As the culmination of your Masters course, you will be expected to carry out a full programme of study which has been previously negotiated on an appropriate topic, and which will draw together various elements of the course and develop a personal response to your identified key issues. The outcome of the project will show how design practice and management practice are interrelated in your area of study. You will be expected to undertake a substantial research programme and written report that clearly identifies and describes the topic, and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of critical evaluation of methodologies, analyses the research information, and makes recommendations generating innovative solutions appropriate to your aims and objectives. It is in this final module that you will be expected to show that you have achieved mastery of the methods you use and in the chosen area of design management supported by evidence of primary research.

A computer for accessing Blackboard, websites and electronic journals.
Course texts and course learning pack.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module.
Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

You will have developed a suitable plan for action, research and resources to support your Masters study. The aims and objectives for your project will be clearly articulated. The research plan will have been executed fully; the information analyzed and used to generate appropriate solutions which show that you have achieved your stated aims and objectives. Your work will be presented in a manner which is appropriate at Masters level and conforms to given guidelines. There will be evidence of how you managed your time, resources and materials effectively to meet your own and given deadlines. Throughout, your work will indicate that you have gained mastery of the methods used and the chosen topic. The aims and objectives for your project will be challenging, innovative and/or timely. The research plan will also be innovative and will be designed to produce new information. Research information will be fully analyzed and used to generate innovative solutions which break new ground in the field and which fully meet your stated aims and objectives. Your work will be presented in a highly professional manner. There will be evidence of the highly effective use of your time, resources and materials to meet your own and given deadlines. Throughout, your work will indicate that you have gained a high level of mastery over the methods used and the chosen topic.

Students will have access to a supervisor, or a supervisory team, who will aid the student in planning their progress. This will amount to a maximum of 8 hours contact time. In this instance contact means through a DL model, through e-mail, telephone conversations and other means. Structured report advice will be provided through the online handbook.
Relevant staff will be chosen in relation to the student's topic of research.

Hart, C. (1998) Doing a Literature Review, Sage, London.
Kumar, R. (2002) Research Methodology, Sage, London.
Sapsford, R., and Jupp, V. (2006) Data Collection and Analysis, Sage, London.
Walliman, N. (2005) Your Research Project, Sage, London.
Yin, R. (2005) Case Study Research Methods, Sage, New York.