Dr Nadia Millington

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This course is not available as an outside option.

The dissertation gives an opportunity to apply, integrate, and deepen the knowledge, insights, and skills that the students have learned in the master's programme, in relation to

(i) a capstone/ real-world issue in the form of a consulting project or designing a new social enterprise project 

OR

(ii) a research topic, consistent with the core philosophy of the master's programme.

More specifically, students will be able to choose between:

1) An individual consulting project. In the projects students apply and integrate what they learned in the previous courses in terms of theory, evidence, methodologies, and tools, as well as individually research new ones from relevant academic literature. These insights are used to solve a problem or explore an opportunity for a social enterprise/ social business of their choice. Students are expected to collect primary data in situ (tapping into the methodological knowledge acquired during the programme), leading to an evidence-based analysis and recommendations.  One notable criterion for evaluation will be the way theory/research from academic journals as taught in the program and independently sourced as part of the project, will be reflected in the report.

2)  An individual design of a new social enterprise project. In the design projects students apply and integrate what they have learned in previous courses in terms of theory, evidence, methodologies, and tools, as well as individually research new ones from the relevant academic and design literatures. These insights are used to develop a new social enterprise / social business that addresses a clearly defined real world problem or opportunity. Students are expected to collect primary data in situ (tapping into the methodological knowledge acquired during the programme), leading to an evidence-based analysis and business plan/ business model. One notable criterion for evaluation will be the way theory/research from academic journals as taught in the program and independently sourced as part of the project, will be reflected in the report.

3) An empirical research project (on the approval of the Programme Director). The empirical research project is the third way students can relate academic research to a real world issue. The objective of the research project is to develop a novel theoretical contribution to understanding empirical phenomena in the domain of social innovation and enterprise. The theoretical insights are drawn from data collection in situ of a real world problem/issue (in the domain of social innovation and enterprise), tapping into the theoretical and methodological knowledge acquired during the course, leading to a qualitative or quantitative research project. A major criterion for evaluation will be the way the theory/research from academic literature taught in the program, and especially, sourced independently, are reflected in the research project and report.

3 hours of lectures and 3 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of seminars in the LT.

 Students will attend a 3hr dissertation overview lecture and a 3hr dissertation proposal workshop in MT.

 In LT students will attend a 2 hr dissertation logistics workshop and are also are encouraged to attend at least one 3 x 3hr dissertation specialisation class based on the specialisation of your dissertation - new business, consulting or research project.

 In total, students will be expected to attend 11 hrs of classes for the dissertation module.

Projects will be guided by a pool of 6-10 dedicated supervisors for these dissertations.

Students will be expected to produce 1 piece of coursework in the LT.

Students will be expected to produce a dissertation proposal in LT. Each student will be required to present an outline of the subject of his/her dissertation to their supervisor for ongoing review and development.

Flick, U. (2009) An introduction to qualitative research, 4th edition, London: Sage.

An excellent guide to the stages of doing a dissertation is given by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, ; Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing & Publishing). 2nd Edition. 1995, 2003 Series: (CGWEP) Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing.

Partington, D. (2002) Essential Skills for Management Research. London. Sage Publications.

Other readings will be provided during lectures and by dissertation supervisors subject to the nature of the project chosen.

Dissertation (100%, 6000 words) in August.