MSc Engineering Management iterature Review Module Student Briefing The Literature Review module starts and finishes

in the Summer term. The objective of the module is to give you the opportunity to carry out a significant and up-to-date review of the journal published literature on an agreed topic. You will then write this review up in the form and style of a journal paper aimed at a technical journal that you are free to choose (you should choose a journal appropriate to the topic of your review). This is an individual activity. A good introductory paper on writing a literature review is by Steward [1]. I strongly recommend you read this article and follow the suggestions made in it. There are other papers on writing a literature review that you may also find useful [2], [3] What topic are you going to do the literature review on? The topic is, to some extent, up to you to choose and obtain my agreement. Some suggestions are given in Appendix A of this document, you are free to choose one of these or a different subject that might be better aligned with your personal interests. Whatever you choose to do your review on you are required to agree with me the topic by email. You should gain my agreement as quickly as you can so that you maximise the time available to search for, read and understand a sufficient number of papers. What you need to include in your review paper: The following points should be addressed in your literature review: Brief statement about you, which explains your personal bias with respect to the review [1 p496] Your literature search methodology how you have explored the topic The key features or points relating to the topic you have found How the boundaries of the topic are currently drawn How the topic has developed or changed over time The key explorers/authors and the perspective of their particular backgrounds Where the contested areas are in the topic and how strongly contested they are Show evidence of critical analysis of the papers you have reviewed Show logical synthesis of your reviewed data Finally, and importantly you should include a statement of the journal to which you would submit your review and why you chose that journal. How many papers do I need to read and include? I expect you to read, critically analyse and use in your review, a minimum of 15 papers. You should focus your review on papers that have been published in the last 5 years although earlier important papers can also be included. If there are no recent publications in your topic use the most recent you can.What do you need to submit as your assignment? A journal paper style literature review on the agreed topic. The length should be approximately 6 pages to the exact format required by the journal to which you would submit this paper. When does my assignment need to be submitted by? A paper version of your assignment should be submitted to the Departmental Office by midday Friday 1st July (week 10 of the Summer term). You are also required to submit an electronic copy of your assignment along with an electronic copy of all the papers you have referenced in your review. The deadline for submission of the electronic copy is the same as that for the paper copy.

What is the marking criteria? The following marking criteria will be used: Introduction and context of the review (including brief statement about you and your personal bias) (10) Review methodology including statement of sources (10) Breadth of review (20) Analysis and synthesis (40) Layout and readability (15) Appropriate targeting of journal for potential publication (5) It is very important that you produce a readable literature review so please ensure you proof read your final version before submitting it. Having someone help you as a critical friend would be very useful especially a native English speaker. References [1] Writing a literature review, B Steward, The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2004 vol. 67 (11) pp. 495-500 [2] Writing a literature review, M.J Baker, The Marketing Review, 2000 vol. 1 (2) pp. 219-247 [3] Writing integrative literature reviews: Guidelines and examples, R.J Torraco, Human Resource Development Review, 2005 vol. 4 (3) pp. 356