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NELSON COLLEGE LONDON NELSON COLLEGE LONDON NELSON COLLEGE LONDON Higher Nationals in:
NELSON COLLEGE LONDON
NELSON COLLEGE LONDON
NELSON COLLEGE LONDON
Higher Nationals in:
Hospitality Management
Unit 18 Research Project (Hospitality Management)
NELSON COLLEGE LONDON
Higher Nationals in:
Hospitality Management
Unit 18 Research Project (Hospitality Management)
Assignment Brief
Assignment Brief
Higher National Certificate/Diploma in
Hospitality Management
Assignment Brief
Student Name
Student ID Number
Unit Number and Title
Unit 18 Research Project (Hospitality Management)
Academic Year
2023/2024
Academic Term
April – July 2024
Module Leader
Dr.Vishu Sadanand
Unit Tutor
Dr.Vishu Sadanand/Dr.Emmanuel Asiedu
Assignment Title
Global challenges facing the Hospitality and Travel & Tourism industries
Issue Date
W/C 06 May 2024
Submission Date
12 July 2024
IV Name & Date
Hakeem Kazeem/Dr Emmanuel Asiedu, 3 May 2024
Introduction
This unit aims to offer students the opportunity to engage in sustained
research in a specific field of study: Global challenges facing the Hospitality and Travel & Tourism industries
Circumstances over the last few years have seen the hospitality and tourism industry experience transformation at a breakneck speed. As the post pandemic recovery continues challenges continue to slow growth; rising inflation, lagging infrastructure, geopolitical uncertainty, staffing shortages, and the energy crisis have all converged to create a range of new challenges and issues, for travellers, and the hospitality and tourism industry alike.
On the bright side, recovery is on the horizon and hospitality and tourism business are rebuilding. But some geographies and industry sectors will face steeper challenges as they navigate their way forward. The industry must continue to overcome and address these through strong leadership and management
On successful completion of this unit, students will have the confidence to engage in
problem-solving and research activities which are part of the function of a manager.
Students will have the fundamental knowledge and skills to enable them to
investigate workplace issues and problems, determine appropriate solutions and
present evidence to various stakeholders in an acceptable and understandable
format.
Choosing a research objective/question
Students are to choose their research topic for this unit. Strong research projects are those with clear, well-focused, and defined objectives. A central skill in selecting a research objective is the ability to select a suitable and focused research objective. One of the best ways to do this is to put it in the form of a question. Students should be encouraged by tutors to discuss a variety of topics related to the theme to generate ideas for a good research objective.
The range of topics discussed could cover the following:
1.The current challenges caused by staff shortages and retention, the cost-of-living crisis, increased use of technology, environmental considerations, and meeting increased demand post-pandemic.
2.The impact of geopolitical instability and disruption and how the sector has had to meet changing demand across countries and regions
3. How the sector is creating opportunities and driving adaptation to meet dynamic changes in demand
4.The growing role of environmental sustainability, and the ability to manage and operate under ever greater ecological and environmental threats
5. Strategies and polices to combat current challenges, e.g. increased investment in human capital, increased use of hospitality tech, raising awareness of actions being taken to address sustainability.
The research objective should allow students to broaden their understanding and widen their perspectives by being able to explore, argue, prove, and disprove a particular objective. They should be feasible, novel, ethical, relevant, and ultimately of interest to the student.
Unit Learning Outcomes
LO1 Examine appropriate research methodologies and approaches as part of the research process
LO2 Conduct and analyse research relevant to a hospitality research project
LO3 Communicate the outcomes of a hospitality industry research project to identified stakeholders
LO4 Reflect on the application of research methodologies and concepts
Guidance for Students
You should read this information before starting to define and work through your
research brief. You should refer to these instructions as your complete work for this
unit.
Consider the development of a methodical and valid research proposal as the
foundation for the project.
Choose a topic of personal interest in a specialism. The topic chosen should allow a sufficient and suitable degree of research through the existence of adequate background materials.
A good project proposal title should meet the following criteria:
The proposal has an existing body of literature or source material that can be reviewed.
The proposal extends a current line of learning that will lend itself to further rigorous exploration.
Decide on appropriate research methods and select an appropriate sample.
Ensure that your proposal is ethical, reliable, and valid. An ethics form must be
submitted before the completion of research as part of the research proposal.
Agree on your research proposal with your tutor before beginning your research.
Conduct your research as outlined in the proposal agreed upon with your tutor.
Carry out your research, analyse your research findings and draw conclusions.
Apply both qualitative and quantitative research methods to evaluate data collected from primary research.
Communicate your research outcomes in a manner appropriate to your audience.
You will be asked to reflect on the success of your research project and evaluate the problems/ issues encountered.
You must complete the research project to complete your work for this unit.
You will need to reflect on the success of your research project and your performance at the end of the project with the inclusion of a project evaluation and
recommendations.
The research project can take the following forms:
o Dissertation.
o Feasibility study.
o Investigation/fieldwork.
Submission Format
Each of the elements within this Unit will support the development of an overall small-scale research project. Submission of Assessment-1 is in the form of a research proposal. Students are required to fill in the research proposal and ethics form. These filled-in forms must be submitted on VLE with prior consent from your tutor on your chosen topic. Students are advised to follow formal business style writing with 1.5 spacing, font not, size, and make use of headings, paragraphs, and subsections. A references list and bibliography should be provided using the Harvard referencing system. The recommended length for the research proposal is approximately 1500 words and the report should not be more than 4500 words. However, students will not be penalised for exceeding the word count.
The final assessment should be submitted to
The Assignment Link
Unit Learning Outcomes
LO1 Examine appropriate research methodologies and approaches as part of the
research process
LO2 Conduct and analyse research relevant to a hospitality research project
LO3 Communicate the outcomes of a hospitality industry research project to identified
stakeholders
LO4 Reflect on the application of research methodologies and concepts
Assignment Brief and Guidance
Scenario:
You are working as an Assistant Consultant for a hospitality-based organisation such as a Hotel or an organisation of your choice – your place of work if appropriate. You have been approached to conduct research on Global challenges facing the Hospitality and Travel & Tourism industries with a focus on the following topics (You are required to choose one):
1.The current challenges caused by staff shortages and retention, the cost-of-living crisis, increased use of technology, environmental considerations, and meeting increased demand post-pandemic.
2.The impact of geopolitical instability and disruption and how the sector has had to meet changing demand across countries and regions
3. How the sector is creating opportunities and driving adaptation to meet dynamic changes in demand
4.The growing role of environmental sustainability, and the ability to manage and operate under ever greater ecological and environmental threats
5. Strategies and polices to combat current challenges, e.g. increased investment in human capital, increased use of hospitality tech, raising awareness of actions being taken to address sustainability.
The organisation has left it to you to decide what specific topic would be appropriate to investigate related to the theme. Once you have identified your research topic and objective, you will undertake the following steps to collate, analyse and present your findings.
This will be presented in the form of a research report which must include:
Complete a Literature Review (Secondary Research)
You need to know what the key literature is related to the research objective to plan a research study to explore the phenomenon. Conduct a literature review using a range of sources relating to the research topic. Evaluate the validity and reliability of the sources, discussing the current understanding of the research topic area
In your report discuss the sources of literature found and how they relate or otherwise to the research topic. Your report should critically evaluate the literature to assess the validity of the literature in supporting the research topic.
Develop a project proposal for researching the research objective identified.
Your research proposal identifies the purpose of the research project with a clear aim and objectives and justifies the chosen research methods in terms of the research question.
Discuss the ethical issues which will need to be considered and examine the research methods and approaches to be taken. Prepare an action plan with target dates and methods for monitoring and updating your activities to ensure you meet the deadline for the final written report.
Carry out independent primary research
Design, implement, collect and critically analyse data. For example, using a survey/questionnaire/interview or other primary research technique to collect data and then present and analyse findings. Present your findings using visual illustrations e.g., bar charts/pie graphs/tables.
Your report will include the critical analysis of data and the advantages and disadvantages of the research methods and approaches taken to data collection.
Communicate outcomes – Report
Produce a report that provides valid and justified recommendations for the business organisation based on the analysis of the research both primary and secondary. Your findings and outcomes must be based on the research proposal objective/s and refer back to this in drawing your conclusions.
Finally, critically reflect on how you have conducted the project, the lessons learned and the alternatives you would consider in the future with recommendations for actions to be taken forward.
Guidance on Report Format:
Title Page
It is important that you state clearly, at the beginning of the assignment, what its title is, which module it applies to, and your name as the author.
You should also include the College name, report title, and date.
Executive Summary
A summary should be provided so that people can see at a glance what the report is about. You should mention your key findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
This summary is usually printed immediately after the title page.
Contents Page
Page numbers as well as section/chapter titles should be included
If the report incorporates some appendices, their titles should be listed
Acknowledgments
A list of names, roles, and organisations (if relevant) of all of those who helped you when compiling the report should be listed
Terms of Reference
Refer to your project proposal
Introduction
This section should provide some of the backgrounds of the subject that forms the principal theme of your report.
If the report is designed to solve a perceived ‘problem’, the history of the ‘problem’ can be reviewed here, culminating in the situation that prompted the report to be written
You should also provide some key information about the organisation in which your research is based.
Methodology
This section is needed for the reader to judge the authenticity of the ‘evidence’ that comprises the main body of the report. All sources should be mentioned and, if appropriate, describe how you put together your questionnaire or survey.
Copies of questionnaires, interview questions, etc. should be included in the appendices.
If any published documents were studied, this should be mentioned here
Main Body and Findings
This is likely to comprise many paragraphs or sections. It is often useful to break up your project into subheadings.
This section should be structured around the key themes of your research
Use tables, and charts if possible. Your presentation of data is important
This section should bring together your secondary and primary research and your findings
Conclusions
In this section you should say what your facts or findings mean i.e., discuss the key implications arising from the wealth of detail you may have collected.
The conclusions should not incorporate any new facts
Recommendations
Your recommendations should spell out your ideas to enable them to be acted upon.
In particular, if your proposals involve expenditure, you must supply a cost benefit evaluation to show what it costs and what management will get from it.
References and Bibliography
All references in the report should be listed in the correct Harvard format in a References list. Other materials used but not referred to in the Research Project should be included in a Bibliography.
Appendices
All detailed statistical tabulations, graphs, lists, questionnaires, etc. should be organised into separate appendices
Include a list of references (sources that are cited in the report itself)
Nothing should be included that isn’t referred to in the main body of the report
A copy of the research proposal.
Pass
Merit
Distinction
LO1Conduct appropriate research methodology which integrates knowledge into the research process.
D1 Critically evaluate research methodologies and processes in the application of a business research project to justify chosen research methods and analysis.
P1 Produce a research proposal that clearly defines a research question or hypothesis, supported by a literature review.
P2 Examine appropriate research methods and conduct primary and secondary research.
M1 Evaluate different research approaches and methodologies and make justifications for the choice of methods selected based on philosophical/ theoretical frameworks.
LO2 Conduct and analyse research relevant to a chosen hospitality research project.
P3 Conduct primary and secondary research using appropriate methods for a business research project that consider costs, access, and ethical issues.
P4 Apply appropriate analytical tools to analyse research findings and data.
M2 Discuss the merits, limitations, and pitfalls of approaches to data collection and analysis.
LO3 Communicate the outcomes of a hospitality research project to identified stakeholders.
P5 appropriately communicates research outcomes for the intended audience.
M3 Coherently and logically communicate outcomes to the intended audience, demonstrating how outcomes meet set research objectives.
D2 Communicate critical analysis of the outcomes and make valid, justified recommendations.
LO4 Reflect on the application of research methodologies and concepts.
P6 Reflect on the effectiveness of research methods applied for meeting the objectives of the hospitality research project.
P7 Consider alternative research methodologies and lessons learned given the outcomes.
M4 Provide critical reflection and insight that results in recommended actions for improvements and future research considerations.
D3 Demonstrate reflection and engagement in the resource process leading to recommended actions for future improvement.
Templates for Evidence Collection
Project proposal form
Student Details
Student Name
Student Number
Date
Centre Name
Tutor
Proposed Title
Section One: Title, aims, objectives
Title or working title of the project (in the form of a question, objective, or hypothesis)
Project aims and objectives (e.g., what do you wish to achieve? What do you want to learn to do? What do you want to find out?)
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g., links to other subjects you are studying, personal interest, plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why you feel the topic is important)
Section Three: Precedents and sources
Use of key literature sources and precedents to support your project objectives
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the project
How long will this take:
Milestone one:
Target date (set by the tutor):
Milestone two:
Target date (set by the tutor):
Comments and agreement from the tutor
Comments:
I confirm that the project is not work that has been or will be submitted for another qualification and is appropriate:
Agreed: (name) (date)
Comments and agreement from the project proposal reviewer (if applicable)
Comments:
I confirm that the project is not work that has been or will be submitted for another qualification and is appropriate:
Agreed: (name) (date)
Research ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data, collected from human participants, may be required to gain ethical approval before commencing their research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your Unit Tutor.
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully with your Unit Tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your research project is due to commence.
Section One: Basic details
Project title:
Section One: Basic details
Project title:
Student Details
Student Name
Student ID
Programme:
School:
Start date:
End date:
Section Two: Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as part of your project:
Interviews
Questionnaires
Observations
Use of Personal Records
Data Analysis
Action Research
Focus Groups
Other (please specify)
Section Three: Participants
No
Will your research involve human participants? Yes
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply
Young people aged 17–18:
Ages 12–16: Adults:
How will participants be recruited (identified and approached)?
Describe the process you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
Studies involving questionnaires: Will participants be given the option of omitting questions they do not wish to answer?
No:
Yes:
If No, please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this:
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed consent to be approved.
No:
Yes:
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation? (e.g., give them a brief explanation of the study)
No:
Yes:
No:
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study? (This could be a summary of your findings generally) Yes:
Section Four: Data storage and security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998)
No:
Yes:
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
During the research
Where will the data be stored?
Will mobile devices, such as USB storage and laptops, be used?
No:
Yes:
If yes, please provide further details:
After the research
Where will the data be stored?
How long will the data and records be kept, and in what format?
Will the data be kept for use by other researchers?
No:
Yes:
If yes, please provide further details:
Section Five: Ethical issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work that may raise ethical concerns? If so, please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise as a result of your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may include, but are not limited to the following:
informed consent
potentially vulnerable participants
sensitive topics
risks to participants and/or researchers
confidentiality/anonymity
disclosures/limits to confidentiality
data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer, sharing, encryption, and protection)
reporting
dissemination and use of your findings.
Section Six: Declaration
I have read, understood, and will abide by the [insert name of college/centre] Research Ethics Policy:
No:
Yes:
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my tutor:
No:
Yes:
I confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, the above information is correct and that this is a full description of the ethical issues that may arise in the course of my/our research.
Student Name(s) Date
Please submit your completed form to:
Please submit your completed form to:
Submission Instructions:
Reasonable consideration will be given in the case of failure to submit the assignments on time due to any medical reasons (provided that sufficient medical proof is made available at the time of exemption).
There is no word limit for the report, but learners are advised not to use more than 4,500 words.
Referencing should be provided in Harvard Style referencing.
The assignments should be completed in the appropriate font size for the format, with the report being clear to read.
The assignments should be completed in an appropriate font size for the format, with the report and brochure being clear to read and the presentation slides taking an uncluttered, easy-to-read [view] format.
The assignment (LO 1/ L02) should be prepared as a research proposal and the research project will be submitted in the form of a report, which should be uploaded to the tab on the VLE
The assignment (LO2/ L03/L04) will be submitted in the form of a Research Project and also a Reflective report, which should be uploaded to the Research Project and Reflective Report tab on the VLE
Appendix A: Plagiarism and Collusion
Students are referred to the College’s policy of Plagiarism and Collusion, as detailed during interview and induction and as included in the Students’ Handbook.
Students are reminded that persistent offenses in this area will result in the student’s termination
Any act of plagiarism and collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below:
“Using the work of others without acknowledging the source of information or inspiration. Even if the words are changed or sentences are put in a different order, the result is still plagiarism”. (Cortell, 2003)
Collusion is the submission of work/assignment produced in collaboration with another student or students. Where one person shares his/her work with others who submit part or all of it as their work, then the incidence of collusion is established.
Appendix B: Harvard Referencing System
Any information that is not yours needs to be referenced or else turns out to be plagiarism.
The authors and publication information cited within the main body of your work must be listed in the reference list. For example:
Bell, J. (1999) ‘Doing your research Project’. (3rd Ed) Buckingham: Open University Press
For example
According to Bell (1999), as you write up your research you will use a citation to indicate in your text the source of the piece of information.
The authors and publication information cited within the main body of your work must be listed in the reference list. For example:
Bell, J. (1999) ‘Doing your research Project’. (3rd Ed) Buckingham: Open University Press
Detailed guidance on the Harvard Referencing System (HRS) is available on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The Harvard system of the citation requires you to acknowledge certain information, which is mainly the surname and year of publication within the text.
Recommended resources
Textbooks:
Costley, C., Elliot, G. and Gibbs, P. (2010) Doing Work Based Research:
Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-researchers. London: Sage.
Flick, U. (2011) Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner’s Guide to Doing a
Research Project. London: SAGE.
Gray, D. (2009) Doing Research in the Real World. 2nd ed. London: Sage.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., and Thornhill, A. (2012) Research Methods for
Business Students. 6th ed. Harlow: Pear
Bryman, A; Bell, E (2014) Research methodology: Business and management contexts. Oxford University Press Southern Africa.
Links
This unit links to the following related units:
Unit 1: The Contemporary Hospitality Industry
Unit 3: Professional Identity and Practice
14 of 20
Assignment Brief –Unit 18 Research Project