CMI Unit 713 Applied Research for Strategic Leaders (R/617/6872) Assignment Brief 2026

CMI Unit 713 Assignment Brief

Assignment Aim

The aim of this unit is to enable strategic leaders to develop an evidence-based understanding of applied research methods and the ways research can be conducted scientifically, ethically and legally in an organisational context. The unit will support strategic leaders to become producers of applied research, with the ability to generate new knowledge, based on the practical challenges of the workplace. The aim is to facilitate strategic decision making, and ultimately add value to the organisation.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

LO1 – Understand the research process

Assessment criteria

1.1 Critically appraise the role of applied research in strategic leadership

1.2 Consider the impact of research philosophies on work-based investigation

1.3 Discuss the principles of research methodologies and design in an organisational context

Indicative content

1.1 Role of applied research: Knowledge generation. Facilitate the critical analysis and appraisal of complex information. Inform strategic decision making. Problem solving. Develop an understanding of the organisation and sector. Identify opportunities for growth, change and development of the organisation.

Development of new products, services and support for customers and stakeholders. Elicit stakeholder opinion. Management of risk.

1.2 Research philosophies: Clarification of assumptions about the world and ways of understanding the world.  Ontology (how people view the world). Epistemology (assumptions made about ways of investigating the world). Source, nature, development of knowledge and creation of new knowledge. Classifications of philosophical approaches to applied research (for example, pragmatism, positivism, realism, interpretivism).

1.3 Research methodologies: Methodological choices regarding the approach to research and selection of methods as appropriate to an organisational context (for example, quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods). Research methods for applied research, observational research, case-study, survey, experimental types of research. Action research. Research approach (for example, inductive, deductive, mixed methods, ethnography, autoethnography).

Research design principles include: 

• Selection of research strategy: Methodology to investigate a particular issue.
• Research methods: Such as case study, mixed-methods, action research, grounded theory, narrative enquiry, experiment.
• Selection of tools and techniques: Quantitative (for example, surveys, questionnaires, experiments, observations). Document screening (for example, financial reports). Qualitative (for example, interviews, focus groups).
• Sampling and data collection: Primary data. Secondary data. Sample population (and access to sample sets). Ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Data analysis: Methods of analysis (for example, software packages). Reliability and validity, bias and error.
• Time-frames: Longitudinal study, cross-sectional studies.
• Ethics and risk factors: Ethical approval. Risk assessment. Risk to researcher/s and participants (for example, safety/security/protection of researcher and participant). Insider research in the workplace. Misconduct.
• Presentation of findings: Format (tailored to audience/research type). Underpinning evidence (referencing).

LO2 – Know how to develop a research proposal of strategic benefit

Assessment criteria

2.1 Formulate the research question and aims for a research proposal of strategic benefit to an organisation

2.2 Critically review a range of literature to inform the research proposal

2.3 Develop the research design for the proposal

Indicative content

2.1 Research question and aims: Focus of the research (i.e. methodology, analysis, reporting, related to research question and aims). Viable, clear, significant, ethical. Research proposal: Specifies nature of research (for example, organisational opportunity, challenge, value add).

2.2 Literature review: Critical review of topical and relevant literature and media.

2.3 Research design: Selection of research strategy. Research methods. Selection of tools and techniques. Data collection. Sampling. Data analysis. Time-frames. Ethics and risk factors/considerations (for example, ethical approval. Risk assessment. Risk to researcher/s and participants. Insider research in the workplace. Misconduct). Presentation of findings.

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