BUSINESS MANAGEMENT DISSERTATION - 2026/7

Module Overview

This module is a final-year independent research project for Business Management and Business Management HRM students to undertake an extended narrative literature review on a contemporary business or HRM topic. Instead of collecting primary data, students will critically analyse and synthesise existing academic and practitioner research. 

An extended narrative literature review tells the story of how a concept, theory, or debate has evolved over time. Students will compare perspectives, identify tensions and gaps, and build a coherent argument showing how the field has developed. The module develops students¿ ability to critically synthesise and evaluate academic and practitioner literature to construct a coherent, theoretically informed narrative of a concept, debate, policy area or management idea. 

Students are introduced to the methodological foundations of narrative literature reviews, including thematic and chronological synthesis, critical comparison of theoretical perspectives, and the development of structured scholarly argument. Emphasis is placed on higher-order critical thinking, intellectual independence, and reflexive academic writing consistent with final year expectations. 

Semester One focuses on topic development, research question formulation, literature searching and proposal construction (Assessment 1: 20%). Semester Two supports the production of an extended narrative literature review and preparation for a viva voce examination (Assessment 2). The final assessment (Assessment 3) comprises the dissertation (50%) and viva (30%).

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

RIVERS Christine (SBS)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

n/a

Module content

Semester One: Research Framing and Proposal Development

• Introduction to extended narrative literature reviews in business and HRM
• Distinguishing narrative reviews from descriptive essays and systematic reviews
• Developing focused and researchable questions
• Advanced literature searching strategies and database use
• Evaluating source quality and theoretical positioning
• Thematic and chronological synthesis approaches
• Avoiding descriptive writing and developing critical voice
• Structuring and drafting the proposal

Students submit a research proposal outlining rationale, research question(s), proposed structure, and preliminary critical engagement with the literature.

Semester Two: Extended Narrative Synthesis and Viva Preparation

• Advanced critical synthesis and conceptual mapping
• Identifying theoretical tensions and intellectual debates
• Analysing the evolution of business management and HRM concepts over time
• Integrating academic research with contemporary organisational context
• Strengthening argument coherence and analytical depth
• Academic writing refinement and scholarly positioning
• Viva preparation: defending structure, interpretation and conclusions

Students submit an extended narrative literature review and complete a viva voce examination.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

n/a

Assessment Strategy

The  module has a staged assessment strategy, which supports progressive development of independent research capability:

• The Proposal assesses conceptual clarity, feasibility and initial critical engagement. Assessment 1 refers to learning outcomes, 1, 2 and 3. 
• The Dissertation assesses depth of synthesis, quality of critical evaluation, theoretical integration, structure and academic writing. Assessment 2 refers to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4. 
• The Viva assesses intellectual independence, analytical reasoning, and the ability to defend scholarly decisions. Assessment 3 refers to learning outcome 5. 

This structure ensures alignment with Level 6 expectations of critical evaluation, synthesis of complex information, independent judgement and reflexive thinking.

Module aims

• To develop students¿ ability to conceptualise and justify an independent research question within business management and or HRM topics suitable for extended narrative literature synthesis.
• To cultivate advanced critical thinking skills through rigorous evaluation, comparison, integration and synthesis of competing theoretical perspectives and bodies of literature that are aligned with their field of study (e.g. business management and or HRM)
• To provide an opportunity for students to construct and defend a coherent, analytically robust extended narrative literature review and to demonstrate intellectual independence and scholarly reflexivity.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The module adopts a structured and student-centred approach to teaching and learning designed to support independent scholarship. Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, guided learning and independent study. Lectures introduce key concepts in literature review methodology, critical evaluation of sources, and academic writing for extended research projects. Seminars provide opportunities for discussion, peer learning, and formative feedback on developing ideas and drafts.

The module places strong emphasis on independent learning with opportunities for supervised study, enabling students to engage in extensive reading, critical reflection, and the iterative development of their narrative literature review. Guidance on topic development, literature searching, and academic writing is embedded throughout teaching activities and module resources to support students as they progress towards the final dissertation and viva assessment.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN3263

Other information

Depending on the choice of project, the module refers to pillars of employability, resourcefulness, resilience and digital skills development. The exclusivity of each project might allow deeper engagement with topics such as sustainability, digitization, globalization.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.