BMBR5103/BMRM5103/SEPT14/A-RR

OUM BUSINESS SCHOOL

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION AND ASSESSMENT
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BMBR5103
BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
ASSIGNMENT 1
SEPTEMBER 2014
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INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
1. This assignment contains question that is set in English.
2. Answer in English only.
3. Your assignment should be typed using 12 point Times New Roman font and
1.5 line spacing.
4. You must submit your hardcopy assignment to your Fasilitator and ONLINE via the MyVLE. Refer to the portal for instructions on the procedures to
submit your assignment on-line. You are advised to keep a copy of your
submitted assignment and proof of the submission for personal reference.
Your assignment must be submitted on 14 16 November 2014.
5. Your assignment should be prepared individually. You should not copy another
persons assignment. You should also not plagiarise another persons work as
your own.
EVALUATION
This assignment accounts for

50% of the total marks for the course.

BMBR5103/BMRM5103/SEPT14/A-RR

ASSIGNMENT 1

PURPOSE:
The purpose of the assignment is to enable the students to prepare a
complete research proposal and subsequently conduct an independent
research, relevant to his/her area of interest. Assignment 1 will focus
more on laying the foundation of the research effort; while Assignment
2 will continue from there and dwell specifically on the research
process.
REQUIREMENT:
The need to make intelligent, informed decisions ultimately requires an
organisation to engage in research. Remember, not every decision requires
research. In this assignment you are required to prepare a causal research
proposal based on the following structure:

A) INTRODUCTION
i) Research Background
Discuss the background of the research that will be conducted. The
research should be in your area of interest.
ii) Problem Statement

Identify, define and discuss the overall research problem that you
wish to investigate. You may want to list and elaborate related and
relevant sub-problems to support the overall problem. You must
provide references from the literature (at least 5 references) to support
the problems accordingly. This can be from books, journals or
conference proceedings and published reports.

Justify why these problems need to be addressed and what are the
consequences of not addressing it.
iii) Research Objectives and the Scope of the Research
What are the objectives of the proposed research? The objectives must
be addressing the problem. You need to have an overall objective and
between 3 to 5 specific objectives.
What is the scope of the proposed research? The scope must be
realistic and manageable within the stipulated time of the research
undertaking.
[15 marks]

BMBR5103/BMRM5103/SEPT14/A-RR

B) LITERATURE REVIEW
Provide a CRITICAL REVIEW of the literature (at least 25 related and relevant
literature is required) in the proposed research areas/topics. Take note that
literature review is NOT just recitation of previous research. Outline the weakness
of previous research (if there are any) and explain how you propose to overcome
them in your research. Develop some propositions based on your preliminary
findings and observations.
[25 marks]

C) THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Based on the result of your preliminary findings through secondary data
analyses, literature review and qualitative research draw a diagram to identify
and show the relationship between the independent, dependent, moderator
and/or mediator variables. Students should use proper symbols/arrows when
drawing the conceptual framework. Indicate the moderator variables and/or
mediator variables if any, by properly locating their position in the diagram.
(Please refer to any good academic journal for examples of how this is done).
1. How would you conceptualise variables or elements in the conceptual
framework, systems architecture, conceptual model or model?
2.
Provide an operational definition for each of the variables or
elements.
(Do not forget to cite the source of reference)

The framework must also be presented in a diagram showing how the

variables/elements are inter-related.
Based on the theoretical framework, formulate the main hypotheses of the
research (if required). Hypotheses must be properly worded (see published
articles for examples).

[10 marks]
[TOTAL: 50 MARKS]
3

BMBR5103/BMRM5103/SEPT14/A-RR

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS:
Please adhere to the following requirements for the project submission standard
format:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Font size: 11;

Font type: Times New Roman;
Line Spacing: 1 ;
Margin default setting;
e.
Number of pages: 10 pages (text and important figures only)
excluding references, and cover page.
Notes:

Assignments should be submitted according to the fixed date.

You are to submit a softcopy of your assignment online through myVLE and a
hardcopy to your facilitator.
Plagiarism is not acceptable.