Work and Organisation MRes

Program Overview

The Work and Organisation MRes is a pre-doctoral training program that equips students with research skills in business and management. It offers core modules in research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, and dissertation writing, along with optional modules in specialized areas. The program prepares students for PhD studies or careers in business or consulting that require research expertise.

Program Outline

Degree Overview

Objectives:

• To provide critical, research-led approach to the study of businesses and organisations.
• To advance analytical and quantitative skills relevant to postgraduate research.
• To develop core modules focusing on research design, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and dissertation writing.

Description:

The Work and Organisation MRes is a pre-doctoral training programme designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct research in the field of business and management. The programme offers a solid foundation in research methods, critical analysis, and written communication. It also encourages the exploration of specialized areas of interest through optional modules.

Outline

Core Modules:

• MRes Dissertation (30 credits): An independent research project supervised by a member of faculty.
• Introduction to Social Science 1: Epistemology, Research Design, and Qualitative Methods (15 credits): Explores the nature of knowledge, research design principles, and qualitative research methods such as interviewing and observation.
• Introduction to Social Science 2: Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis (15 credits): Introduces quantitative research methods, statistical analysis techniques, and the use of statistical software packages.

Optional Modules (choose 4):

• Managing Diversity (15 credits): Examines concepts of workplace equality, diversity, and inclusion, exploring theories of occupational segregation and the impact of diversity on organizational performance.
• Multinationals and Global Business (15 credits): Investigates the strategies and operations of multinational corporations, exploring the role of global economic integration and the challenges of operating in diverse markets.
• International Reward Management (15 credits): Analyzes reward management practices in a global context, considering issues such as pay systems, executive compensation, and cultural differences.
• Corporate Governance (15 credits): Examines the role and duties of corporate managers, exploring issues of corporate governance theory, regulatory frameworks, and shareholder activism.
• Organisational Behaviour (15 credits): Provides an in-depth understanding of the broad range of theory, research, and practice in organizational behaviour, focusing on individual differences, motivational factors, and group dynamics.
• New Product Development and Business Ecosystems (15 credits): Examines the process of new product development, focusing on the role of innovation, business ecosystems, and collaboration in complex environments.
• Strategic Management (15 credits): Explores theoretical approaches explaining what markets managers choose to compete within, why and how.
Analyzes contemporary approaches to strategic management, including the importance of strategy process, business ecosystems, behavioural approaches, and time/timing.
• International Business Strategy (15 credits): Investigates concepts and practices related to managing in a globally volatile, complex, dynamic, and ambiguous environment.
Examines the elective, designed to be an advanced global strategic management course.
• Social and Political Marketing (15 credits): Explores the application of marketing principles for social and political purposes, analyzing the use of marketing strategies for social change and the potential ethical implications.
• Financial Analysis and Management Accounting (15 credits): Develops insights into how accounting is embedded in a socio-economic context, focusing on the reporting of the financial position and financial performance of business organisations, and the use of accounting information by management for planning, decision-making, and control.

Assessment:

• Modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and final examinations.
• The dissertation is assessed by a supervisor and an external examiner.

Conclusion

The Work and Organisation MRes is a comprehensive and rigorous programme that provides students with a strong foundation in research methods and critical analysis. The optional modules allow for specialization in an area of interest, and the dissertation allows students to gain in-depth experience in conducting independent research. This programme is appropriate for students who are aspiring to pursue a PhD in business or management-related fields, or who want to gain research skills relevant to careers in business or consulting.