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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Health in Social Science : Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in Health

Postgraduate Course: Dissertation, MSc Integrated Service Improvement (ISSH11004)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Health in Social Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeDissertation AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits60
Home subject areaInterdisciplinary Social Sciences in Health Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThe MSc integrated Service Development is a part time post- graduate programme for managers and senior practitioners of health and social care who want to develop their understanding and skills in service improvement. It covers the theory and practice of facilitation and management of change across boundaries in complex inter-organisational settings. It focuses on theories of organisational change in the context of contemporary public service modernisation, the critical appraisal and application of service improvement tools, use of research, evaluation and information management for quality improvement and a critical appraisal of project management in current contexts of service improvement. These areas are developed in core courses, and students are given the opportunity to deepen their understanding through elective courses at diploma level. The dissertation is researched and written in the second year.

It aims to let students deepen and demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding of service improvement in complex organisational settings through conducting and critically appraising a service development project in which they are involved. The project is selected in negotiation with the students&© organisations, and the dissertation is a potential source of organisational learning. The topic and questions for the dissertation are identified discussion with peers and tutors. Students collect data using a variety of methods, for example interviews and focus groups with service colleagues and service users, quantitative routinely collected and bespoke data. mapping of service processes and their outcomes, documentary evidence, diaries and logs. The dissertation is an opportunity for students to reflect on the circumstances of the project and the drivers shaping it, its key outcomes, and their own involvement, drawing on relevant theory and analysis of a variety of data sources.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Flexible, Not available to visiting students (SS1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
No Classes have been defined for this Course
First Class First class information not currently available
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Understanding
&· Critical understanding of the dynamics of change in
public service modernisation
&· Appreciation of the role of managers in service change in
these contexts
&· Deepened appreciation of ways in challenges of service
change can be managed.
&· Appraisal of the methods and tools for change, and how to
adapt them to specific circumstances of local change projects
&· Critical understanding of the use of data in guiding and
monitoring change.
&· Understanding relationships between context, process and
outcomes of a service change process.

Knowledge
&· Deepened knowledge of different research approaches and their
application in the conduct and monitoring of practical change
projects
&· Deepened knowledge of the literature of organisational change
&· Extended knowledge of tools for service improvement.

Skills
&· Extended skills in independent conduct of research and
evaluation
&· Extended skills in the conduct of service improvement projects
&· Extended skills in the presentation of service improvement
projects
Assessment Information
The dissertation is a reflective account of up to 14000 words.
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Guro Huby
Tel: (0131 6)51 1425
Email: Guro.Huby@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Lorna Sheal
Tel: (0131 6)50 3890
Email: L.Sheal@ed.ac.uk
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:18 am