MBA Dissertation Pointers

Structure Word Key Elements

Count
Guide
Opening Section  Title page- should be written as a question and
should be indicative of the subject e.g.

 How can an organisation develop an

Abstract international team? A focus on…
<300
 Declaration and statement of own work /
Supervisor sign off
 Acknowledgements
 Abstract: This can not be written until the end. It
should be a short outline that summarises all
sections. It needs to focus on the study question,
methods used and the key findings in particular.
 Table of contents
Introduction 2000-2500 What is the area or problem you are investigating and
why it is important to the research community, any
company and you? (purpose)
Requirements:
 Background / context of the study to the study.
Use authorative sources and facts and figures to
provide evidence of trends and importance in this
area
 A clear focus on a research issue or statement of
any problem area and possible causes that will be
investigated if it is company investigation.

 An introduction to any company. This should be a

crafted overview relating to the topic area to
some degree and not just dumped from the
company website or an article.

 A clear statement of Aims and Objectives E.g.

Aim: (example)

To explore strategies to develop international teams

Objectives are the key elements that underpin the

aim. Therefore:

Objectives (Example)

To Explore IHRM models of the universalism school,

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 cultural school and key international cultural models

To examine the importance recruitment and selection

in the context of building international teams

To explore the characteristics of a successful

international team

To examine culturally aligned training for these

teams

 The results expected /aims of the research

 Introduce the theoretical / conceptual framework

that you will be exploring (Plain English). It
identifies the main theoretical points and themes
that are RELEVANT to the dissertation and
informs the reader how you intend fulfil your
research aims by use of research methods. E.g.
Secondary data or primary data analysis

 Brief outline of the subsequent chapters

Literature Review 5500-7500 This is a theoretical exploration of the existing

knowledge that is RELEVANT to the area you are
investigating
 What research exists?
 How does this impact on your research problem?
 What relevant theories and frameworks does it
supply to your problem?

 The literature review focuses on similar and

contrasting perspectives that researchers or
academics have used to approach this, or similar
research areas. As such, you have to identify the
strengths and weaknesses of such approaches.

 Use only relevant studies, focus on their main

findings and conclusions

 You should be able to consider the most

appropriate areas, justify these, and use them to
inform / create your research methodology

 *The literature review is not a brief summary of

all the books and articles you have read. This is
called an annotated bibliography.

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Methodology 1500-2000 An in-depth discussion on how the study will be
undertaken and how it fits with your research
question

 What methodology will be used?

 How will it be done?
 Why was the method selected? (justification for
the final selection)
 Why were other approaches discounted?
 Strengths and weaknesses of the approach
 Design of research instrument

Design of research instrument

 Clear indication of the design features and any
questions to be asked in a survey

 Describe the data analysis techniques to be

employed. E.g. sampling techniques, frameworks,
size and type of an appropriate survey

 Description of subjects involved, settings for the

study and any variables that may be encountered

 Describe the data analysis techniques to be

employed. E.g. sampling techniques, frameworks,
size and type of an appropriate survey

If you are using a particular concept / model, then it

should be critically discussed and incorporated here.

For in- company  Description of the operation and its processes

Investigative
dissertations where you
 A perspective on the problem
have access to the  Factors that may be the cause of problems
operation  Identification of internal documents, operation
procedures and policies
Current system
described Note: These two sections will add to the word count.
So, adjust the Literature Review and RM sections to
compensate. The word count and structure should be
adapted to suit the dissertation and its focus.

For in- company Investigations into the company, the operation and
Investigative its systems
dissertations where you
have access to the
operation This may involve application of a model or method that
you discussed in the literature review and research
Current system methods.
Analysed

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 E.G. Observing an operator carrying out job task, asking
questions after the operation and comparing this to
required standards of performance necessary. This might
show that there is a skill gap in operatives that is causing
quality problems.

Data Analysis and 3500-4500 What did you find?

findings
One or possibly 2 chapters on data analysis and
findings

What have you discovered and propose reasons why

this may be?

Presenting the findings

1) Restate the actual research question for the reader
and show frequency tables and graphed data.
Interpret the data for each data set. Make selected
links back to the LR
2) You may be able to cross-tabulate; make
correlations from one data set to another IF you
have set up the personal information and
demographics of the population first. From this
you may be able to identify patterns and trends.
3) Discuss the results in plain English
4) Build on and qualify the overall conclusions
linking back to the LR and key facts from the
analysis.

Discuss whether your results successfully met the

conditions to test your research question or hypothesis
e.g. in a postal survey, how many people returned the
questionnaire? Those who didn’t, are they different in
someway?

Conclusions 2000-3000 Discuss in narrative form your conclusions linking back

to your research question and literature review so that a
clear argument and thesis can be identified throughout
the work.

(A thread that weaves the whole dissertation together

into a coherent document with force of argument)

 Use clear statements on the conclusions reached

 Was your hypothesis or theory supported in your
findings?
 Answer the questions you raised in the
introduction.
 How does the results compare with theory and

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 good practice discussed in the literature?
 How do your results compare to those of other
research / academic studies?
 What has surprised you about the results?
 What limitations may there be to your study?
 How does it add to knowledge in the field?
 What further research would you recommend to
develop your work in the area of knowledge and
research?

Recommendations <1000 Recommendations should be concise statements and

include time scales as necessary.
Bibliography All sources in the dissertation need to be referenced
using the Harvard method.

The order of referencing is as follows:

1) Books
2) Journals and articles
3) Web sites with full URL address and dates
accessed.
Appendices Number Use sparingly!
these using Appendices are to be used for relevant information that
Roman would spoil the flow of the report. E.g. a good example
numerals of use is the inclusion of any survey questionnaire