Management Studies (MA top up for DMS)

Overview

This MA is a DMS top-up, based on an action-research dissertation. The aim is to combine research with real management action. At the end, you will have experience of applying a rigorous and systematic approach to reflecting on and improving your own workplace practice and have an impressive finished management project to your credit.

The teaching styles and assessment methods require you to engage as an active participant in improving and developing your distinctive management skills. You will progress in a supportive environment with small group study involving peer and tutor-led active discussions around action research concepts, operational issues and difficulties. Learning is experiential. A key success factor for your dissertation is the ability to self-reflect on your own management style and to participate fully as part of a constructive and inquisitive action research group.

London Metropolitan Business School

Our course offers:

Help in developing your ability to research and take action on management problems and opportunities
Peer feedback and coaching to help you achieve your potential as a proactive and reflective manager
Help in writing a valuable dissertation.

Applying and entry

PLEASE NOTE There is no official closing date for this course, but you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only consider your application if there are places available on the course.

Tel: 020 7133 4202
Email: admissions@londonmet.ac.uk

There are two options: (1) This is a DMS top-up, so you must have recently gained the Diploma in Management Studies. If you do not have the Diploma in Management Studies please follow this link, Diploma in Management Studies. If you have a Diploma in Management Studies then you just need to pay the fee for the 60 credit Dissertation module.

Alternatively, (2) the MA is also suitable as the final dissertation of an MBA or MA in management, if you have completed all the non-dissertation modules. For this option, you must be completing one of these degrees at LondonMet.

You must be in work or you must have access to an organisation so that you can implement a real project of improving the organisation.

If your work is not suitable, you may use a non-work organisation, e.g. religious, leisure, charity, sporting, or similar. You must be able to set up some research into a problem and then implement a project to solve the problem.

Course contents

The course consists of one project module, the action-learning dissertation. You have to find a management problem or opportunity; you then engage in cycles of planning for action; taking action; collecting and analysing and evaluating action; reflecting, reviewing and planning for further action. You will write up your action research as a dissertation of approximately 15,000 words.

Modules

There is one module: the dissertation.

Read more about the module

Attendance
The MA takes place over two academic terms and lasts approximately one year. There is a two day teaching block at the start of the course and a two day study weekend in the second month. The group meets one evening a week over two semesters.


Assessment
There are three assessment elements. There are two smaller assignments during the year to facilitate feedback on individual progress and encourage group participation and then the main assessment element is the dissertation.

Action research projects
Some recent projects have been:


identifying talent in a business associated with the Lloyds market
developing an apprenticeship scheme in a leading IT services company
starting a property developing SME
team leadership in kitchens of an Oxford Street department store
motivating volunteers in an Islamic mosque
lean management in tube train maintenance
IT project implementation in a London borough
e-commerce in a university

Careers

The MA provides an opportunity to test and improve your ability to initiate and evaluate changes in management practice through a combination of study, peer interaction, self-reflection and the production of a robust, action research dissertation. Past students have used the MA as stimulus for self development, for making improvements in their workplace or for speeding up the implementation of their entrepreneurial business plans. The MA has been a critical success factor in achieving goals which had previously been unfulfilled.

Student profiles

Read a student profile: Patrick Douse
Tony Kirby