Dissertation in Design and Innovation

The Dissertation in Design and Innovation module will provide participants with an opportunity to conduct research in Design and Innovation and associated organisational realignment that is relevant and applicable to their place of work or other approved setting. The research will use action-orientated methodologies, such as Action Research. Participants will have previously chosen a research topic in the prerequisite Research Methods module with the purpose of applying Design and Innovation to a specified situation within their work environment. The individual dissertation will be of approximately 20,000/30,000 words in length (core text).

The assessment for this module will include the following elements:

• Completed dissertation that is relevant and applicable to the working environment of the individual participant.
• Preparation and presentation of a research poster, succinctly encompassing the key elements of the dissertation.
• Attend for viva voce examination of their work, normally held in person within GMIT (a short introductory presentation will be made).

In this module participants will be assigned a supervisor of studies who will guide them in their research activity. The participant will meet regularly on a one-to-one basis with their supervisor.

Participants will also engage in research circle groups with their academic peers and supervisors, to critically review the progress of all dissertation research and to support all aspects of the research process. Circles may be amended due to confidentiality/IP concerns.

This module will be completed by the end of the second academic year.

1. Develop and deliver a research dissertation relevant to design and innovation in a specified workplace context.

2. Analyse and critically evaluate published literature in design, innovation and organisational change.

3. Identify, plan for and manage the challenges associated with independent research.

4. Identify and select appropriate data analysis methods that are applicable to developing new insights into design, innovation and organisational change.

5. Disseminate and debate design and innovation research amongst academic peers and with managers and other relevant personnel within their own organisation. 

6. Draw conclusions from the research conducted and make a critical assessment of the findings.

7. Develop recommendations for their organisation informed by a body of research  that is at the forefront of knowledge in the field of Design, Innovation, Sustainability and Organisational Change.

8. Prepare and write an academic dissertation to a Level 9 standard

9. Prepare an appropriate academic research poster and present the contents. 

10. Engage in discussion/defence of the conduct and outcome of the research dissertation