The IMIBusiness Research Project

The IMI Business Research Project

This is what past participants have to say......about their experience of completing the IMI Business Research Project.

“In seeking to address a real business issue, the IMI Business Research Project (BRP)

process enables the student to apply solid academic rigour by combining the

researched position in relation to the topic chosen, together with the experience gained

through prior IMI Diplomas studied. The provision of a tutor assists substantially in the

optimal definition of the research topic in maintaining focus throughout the development

of the dissertation. The conclusions and recommendations arrived at upon completion

of the dissertation have real and lasting benefit to the student's firm and general work

environment.”

Noel Carroll

IT Director, Global Technology Solutions PwC

“Undertaking the Business Research Project route to the Master

of Business degree was catalyst to my development both

academically and professionally. The wealth of knowledge and

experience of facilitators and participants alike led to a learning

experience that was rich and practitioner orientated. Throughout

my time in the IMI and in the immediate years following, my

professional career continually developed ultimately resulting in

a move from Human Resources to General Management in the

ICT industry. It opened my eyes to the world of possibilities for

practice based research and has enabled me to pursue a piece

of Doctoral Research building on my Master’s dissertation. Inow recommend the IMI to members of my own team with

potential for fast track development as I have experienced

first-hand the life and career altering results the programme can

achieve for those that genuinely engage.”

Karen O'Connor

General Manager, Service Delivery DivisionDatapac

“For me, the Business Research Project was the crowning jewel

of the Masters. Not only did it cement my previous learning, it

also provided real world insights into social psychology and viral

dissemination. In addition to providing business skills and

actionable research, it gave me the confidence to go out on my

own and enter the high risk App Store marketplace. It is highly

unlikely I would have followed my dream of creating my first

iPhone game, HedgeHogers, without the experience of the

Business Research Project.”

Shane O'Reilly

OwnerStickyMix

“The IMI Business Research Project programme brings together

individuals with mixed industry experience along with the latest

research and business trends, which is a wonderful way to learn

and broaden your knowledge. I found the IMI BRP provided me

with a flexible framework to earn my Master’s degree which hashelped expand my career and engagement in the organisation.”

Peter Bosch

Lead Sales Engineer Salesforce

“I found the Business Research Project route to a Masters of

Business enormously beneficial. The flexibility of learning

enabled me to complete the programme with nominal disruption

to the demands of my business. It is a rich tapestry of learning

built around high quality lecturing, notes and guest speakers in

tandem with perpetual debate and discussion from an eclectic

group of attendees. The course is challenging and rewarding in

both academic and personal development and provides tools

and techniques that can be applied to the real-world business

environment.”

Stephen Fitzgerald

Managing DirectorGolden Disc Group

Who This Programme Is For

Individuals who have successfully completed two IMI Diplomas

internationally recognised Master of Business degree.

The Experience

The BRP is a nine month programme which gives you the opportunity to analyse and solve a major business issue

facing you and your organisation. The BRP process combines classroom workshops in the IMI with one-to-one support from a dedicated IMI tutor and detailed investigation conducted by you.

The output of the process is a 15,000 word dissertation which presents the challenge that you face, an analysis of themost contemporary best-practice management ideas that relate to your challenge and a description of the research you undertook in order to develop an innovative set of recommendations to address the issue. By the end of the process, not only will you have earned your Master’s degree,but you’ll have developed an innovative and practical solutionto your business challenge. You will also have enhanced your practical problem solving and decision making skills.

Programme Impact

In contrast to traditional university research, the BRP is oriented entirely towards real life challenges. The project you undertake will result in practical recommendations that will helpyou and your organisation improve how you do business. Furthermore, the programme is carefully structured to provide you with practical support throughout from expert tutors whoare experienced in working with professional managers.

What will I get out of doing the BRP?

The BRP will be a challenging, but immensely rewarding experience. By completing the BRP, you will earn a nationally accredited, internationally recognised Master of Business degree.

You will develop deep subject matter expertise in a business issue of critical importance to your organisation. You will develop practical, ready-to-implement recommendations to address a major real-life challenge that faces your organisation.

You will also enhance your analytical ability. You will develop practical business research techniques and hone a range of general problem solving skills.

(see more frequently asked question over the page)

The IMI Business Research Project

Meet the Programme DirectorDr. Mary Hogan

Visit www.imi.ie to watch an introductory video for the IMI Business Research Project.

Programme Duration:

Classes run from 9am to 5pmeach day. All teaching is heldat the IMI’s NationalManagement Centre inDublin.

Programme Dates:

05, 06 September 2017 03, 04 October 201707 November 201705 December 201708 January 201806 February 201806 March 2018

Call to speak with one of our programme advisors for details 1800 22 33 88

Frequently Asked Questions

Scoping

Select issueExplore cutting edge thinking Build research

skills2 IMI Diplomas

The IMI Business Research Project

Your BRP research issue will, by its nature, be of critical interest to your organisation. BRP issues are typically complex business questions which require innovative solutions. Your organisation

recommendations which will be the output of your research.

Who chooses the topic of my BRP?

YOU. A key feature of the BRP is that it should involve a real-life, complex business issue that you are facing to which you need a practical solution. As part of the programme, you will

Your personal tutor will also be a great help in getting to the heart of your topic. However, you are the key person in the process and you choose the topic.

How much time will I need to spend on the BRP on a weekly basis?

As a rough estimate, like an IMI Diploma we suggest that you should expect to spend up to twelve hours in an average week working on your BRP. However as with any project, there will be times when you need to put in more or less effort. There are also classroom based workshops over the nine month programme, which you will attend at the IMI.

I completed a thesis in college. Do I need to do the BRP?

Yes. If you completed a thesis in college, that was as part of a separate degree or masters programme. As you cannot get credit for the same piece of work twice, that thesis cannot contribute towards earning the Master of Business. You may

and help you in undertaking the BRP.

What is the difference between the BRP and a traditional thesis?

Writing a traditional university thesis can often be a theoretical exercise that may have little to do with real life. The amount of support you get along the way can also vary widely. In contrast, the BRP is oriented entirely towards real life managers with real life business challenges. The project you undertake will result in practical recommendations that will help you and your organisation improve how you do business. Furthermore, the programme is carefully structured to provide you with practical support throughout from expert tutors who are experienced in working with professional managers.

How long does it take to complete the BRP?

The BRP process takes approximately nine months. The teaching programme typically starts in September and the

2016commence in autumn 2016 (please contact the Programme Advisors team at 1800 22 33 88 for dates) and the project will be submitted in May 2017.

What kind of commitment is required to complete the BRP?

Although the BRP is structured differently to an IMI Diploma, you can expect to put in a similar amount of work over the course of the programme. The major distinction is that you will be doing a different type of work - the BRP is much more self-directed. In other words you will spend less time in the classroom, more time online and in the IMI Knowledge Centre familiarising yourself with cutting edge tools and theories, and more time out in the real world researching and analysing your business challenge. The self-directed nature of the BRP takes time to adjust to and requires considerable self-discipline. The process still involves some classes at the IMI and is greatly supported by your tutor, whom you will meet on a one-to-one basis regularly throughout the programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scoping

Select issueExplore cutting edge thinking Build research

skills2 IMI Diplomas

The IMI Business Research Project

Your BRP research issue will, by its nature, be of critical interest to your organisation. BRP issues are typically complex business questions which require innovative solutions. Your organisation

recommendations which will be the output of your research.

Who chooses the topic of my BRP?

YOU. A key feature of the BRP is that it should involve a real-life, complex business issue that you are facing to which you need a practical solution. As part of the programme, you will

Your personal tutor will also be a great help in getting to the heart of your topic. However, you are the key person in the process and you choose the topic.

How much time will I need to spend on the BRP on a weekly basis?

As a rough estimate, like an IMI Diploma we suggest that you should expect to spend up to twelve hours in an average week working on your BRP. However as with any project, there will be times when you need to put in more or less effort. There are also classroom based workshops over the nine month programme, which you will attend at the IMI.

I completed a thesis in college. Do I need to do the BRP?

Yes. If you completed a thesis in college, that was as part of a separate degree or masters programme. As you cannot get credit for the same piece of work twice, that thesis cannot contribute towards earning the Master of Business. You may

and help you in undertaking the BRP.

What is the difference between the BRPand a traditional thesis?

Writing a traditional university thesis can often be a theoretical exercise that may have little to do with real life. The amount of support you get along the way can also vary widely. In contrast, the BRP is oriented entirely towards real life managers with real life business challenges. The project you undertake will result in practical recommendations that will help you and your organisation improve how you do business. Furthermore, the programme is carefully structured to provide you with practical support throughout from expert tutors who are experienced in working with professional managers.

How long does it take to complete the BRP?

The BRP process takes approximately nine months. The teaching programme typically starts in September and the

2016commence in autumn 2016 (please contact the Programme Advisors team at 1800 22 33 88 for dates) and the project will be submitted in May 2017.

What kind of commitment is required to complete the BRP?

Although the BRP is structured differently to an IMI Diploma, you can expect to put in a similar amount of work over the course of the programme. The major distinction is that you will be doing a different type of work - the BRP is much more self-directed. In other words you will spend less time in the classroom, more time online and in the IMI Knowledge Centre familiarising yourself with cutting edge tools and theories, and more time out in the real world researching and analysing your business challenge. The self-directed nature of the BRP takes time to adjust to and requires considerable self-discipline. The process still involves some classes at the IMI and is greatly supported by your tutor, whom you will meet on a one-to-one basis regularly throughout the programme.

Execution

Complete report

Proposal

Business

Research Project

Collecting Evidence

Analyse

The IMI Business Research Project

What kind of help and support can I expect on the BRP?

The BRP programme includes class and workshop time at the IMI. In addition, from the start of the programme you will be assigned a personal tutor who will assist you in making progress throughout the nine months. All of our tutors are experienced in research and in coaching professional business people. The BRP Programme Director is always available to discuss issues with and provide support to participants. Finally,

support and advice of your class colleagues, as they progress through the BRP process with you.

What role will my personal tutor play?

At the outset of the BRP process, you will be paired with an IMI personal tutor. This individual is an experienced business research expert who will be a key support for you throughout your BRP journey. They will meet with you regularly throughout the programme on a one-to-one basis, review and provide feedback on your work, advise you on presentation and writing style, and support you in making key research and planning decisions. At the end of the programme they will be involved in the assessment and grading of your project.

How is my personal tutor chosen?

Your personal tutor will be allocated by the BRP Programme Director at the start of the Programme. A number of factors will be considered when making the allocation to ensure you receive the best support possible throughout the process. Your tutor will not necessarily be a subject matter expert in your precise topic; rather their role is to provide you with ongoing process support and general feedback. You will become the subject matter expert early in the BRP process.

Are there any BRP entry requirements?

To undertake the BRP, you will typically have successfully completed two accredited IMI Diplomas within the past fouryears achieving an average 2.1 in total, or otherwise satisfy entry requirements. It is possible, however, in some circumstances to undertake the BRP if you have completed one IMI Diploma over the past four years, and earned 30 level nine credits from another academic institution. These must be recognised by the IMI via our “Recognition of Prior Learning” process. To learn more about recognition of prior learning, contact

Do I need to start the BRP as soon as I have completed my 2nd IMI Diploma?

scope to take some time off between the various MoB steps.

How is my overall MoB result determined?

Your Master of Business result will be decided based on an

and your BRP grade. Each of these elements is weighted equally when calculating your MoB result. This result will be

completion of the BRP.

Validation

The Business Research Project is validated and awarded byUniversity College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork.

How do I apply?

Once you have expressed your interest in applying for the BRP,you will be invited to have a conversation with the ProgrammeCo-ordinator and subsequently discuss your topic area with the Programme Director. After which payment arrangements will be put in place and you will be formally accepted to the programme. You will then gain access to the BRPs dedicated participant website containing programme information and recommended readings to start you on your journey.

If you wish to discuss the programme in detail, pleasecontact: programmeadvisors@imi.ieor freefone: 1800 22 33 88

Monthly Payments

Pay for your IMI BRP by monthly payments spread over the duration of the programme. There is no interest charged for choosing this payment option. Terms and conditions apply.

IMI Staged Payments

Pay for 60% of your course in advance of its commencement and pay the 40% balance by November 30th 2016. There is no interest charged for choosing this payment option. Terms and conditions apply.

The IMI Business Research Project

Pricing and Payment OptionsFor 2017, the IMI offers promotional rates and innovativepayment options that make our programmes more accessible than ever. IMI prices are inclusive of core textbooks and psychometric profiling tools, meals and parking at the IMI National Management Center. These prices are only guaranteed for the 2017 intake of the BRP.

We offer all our programme participants a 10% discount on double rooms at the IMI Residence at the National Management Centre.

Organisations that purchase several IMI Diploma or BRP places in any calendar year may be eligible for MoB Corporate Partnership. By becoming an MoB Corporate Partner, your organisation can avail of considerable additional volume discounts and other benefits. For more information on IMI pricing, financing options and MoB Corporate Partnership, contact the team at 1800 22 33 88 or email programmeadvisors@imi.ie.

Tax Relief on Tuition FeesIf you are paying for your tuition fees yourself, it is now possibleto apply to the Revenue Commissioners for tax relief for thisIMI programme. The amount of relief available varies from person to person. Tax relief is allowable per programme, per participant, per academic year. Relief will not be available for any part of tuition fees which are met directly, or indirectly, by grants, scholarships, employer payments etc. Please see www.revenue.ie for further information on how to apply for this relief. All decisions on individual tax relief requests are subject to the discretion of the Revenue Commissioners.

The IMI Business Research Project

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