Topic : Strategies contributing to the improvement of the bus service quality in Rotorua. General discussion of any of the topics selected should be narrowed down to the discussion of a problem/opportunity of applied character (dealing with a specific business decision for specific organisations/industry). In other words, you may start with the topic discussion at a broad level (e.g. existing literature on your topic, general industry trends), but later you must connect this discussion with a specific phenomenon (e.g. high staff turnover in an organisation or in a group of organisations) You can discuss an organisation that you are currently working for or have worked for in the past. It could be an organisation or organisations/industry in which you are interested and may wish to approach, or you may know someone who works in an organisation with whom you can discuss issues of this organisation. Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and paragraph construction are important. Avoid writing incomplete sentences. Edit your paper for readability. ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE • Research Title • Introduction (5% of the total mark) In this section, you need to – Briefly present the organisation considered. – Introduce the general problem/opportunity. – Explain why your topic is important and why you have selected it. – Identify the scope of the review — what aspects of the topic will be discussed/excluded from discussion. • Literature review (40% of the total mark) In the literature review, you need to – Proceed from the general, wider view of the research under review to the specific problem: a) Identify major concepts and influential studies in relation to your topic. b) Discuss at least 15 sources relevant to your topic. When discussing these sources, focus on areas of agreement, disagreements, tensions and contentious issues related to your topic. Explain how sources mentioned are related to the problem/opportunity of a particular organisation. c) Provide insight into the relation between the studies discussed and your topic. For example, among several types of management discussed in the literature you need to identify (and justify your choice) the one that is more appropriate/relevant to the particular organisation you are considering. – Develop at least two research questions taking into account your literature review findings and the situational analysis of the organisation discussed. Research questions must be developed as on outcome of the literature considered. They should be integrated in the discussion, NOT presented as a stand-alone list at the end of the review. Generic questions (e.g. ‘What are the reasons for …?’ ‘What can be done to …”) are not acceptable. • Methods (30% of the total mark) – What method(s) of data collection will you use and why? – What sampling technique(s) will you use and why? – How many participants will be involved and why? How will you recruit participants? – Where will you conduct the research? – What method(s) of data analysis will you use and why? – How long would this research take? – How would your research findings be communicated back to the interested parties or participants? – What would be potential limitations of your study? • Conclusion (5% of the total mark) – Point out how your findings from the literature can help the organisation address problems/opportunities identified. – Indicate who the potential users of the study findings could be, and how the study might be used to improve the organisation(s), group(s), or sector. Information sources For this literature review, you need to include justifications which are based on academically recognised articles. Your main source of information will be in: • Academic Books • Journal Publications • Business Magazines • Industry reports • Statistical reports For guidance on report writing see: Academic writing for international students of business
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