Through negotiation, the student will select and obtain approval to undertake a project that will focus on an aspect of leadership and management relating to the workplace.

The aim is to allow students, in negotiation with a tutor and (typically) a line manager to identify an aspect or aspects of study which will specifically meet their own learning and development needs.

The project should focus on one or more of the key aspects of business leadership and management functions which have been studied on the award together with work based experiential learning, thereby enhancing knowledge and skills in the context of the student's workplace.

Appropriate new learning materials will be introduced in the workshops.

The module also introduces the investigation process, including setting objectives (through the negotiated Terms of Reference) and the production of a work-based project proposal and detailed project report.

The learning strategy for the module requires students to commit 150 learning hours (including assessments). Of this there will be 6 hours classroom teaching, up to 2 hours of individual tutorial and 144 hours of self-directed study.

The principal learning strategy for this module is guided independent learning. Time will be given in the workshops to develop the necessary knowledge and understanding of how to structure and conduct a work based project and the production of a project report, together with guidance on where to find help on the essential skills; typically the University¿s online Study Skills resources will provide a good starting point.

The workshops will also be developed to provide a forum in which groups of fellow students will have the opportunity deliberate on problem areas and exchange ideas and approaches to solving them. Students will be encouraged to continue the fora online in the Discussion Board on Blackboard VLE.

This will be supported by up to 2 hours of individual face-to-face tutorial support.

The module's focus is the application of new knowledge and skills in relation to the student's own workplace and therefore the topic chosen and the recommendations / outcomes of the project will be different across the board.

Learning support material will be provided for the module.

Staffordshire University electronic resources and off-campus library facilities.

The University's Study Skills online resources at:
www.staffs.ac.uk/uniservices/infoservices/studyskills/index.php

Dawson, C.A. (2009) Introduction to Research Methods: A practical guide for anyone undertaking a research project. How to Books, Oxford.
Gill J., Johnson P. (2002). Research Methods for Managers. Sage. UK.
Saunders M., Lewis P., Thornhill A. (2002). Research Methods for Business Students (3rd edition). Financial Times Prentice Hall. UK.

A project report detailing the chosen aspects of business leadership and management within the context of the Award (3000 words): Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3, weighted at 100%