We must choose a topic of their choice (marketing, sales, strategy, business, luxury, finance, etc.) and develop a research proposal.
Midterm Assignment • Teams are allowed, maximum three people per team. • Subject: Develop a research proposal • Students must choose a topic of their choice (marketing, sales, strategy, business, luxury, finance, etc.) and develop a research proposal.
Components:
1. Cover Page & Title (5%): Introduce your project with a clear and engaging title.
2. Introduction (10%): Briefly summarize your research topic. Aim to capture the reader's interest and highlight the project's significance.
3. Research Questions & Objectives (15%): Formulate 2-3 clear, measurable, and achievable research questions that directly guide your investigation. Clearly outline the research methodology and methods you would employ to answer the research question.
4. Literature Review (50%): Demonstrate your understanding of the existing knowledge on your topic. Conduct a critical and comprehensive review of relevant academic and industry sources. Integrate, analyze, and synthesize key findings, identifying any gaps in research and how your research will fill them. Ensure proper citation formatting and reference at least 5 primary sources.
5. Method for literature review (20%): Highlight which combinations of key words did you use to find the list of articles and how did you finalize the list of articles that comprised of the literature review from the initial searches.
Formalities:
• Wordcount: 1.500 – 2.000 words • Font: Arial 11 pts. • Text alignment: Justified. • The in-text References and the Bibliography must be in Harvard’s citation style.
• The document must be presented with the usual sections of an academic work must appear:Table of contents, introduction, the main body of the work (where the literature review will be written), methodology (where you will specify your research methodology and methods), as well as references.
Submission: Week 7, by Sunday 17th March, 23:59 h – Via Moodle (Turnitin).
Weight: This task is a 40% of your total grade for this subject.
It assesses the following learning outcomes:
• ILO 1: Outcome 1: Appreciate the relevance of business research in managerial decision making.
• ILO 2: Demonstrate the ability to choose research methods appropriate to the research aims and research questions/hypothesis based upon appropriate philosophies of research.
• ILO 3: Apply research-based theories and specific communication skills to construct a research-based project that fulfils specific requirements.
Please, see the rubrics below
Rubrics
Learning Descriptors
Fail Below 60% Marginal Fail 60-69%
Fair 70-79 % Good 80-89% Exceptional 90-100%
Content
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDI NG
40%
Content is unclear,
inaccurateand/or
incomplete. Brief
andirrelevant.
Descriptive.
Onlypersonal views
offered.
Unsubstantiated and
does notsupport the
purpose, argumentor
goals of the project.
Readergains no
insight through
thecontent of the
project.
Limited content that
does notreally
support the purpose
of thereport. Very
poor coverage.
Displays only
rudimentaryknowledg
e of the content
area.Reader gains
few if any insights
Presents some
information
thatadequately
supports the
centralpurpose,
arguments, goals,
orresearch questions
of theproject.
Although parts
missing, it
demonstrates a level
of partially proficient
knowledge of the
content area. Reader
gains some insights.
Presents clear and
appropriateinformatio
n that
adequatelysupports
the central
purpose,arguments,
goals or
researchquestions of
the project.
Demonstrates
satisfactoryknowledg
e of the content
area.Reader gains
proficient insights.
Presents balanced,
significantand valid
information that
clearly and
convincingly supports
the central purpose,
arguments, research
questions or goals of
the project.
Demonstrates
in-depth and
specialised
knowledge of
thecontent area. The
reader gains
important insights
Organization
COMMUNICATI ON
10%
Information/content is
notlogically organized
or
presented.Topics/par
agraphs are
frequentlydisjointed
and fail to make
sensetogether.
Reader cannot
identifya line of
reasoning and
losesinterest.
Information/content is
not, attimes, logically
organized
orpresented.
Topics/paragraphs
are frequently
disjointed
whichmakes the
content hard to
follow.The reader
finds it hard
tounderstand the flow
of thereport.
Information/content
ispresented in a
reasonable
sequence.
Topic/paragraph
transition isunclear in
places with linkages
for the most part.
Reader cangenerally
understand and
follow the line of
reasoning, although
work needed to be
proficiently organized.
Information/content is
presentedin a clear
and
understandableseque
nce.
Topic/paragraphtransi
tion is good with
clearlinkages
between sections
andarguments.
Reader
canunderstand and
follow the line
ofreasoning.
Information/content is
presentedin a logical,
interesting and
effective sequence.
Topics andarguments
flow smoothly
andcoherently from
one to another and
are clearly linked.
Reader can easily
follow theline of
reasoning and
enjoyedreading the
report.
Use of References
COMMUNICATI ON
10%
Little or no evidence
of referencesources
in the report. Content
not supported and
based
onunsubstantiated
views.
Most references are
fromsources that are
not peer-reviewed or
professional,
andhave uncertain
reliability. Few ifany
appropriate citations
areprovided. Reader
doubts thevalidity of
much of the material.
Professionally
legitimatereferences
are generally used.
Fair citations are
presented in most
cases. Some of
theinformation/content
/evidencecomes from
sources that
arereliable, but more
academicsources
needed to be
convincing.
Professionally and
academicallylegitimat
e references are
used.Clear and
accurate citations
arepresented in most
cases. Themajority of
theinformation/conten
t/evidencecomes
from sources that
arereliable.
Presents compelling
evidence from
professionally and
academically
legitimate
sources.Attribution is
clear and accurate.
References are 75%
from primarily
peer-reviewedprofessi
onal journals or
otherapproved
sources.
Analytical / Critical Thinking Skills
CRITICAL THINKING
40%
Research problem,
concept oridea is not
clearly articulated,
orits component
elements are
notidentified or
described.
Researchinformation
is poorly
organized,categorized
and/or not examined;
research information
is ofteninaccurate or
incomplete.Presents
little if any analysis
orinterpretation;
inaccuratelyand/or
inappropriately
appliesresearch
methods,
techniques,models,
frameworks
and/ortheories to the
analysis. Presentsfew
solutions or
conclusions;solutions
or conclusions are
oftennot well
supported,
areinaccurate and/or
inconsistent,and are
Research problem,
concept oridea is not
clearly articulated
attimes and
confusing.
Researchinformation
is badly
organized,categorize
d, and/or
onlysuperficially
examined;
researchinformation
is often
incomplete.Presents
limited analysis
orinterpretation;
inaccuratelyand/or
inappropriately
appliesresearch
methods,
techniques,models,
frameworks
and/ortheories to the
analysis.
Presentssome
solutions or
conclusionsbut they
are often not
wellsupported, or
logical.
Adequately identifies
anddescribes (or
sketches out) the
research problem,
concept or idea and
its components.
Gathers and
examines information
relating to the
research problem,
concept or idea;
presents and
appraises research
information with some
minor
inconsistencies,irrele
vancies or omissions.
Generally applies
appropriate research
methods, techniques,
models, frameworks
and/or theories
although
withinaccuracies.
Outlines solutions or
conclusions that are
somewhatlogical and
consistent with
theanalysis and
evidence;
identifiesand/or lists
Formulates a clear
description ofthe
research problem,
concept oridea, and
specifies
majorelements to be
examined.
Selectsinformation
appropriate
toaddressing the
research
problem,concept or
idea; accurately
andappropriately
analyses
andinterprets relevant
researchinformation.
Effectively
appliesappropriate
research
methods,techniques,
models,
frameworksand/or
theories in developing
and justifying multiple
solutions or
conclusions; solutions
orconclusions are
coherent,
wellsupported and
complete.
Effectively formulates
a cleardescription of
the research problem,
concept or idea, and
specifies major
elements to
beexamined. Selects
and
prioritizesinformation
appropriate
toaddressing the
research
problem,concept, or
idea; accurately
andappropriately
analyzes
andinterprets relevant
research information.
Precisely and
effectively
appliesappropriate
research
methods,employs
advanced skills to
conduct research.
Uses techniques,
models, frameworks
and/or theories in
developing and
justifying multiple
solutions
presented in a vague
orrudimentary
manner.
solutions
orconclusions
although not always
clearly.
orconclusions;
solutions
orconclusions are
insightful, coherent,
well supported,
logically consistent
and complete.
Displays a mastery
ofcomplex and
specialized areas.