 2 Research Poster - A group-based research poster building on the curated e-magazine. 0 2500 60 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1 Team-based project: an exploration of a key contemporary management trend curated in the form of an e- magazine. 0 1000 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 2
Research Plan / Proposal / Project/ Log 1

Reading List

Cottrell, S. (2019) The Study Skills Handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Cottrell, S. (2019) Critical Thinking Skills. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Greetham, B. (2018) How to Write Better Essays. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Marshall, L. & Rowland, F. (1998) A Guide to Learning Independently (3rd ed). Buckingham: Open University.
Northedge, A. (2005) The Good Study Guide. Milton Keynes: Open University.
Burns, T. & Sinfield, S. (2016) Essential Study Skills: the complete guide to success at university. London: SAGE.
Cameron, S. (2021) The Business Student's Handbook: skills for study and employment. Pearson.
Smith, M., Thorpe, R., & Lowe, A. (2018 ) Management Research: An Introduction (6th ed.). London: Sage.

Grey, C. (2021) A Very Short Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book About Studying Organizations (updated ed). London: Sage.
Burns, T. & Sinfield, S. (2016) Essential Study Skills: the complete guide to success at university. London: SAGE.

Hart, C. (2018) Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination. London: (2nd ed). Sage.
Harrison, M. (2005) Introduction to Business & Management Ethics. Bassingstoke: Palgrave.
Locke, L.F., Silverman, S.J. & Spirduso, W.W. (2009) Reading and Understanding Research. London: (3rd ed). Sage.
Whitley, R. (2000) The Intellectual and Social Organization of the Sciences (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.