School of Management

BA in Management Studies

Dissertation Handbook

UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

School of Management

BA Management Studies Dissertation

Handbook
2015/16 Edition

For

BA in Management Studies
BA in Management Studies (Finance)
BA in Management Studies (Marketing)
BA in Management Studies (Organisation Studies)

Disclaimer
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this handbook,
in cases of doubt authoritative guidance on matters of procedure will be found in the University Senate
Regulations.

2015, VERSION 1.2, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER.

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Contents

PART A

Planning The Dissertation .......................................................................................................... 5

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 5

Conducting The Research .......................................................................................................... 6

The Nature of Research ....................................................................................................................... 6

Research Ethics .................................................................................................................................... 7

The Research Process ........................................................................................................................... 9

How to Write a Dissertation Successfully........................................................................................... 11

PART C


Dissertation Structure, Style and Format ................................................................................ 13

Structure ........................................................................................................................................... 13

Style .................................................................................................................................................. 15

Format .............................................................................................................................................. 16

PART D


Assessment Criteria .................................................................................................................. 18

Part E


Further Reading ....................................................................................................................... 22

Part F


Appendices ............................................................................................................................... 23

APPENDIX A ...................................................................................................................................... 24

APPENDIX B ....................................................................................................................................... 25

APPENDIX C....................................................................................................................................... 26

APPENDIX D ...................................................................................................................................... 27

PART B

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

PART A

Planning The Dissertation

Introduction
The final year of the BA Management Studies (BAMS) degree programme provides you with the
opportunity to write a dissertation of 10,000 words. This dissertation is worth 40 credits towards your
final degree classification. The aim of this handbook is to help you to complete your dissertation to the
highest standards and to facilitate your learning process. The document accompanies the MN2122
Managing Research and MN3101/3 Dissertation lectures. You should also discuss any aspects you are
unsure about with your supervisor, in the first instance, and with the module leader where doubt
remains.
A dissertation is a report of an individual research project. It is similar in form, structure and content to a
peer-reviewed journal article. It provides an answer to a specific question and, building on that answer,
makes a contribution to our understanding of a particular topic. A BAMS dissertation, specifically, should
address a topic that falls within the broad scope of management studies. The precise topic you will write
about will be chosen in the light of advice from your supervisor.

Learning objectives
The aim of the Dissertation modules MN3101/3 is the completion of a well-researched, well-written and
properly referenced dissertation. It contributes to the development of the following: working relations;
analysis and application of models relating to professional and personal development; data presentation;
communication skills; problem-solving; and managing and reflecting upon one's own learning and
research skills. At the end of this module you should be able to:

Identify a valid research topic.

Access, retrieve and organise research material relevant to your field of study.

Develop an independent critical perspective.

Conduct and sustain an argument in a coherent and lucid fashion.

Present a properly referenced, well-structured dissertation.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

PART B

Conducting The Research

The Nature of Research
Research is a term covering a very wide range of activities, from finding out the time of the next train
from Leicester to London to identifying a suitable postgraduate course. Academic research, though, goes
beyond gathering data. It involves analysing and presenting data so that you can make a contribution to
a discussion between a community of researchers. A contribution may involve new empirical data,
historical contextualisation or theoretical critique.
While your dissertation may provide solutions to specific management or organisational problems, the
aim of the dissertation is to demonstrate that you have made a contribution to scholarship. To do this
you need to show that you have acquired a sophisticated understanding of a topic and developed the
ability to build on existing academic research. To complete your dissertation you must, therefore, not
only identify a topic of interest to you but also show that you have considered the most up-to-date
research findings and research methods in your area of interest.

Dissertation supervision
All BAMS students are allocated a member of academic staff to supervise their dissertation project.
Experience suggests that students who successfully manage their relationship with their supervisors tend
to perform well in their dissertation projects. As a result, we strongly recommend that you work hard to
make best use of your supervisor:
Do

Ask them to comment on drafts, and give them enough time to do so.

Use them as a sounding board to brainstorm your analysis.

Bring your own suggestions to meetings rather than rely on their input.

Do not

Ask your supervisor questions the answers to which you could easily find yourself.

Ignore their feedback, fail to make changes or fail to prepare for meeting.

Expect them to do your work for you.

If you experience a problem with your supervisor, we ask that you try and resolve this with them. If you
cannot work it out, talk to the MN3101/3 module leader. Please do not approach other members of
academic staff (or the staff in the Full Time Office) for a second opinion or with a request to change your
supervisor.
The time allocation for dissertation supervisions is two and a half hours. Supervisors will also answer
reasonable queries via email or in office hours, but will not allow these mediums to become de facto
supervisions. It is up to you to reach agreement with your supervisor regarding timing and session
format. It is also your responsibility to keep in touch with your supervisor throughout the dissertation
process including arranging the initial meeting not vice versa. Supervisors will not chase you if you
fail to make contact, attend appointments, submit your ethics form, or meet deadlines.
So that we can allocate a supervisor with sufficient knowledge of your area of research and the methods
you might use in your research we require that you complete a BAMS request for supervision form (see
Appendix A.) and return this to ulsmbams3@le.ac.uk Friday, 16th October 2015.
Guidance on selecting a topic is available in Section 7. Once you have been allocated a supervisor you
should expect them to:
6

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Assess the feasibility of your research project by reviewing you dissertation pro forma. You
are asked to complete this form in preparation for the first meeting with your supervisor. The pro
forma asks you to identify your topic area, some of the literature you will use and your proposed
methods. An electronic copy is available on Blackboard and is marked Appendix B.

Assist you in completing the Research Ethics Approval process. See page 9

Give feedback on the process of research and the quality of your academic work. Your
supervisor will oversee your research and give general commentary on the standards you are
attaining and where you need to improve. Please note: it is not the role of the supervisor to tell
you exactly what to do at the different stages of the research process and it impossible to judge
the mark a piece will achieve until it is complete and submitted. Supervisors will offer broad
guidance but you are expected to use knowledge gained from your BAMS modules, the
MN3101/3 lectures, the information in this handbook and independent study to structure and
manage your own research.

Provide written feedback on one draft of up to two chapters or 40% of your dissertation.
Students should allow at least two weeks for supervisors to provide feedback on drafted work.
You may need to submit a hardcopy of any draft work to ensure its safe and timely arrival but
many supervisors accept e-mail draft work with prior agreement.

Supervisors will not: provide a topic for your dissertation, arrange access to external organisations for
empirical research or proofread your dissertation. All of these are your responsibility.

Research Ethics
It is essential that a dissertation can be defended on ethical grounds, so you need to consider research
ethics throughout your research. You must discuss the ethical dimensions of your project with your
supervisor as soon as possible and must not proceed with any empirical data-gathering until ethical
approval has been formally granted by the School. You have to apply for ethic approval even if you do
not conduct research with human participants.
We strongly recommend that you submit your ethics approval form by the end of the Autumn Term.
Consequences of note gaining ethical approval: In keeping with university regulations,
dissertations undertaken without ethical approval will receive a mark of zero.
Ethics in academic research can be defined as the appropriateness of your behaviour in relation to the
rights of those who become the subject of your [research] work, or are affected by it (Saunders et al.,
2009: 183-184). The British Sociological Association offers a detailed statement regarding such research
ethics which you might find it useful to consult. Similar statements can be found in other professional
associations codes of practice including the British Psychological Society, the American Psychological
Association and the American Sociological Association. As a general rule of thumb, the School of
Management requires researchers to design methods that attempt to minimise disturbance to those
participating in [or affected by] research (British Sociological Association, Statement of Ethical Practice,
1d). Ethics were discussed in one of the MN2122 Managing Research lectures, and will be discussed in
the compulsory ethics lecture as part of the series of four MN3101/3 dissertation lectures.
Once you have decided what kind of data you need to answer your research questions and you have
designed an appropriate method, you are required to complete the University of Leicesters Research
Ethics Approval process. To do this you must use your UoL username and password to access:
ethicsapp.le.ac.uk.
Videos to guide you through the process are available at: www.le.ac.uk/ethics. Please
submit your ethics form to your supervisor not to the module leader. You must submit the form in timely
manner you cannot ask other academics to sign-off your form.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Before completing this process please ensure that you have considered the following features of ethical
best-practice in your research design:

Securing informed consent: Informed consent means that those who take part in the research
do so of their own free will without any coercion or deception by the researcher and have
enough information to be able to make that decision sensibly. It requires that you clearly
articulate the aims and nature of the research, who is doing it and what the results will be used
for to potential respondents and that you allow them to choose whether they participate in your
study. Informed consent has to be demonstrated through a written contract signed by both the
researcher and respondent. If an informed consent contract is written down, it should be signed
and dated by the respondent to confirm their agreement and they should be given a copy. A
sample informed consent form can be found in Appendix C. It is essential that:
o

Respondents know who you are and how you can be contacted.

Respondents understand what the research topic is and why it is being carried out as
well as why they personally have been asked to take part. They should also understand
what is being asked of them and how the resulting data will be used.

Respondents are assured of both confidentiality and anonymity, if appropriate.

Respondents are told that it is their choice whether or not they take part.

Respondents are told that they are free to withdraw from the process at any time and
that they do not have to answer all your questions.

Respondents are asked if they consent to the reproduction of any direct quotations from
what they have told you.

Not placing respondents under any duress. One example of respondents being placed under
duress is Stanley Milgrams (1974) experiments on the connection between authority and
conformity. These consisted of pairs of respondents who were in separate rooms. One of each
pair (the teacher) asked the other (the learner) questions. Every time a question was answered
incorrectly the teacher had to inflict an electric shock on the learner. These shocks ranged up to
240 volts, which was designated as a dangerous level. The teachers were told by Milgram that
the experiment was about the relationship between pain and learning. But in reality Milgram
wanted to see whether people would follow orders just because they were told to. So the actual
subjects of the experiment were not the learners but the teachers. The authority-conformity
relationship was assessed via someone posing as a scientist and circling the experimental site to
tell any teacher who began to show disquiet at having to inflict increasing levels of shocks that
The experiment requires you to continue. Things were exacerbated by learners audibly
screaming in pain, calling for mercy and, even more dramatically, falling silent altogether.
Nonetheless, a majority of the teachers did inflict the maximum voltage. You will be relieved to
know that no electric shocks were in fact involved these were faked, as were the reactions of
the learners. This is not only an example of failing to secure informed consent but also of
subjecting participants to duress by making them undergo a potentially psychologically and
physiologically harmful experience. Unlike Milgram, you need to think carefully about whether
your research could have any such effects.

Maintaining confidentiality and anonymity where you have guaranteed this to

respondents. Unless there is explicit consent, preferably supported by written documentation,
confidentiality means that the researcher is the only one with access to raw data such as
recordings of interviews, completed questionnaires or observational field notes and that you will
not share the information generated by your data gathering with anyone other than your
assessors. This may mean that no one else has access to the final dissertation. Anonymity means
that you disguise the identities of participants in your research, whether they are organisations
or individuals.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

The Research Process

A successful academic research project involves a series of set tasks. Typically, these tasks are presented
sequentially, with one leading naturally on to the next (as in this section). In reality, though, things are
messier. Many tasks will run concurrently, some may be on-going and some may need to be repeated.

Selecting a dissertation topic

In selecting an appropriate topic we recommend that you select one that interests you, builds on and
adds to the development of your academics skills and supports your future plans. In general terms, we
recommend that you avoid topics that involve sensitive information or are potentially offensive. We also
recommend that your topic is focused and feasible given the resources available to you (see Section 8 for
further details).

The only other limitation on your choice of topic is that you must choose a topic that is relevant to the
study of management (broadly defined so as to include economics, political economy, and economic
history, amongst others). As discussed earlier, this will be achieved if your project builds on a
contemporary topic of research in peer-review published sources. An initial reading of the current
academic literature in an area that interests you is essential in this regard. This reading should highlight:

The main themes, theories and arguments in the subject area.

The main authorities in the field.

The major on-going debates in literature.

The research methods that are commonly used in these debates.

Significant unanswered questions.

Identifying research questions through a literature review

Once you have established your area of interest and have conducted a preliminary exploration of the field
you should be able to highlight key questions that your research might help to answer. You should then
focus your reading into a systematic overview of the subject area. This will help you to specify a particular
question you want to answer in your project (known as the research question) and allow you to articulate
how answering that question can contribute to the key discussions in the existing academic literature. A
systematic literature review will also highlight what kinds of data are considered appropriate basis for
making contributions to your area of research and, as a result, will inform your methodological choices.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

It is essential that you read as widely as possible to take account of both the well-established and the
most up-to-date research in the topic. Consequently, we strongly encourage you to use the various
electronic search facilities in the library as a part of your systematic literature review. Reliance on
textbooks is very unlikely to secure you a good mark as these books rarely include the most cutting-edge
research.
Writing up the literature review will probably form one or more chapters of your dissertation depending
on the nature of your research. So remember to keep a record of your bibliographic material and to
reference all the ideas that you take from the literature in the final report, whether you are quoting
directly or indirectly (see Part C). In these chapters you should demonstrate not only an ability to describe
existing research but also to critically evaluate it. By a critical evaluation of the literature we mean:
1.

You should know what key authors have written and how they intended it to be interpreted and
applied.

2.

You have considered the strengths and weaknesses in these materials and can reflect on possible
wider implications of findings, highlight hidden significance and identify developments that the
material may lead to.

3.

You have considered each publication in the context of the whole of that authors work and
contrasted it with that of other authors.

Research methods
You must select appropriate methods that meet the highest ethical standards. Whether you gather
empirical data yourself, use secondary data, historical archives or even offer a theoretical dissertation you
need to consider in what ways your methods will allow you to effectively answer your research questions.
Indeed, in the dissertation itself you must justify your research methods in terms of both general
methods guidance and also the accepted methods in the existing research on your topic.
In this regard, do not assume that you have to gather all the data you might want to use in your
dissertation yourself. Often the data we need already exists. The library has access to a range of
databases, reports and documents that can provide information on markets, organisations and current
events. It is recommended that you explore such resources where appropriate as they can save you a lot
of time and can give you access to data that you could not feasibility gather yourself. That said, be aware
that accessing this data and formatting it so that you can analyse it can present challenges. For example,
it is worth considering who owns the material and whether it is confidential. If so, then your
dissemination of the material will need to be agreed between those involved. You may need to sign some
form of confidentiality agreement. If this is the case, discuss this with your supervisor first as certain
agreements mean we cannot mark your dissertation.
Sometimes, the data we need does not exist and we need to go and gather it through interviews,
ethnographies, surveys and so forth. Designing and executing these methods require a great deal of skill
and time as does analysing the data they produce. You must ensure that you have sufficient skills to
conduct your research correctly. You must also consider how you will access data sources. In order to
ensure that your research is possible and ethically-sound it is recommended that you fully pilot your data
gathering and analysis. This will ensure that you can generate the results you need.
No matter whether the data you want use in your dissertation already exists or whether you will collect it
yourself you should expect that accessing data will be a time consuming process. Conducting interviews,
sourcing archive materials and ordering theoretical monographs and journal articles through inter library
loans can all take a considerable amount of time. It is advisable to begin these processes as soon as
possible. Similarly, regardless of the source of your data, transparency throughout the research process is
essential. You should ensure that you are able to provide evidence of your data collection and analysis. It
is good practice to store diaries of your research, correspondence with the organisations or individuals
from whom you gathered data, completed questionnaires, audio tapes of interviews, photographs and so
forth. This material does not need to be included in the dissertation but markers may ask you to provide
evidence of the research you have done, so you should retain it until you receive notification that you
have gained a pass mark for the dissertation.

10

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Writing up
The dissertation is written as a report on your research. For this reason, it is usually structured in the
logical sequence of the research process. However, depending on your chosen topic and the methods you
have used there may be variations.
In general terms, you must ensure that you leave enough time for writing and formatting your final
document. Until you reach this stage you always think that it will take less time than it does. Make it
easier on yourself: draft as many chapters as you can as early as you can. There is always more reading to
do and more data to gather and analyse; if you wait until you have done everything before writing up
you will run out of time. Perhaps more importantly than these time management issues, writing should
be an integral part of the entire research process. Writing helps you to structure your thoughts, readings
and analysis. It should not be the last thing you do. It should be one of the first things you do.
Returning to the issue of time management, we recommend that you allow sufficient time after handing
in draft sections of the dissertation to your supervisor not only to let them return comments but also for
you to make the necessary recommended changes. To this end, we recommend that you agree with your
supervisor when you are going to hand in the draft and when they will return it to you. You should allow
supervisors at least two weeks to read a draft and return comments to you

How to Write a Dissertation Successfully

The dissertation presents a considerable challenge. In our experience there are two main difficulties that
are encountered by all students. It is often the ability to skilfully overcome these challenges that lies at
the heart of a successful dissertation.

Time
The preparation of the dissertation takes place within strict time constraints. This calls for methodical
planning. You should allow enough time for each step in the research process and build in some
contingency time to allow for any problems you might experience. In particular, make time towards the
end of the process for proofreading, editing and formatting your document. Partly as a consequence of
poor time management but also as a result of the challenges of producing an extended piece of scholarly
work many students encounter problems with the fluency and structure of their dissertations. Finally, we
strongly recommend that you save all work to your UoL account to ensure that your work is regularly
backed-up. Relying on USB sticks, laptops and external hard drives without backing up your work can
lead to problems meeting the deadline. Computers may fail, be stolen or get lost. Make sure to have your
data in at least two physically different places and get into the habit of backing up regularly, for example
by always copying your work to a folder on the universitys x-drive at the end of a day. When working on
your university computer, email a copy to your home email address; if you work on your home computer,
email it to your university account. If you do backup your work to a USB stick, make sure to do so
regularly and keep your USB stick on a different place than your computer.

Feasibility
The time limits placed on the dissertation require you to consider what you can realistically achieve in
your dissertation. In particular, you should consider how you will obtain the subject-specific literature,
research skills and data you need to complete your project. You might, for instance, need to obtain
literature or access a dataset that is not be readily available through the University library. You might
need to learn how to use a computer programme to assist you in your analysis. Or you might need to
negotiate access with an external organisation or locate hard to find respondents. You must factor these
sorts of contingencies into your planning. If it is unrealistic to assume you can overcome these challenges
in the time allotted for your dissertation you may need to rethink your research objectives.
A common question, in this regard, for students conducting empirical research is how big their sample
needs to be. This exact answer depends on the specifics of your research question. If you hope to gain
data that is representative of a large population you might need a large sample. However, while you need
to let the specifics of your research questions drive your methodological choices, there are some general

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

11

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

rules of thumb we recommend you follow to ensure that your research is feasible. It is imperative that
you discuss the required sample size with your supervisor and gain their approval before you proceed.
So, to summarise, your dissertation can encounter serious challenges. It is a major element of your
degree that you can only overcome with hard-work and effective time management. In this regard, we
recommend that you accept that what is desirable in research terms may not be feasible and you should
seek guidance from your supervisor.

12

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

PART C

Dissertation Structure, Style and Format

Structure
The precise structure of a dissertation will vary from one dissertation to another. However, there are
some features that must be included in all BAMS dissertations. In this section you will find details about
such essentials.

Title Page
The front cover of the dissertation should be a Title Page laid out as in Appendix C. of this handbook. The
Title Page must include the following information: the full title of the dissertation, your student ID
number, the month and year of submission, the qualification for which the dissertation is submitted and
a clear indication that the dissertation is confidential where you and your supervisor deem this to be
necessary. The dissertation title is important as it needs to indicate clearly what the dissertation is about.
Abbreviations and specialist jargon should be avoided as far as possible.

Contents
A list of the various chapters and sections of a dissertation must be included with clear page references.
Well-documented contents will quickly show a reader the scope and direction of the work. You should
include a separate contents page for tables/graphs/formulas where appropriate.

Abstract
The Abstract should be no longer than 250 words. It should be formatted in the same style as the rest of
the dissertation. It is a self-contained summary of the whole of the dissertation. It should contain
information about the terms of reference of the dissertation such as the key concepts used or the
parameters of the project, information about the subject-specific literature you have used, information
about your research questions, methods and a summary of your conclusions. Abstracts should not
normally include quotes, citations or references.

Acknowledgements
Should you wish to, you may include a list of acknowledgments.

Introduction
The Introduction should establish the context of your topic, highlighting why it is important and why the
reader should continue to read the dissertation. It should identify the area of academic research that the
dissertation makes a contribution to and offer an overview of what contribution it makes. The
Introduction should also provide an overview of the structure and contents of the dissertation and the
argument to be advanced.

Main body of the dissertation

The main body of a dissertation will contain several chapters, sections and perhaps also sub-sections. All
such divisions should ideally be identified using a decimal notation system as shown below:
1.

Title of chapter
1.1

1.2

Title of first major subheading

Title of second major subheading

1.3

Title of third major subheading

1.3.1

Title of first subsidiary heading

1.3.2

Title of next subsidiary heading

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

13

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

We recommend that all headings use a capital letter for the first word only unless it is grammatically
necessary such as in the use of proper nouns. Also, try to avoid including too many sub-sections as this
will lead to confusion and may mean that each section is too short. As a general rule, do not go beyond
two decimal points.
Typical sections of the main body of a dissertation further include:

Literature review

Methodology, including (where applicable) subsections such as sample size, epistemological

approach, materials, study design, ethics approval etc.

Data analysis, including (where applicable) information on how data was inspected for outliers,
whether and why data was removed, consolidated or recoded, results of any assumption testing.
Where listing test results, make sure to include significance values.

Discussion/Conclusion
Your conclusions should be summarised in a dedicated chapter of your dissertation. These conclusions
must be drawn from the body of evidence presented in the main sections of the dissertation. No new
evidence or literature should be offered in the Conclusion. This chapter may also be used to identify
problems and opportunities that you have come across as a result of your analysis. You need to be
realistic about the extent to which your research allows you to make robust recommendations and
conclusions. You should, therefore, acknowledge any limitations to your findings. You should also reflect
on your methods and discuss any unexpected ethical issues that arose during your research.

References
You must provide full details of all texts that you have referenced in your dissertation in a chapter. Please
note that you are not required to provide a bibliography (a list of all the texts you have used during your
research) but a references list (including only the texts you have actually made reference to in the written
dissertation itself through quotations and citations). These references should be listed in alphabetical
order by authors surname. If, for an author, you have references with the same years of publication,
differentiate entries by adding small letters (a, b, c and so on) after the years. These letters must
correspond to all quotes and citations in the main text. Repeat the authors name for each entry in the
references list. Guidance on referencing different sources, such as books, journals and websites, can be
found at www2.le.ac.uk/library/help/citing/harvard-author-date-system.

Appendices
Appendices include any information that is necessary to the dissertation but would spoil the flow or
structure if it were included in the main text. Examples include a clean version of your questionnaire or
interview schedule, the letter you wrote requesting research access, detailed tables of statistics or graphs
relating to your data analysis and so on. In general, though, we recommend that you minimise the
amount of information in the Appendices as far as possible and do not excessively reference the
Appendices in the main body of your dissertation report.

Data files
You must submit all empirical data used within your dissertation that is not available elsewhere when
requested by your supervisor. Please include this data on a CD/DVD with the hardcopy your dissertation.
For quantitative studies this usually will take the form of an SPSS or Excel file containing unprocessed
data and one copy of your questionnaire. For qualitative studies this will typically take the form of
interview transcripts. Audio or video recordings of your interviews should also be included where
appropriate. It is your responsibility to ensure that any discs are securely fastened to the hardcopy of your
dissertation. We recommend that you attach a plastic disc wallet to the front or back cover of the
hardcopy of your dissertation. Loose discs can easily fall out.

14

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Style
In addition to ensuring that your dissertation is clearly structured and includes all essential sections, your
dissertation should be formatted appropriately. We recommend that you follow the style requirements
below.

Technical terms and abbreviations

A technical term is a word or phrase that is not in a general-use dictionary with the meaning you and
other published scholars ascribe to it. Your dissertation is written for an informed and specialist audience
so it is likely that it will include such technical terms. As these terms differ in meaning from general use
dictionaries, you should avoid basing your dissertation on general use dictionary definitions. Instead, to
demonstrate your expertise and understanding, you should define key technical terms in your own words
at some point in your dissertation (typically in the Introduction). Where these terms are contested in the
literature you should acknowledge differences and both clarify and justify your own position.
Abbreviations should be kept to a minimum and only when they are in normal use in your area of
research. Where necessary a key to abbreviations should be provided.

Reporting maths
It is preferable to use symbols and numbers to report results and give formulas. Italicise variables (p, r, b,
F, Z and so forth) throughout your text to distinguish them as variables. Use the same name for a variable
throughout your text, tables, figures and appendixes. We recommend that displayed equations are
presented using Microsoft Equation Editor. You should define each new term in all equations and
number all equations sequentially as shown below.
Equations in the main text: We used Craigs (1992: 20) distance formula (d=xyz).
Displayed equations: Pr(Yt = yt xt) = [e-A(xt)(Xt)yt]
-----------------------

Yt!

(1)

where Yt is. . . .

Tables and figures

Each table should report one type of analysis and each vertical column and horizontal row should contain
only one type of data. Generally, it is sufficient to report two decimal places for all statistics. Each table or
figure needs at least an introductory sentence in your text. In addition the key findings should be
highlighted, discussed and analysed in the text. In short, do not just dump tables and graphs in your
dissertation and expect your reader to do the analysis for you.
All tables and figures should have an appropriate title, labels and keys and should be numbered
sequentially as Table 1., Table 2. and so on. Titles, labels and keys should use ordinary words rather
than abbreviations. For example, use Profitability and not PRFT. If a table or figure reports a variable,
you should use the same variable name that is used throughout the text and equations. Finally, please
make sure your tables and figures will print out clearly. Animated graphics might look good on screen
but can be difficult to read when printed. Marks are not awarded for fancy graphics but careful analysis.

Sexist or biased language

You should avoid language that might be interpreted as derogatory in any way unless reporting evidence
such as quotes from interviews. In this regard, we ask that you do not use he or she exclusively unless
you are referring to specific people. Instead, you can use the plural (changing the manager . . . he to
managers . . . they) or use he or she (him or her).

Active voice
We recommend that you write in the active voice (They did it) instead of the passive voice (It was done)
to make it easy for readers to see who did what. An example of the passive voice is Two items were

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

15

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

found to lack factor validity by Earley (1989). This can be written in the active voice as Earley (1989)
found that two items lacked factor validity. You may use either the first or third person; the latter is
usually regarded as presenting a more neutral tone. However, you should discuss this with your
supervisor if you are unsure as to which is most appropriate.

Footnotes and endnotes

Reference information should be included through the Harvard style, supported by the References
chapter, and additional information should be included in the Appendices. Use of footnotes should be
sparing or where scholarly convention requires them, such as where citing archival material.

Format
The dissertation should be 10,000 words long not including anything that precedes the Introduction such
as the Title Page, Contents and Abstract or anything that follows the Conclusion such as the References
and Appendixes. You are allowed a tolerance of +/- 10% on this word limit. Ensure that at no point do
you provide any information which identifies you as the author. The only identifying detail you should
use is your student ID number.
The dissertation must be written in academic English prose and should be free from typing errors and
grammatical mistakes. As grammar is full of potential pitfalls and inconsistencies, particularly between
American and English grammar, we recommend that you are, as far as possible, consistent in your
language use. For instance, if you use z in organization rather than an s you should also use z in
realized. You should set your spell-checker to UK English.
Please be warned that the dissertation MUST be an entirely new piece of work. While we expect that you
will draw on the readings, analysis and content of many of the modules you have taken as part of your
BAMS studies, you cannot cut-and-paste text from previous assignments into your dissertation. This is
classed as self-plagiarism and will be treated and penalised as plagiarism. In addition, as you are
expected to develop your knowledge of a particular topic through extended individual research in the
dissertation, we recommend that you do not rely solely on previous work or modules.
The dissertation should be word-processed in a permanent and legible form. The document must be
published in 12 point font Times New Roman or Ariel and double-spaced throughout. (Any appendices
do not have to be double-spaced). A left hand margin of at least 2.5cm should be used (to allow for
binding) with all other margins being 2.0cm. Please justify all text (i.e. align margins both left and right).
All pages must be numbered consecutively throughout with page numbers at the bottom of each page
aligned to the right margin. Pages preceding the introduction should be numbered in lower case roman
numerals, and the title page should not be numbered.

Quotations and citations

All quotations and citations should be formatted using the Harvard style (for details see
www2.le.ac.uk/library/help/citing/harvard-author-date-system) and indicate the author, the page
number/s and date of publication. Short quotations of less than 40 words should be included in the main
body of text, enclosed by quotation marks and provide the necessary information on the source of the
quote. For example:
Kanter (1977:10) claims that people are capable of more than their organisational positions ever
give them [] the opportunity to demonstrate.
Long quotations of 40 or more words should be indented from the left hand margin with a line's space
above and below the quote, enclosed in quotation marks and provide the necessary information on the
source of the quote. For example:

16

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

The preference for association with the powerful and the degree to which this preference
motivates member of organisations is a function of the degree of dependency built into the
organisation itself. (Kanter, 1977: 170)
For citations in the text, the author's surname and the year of publication should be given in one of the
following forms. If the author's name occurs naturally in the sentence the year is given in brackets: In a
recent study Dunham (1997) argued that. If, however, the name does not occur naturally in the
sentence, both name and year are given in brackets: A recent study (Dunham 1998) shows that. If
there are two authors for a single text, the surnames of both should be given such as Matthews and
Jones (1998) have proposed that.... If there are three authors, indicate all three names the first time you
cite them in the body of the text then abbreviate this by using the first authors name followed by et al
so that the reference reads Wilson et al (1993). Give all three names in the reference list at the end. If
the item being cited does not have an author, cite the title and date of publication or broadcast. For
example: In the film Citizen Kane (1941) the main character....

Submission and binding

You must submit two copies of the dissertation - one electronic version and bound hardcopy. The
deadline for submission are as follows. The electronic copy must be submitted to Blackboard by noon
Friday, 6 May 2016. The bound hardcopy must be submitted to the full Time Office by 15:00 Friday, 6th
May 2016. Please note: you can submit your dissertation prior to the deadline day. For details on
submitting your dissertation to Blackboard please follow the instructions on the MN3101/3 module
section on Blackboard. The electronic version must be identical to the hardcopy and saved as a Microsoft
Word .doc file. For the hardcopy, perfect binding, spiral binding or wiro binding are acceptable. Please
see AVS Print for full details on preparing your dissertation for binding. If you are including data on a
CD/DVD with the hardcopy of your dissertation, you must attach this securely to the dissertation. We
recommend that you attach a plastic disc wallet to the cover of your dissertation. The author of a
dissertation must be anonymous on both copies.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

17

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

PART D

Assessment Criteria
Each dissertation will be assessed by the dissertation supervisor and a second marker to ensure that
consistent and appropriate standards of marking are being applied. A sample of dissertations will also be
viewed by the external examiners for the BAMS programme to further check the marking standards. All
dissertations are judged along five broad criteria:
1.

The ability to construct a project with clear, coherent and well defended research questions.

2.

The ability to discuss and critique relevant literature.

3.

The ability to discuss and justify the methods used.

4.

The ability to discuss the relation between your research and previous research.

5.

The ability to evaluate the implications and limitations of your study.

To meet these criteria, a good dissertation will:

Focus on a contemporary topic that is of interest to management studies scholars.

Consider and address any ethical issues arising from the research.

Clearly explain and defend its research questions.

Critically review appropriate literature to make its academic contribution clear.

Contain a well-defended and appropriate methodology.

Make clear conclusions based on robust data and analysis.

Offer critical reflections on its own implications and limitations.

Contain accurate referencing throughout.

Be well-written, logically structured and carefully presented.

Frequently asked questions

Much of this information is contained in other sections of this handbook but it is reproduced here for
easy reference.

The dissertation
Question

Answer

What makes a good dissertation?

The exact criteria depend on your area of research. The

general criteria for a good dissertation are available in Part D.
Further guidance will be offered in the MN3101/3 lecturers
and by your dissertation supervisor.

How long should my dissertation be?

10,000 words.

Does it matter if I write too much or

too little?

Yes. While succinctness is encouraged, if your dissertation is

significantly shorter than 10,000 words this may be because
you have not developed your analysis sufficiently. Conversely,
if you exceed the word limit normal penalties apply as for any
BAMS assessment. The word count starts with the first word
of the introduction and ends with the last word of the
conclusion, incl. all tables, figures, etc. The word count
excludes contents, abstract, list of references and appendices.
There is a tolerance of +/- 10% on the word count.

18

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Question

Answer

What should I do if I have written too

much or too little?

Discuss this with your supervisor at the earliest opportunity.

Does my dissertation need to be an

original and independent piece of
work?

Yes. It must be your own work and must not have been
submitted previously to any educational institution including
this one in part or as a whole. This means that you cannot
recycle text from previous assignments submitted as part of
your BAMS degree (for example work completed for your
research methods module). When you submit your
dissertation you will be asked to confirm that you have read
and understood the regulations concerning plagiarism and
that you have not previously submitted the assignment for
another course.

Do I need to reference published

literature in my dissertation?

Yes. A dissertation should contribute to an on-going

academic debate. To do this you must accurately demonstrate
the current state of knowledge in your area of research. So,
not only must you make reference to published literature, you
must reference this work accurately and consistently. Failure
to do so may result in an accusation of plagiarism. For more
details on the penalties associated with plagiarism check your
programme handbook.

Does my dissertation have to include

primary empirical data drawn from
human participants?

No. Dissertations based on primary empirical data, conceptual

and theoretical discussions, extended literature reviews,
historical accounts and analyses of secondary data are all
valid. Whatever form of data you use in your dissertation you
must demonstrate that it is appropriate for your project.

Can I look at a past BAMS dissertation

to get an idea of what is expected?

Yes. Sample dissertations are available on the MN3101/3

section on Blackboard and via the librarys dissertation
archive. Please note that all the authors concerned have given
us permission to publish their work. This material is their
copyright and the dissertations are intended to be indicative
only. They all achieved grades of at least 40%.

Whose role is it
dissertation
topic
questions?

You must do this yourself.

to identify a
and
research

Which topics are allowed?

Any topic that falls within the broad scope of management

studies is allowed. However, students working towards a
specialism in Finance, Marketing or Organisation must
research a topic in their specialism. If you require advice on
whether or not a topic fits your specialism please ask your
supervisor or the module leader (copying in your supervisor).

Are there any restrictions on my

choice of topic?

Your supervisor must confirm that the topic you have chosen
and the approach you are taking are appropriate for BAMS
credit and, if appropriate, your specialism. They must also
grant ethical approval for your project.

Will the School of Management pay

any expenses incurred in doing my
dissertation?

No. You should bear this in mind when finalising your topic,
research questions and methodology.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

19

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Supervision
Question

Answer

How are students

supervisors?

to

A BAMS request for supervision form (see Appendix A)

allows the School of Management to match the students
indicative topic area with a supervisors expertise. For this
reason, it is preferable that you put some thought into
completing the form. This form must be submitted to
ulsmbams3@le.ac.uk by Friday, 16th October 2015.

Can I change my mind about my topic

at any stage?

Minor changes are a normal part of the research process.

They include changing your methodology or moving focus
within a topic. For example, you might shift within a
marketing topic from the consumption of live music to the
brand awareness of record labels. Major changes are not
encouraged. These cover substantial changes to your topic
such as moving from a marketing topic to an econometric
analysis of financial markets. You must agree any substantial
changes with your supervisor.

What can
supervisor?

Your supervisor offers guidance on your topic and methods.

They are responsible for granting ethical approval for your
project and, where appropriate, confirming that your
dissertation qualifies for a specialism. They will offer you
formative feedback on your research pro forma (see Appendix
B). They also offer up to two and a half hours of face-to-face
contact time over the course of your dissertation and will
provide written feedback on one draft of 40% (or two
chapters) of your dissertation. Please note: you must allow at
least two weeks for your supervisor to complete a review of
any drafted work.

expect

matched

from

my

How do I get access to my supervisor?

Unless the supervisor stipulates otherwise, please use e-mail

to make appointments. Staff contact details can be found in
the BAMS programme handbook and on the ULSM website. It
is your job to find this information a simple google search
will bring it up for you.

What if I miss an appointment with

them?

You should advise your supervisor as soon as possible if you

are unable to keep an appointment. Do not miss an
appointment without notice. You have a limited amount of
contact time available and therefore cannot afford to lose any
of it.

What if I do not get on with my

supervisor?

Try to resolve any difficulties on a face-to-face basis at an

early stage. Contact the MN3101/3 module leader if you still
have problems.

How much supervision time can I

expect?

You will receive a maximum face-to face contact time of two

and a half hours, and you may also send reasonable email
queries too.

Will my supervisor be available

throughout the academic year until
the dissertation submission date?

Your supervisor will inform you when they are going to be

away from the University for an extended period. These dates
need to be worked into your research plan.

Can I get a second opinion from

another member of academic staff?

No. If you are experiencing genuine difficulties with your

supervisor, which you have made an effort to resolve, please
contact the MN3101 module leader.

20

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Submission
Question

Answer

Are there any requirements regarding

the
format
of
my
submitted
dissertation?

Yes. Details of the format are provided in Part C.

How many copies do I have to

submit?

Two. One bound hardcopy and electronic version. Please

ensure that the electronic version is identical to the hardcopy
and is saved as a Microsoft Word .doc file.

Does the hardcopy of my dissertation

have to be bound?

Yes. But this should be done as cheaply as possible. Perfect

binding and spiral binding are fine. Marks are not awarded
for the quality of the binding.

What is the deadline for submission of

the dissertation?

You are required to submit two copies of your dissertation.

First, you must submit an electronic copy through Blackboard.
Second, you must submit a bound hardcopy to the Full Time
Office. The deadline for this submission is 15:00 Friday, 6th
May 2016.

Can I submit my dissertation by e-mail

or fax?

No. The submission must be in the form of a bound hardcopy

submitted to the Full Time Office plus an electronic version
loaded to Blackboard.

What are the consequences

handing the dissertation in late?

The rules in your BAMS programme handbook governing the

late submission of assignments also apply to the late
submission of the dissertation.

of

Who will mark my dissertation?

Your supervisor and a second marker. A sample of

dissertations will also be scrutinised by the external
examiners.

How will it be graded?

See Part D.

Will I get my dissertation back?

No. If you want your own copy make sure you keep one.

When will I get the grade?

The board of external examiners typically meets in June. Your

dissertation grade will be available shortly after this meeting.

What happens if I fail the dissertation?

It will affect your degree grade in the same way as failing 40

credits across any other modules would. See your BAMS
programme handbook for further information.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

21

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

PART E

Further Reading
The following texts and websites offer generic advice on conducting research and writing academic texts.
They offer useful preparatory reading for a dissertation and will be important sources of information and
guidance throughout the research process. You should also consult the reading lists from your Research
Methods and Managing Research modules.
Angrist, J. D. and Piscke, J. (2008) Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist's Companion, New York:
Princeton University Press
Becker, H. S. (1986) Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article,
London: University of Chicago Press
Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. C. and Williams, J. M (1995/2008) The Craft of Research (Third Edition),
London: University of Chicago Press
Chicago Press (2010) The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors and
Publishers, London: Chicago University Press
Graff, G. and Birkenstein, C. (2007) They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Persuasive Writing, New
York: W. W. Norton & Company
Peters, P. (2004) The Cambridge Guide to English Usage, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Strunk, W. (2007) The Elements of Style, London: Filiquarian Publishing
secondlanguage.blogspot.com/

22

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

PART F

Appendices
Appendices A and B to D can be found as a separate documents on Blackboard.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

23



STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

APPENDIX A

BAMS Request for Supervision

Student name:
Student number:
University email:
Please select which research area your dissertation focuses on:
If you are unsure, you might like to look at recent issues of journals in these research areas to see if the
topic or similar topics are discussed.

Organisation and Management Studies

Economics, Finance and Accountancy

Marketing, Communication and Consumer Research

Economics, Finance and Accountancy (including political economy and economic/business

history)

Marketing, Communication and Consumer Research

For information about these research areas, please see:

www2.le.ac.uk/departments/management/research/areas
Please give us a short description of the topic you would like to research in your dissertation:
















Please continue on a new page if necessary
The more detail you can provide us with here, the more accurately we can appoint you a supervisor. You
should aim to include details on the current academic research in the topic such as the on-going
discussions that are taking place among researchers, the types of data used in these discussions and
sources of further literature.
Once complete please return this form and return to: ulsmbams3@le.ac.uk. Deadline: 3pm Friday 16
October 2015.

24

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

APPENDIX B

BAMS Dissertation Pro Forma

Please complete this pro forma in preparation for your first meeting with your supervisor. Try to include
as much detail as you can. The more specific you can be, the more your supervisor can help you. Feel free
to extend sections and add extra pages.
Student name:
Student number:
University email:
What is the topic of your dissertation?

Why are you interested in this topic?

Who are the key researchers that inform this topic?

Where is this topic discussed in academic research (it is helpful if you can name articles, journals, books,
conferences, blogs)?

What are the key questions that are discussed in this literature?

What kinds of data are used in these discussions? What methods are used to gather this data?

What theories support these discussions?

How do you think your dissertation can contribute to these discussions?

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

25

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

APPENDIX C

Sample Consent Form

Date:
Name:
Address:
Data protection/informed consent letter
Dear ,
Thank you very much for agreeing to take part in this research on (name of study). I greatly appreciate
you giving up your time in order to help me. I am undertaking this project as a part of an MSc degree
which I am studying with the University of Leicester. The project I am working on is (describe briefly what
the project is about). You were selected to take part in this research because (explain how/why they were
selected).
You can withdraw from the study at any time if you feel that is necessary. If you are happy to take part in
the research, however, I will ask you to sign a consent form giving your agreement. You can still
withdraw from the research after signing the form.
The interview will last for (insert approximate time, e.g. approximately one hour). I will ask you a series of
questions and will give you the opportunity to ask me any questions you may have. I would like to
reassure you that the information which you provide in the course of the interview will be treated in the
strictest of confidence. All data collected will be treated in accordance with ethical codes set out in the
British Sociological Guidelines (or other appropriate ethical guidelines such as the Data Protection Act or
other legislation relevant to your location). In addition, your answers will be unattributed to either
yourself or to any organisation which you work for or have worked for.
The data gathered during the interview will only be used for my MSc dissertation. Your own data will be
completely anonymous and you will not be identifiable (you might like to add, where relevant, that data
will be aggregated, so that no individual data are presented). Once again, thank you very much for your
participation. If you have any questions at any stage of the project please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
(Your name / signature)
Informed consent form (insert project title here)
I agree to take part in an interview as part of the above named project. The research has been clearly
explained to me and I have read and understood the participant informed consent letter. I understand
that by signing the consent form I am agreeing to participate in this research and that I can withdraw
from the research at any time. I understand that any information I provide during the interview is
confidential and will not be used for any purpose other than the research project outlined above. The
data will not be shared with any other organisations.
If applicable: I agree that the interview can be audio taped by voice/tape recorder: YES/NO
Name: (please print) ..
Signature:. Date:

26

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK BA MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

APPENDIX D

Sample Layout of Title Page of Dissertation

Your title should appear here

Student number: 12345678

Month, Year

Dissertation submitted to the University of Leicester in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
degree of BA Management Studies

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

27

@uniofleicester /uniofleicester
For more information
School of Management
University of Leicester, University Road,
Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
t: +44 (0) 116 252 5520
f: +44 (0) 116 252 3949
e: ulsmstudy@le.ac.uk
w: www.le.ac.uk/management

University of Leicester
All information in this document was correct at the time of
going to press. However, changes and developments are part
of the life of the University, and alterations may occur to the
programmes and services described in this document.