ASSESSMENT 2

BUS707 – Applied Business Research

T1 2018

ASSESSMENT 2: Research Plan, short response – 15%

This assessment is designed to allow students to develop the expertise necessary to formulate practical and usable research questions to resolve business problems and add to business knowledge, taking into consideration existing literature and any ethical considerations. It is the essential start to constructing and justifying a proposal for conducting independent research question. This assessment relates to Learning Outcomes a, c and d

This research plan will set as a basis for Research Proposal in Assessment 4.

Following consultation with the lecturer or tutor, you should identify a problem which may be answered by research – you will be guided towards a suitable research problem in tutorials during weeks 2 – 5 (inclusive).

Based on the problem identified, you should identify relevant sub-problems, research questions, and provide a brief background to the research question, why it is an issue, and what outcomes the research may produce. Literature review plan & data collection plan. A brief discussion of any ethical considerations should be included.

Given the importance of relevance to Accounting in BUS707, please note that the research topics must be accounting-based topics. Some of the initial suggestions for the topics are:

· Analysis of significant project in the students’ work experiences, such as:

° Accounting standards

° Accounting regulation in Australia

° Accounting and/or Auditing ethics

° Use of financial rations in corporate accounting

° Multidimensional performance assessment, for example, using the balanced scorecard to evaluate performance on financial and non-financial bases

· The effect of accounting information and auditing on the design of organisation, and on the ensuing behaviour of individuals and groups.

· Accountants and/or auditors’ responsibilities and contributions toward corporate governance

· Application of accounting and economic research to a specific business problem i.e sustainability initiative

· Forensic Accounting

· Technology implementation in accounting and finance

· Innovation in accounting and its impact to business

· Impact of organisational culture on the procedure and technique of accounting

· Research based on cases reported by the courts, ASIC, APRA, ASC

Note:

° Topics may also be identified from the suggestion for further research from articles published in relevant journal articles

° The list of topics above are only initial suggestions and will be refined and expanded in discussion with tutors/research supervisors.

The research plan should addresses the following information:

1. Suggested research title

2. Partner organisation (if applicable)

3. Underlying research problem

4. Research Objectives

5. Research Questions

6. Literature (source and keywords)

7. Data collection plan

8. Ethical Consideration

Note: Other than in exceptional circumstances, Assessment 2 will form the first part of Assessment 4 for this subject. PRIOR to its inclusion in Assessment 4 Research Proposal, students will be expected to make appropriate adjustments if recommended in feedback.

Submission Details

- Individual Assessment

- Word limit: 1000 words (±10%) (excluding reference list)

- You need to state the word count of the assessment on the cover page.

- The response should be professionally presented using the template provided (see below), in Arial 10pt or Times New Roman 12pt, single space. Harvard (Anglia) style referencing.

- Submission deadline 30/03/18

- Softcopy to be uploaded Turnitin via Moddle links

- Late penalties and extensions:

An important part of business life and key to achieving KOI’s graduate outcome of Professional Skills is the ability to manage workloads and meet deadlines. Consequently, any assessment items such as in- class quizzes and assignments missed or submitted after the due date/time will attract a penalty. Penalty for written assessment is - 5% of the total available marks per calendar day unless an extension is approved

- Applying for extension:

If students are unable to submit or attend an assessment when due, and extensions are possible, they must apply by completing the appropriate Application for Extension form available from the Student Information Centre in Moodle, the KOI Website (Policies and Forms) and the Reception Desk (Market St and Kent St), as soon as possible but no later than three (3) working days of the assessment due date. The completed form must be emailed with supporting documentation to XXXXXXXXXX.Students and lecturers / tutors will be advised of the outcome of the extension request as soon as practicable. Appropriate documentary evidence to support the request for an extension must be supplied. Please remember there is no guarantee of an extension being granted, and poor organisation is not a satisfactory reason to be granted an extension.

Research Plan Template (complete this template in 1000 words)