Feedback Form - Dissertation
Feedback Form - Dissertation
SEI - Dissertation (M31421)
Mark and feedback 2020-21
Student name: Student ID: Dissertation title: Supervisor: Agreed Mark: Overall Comments:
Introduction-Background - 10% weighting:
Does the abstract summarize the main points of the dissertation?
Does the introduction set the background of the topic/ the phenomenon explored?
Does the introduction explain why the topic is interesting and new, why do we need to conduct a research on this topic?
Does the introduction refer to the theoretical background that will be used to explain the phenomenon?
Research Questions and Aims - 10% weighting:
-Does the student present their main research question(s), and explain how it is broken into a set of specific research questions, aims and objectives?
- Are these questions/aims/objectives relevant, achievable and exploring relationships between concepts?
Literature Review 20% weighting:
Are the main concepts defined and a theoretical background adopted?
Is the LR covering the main areas of the research in a satisfactory way?
Does it provide a critical evaluation of the existing knowledge on each RQ?
Are propositions/ hypotheses developed (if positivism)
Methodology 20% weighting:
Are the research philosophy, approach, strategy, choice, time-horizon described and justified?
Does the student:
Explain how your research instrument was developed (questionnaire/ interview questionnaire etc). How the questions emerged?
Explain the sampling criteria (how did they choose the companies/ people they researched)?
Briefly present their sample (this part can go to the Analysis and Results part too)?
Briefly describe and justify their research techniques and procedures (Data Collection and Data Analysis)?
Discuss ethical issues/ considerations related to their research (anonymity, confidentiality, ethics etc)?
Results and Discussion 20% weighting:
- Are the analyses conducted sound?
- Has the student provided answers per research question according to the results of their analyses?
- Has the student compared their results with existing knowledge?
Conclusions, Implications, Limitations and Directions for Future Research: 10% weighting
Implications: Has the student briefly explained the main lessons that a manager can learn from their dissertation (guidelines for practice)?
Limitations: Has the student briefly described the main limitations of their research?
Directions for Future Research: Has the student provided ideas on how this work can be expanded?
Has the student provided brief conclusion of the research?
Referencing, Labelling, and Overall Presentation of the Proposal 10% weighting:
Quality of sources used and referencing style (Harvard APA 7th edition)
Labelling, use of headings
Writing style and overall presentation of the dissertation
UP2013358
By Alfred James
Submission Date: 25/01/24
Submission ID: UP2013358
Word Count: 1,342
How do family-owned businesses compare to modern corporation, and what advantages come with being family run?
Word Count: 1,063
Statement of Originality I hereby declare that this research proposal is substantially my own work.
I do consent to my research proposal in this attributed format (not anonymous), subject to final approval by the Board of Examiners, being made available electronically in the Library Dissertation Repository and/or Department/School/Subject Group digital repositories. Research proposals will normally be kept for a maximum of ten years.
I understand that if I consent, this research proposal will be accessible only to staff and students for reference only. This permission may be revoked at any time by e-mailing dataprotection@port.ac.uk.
Signature:
Table of contents:
Introduction
Research Aims and Research Question
Literature Review
Methodology
Bibliography and References
Introduction:
This assignment will be looking into how family-owned businesses operate differently to corporation and how this in turn gives advantages and disadvantages to both being run in a different manner. This research will be looking into how the different structures differ in areas such as management, long term perspective, culture and values, ownership and flexibility. While family-owned firms may value family relationships, long-term sustainability, and flexibility, corporations have more formal structures, professional management, an emphasis on short-term outcomes, and better access to cash. Each structure offers advantages, and the decision between them is frequently influenced by the firm owners' aims and ideals. My two aims are to highlight each company type's prominence and contribution to the economy. The second is to discuss the importance of contrasting these two arrangements in terms of ownership, management, and performance.
Research Aims
The aim of this research is to investigate the how family-owned businesses and corporation operate differently, as well as looking into how both have benefits and drawbacks from how they are run.
Examine the ownership and management systems of family-run enterprises and corporations.
Examine the financial performance and sustainability aspects of both company strategies.
Determine the primary success elements and problems encountered by family-owned enterprises and corporations.
Compare the cultural elements, values, and long-term outlooks of different company models.
2B. Research Question:
How do family-owned businesses compare to modern corporation, and what advantages come with being family run?
Literature Review
Family-owned enterprises are distinguished by concentrated ownership within the family unit. Gersick et al. (1997) emphasised the role of family control in determining the direction and values of these businesses. Ownership is frequently passed down through generations, instilling a feeling of tradition and dedication (Aronoff & Ward, 1995). On the other hand, corporations often spread ownership through publicly traded shares. Berle and Means (1932) contended that separation of ownership and control is inherent in firms, with shareholders delegating decision-making to professional management. Agency theory proposes possible conflicts of interest between shareholders and management (Jensen & Meckling, 1976). This literature study gives a thorough examination of the comparative comparison of family-owned enterprises and corporations. Family-owned enterprises rely on familial relationships, long-term viewpoints, and flexibility, whereas corporations prioritise professional management, short-term financial goals, and adherence to corporate governance guidelines. The interactions between these two models provide fertile ground for additional investigation, particularly given the shifting corporate landscape and socioeconomic dynamics. Future study should go into individual sectors and global locations to uncover the intricacies of these organisational systems.
Methodology
My methodology will be broken down by the Research onion which has 5 sections which are Philosophies, research approaches, strategies and data collection method.
Philosophies I will be using pragmatism which is in between positivism and interpretivism where it focusses on solving the issue through the usage of theories and frameworks. This offers a practical point of view where the information isnt fixed but is constantly questioned and interpreted. The research can be used by it will be questioned on many factors, but I will mainly try to use statics when possible top try prove that the information is true and can be used in my research. The assumption I will make are that the data is corrected and that the information is not a projection as most of the information I will be using are from books and journals. The textual data from reports, case studies, and literature will be analysed using qualitative content analysis. This strategy entails rigorously classifying and categorising textual material to find recurring themes, patterns, and relationships. Qualitative analysis software, such as NVivo, will help find nuanced insights linked to ownership arrangements, management methods, and cultural characteristics The research will conduct a comparative analysis, contrasting information from various sources. Matrices or frameworks will be created to systematically compare essential components of family-owned firms and corporations, allowing for a comprehensive knowledge of their similarities and differences.
The use of secondary data analysis in this study has various benefits. For starters, it saves time when gathering detailed information about family-owned enterprises and corporations. By integrating current data, the research may broaden its reach and get insights from a variety of businesses and circumstances. Furthermore, secondary data analysis enables the investigation of historical trends, allowing for a longitudinal view on the issue.
The reliance of secondary data analysis on the calibre of available data is a major constraint. There may be problems with completeness, accuracy, and relevance; these might introduce biases or limits from the initial data gathering procedure.
The ethical problems will be to make sur the data is correct as It is crucial to confirm the validity and dependability of chosen sources. Selecting credible databases, scholarly publications, and business reports will reduce the chance of depending on erroneous or biassed information.
The integration of quantitative and qualitative data from many sources leads to a more thorough knowledge, which strengthens the study findings. Finally, the technique for secondary data analysis presented in this essay offers a systematic approach to undertaking a comparative examination of family-owned enterprises and multinationals. The research intends to give useful insights into the subtleties of these organisational systems by deliberately traversing current data sources, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative analytical tools, and taking ethical issues into account. While admitting limitations, the study emphasises the need of secondary data analysis in effectively examining and comprehending the complexity of family-owned enterprises and corporations.
References
Aronoff, C. E. (1995). Family-owned businesses: A thing of the past or a model for the future?
Berle, A. A., & Means, G. C. (1932). The Modern Corporation and Private Property.
Gersick, K. E. (1997). Generation to generation: lifecycles of family business. Contact.
Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial Behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. North-Holland.
