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MHC 797 – RAFFERTY: Written Capstone Project Instructions This is a student-directed project on a focused SHRM-HCM topic

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MHC 797 – RAFFERTY: Written Capstone Project Instructions

This is a student-directed project on a focused SHRM-HCM topic. Students may choose a particular SHRM/human capital issue, problem, or topic relevant today. Students are encouraged to select topics that will further their current/future professional aspirations.

The capstone project should be a focused, in-depth exploration into a particular topic. Topics that are too broad will not be accepted.

Some SHRM/HCM topics that may be narrowed for your project include (but are not limited to):

• Action research at your place of employment
• Big data and human capital management/ HR analytics
• Leadership
• Diversity and multi-culturalism
• Employee engagement
• Talent management
• Green HCM
• Learning Organizations
• Flexibility & Change Management
• Performance management systems
• Training & Development
• Mentoring & Coaching
• ETC.

Important note: Please be certain to follow the grading rubric carefully, as well as frequently refer to the capstone format guide provided at the beginning of the semester and on Blackboard.

 

MHC 797 – RAFFERTY: 

 

Capstone Project Format

 

Format

• No more than 30 (no fewer than 25) double-spaced, paginated, and APA formatted pages, excluding title page and references in Times or Times New Roman font and 12 point type size.
• Fully proof read for Standard English and APA Style.
• This format guide will be used to grade your paper; therefore, please use it during every stage of your capstone project. It will help you explore your topic fully.

Text (Designated sections of your project shown below. Please read carefully)

Introduction

• A background section that will briefly provide contextual information that will aid the reader’s understanding of what will follow.
• Problem statement and significance of the problem, supported by citations.
• Statement of question to be answered as a result of your exploration (or the research question and relevant, hypotheses, if a research study is pursued).
• A discussion of why the topic is important to the field of human capital, human resource management, or management in general. This section MUST include citations that support your argument for importance. Remember, this is not your “opinion.” It is extremely important that you have done a comprehensive reading of your topic. This will be facilitated by your assignments in “Phase Two” of our course. 
• A statement explaining the purpose of the study.
• Operational definitions. [These are one to three sentences long and may be presented as

“bullets.” These statements will be fleshed-out/discussed in more detail in the literature review.

 

II. Literature Review

• Provide a thorough explanation and exploration of your topic using scholarly journals and books.
• Provide a thorough explanation and exploration of the theoretical foundation (s) for your operational definitions. This is optional, but very helpful in framing your topic. You may use management theory (ies) or models that are relevant to your topic; however, you are not bound by management theory alone.
• This section will include all the information from the articles, books, and studies that you found are directly related to your topic (some of which were presented and explained during “Phase Two”). Please use only current literature (last 5 years or less). 

 

Methodology (for a research papers ONLY)

• Identify, describe, and provide a brief theoretical discussion of the research and methodology [quantitative/qualitative] that will be used to answer your research question. In the presentation of your methodology include a discussion of:

o the sample/participants, o role of the researcher o data/information gathering techniques, o procedures, and o data/information analysis.

• Provide commentary that supports your position that this design and methodology is appropriate for your research question.

Topic Exploration (you will use a moniker that is relevant to your topic)

• This section is the focal point of your paper and contains the major content area you wish to convey to your reader. It will directly answer the problem you stated in your Introduction, and most importantly, it will synthesize the content presented in your Literature Review. This will allow you to present the topic in a new way. 
• This section should begin with a heading that’s relevant to your topic and must consist of subheads that logically organizes your presentation of the material. Remember, you’re trying to tell

“a story” in a logical and cogent way. Therefore, it must be organized as such.

• Your headings in this section include those dimensions that help organize your presentation. If you used a theoretical foundation, you may use those concepts as sub-heads as well. 
• This section will be the longest, since it contains the synthesis of your research.
• Students conducting a classic research study will have a section on “findings” that can follow this section. 

Recommendation(s) & Conclusion

• A summary section that will provide a review of what was presented and a synthesis of the important points within the Topic Exploration section. Here you will answer the ‘so what?’ question. In other words, what contribution did your topic exploration provide to the field? Do you have recommendations? Solutions?
• A suggestion for further research on the topic should also be included, as well as any limitations of your exploration. Limitations do not imply that your project lacked in some way.

Instead, you should offer your recommendation on future research that can be done on this topic.

Since you now have expertise in this given area, this is helpful to readers of your paper.

 

 

 

References

• Include all sources cited in the text.

? In-text citations provide authority, credibility, and context to your written statements. They are also necessarily for academic and professional honesty. You must give proper credit to ideas that come from someone else.

• All references will be properly formatted in APA Style. 

The following are examples for a book and a journal:

Leedy, P., & Ormrod, J. (2005). Practical research: Planning and design 8th edition. Upper 

            Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall. [This is a book citation] Isabella, L. A. (2005). Using existing teams to teach about teams: How an MBA course       in managing teams helps students and the program. Journal of Management 

            Education, 29(3), 427-452. [This is a journal citation]

 

PLEASE NOTE:

• Please refer to APA Guide – Sixth edition for reference list, citations, and formatting of paper.
• Each student will be responsible for presenting their capstone topic to the class via a live Wimba session. Please check Blackboard for presentation schedule. 
• Tricia will be happy to review your paper as you progress, as well as advise you along the way. Please feel free to use her as a sounding-board during your work in progress.