Research Topic Proposal Form

Student Name:
Intake Number
Proposed Project Title (10-15 words):

Student Number:
Module Title

Proposed Research Area (Please indicate the module from which the topic is taken):
Proposed Research Topic:

Proposed Research Question:

Rationale for Choosing this Topic and Question (about 300 words):

Preliminary List of References (Academic Textbooks and Journal Articles):

Please list at least ten suitable academic references

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Research Topic Proposal Form

Student Name:
Michael Lee
Student Number:
Intake Number
31
Module Title
Proposed Project Title (10-15 words):
Impact of a Performance Management System on Staff Motivation.

123456789
RP1

Proposed Research Area (Please indicate the module from which the topic is taken):
Human resource management module
Proposed Research Topic:
Performance management
Proposed Research Question:
How did the introduction of a performance management system impact staff
motivation at ABC Company?
Rationale for Choosing this Topic and Question:
Performance management is a key management tool which can effectively motivate
staff in the right conditions. Often there are problems with its implantation as
acknowledged in the literature. There appears to be little research done on the use
of performance management in higher education in this country also.
From a professional perspective, I am a HR specialist and plan to continue to purse
2

my career in HR I am currently on the Performance Management and

Implementation Review committee for my department at UCD. I will have to
complete a report on its review in twelve months time as part of this role and it will be
useful to have investigated the topic.
The topic is directly related to my programme of study and the module of Human
Resource Management. It will give me a practical insight into the theory of the topic
of Performance Management and an insight into how you might use it in applied
research.

Preliminary List of References:

1. Beardwell, J., Clayton, T. and Holden, L. (2007): Human Resource Management,
a contemporary Approach, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall: London
2. Newell, H. and Scarbrough H. (2002): HRM in context, A Case Study Approach,
Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire.
3. Peterson, T. (2007): Motivation: How to Increase Project Team Performance ,
Project Management Journal, Dec2007, Vol. 38: 4, p60-69
3. Davenport, J. and Gardiner, P. (2007): Performance Management in the Not-for-Profit
Sector with Reference to the National Trust for Scotland , Total Quality Management &
Business Excellence, May, Vol. 18: 3, p303-311

4. Herzberg, F. (2003): One more Time: How do you motivate employees, Harvard
Business Review, Jan
5. Grote, D. (2000):Performance appraisal reappraised, Harvard Business Review,
Jan-Feb
6. Levison, H. (2003): Management by Whose Objective?, Harvard Business
Review, January
7. Townley, B. ( 1997): The institutional logic of appraisal, Organisation Studies, 18
(2): 216-285
8. Snape, E., Thompson, D. Yan, f. and Redman, T (1998): Performance appraisal
and culture: practice and attitudes in Hong Kong and Great Britain, International
Journal of Human Resource Management, 9 (5): 841-861
9. Paik, V., Vance, C. and Stage, H. (2000):

A test of assumed cluster

homogeneity for performance appraisal management in four Southeast Asian

countries, International Journal of Human Resource Management, 11 (4): 736-750
10.Coates, G. (1994):

Performance appraisal as icon: Oscar-winning

performance or dressing to impress?, International Journal of Human Resource

Management, 5 (1): 167-191