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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Business School : Common Courses (Management School)

Postgraduate Course: MBA Capstone Project (MBA) (CMSE11255)

Course Outline
SchoolBusiness School CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeDissertation AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits40 ECTS Credits20
SummaryThe final project, the Capstone Project, provides an opportunity for the MBA candidate to develop the ability to identify, analyse, research and propose a solution to a real problem of significance in business or administration. It can be a project involving contact with practice (for example in a company), a library based project using secondary data, a teaching case study, or a business plan. The standard expected is that the project will show knowledge and understanding of the area that is being researched; some contribution to knowledge is generally required for distinction level.
Course description Undertaking the Capstone Project requires the student to develop a deep level of analysis and understanding of the theory and processes of organisations and the business environment through the completion of a piece of individual research.

MBA participants can work on one of four types of Capstone Project:

Research Dissertation
This type or project will involve critical engagement with a body of literature and concepts and designing and conducting research that generates new data or new theory addressing gaps in the literature and adding to the body of knowledge.

Business Consultancy Project
Analysis of an issue chosen by a business that provides data for analysis, which the student reintegrates with issues or gaps in general literature. This type of Capstone Project can also be the result of a work-based project and the research questions and data are the result of negotiation between the business and the researcher.

Business Plan
A fully-researched, costed and complete plan for a new business venture such as might justify investment against a predicted return. Please note, there is still an expectation that a full literature review relevant to the type of business or proposition underpins the research.

Case Study and Teaching Note
For this type of Capstone Project, students must produce two related documents - the Case Description and the Teaching Note.

Student Learning Experience
Students work individually on their Capstone Projects, but under the supervisory guidance of an experienced member of faculty. Students are required to keep in regular contact with their Advisor. As a minimum they should meet with their Advisor three times.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements For Business School PG students only, or by special permission of the School. Please contact the course secretary.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 400 ( Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 8, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 384 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Feedback Students meet with an Adviser to receive regular formative feedback on progress during the project including, for example, after the initial research proposal is developed. The final mark for the Capstone Project will usually be available after the final Board of Examiners in October. Individual feedback on the Capstone Project will be available online via the Dissertation Support System on Learn, usually by the end of October.

Students will be provided with electronic written feedback for all coursework. Coursework cannot be taken away by students. Students who wish to view a marked piece of coursework, should contact the programme support team to arrange a time.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Study in depth a topic of particular interest to the student, within the field of business.
  2. Plan, design, execute and report a significant piece of individual research.
  3. Apply the processes involved in research, such as obtaining information from people, securing their co-operation, analysing and evaluating data, framing recommendations, and other methods of field study and data collection.
  4. Communicate, via a report, complex ideas and information in a coherent and structured manner.
Reading List
There is no specific reading list for a dissertation. Students carry out their own literature review.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills The Capstone Project provides the opportunity for students to engage in a research project and, in particular, the ability to study a specific topic and question, identify the issues and how they may be researched, collect and validate appropriate data, organise and discuss the findings, their reliability and validity, and present results in a logical and clear manner.
KeywordsResearch Capstone Enquiry Dissertation Consulting
Contacts
Course organiserDr Malcolm Kirkup
Tel: (0131 6)50 8067
Email: Malcolm.Kirkup@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Tammy French
Tel: (0131 6)50 3475
Email: Tammy.French@ed.ac.uk
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