Unit 4 Research project TTM ICTM London

November 3, 2019 0 Comments

HND Assignment Brief

Session: September 2019

Programme title	BTEC HND in Travel and Tourism/Hospitality Management
Unit number and title	Unit No: 4	Research Project
Assignment number & title	1 of 1	Thorough investigation of a relevant topic in travel and tourism or Hospitality Management
Assessor (s)	Richard George and Blessing Adepoju
Issue Date	03 October 2019
Final assignment submission deadline	06-11 January 2020
Late submissions And Deadline	13-18 January 2020 The learners are required to follow the strict deadline set by the College for submissions of assignments in accordance with the BTEC level 4 – 5 submission guidelines and College policy on submissions.
Resubmission deadline	TBA
Feedback	In-class feedback will be available from formative assessment of the initial submissions based on each learning outcome. Final feedback will be available within 2 – 3 weeks of the assignment submission date.

General Guidelines

The work you submit must be in your own words. If you use a quote or an illustration from somewhere you must give the source.Include a list of references at the end of your document. You must give all your sources of information. Make sure your work is clearly presented and that you use correct grammar.Wherever possible use a word processor and its “spell-checker”.

Internal verifier	Nazim Saleem
Signature (IV of the brief) *		Date	30/09/2019

ICON College of Technology and Management

BTEC HND in Travel & Tourism Management (QCF) Unit 04: Research Project (L 5-20 Credits)

Session: Sept. 2019 Assignment Context and Scenario:

You are appointed as a management consultant to undertake a research project related to

a specific area of business practice in your chosen tourism or hospitality organization. The chosen area of business practice can be in marketing, human resources, operations, or finance. Please note you need to identify a specific research problem, issue or opportunity such as consumer satisfaction in marketing, employee productivity or motivation in human resources, or supply chain management in operations. You may also consider a topic such as sustainable management tourism and hospitality.

You will be required to identify a specific problem, issue or opportunity related topic for research and then to write a research proposal outlining the issues based on clear research objectives (or research questions) to be achieved or investigated. These are to be justified and supported by a review of the relevant literature pertaining to your research topic. The aim of the research project is to collect relevant data related to the identified r e s e a r c h p r o b l e m , i s s u e , o r o p p o r t u n i t y using appropriate (primary and secondary) research sources and analyse the findings before presenting them in an appropriate report format.

You are required to carry out the four tasks as outlined below in order to complete this assignment and present to the senior management. In addition, you will present the written work under a number of chapters (ask your tutor for guidance).

In the first instance, you will need to complete a project proposal with a relevant title and research objectives and hand in to the tutor as for approval.

Recommended word count is 5,000 excluding the appendix and reference list. You may use a one-page or 500 word introduction to describe your chosen organization as a case study.

Assignment Tasks: What you must do

LO 1: Task 1

Based upon the specific research problem identified in your sector or chosen organisation formulate a Research Proposal (detailed version), outlining the study background, rationale, aims and objectives within the hospitality context. This is your Chapter 1 under the title Introduction.

Ø M1: An effective approach to study and research the proposed topic or issue has been applied as evidenced from the detail proposal in chapter 1.

Identify Relevant Literature related to your chosen topic and undertake a critical review of key scholarly literature, including relevant theories and concepts. You should cite and reference all supporting arguments with sources using Harvard System of Referencing. This is your Chapter 2 under the title Review of Literature.

Ø M2: Relevant theories and models as well as techniques have been applied in supporting your argument and judgement. l

Produce and discuss the relevant Research Methodology to implement the proposed research and provide an appropriate plan, including a time schedule for carrying out the research. This is your Chapter 3 under the title Research Methodology.

You need to consider the relevant sources of data such as primary and secondary and outline and justify the proposed methodology using appropriate sampling methods to collect data within the context of validity and reliability.

LO 2: Task 2 (this part is your field research)

Plan and organise and match the necessary resources efficiently to the research questions or objectives so that the proposed research investigation can be undertaken in accordance with the agreed specification and procedures. (Ideally you should have provided a breakdown of tasks in a GAANTT Chart in Chapter1)

Record and collate relevant data where relevant and organise in tables if necessary and present as appropriate.

Hint: Please ask the tutor for further clarification. This task requires you to demonstrate evidence in the form of log book, a sound questionnaire, schedule, and monitoring process used etc. You should also provide the raw data collected and an account on the response rate and the overall effectiveness of the research investigation process.

Some of the material evidences should be presented in the first section of Chapter 4 under data presentation under the chapter title Findings and Analysis

LO3: Task 3 (this is about writing up your findings)

Organise and structure the raw data in a tabular format and use appropriate techniques to analyse the findings in an orderly manner.(This is your Chapter 4 under the title Findings and Analysis)

Ø M2: A range of methods and techniques have been applied in the analysis of the data (as proposed in the methodology chapter).

M3: A range of methods of presentations has been used, including technical language, in presenting the findings (tables, charts, graphs etc.)

Interpret and evaluate the results in terms of the original research objectives and specification and make recommendations with justification (part of Chapter 5 under the title Recommendation and Conclusion).

Ø D1: Validity of the research methods and the results have been evaluated using defined criteria.

The findings should be linked to the research objectives in the process of evaluation so that conclusion can be made whether the research problem (s) identified or the proposed hypotheses were true or not.

LO4: Task 4 (this is your final presentation of the entire written work)

Present the outcomes of the entire research using an agreed format in the form of a written report (should be well-structured and presented professionally.

Ø D2: Substantial activities have been planned, managed, and organised in carrying out the project on time.

Make a class presentation of 10-15 minutes highlighting the study objectives, validity of the methodology used and the findings.

Ø D3: Innovative and creative thoughts have been applied when making the oral presentation (use of ICT and innovative methods of presenting the data and findings)

Relevant Information

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes	Assessment Criteria for Pass
LO1: Understand how to formulate a research specification	Formulate and record possible research project outline specificationsIdentify the factors that contribute to the process of research project selectionUndertake a critical review of key referencesProduce a research project specificationProvide an appropriate plan and procedures for the agreed
LO2: Be able to implement the research project within agreed procedures and to specification	Match resources efficiently to the research question or hypothesisUndertake the proposed research investigation in accordance with the agreed specification and proceduresRecord and collate relevant data where appropriate
LO3: Be able to evaluate the research outcomes	Use appropriate research evaluation techniquesInterpret and analyse the results in terms of the original research specificationMake recommendations and justify areas for further consideration
LO4: Be able to present the research outcomes	4.1 Use an agreed format and appropriate media to present the outcomes of

Grading Criteria for Merit and Distinction of this coursework

Merit (M1, M2, M3)	Distinction (D1, D2, D3)
Descriptors	Indicative characteristics	Descriptors	Indicative characteristics
M1: Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solution	M1: An effective approach to study and research the proposed topic or issue has been applied as evidenced from the detail proposal in chapter 1.	D1:Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions	D1: Validity of the research methods and the results have been evaluated using defined criteria.
M2: Select/design and apply appropriate methods and techniques	M2: A range of methods and techniques have been applied in the analysis of the data (as proposed in the methodology chapter).	D2: Take responsibility for managing and organising activities	D2: Substantial activities have been planned, managed, and organised in carrying out the project on time.
M3: Present and communicate appropriate findings	M3: A range of methods of presentations has been used, including technical language, in presenting the findings (tables, charts, graphs etc.)	D3: Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creati ve thinking	D3: Innovative and creative thoughts have been applied when making the oral presentation (use of ICT and innovative methods of presenting the data and findings)

Preparation guidelines of the Coursework Document
- All coursework must be word processed.
- Document margins must not be more than 2.54 cm (1 inch) or less than 1.9cm
- Font size must be within the range of 10 point to 14 point including the headings and body text (preferred font size is 11).
- Standard and commonly used type face such as Arial should be used.
- All figures, graphs and tables must be numbered.
- Material taken from external sources must be properly refereed and cited within the text using Harvard standard
- Do not use Wikipedia as a reference.

4. Plagiarism and Collusion

Any act of plagiarism or collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the College regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism and collusion are presented below:

Plagiarism is presenting somebody else’s work as your own. It includes copying information directly from the Web or books without referencing the material; submitting joint coursework as an individual effort.
Collusion is copying another student’s coursework; stealing coursework from another student and submitting it as your own work.
Suspected plagiarism or collusion will be investigated and if found to have occurred will be dealt with according to the college procedure. (For details on Plagiarism & Collusion please see the student hand book)

5. Submission

Initial submission of coursework to the tutors is compulsory in each unit of the course.
1. Student must check their assignments on ICON VLE with plagiarism software Turnitin to make sure the similarity index for their assignment stays within the College approved level. A student can check the similarity index of their assignment three times in the Draft Assignment submission point located in the home page of the ICON VLE.
1. All Final coursework must be submitted to the Final submission point into the unit (not to the Tutor). A student would be allowed to submit only once and that is the final submission.
1. Any computer files generated such as program code (software), graphic files that form part of the coursework must be submitted as an attachment to the assignment with all documentation.
1. Any portfolio for a unit must be submitted as a hardcopy to examination office.
1. The student must attach a tutor’s comment in between the cover page and the answer in the case of Resubmission.

6. Good practice

Make backup of your work in different media (hard disk, memory stick etc.) to avoid distress for loss or damage of your original copy.

7. Extension and Late Submission

If you need an extension for a valid reason, you must request one using an Exceptional Extenuating Circumstances (EEC) form available from the College examination office and ICON VLE. Please note that the lecturers do not have the authority to extend the coursework deadlines and therefore do not ask them to award a coursework extension. The completed form must be accompanied by evidence such as a medical certificate in the event of you being sick.
1. Late submission will be accepted and marked according to the college procedure. It is noted that late submission may not be graded for Merit and Distinction.
1. All Late coursework must be submitted to the Late submission point into the unit (not to the Tutor). A student would be allowed to submit only once and that is the final submission.

8. Submission deadlines: as above (page 1) Submit to: Online to the ICON VLE only

HND Travel and tourism