LO1: Critically appraise and evaluate the contribution primary and secondary data sources can make to research studies, particularly with respect to sampling, statistical analysis and data presentation techniques.
Assessment Brief
SCM4001 Business Research Methods and Analysis
Module title: Business Research Methods and Analysis
Module code: SCM4001
Assignment title: Coursework
Assignment format: Written Work
Word/time limit: 1,500 words +/- 10%
File type: Doc/PDF
Percentage of final grade: This assignment is worth 60% of your final grade for this module.
Submission deadline: See module iLearn page for date of submission
Grade release: You will normally receive your provisional grade and feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline
Useful terms:
Learning outcomes (LOs)
The skills and knowledge that you should be able to show in your work
Marking Matrix
A set of rules or guidelines used to grade or assess work
Task summary: Assignment Part A
As part of the formal assessment for the programme, you are required to submit a Business Research Methods and Analysis assignment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments. This should be written in plain, accessible English.
Critical evaluation of Research Methods in Business and Management
Modern organisations rely on research-informed decision-making to address complex challenges within project management, logistics operations, and supply chain management. Managers must critically assess available evidence, evaluate research conducted by others, and ensure that research practices follow ethical and responsible standards.
For this assessment, you are required to critically evaluate existing research related to a significant organisational issue or problem within the areas of Project Management, Logistics, or Supply Chain Management.
You must identify a relevant topic (for example: supply chain resilience, project risk management, sustainable logistics, digital transformation in operations, or agile project delivery) and critically review published research studies addressing the issue.
The report should demonstrate your ability to evaluate research methodologies, assess the contribution of different data sources, and reflect on ethical and professional considerations in research.
Students are expected to use academic journal articles, industry reports, and other credible secondary sources retrieved through online academic databases.
Written research report - 1500 words ±10% Learning outcomes covered: LO1, LO3, LO5 60% weighting
Assignment instructions:
Students must submit:
- 1500-words written work case study
- Clear section headings
- In-text citations and references list
- Referencing style: Arden Harvard Referencing
Formatting requirements:
- Font: Times New Roman or Arial
- Font size: 12
- Line spacing: 1.15
Learning outcomes (LO)
By completing this assessment, you will have shown and be assessed on all three (LO 1, LO 3, LO 5) of the learning outcomes:
- LO1: Critically appraise and evaluate the contribution primary and secondary data sources can make to research studies, particularly with respect to sampling, statistical analysis and data presentation techniques.
- LO2: Select, evaluate and apply critical management thinking to an organisational issue or problem which is clearly linked to the subject specialism of the project or supply chain route being studied
- LO3: Critically appraise and evaluate research undertaken by others
- LO4: Undertake multidisciplinary research through the acquisition of skills relevant to the context of business and management
- LO5: Effectively plan and undertake personal development including the awareness of an ethical and socially responsibly dimension to decision-making.
You will be graded based on how well you meet these learning outcomes. Your marker will use a Marking Matrix to grade your work, and you can find this on the “My Assessment” tab on the module iLearn page.
Guidelines and policies
You can find links to more useful information about the assignment and university policies below.
Word/time limit policy Click here to view the Arden University word
count/time limit policy
Referencing guidelines
Please follow the referencing guidelines that are appropriate for your degree programme. If you are unsure which you should be using, please contact your module team.
Click here for Harvard referencing guidelines
Academic integrity and misconduct policy
Click here to view Arden University’s policy on academic integrity and misconduct
Statement on use of artificial intelligence on assessment
Click here to view Arden University’s statement on the use of artificial intelligence on assessment
Support information: Click here to view guidance on how to apply for short-term extensions
Click here to view guidance on how to apply for extenuating circumstances
Please click here for link to academic skills team support
SCM4001 Business Research Methods and Analysis – What Examiners Expect in Coursework Part A
The biggest mistake in SCM4001 Business Research Methods and Analysis is treating this 1,500-word coursework as a general business case study. The assessment requires a critical examination of published research, with attention to how researchers collected, analysed and presented their evidence.
LO1: Critically appraise and evaluate the contribution primary and secondary data sources can make to research studies, particularly with respect to sampling, statistical analysis and data presentation techniques.
Consider two published studies on supply chain resilience. One interviews 15 logistics managers, while another analyses delivery performance across 200 companies. The larger dataset may reveal broader patterns, but it cannot necessarily explain the decisions behind individual disruptions. Interviews can provide those explanations, although a small sample limits how widely the findings can be applied.
For LO3, students should judge which study offers more convincing evidence, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of its methods rather than simply comparing conclusions.
For LO5, the discussion should consider research ethics, responsible use of business data and what the student has learned about evaluating evidence.
One important detail: although the module lists five learning outcomes, Coursework Part A specifically assesses LO1, LO3 and LO5. The report should therefore prioritise these three outcomes, using credible published research and Arden Harvard referencing.
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