A course of Master's level study usually culminates in the student undertaking sustained academic research into an area that they have identified. For the MBA programmes, this research relates to finding out more about a business issue that would provide the organisation/sector involved with reliable information and possible guidance about how to proceed. The research will be valid, reliable and take account of bias. This is the basis of a professional approach to informed business practice, policy making and consultancy work, and therefore the research should be of practical benefit, not just of academic interest.