DEFAULT DISSERTATION WORD COUNT DIVISION:
HOW TO CREATE A TITLE?
Identify a strategy/factor, then write the issue it addresses, mention the
industry, then mention the region
Critically analysing the role of AI in increasing the efficiency of employees in
the retail sector of the UK
Chapter 1: Introduction (10% of Total dissertation word count)
Chapter 2: Literature Review (30% of Total dissertation word count)
Chapter 3:Methodology (10% of Total dissertation word count)
Chapter 4: Findings and Discussions (40% of Total dissertation word count)
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations (10% of Total dissertation
word count)
HOWEVER, THIS STRUCTURE MAY VARY IF SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ON THE PART OF THE
UNIVERSITY
HOW TO WRITE EACH CHAPTER
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Introduction
Here you will introduce your topic in two lines about the topic. Then you will describe what will
be done in this chapter
1.2 Background of the research (put a fair amount of word count here)
Mainly write about the background of the topic. Write what is the current environment
associated with the topic. For instance, if you are discussing the need for green HRM strategies
in a particular sector, first write briefly about the sectors (approx 50 words), then write briefly
about the purpose of green HRM (50 words) and then proceed to discuss how the chosen factor
affects the industry. Try to add more citations and graphs in this portion.
1.3 Rationale of research (put a fair amount of word count here)[ No matter how many
words you allocate here, make sure to answer all the 4 questions]
What is the issue?
Suppose your topic is about the need for green HRM in retail. Discuss if there are any current
issues regarding green HRM in the particular industry. Provide citation
Why is it an issue?
Discuss how these issues usually affect the industry. Provide citation
Why is it an issue now?
Discuss how the issues have led to problems in the industry. Provide citation [It shall be better if
you use graphs (from status or scholar or any news article) in this portion]
What does the research shed light on?
Discuss how this research is going to address the loopholes.
1.4 Aim of the Research [Often these are provided in the proposal]
If no proposal is provided:
The aim of the dissertation will be an in-depth exploration of the topic. In other words, try to
address the core aspects of your topic here
1.5 Objectives [Often these are provided in the proposal]
If no proposal is provided:
The objectives are written in bullet format. These start with “to” and use of words like
“analyse”, “evaluate”, “assess” etc. are used.
Remember that research objectives break down the main aim into smaller and specific aspects of
the topic. For instance, if your topic is “Impact of green HRM on the sustainability of the retail
Sector of the UK”, the objectives can be as follows:
● To critically analyse the role of green HRM in increasing the productivity of the retail
sector of the UK
● To critically evaluate the impact of effective leadership in the successful implementation
of green HRM strategies.
Try to write 4-5 objectives max.
1.6 Research Question [Often these are provided in the proposal]
If no proposal is provided:
Create questions that directly address the objectives (PLEASE DO NOT SIMPLY CONVERT
THE OBJECTIVES INTO QUESTIONS)
● How can green HRM positively affect the skills of employees within the retail sector?
● What characteristics are needed for leaders to effectively implement green HRM
strategies?
1.7 Problem Statement
Highlight what are the current issues in HRM that have led to the need for this discussion. Try
providing news articles in this section to support your argument about the need for green HRM
or the shortcomings of traditional HRM
1.8 Significance of the Research
What exactly is being addressed in this research? Why is the research on HRM necessary and
how it addresses the problem statement that led you to conduct this research?
1.9 Overview of the Methodology (put a fair amount of word count here)
In the case of primary research:
Interpretivism philosophy
Descriptive design
Deductive Approach
Primary Data collection
Qualitative (if interview)/ Quantitative data analysis (if survey)
Nonprobability sampling
In the case of secondary research:
Positivism philosophy
Descriptive design
Inductive Approach
Secondary Data collection
Qualitative data analysis
Nonprobability sampling
Write in one sentence that the researcher has used_____ philosophy. Then write what this
philosophy is, then write why is it relevant in this research
Definitely provide citation
1.10 Summary
Summarise the entire chapter
Chapter 2: Literature Review
2.1 Provide an introduction to the chapter
2.1…
2.2…
In the literature review, we will try to break down the objectives.
Try keeping making more heads, putting less wordcount for each (Max 350)
Let one literature head be:
Critically analysing the role of transformational leadership in increasing employee
motivation within the IT industry of the UK
Total word 350
Make 3 Paragraph
The first paragraph will comprise the main or core article.
The next para will comprise the article that supports the argument
The third para will comprise the article that contradicts or critiques the statement.
Provide a table of Core Article
Chapter 3: Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research onion
Use the onion from Saunders only. Do not use other publications. Remember to structure the
chapter considering the layers of the onion
3.3 Research philosophy
If secondary, choose Interpretivism
If primary, use Positivism
3.4 Research approach
If secondary, choose Deductive
If primary, use Inductive
3.5 Methodological choice
Here we will try to make a comparative study of qualitative and quantitative data analysis. In
this portion only we will discuss the chosen technique and identify why it is better than the other.
3.5 Research Strategy
This will include information about the research design, and cross-sectional studies. In addition,
it will also highlight exactly what strategy (options available in Onion) will be followed
Follow for Reference: https://gradcoach.com/saunders-research-onion/
3.6 Data collection
Primary or secondary. Sampling will be included here only
3.9 Research Timeline
3.10 Ethical consideration
3.11 Research limitations
3.12 Summary
Chapter 4: Findings and Discussions
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Findings
Use grey literature. Mainly websites, company websites, annual reports etc
4.3 Discussion
Take information from the literature review. Compare the grey literature with the articles of the
literature review. Take additional citations.
4.4 Summary
