BUU44502 Strategy: Independent Research Project

(10 ECTS) 

Lecturer: 

Dr Aisling Curley 

Email: aicurley@tcd.ie 
Office Hours: By appointment 

Co- Requisite: BUU4450B Strategic Management Theory and Practice (10 ECTS)

Module Description

Individual students are required to undertake an independent research project in the area of Strategic Management, typically in the range of 5,000 - 7,000 words. Each student will identify a strategic opportunity/challenge that an organization faces, this will be the driver for the project[1].

The research project should accomplish the following:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant literature and research methods.
• Leverage the material from the corequisite ‘taught’ module BUU4450B Strategic Management Theory and Practice and other relevant modules and sources, to provide a critical strategic evaluation of an organization.
• Apply relevant frameworks and collate sufficient organization/sector background and context information to enable this.
• Identify the key challenges/opportunities facing the organization through research and analysis, and through evaluation suggest feasible strategies to leverage these opportunities and/or mitigate against these challenges.

Learning & Teaching Approach

The research project relies on the independent work of the student. There will be 2 hour in person lectures/workshops held weekly to aid students in developing required skillsets and progressing their project. Attendance at the workshops is mandatory.

The lectures and workshops will provide an introduction to doing research, and sessions focused on key deliverables of the research project including drafting the research proposal and project. The workshops will comprise lecture-based elements, opportunities for individual practice, group discussions and problem solving. Reciprocal peer discussion and evaluation will be a key method for enabling students to successfully complete their projects. The research lecturer will guide, facilitate and mediate these workshops. Students will need to prepare for each workshop, to participate effectively and to progress their projects in a timely manner. Additionally, students may also avail of up to two individual 20-minute guidance sessions with the research lecturer for their research project.

The responsibility to produce content of quality and meet deadlines rests on the student.

Learning Outcomes

• Frame and complete a research proposal.
• Gather and collate relevant literature, organization and macro and industry context information.
• Describe and justify the research method applied in your project.
• Interpret data through theories/frameworks/models to create strategic analysis and recommendations for an organization.

Relation to Degree

The research project requires a significant level of independent effort. Students will showcase their understanding of Strategic Management course material (BUU44501) and related disciplines, and their research skills. Students will develop and demonstrate their ability to work independently, take responsibility, self-motivate, and communicate effectively. These are skills that are highly desirable as employees and for further advanced study.

Workload

This 10 ECTS course will run for the entire academic year (2 Semesters) 2024-2025.  The total workload of 225 hours will include: reading assigned materials; listening/viewing lectures; attending research workshops; preparing for research workshops; creating a research proposal; doing research; and writing and presenting a thesis etc.

Textbooks and Required Resources

The following texts may be useful in supporting students on their research journey. (There are copies in the library.) Students will also be directed to engage with journal articles, videos and other supporting material as they progress through the module.

Required core Course Textbook

• Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research Methods for Business Students (8^th) Harlow: Pearson. [Earlier editions are acceptable]

General Supplemental Readings

• Bell, E., Harley, B. & Bryman, A. (2022). Business Research Methods (6th edn). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Cottrell, S. (2017). Palgrave Study Skills: Critical Thinking Skills (3^rd edn). London: Palgrave
• Miles, M.B. Huberman, A. and Saldana, J. (2020). Qualitative Data Analysis (4^th edn). California: Sage Publications
• Robson, C. (2014). How to Do a Research Project: A Guide for Undergraduate Students (2^nd edn) :Blackwell Publishing.
• Sharp J. A. &Peters, J. (2017). The Management of a Student Research Project (3^rd edn): Routledge
• Silverman, D. (2017). Doing Qualitative Research (5th edition): Sage Publications.
• Yin, R. K. 2017. Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). London: Sage.

Student Preparation for the Module

Read business newspapers to become sensitised to problems and opportunities that organizations are facing. This may help you to select an organization that your project will focus on.

Note: Students need approval from the lecturer to proceed with researching their chosen organization. Each student must chose a different organization: Where two students request to research the same organization, permission will be granted to the first student that requests that organisation.

Assessment

• RESEARCH PROPOSAL= (15%)
• RESEARCH WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE = (10%)
• RESEARCH PROJECT = (60%)
• RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATION = (15%)

Biographical Note

Aisling Curley holds a PhD in Strategic Management and a BSc (hons) in Business and Information Technology, both from Trinity College Dublin. Her research engages with the intersections between Strategic Management, Industry Evolution and Digital Technology. She has over 20 years’ experience in the investment management industry.