Integrated Management Project

This semester you will be focusing your attention on writing up your IMP 2 project work. This will extend the work on which you received formative feedback in IMP1. Here are some helpful guidelines.

Assessment 1 is made up of two parts – Part 1 & Part 2. 

Submissions to BREO will be made together in one document, but with clearly marked sections – Part 1 & Part 2.

Assessment 2, reflection, is submitted here too as part of the document. You should leave a page space and clearly identify as Reflection.

   

Assessment 1 (80% Weighting) 8000 words in total for Parts 1 and 2

PART 1: You will produce a report that:

Identifies an issue or problem in your own organisation (another organisation is acceptable only in exceptional circumstances. Seek approval from the Unit Coordinator) that has multiple and varied approaches to its resolution. This should be a current or impending but not a past issue. You will identify and integrate a range of theories and techniques drawn from multiple appropriate disciplines from your MBA in the creation of appropriate solutions.

Once you have framed the problem you will identify and discuss relevant theories, models and paradigms related to the problem.  Make sure that you look at the problem from different points of view and relate them to your learning from as many different units of the MBA.  For example:

•  People - LMP, LP, MCI – how does your problem/ solution impact on the team & company?  Performance, leadership, managing creativity/innovation etc.

•  Financial aspect – AfL – How will your solution improve/ impact positively on the financial aspect of the company?

•  Marketing – How does your problem/solution impact on the marketing dimension?

•  Strategy – From the Strategy unit (Business Strategy) and from TCGC (locating your problem / organisation within the wider context of global business/ sector – macro-environmental impact – PESTEL, etc.)

•Operations Management – How does the problem/solution impact on the supply chain, procurement and operational management issues?

•  Project management – Consider the models for managing change and other project management theories or models.  Can any of these be applied to your problem area?  You may use the soft and hard systems approach within this context.  Is there any other approach that would be appropriate? If so, present it (with appropriate referencing) and explain how and why it is more suitable to the task at hand.

This is not an exhaustive list and you may want to broaden the range of theories as you see fit. You will also want to be selective in the approach you adopt, justifying the selection methodologically.  It is important to use an integrated approach rather than look at each dimension on its own. 

PART 2: You will produce a critical review of the literature where you will locate your work developed in Part 1 demonstrating its distinctiveness.

You will do so by critically evaluating the concepts, theories, models, etc., used in Part 1 and extending this to identify and review the wider body of knowledge and latest research in the field.

Assessment 2, Reflective Report (20% Weighting)

You will produce a reflective account to be submitted with IMP 2 that:

Critically evaluates your capabilities at managing the process of producing the Project and reflects upon your development and future needs as a practitioner based on your learning during the Project. (2000 words).  

How well did your work meet the stated proposal criteria?

A proposal has been formulated in relation to the low level of staff commitment at  your place of work - Dhofar Municipality. Some 'tools' has been identified to undertake the analysis.

How could you improve your future performance for IMP1?

In the first instance consider narrowing the focus to your department to undertake  a more in-depth analysis. Find the root cause - consider including the fish bone.

At the outset incorporate an introduction briefly stating what was done and how - thus providing a framework and signposts for the reader.

Align IMP 1 more closely with the requirements of the brief which is identification of a current problem, background to an organization, identification of 'tools', analysis of the problem and realistic recommendations. The literature review is Part 2 and a critique of the literature.

The background needs to be concise and provide a context for the reader - include, for example, the number of employees.

Ensure that the problem statement is succinct – summarized in two to three sentences.

Identify the ‘tools’ to be utilized for the analysis. Briefly describe them, justify usage and then undertake the analysis. Based upon the findings draw conclusions and then make realistic recommendations. Include an Action Plan with time line and costings.

Overall

A good start which requires some refinement as outlined above.

IMP-2 – Parts 1&2

This is a suggested format and approximate word count in each section. It is offered for guidance only

Section / Title	Details / Guidance
Title page	Title of your report.
Executive Summary	Concise summary of your report, including aim(s), analysis, key conclusions and recommendations (comes first in report, but you will write this section after you have finalised the rest of your report). (Approx. 250 words)
Contents Page	Include page numbers.
Introduction	Introduction to the report defining the problem identified, setting out what the aims and objectives of the report are, the context, what the report will cover, why and your method of analysis (Approx. 750 words).
Analysis	Use the integrated approaches selected to analyse the identified problem.  You need to present the data/evidence/case studies of practice. Critically analyse and evaluate in-depth the effectiveness of theory in applied in practice. (Approx. 3000 words)
Critical review of literature	You will need to identify the existing body of knowledge, drawing on a wide range of recent quality academic sources, including peer-reviewed material, to analyse current understanding and identify shortfalls in knowledge. You will need to critically evaluate the sources in relation to the application of theory to practice.  (Approx. 3000 words).
Conclusions	This section should initially answer the report aim and objectives and draw together the main points from your analysis. It summarises what has been learned from undertaking this project concerning the application of theory into practice.  What are the main conclusions from your project? No new information should be presented in the conclusions. (Approx. 500 words)
Recommendations	Make recommendations for improvement based upon your conclusions, clearly stating how they can add value.  Recommendations should be fully feasible and justified considering costs, priority level, time-scale, resources, who is responsible, benefits and any further implications. Proposals should be actionable (‘immediately implementable’) not just a list of ideas. (Approx.500 words)
Reference List	A list of all sources cited directly in the text. Harvard style.
Bibliography List	The sources you consulted but which you do not cite.

For the Reflective Assessment 2, there is no suggested format.  You are free to use your creativity and imagination in this regard. However, below are some guidelines for reflection:

You are required to provide a 2,000-word Reflection in relation to your MBA ‘journey’.

This is an opportunity to think back on your learning experience and self-evaluate in terms of strengths and weaknesses. There is no prescription of format or content, but the following might help.

Ask questions such as:

·        What have I learnt?

·        What could I do to improve and how?

Learning theory can be helpful in providing a framework of analysis.

Consider, for example, Kolb’s Learning Cycle – experiential learning theory, 1984 and Rolfe et al’s Reflective Cycle, 2001 – What? So, what? Now what?

Having undertaken the reflection/self-evaluation think about providing a personal development plan which includes realistic goals and time lines and aids the monitoring of progress.

Reflection and self-evaluation are the key -  supported by learning theory. Avoid description.

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