Assessment 1 Task 1 — Applied Research Project Paper

Data-Driven Strategies for Ethical and Inclusive Organisational Leadership

Applied Research Project – Assessment Task 1 (2025 Edition)
Unit Title: Applied Research and Strategic Practice
Qualification: Bachelor of Business / MBA / Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Leadership
Institution Context: University College London (UK) / University of Melbourne (AUS) – Business and Management Faculty

Assessment Brief

Assessment Type: Major Applied Research Project (Assessment 1)
Weighting: 50%
Word Count: 8,000 words (+/-10%)
Submission Format: .docx or .pdf
Due Date: Week 12
Submission Mode: Turnitin / Learning Management System (LMS) upload

Task Description

This task requires learners to design, conduct, and report an applied research project that addresses a contemporary strategic issue within an organisational or sectoral context. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the ability to integrate theoretical understanding with practical inquiry, drawing on credible data to generate strategic insight and actionable recommendations.

Learners must:

1. Identify a real or simulated organisation or industry context.

2. Select a strategic research problem relevant to one of the key domains below:

   • Risk Management

   • Ethics and Social Responsibility

   • Women in Leadership

   • Business Analytics

3. Develop a research proposal for approval prior to data collection.

4. Conduct research using appropriate applied methods (e.g., case study, survey, interviews, statistical modelling, content analysis).

5. Prepare a comprehensive research report and presentation demonstrating analytical rigour, methodological coherence, and professional reporting standards.

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Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Formulate and justify a research question informed by academic and industry literature.

2. Apply appropriate research methodologies to collect, interpret, and analyse data.

3. Demonstrate compliance with ethical, legal, and data governance standards.

4. Critically interpret findings to inform strategic organisational practice.

5. Communicate research findings effectively to both academic and professional audiences.

Assessment Structure

Methodological Options

Students may select methods that fit the nature of their inquiry, including:

• Qualitative: Case studies, semi-structured interviews, participant observation

• Quantitative: Statistical data analysis, regression models, experimental design

• Mixed Methods: Integration of qualitative and quantitative insights

All research must comply with institutional Ethics and Privacy Protocols, including appropriate participant consent and data handling procedures.

Marking Criteria (Condensed)

Sample Topic Areas

• The role of AI-driven analytics in strategic risk management

• Corporate social responsibility and its measurable impact on brand value

• Barriers to women’s leadership advancement in emerging industries

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• Predictive models in business analytics for performance optimisation

Submission Requirements

• Typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font

• Referencing: Harvard style

• Appendices for raw data, transcripts, or survey instruments

• Signed Ethical Compliance Declaration

Recommended Learning Materials (2019–2025)

1. Crane, A. & Matten, D. (2021). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. Oxford University Press.

2. Bebbington, J., Unerman, J., & O’Dwyer, B. (2020). Sustainability Accounting and Accountability. Routledge.

3. Singh, V. & Broadbridge, A. (2019). Women’s Career Progression in Management: A Conceptual Framework. Gender in Management, 34(3), 220–240.

4. Davenport, T. & Miller, S. (2023). The AI Advantage: Real-World Applications of Analytics in Business. MIT Press.

5. Renn, O. (2022). Risk Governance: Coping with Uncertainty in a Complex World. Earthscan Publications.

Task 1 — Applied Research Project

Instructions to Learners:
This summative assessment can be completed in class or at any other convenient location.
Students are required to complete this task using digital tools and ensure to submit in an acceptable format, e.g. .docx, .pdf, .pptx, or as advised by your assessor.
Please use the following formatting guidelines to complete this assessment task:
Font Size: 12; Line Spacing: Double; Font Style: Times New Roman Assessment activities can be completed either in real workplace environment or in a simulated environment such as your classroom. In both cases, appropriate evidence of the assessment activities must be provided.
Instruction to Assessors:
You must assess students assessment according to the provided Marking Criteria.
You must complete and record any evidence related to assessment activities including role-plays and presentations using appropriate forms which must be attached with student assessment submission.
You must provide students with detailed feedback within 10 working days from submission.
This assessment task requires you to plan, conduct and report on applied research to influence strategic practices and outcomes within an organisational context. The research activity must relate to an actual workplace or simulated context and topic.
The research topic may be selected from topics listed below or you may select your own relevant similar topic:
Risk Management
Research related to the broad range of exposures a firm faces in todays business environment, including privacy and security, corporate governance and ethics, data quality management, information systems implementation and operation, compliance and assurance, financial risk management, human resource management, crisis management, etc. Key themes are the influence of corporate governance on organizational success and failure, modelling business risk perception and behaviour of corporate players, challenges facing health care providers with respect to compliance, and the impact of corporate responsibility on business value.
VAS
Ethics and Social Responsibility
Research in business ethics, civic engagement and social responsibility in general, as well as interdisciplinary research that focuses on the study of: corporate governance and ethical conduct; corporate social responsibility and profitability; corporate reputation and performance; ethics and marketing; and strategies related to stakeholder management and the social role of business.
Women in Leadership
Research that contributes to an understanding of women as leaders, broadly defined, and is intended to help educators, executives and policy makers better understand how women can lead in implementing business practice that fosters diversity, social justice and ethical behaviour. Understanding womens roles in business and society requires a deep and thorough knowledge of the historical, social, international, and cultural context in which womens roles evolved. For example, scholars in history, English, and philosophy study different aspects of womens roles in family, in the professions, in society, and in culture. An understanding of this larger context is essential for women to surmount the challenges that confront them in business today.
Business Analytics
Possible projects could include for example statistical investigations of international living standards data, data mining applied to database marketing, to problems in finance or to the adoption of new technologies, or the analysis of textual data applied to business problems. Each project leverages expertise in cutting-edge quantitative methods to make a contribution both to the area of business analytics and the specific business area represented by the data used in the project.
You must determine a suitable applied research strategy that relates to the question being researched. These can include:
analysis of industry specific trends, statistics and issues collection of data to assist informed decision making, planning or risk management data and information relating to strategy, policy, practices, or work processes developed and implemented by an organisation formation of solutions to complex problems information and analysis needed to develop a campaign, strategic plan, industry or sector plan and strategy, or to bargain effectively with employers information and analysis to conduct a strategic or community campaign or activity relationship or relevance of a theory, principle or practice to an immediate practical problem, issue or to test a proposed solution
Applicable research methods will include:
action research case study classification experience and intuition
I l
experiments interviews map making mathematical models and simulations participant observation physical traces analysis semiotics surveys statistical data analysis statistical surveys ethnographic research
As are relevant to the research performed, and may include:
application of statistical methods causal factors and dependant or independent variables critical analysis experimental, quasi-experimental, non-experimental mathematical calculations problem solving qualitative or quantitative research sampling and sample size
Throughout the research process, including data collection, analysis and reporting, you must address and comply with all legal and ethical requirements, including:
agreements with third parties that supply research or data competency standards contracts copyright and privacy laws relating to physical materials and electronic technology licensing plagiarism privacy relevant commonwealth and state/territory legislation, policy, codes of practice and national standards security of information
The assessment task requires:
A research proposal which must be approved by the Assessor prior to undertaking the research.
A substantive report, of no less than 8,000 words to be produced.
A presentation must be developed to complement the report, which can take the format of one of:
circulating publications for comment and critique on the internet
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contributing to strategic policy drafting publications or reports presentations at seminars and conferences providing data, plans, specifications and reports resulting in changed work practice/s or design/s providing internal reports verbally, in writing or via presentations publishing papers and articles for expert review and audiences publishing reports and articles for lay audiences
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TASK 1 – MARKING CRITERIA

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125 139433
Evaluated how research findings such as trends and changes will impact on learning strategy
Reviewed data and research findings for accuracy of details and adherence to any legal requirements
Collated and analysed data for relevance against the original applied research strategy
Addressed and applied legal requirements, policies, procedures and guidelines relating to research including handling and storing data, privacy and freedom of information
Documented and presented research findings in a clear and logical manner consistent with audience needs
Identified the need for and an appropriate approach to, further research
Documented and presented research findings including analysis of data, valid and reliable findings and recommendations for further research
Feedback to Learner:
Assessors Signature: Date:
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