Project Guidelines for Fourth Semester of MBA course curriculum

Introduction:
This guide will provide you all the information you need to know for developing a project
dissertation. As the Project work is very important part of MBA course curriculum, it has been
marked for four credits.

The objectives of the MBA course curriculum Project work are to:
1) Enable students to develop further the skills and knowledge gained on the course by
applying them to the analysis of a specific business problem or issue, via a substantial piece
of independent work carried out over an extended period.
2) For students to demonstrate proficiency in the design of a research project, application of
appropriate research methods, collection and analysis of data, and presentation of results.

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the MBA course curriculum Project work, students will be able to:
1) Demonstrate clarity of problem definition and scope; critical evaluation of a focused review
of relevant literature; a carefully argued case for the research methods employed;
proficiency in the analysis and interpretation of qualitative and/or quantitative data, where
appropriate; and sensitivity to the organizational context for which recommendations are
made, where appropriate.
2) Present the results of their research in an academically acceptable format, paying particular
attention to integration of the literature review, critical evaluation of data, clear presentation
of research results, and clear evaluation of the implementability of the recommendations.

How to select a topic and organization?

To proceed with the project work it is very important to select a right topic and right organization,
where you will get required information for the successful completion of the project work.

Criteria’s for selecting the topic and organization:

a) Elective subject: Project can be undertaken on Elective subject.
b) Originality: Your project work must be carried out by yourself and must be original. You can
certainly take ideas from else where, but be sure that you evolve them in the unique way to
suit your project
requirements.

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c) Company specific: the project work should be undertaken in a company or any of its
departments or any business establishments. The out come of the project work should be
useful to the organization or establishment.
d) You must consult your internal guide or external guide in selection of topic.
e) You can do the Project in the organization where you are working / have worked / intend to
work.
f) It is good Idea to link your project to your future plans. This will be a useful for your future
job prospects and it will also demonstrate to your potential employers about your
enthusiasm and knowledge.
g) Remember that you have constraints of resources like time, monetary, infrastructure, so, it is
necessary to complete your project with in the specified constraints.

Suggested titles for MBA course curriculum Project work:

1) Developing financial performance measurement and reporting system

The project

The main objective of the project is to develop and introduce a financial performance
measurement and reporting system, which would become part of the minimum quality standards
for retail network. The main driver for this project is the changes within the Automotive Block
Exemption Regulation (BER) and its impact on the motor industry.

The project involved understanding the impact of the BER on the motor industry and using this
knowledge to identify a feasible system for Automobile Company. This system is required to be
adapted to the needs of individual countries. In addition a complete launch and implementation
plan for the system is required to be developed.

2) Product rationalization programme for eliminating legacy products

The project

The project objective is to tackle a major product rationalization programme with the aim of
eliminating legacy products. This involved the production of a legacy product management
policy, rationalization of stock, item, service and rep codes, and the quantification of potential
savings gained through the reduction of stock holding and servicing.

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3) Organization’s cultural change programme

The project

The objective of the project is to focus on investigating what is needed to aid a cultural change
programme. The student supposed to study the organization’s structure, culture, communication
methods and employee responsibilities. This involved meetings and discussions with a wide
range of employees. The aim is to produce a report outlining where the organization is now in
terms of culture, and produce recommendations on what needs to be changed in order to
achieve the organizational goals. This recommendation should be included input into the
organization’s change strategy.

4) Internal IT strategy for XYZ Solutions Inc.

The project

XYZ Solutions Inc. is a rapidly growing IT services company. Following a series of acquisitions,
the company is expanding market share and developing internally. IT systems are instrumental
in supporting corporate strategy and internal operations. XYZ's IT strategy currently focuses on
developing these systems. This analysis supposed to outline enhancements to XYZ's existing IT
strategy in order to strengthen the company's ability to utilize information technology. In
developing these enhancements, the analysis required review the history, structure, and
strategies of XYZ and characterize the current alignment between business objectives and
internal R&D. Further to developing enhancement recommendations, the analysis should
provide an implementation plan to address key sources of business-IT misalignment. The
enhancements to IT strategy are an opportunity for XYZ to develop a sustainable competitive
advantage through improved planning, development, and usage of IT.

Qualification Criteria for Project Guide: MBA or equivalent such as PGDBA and others OR
any engineering graduate with 5-years of managerial level experience in reputed organization
OR Faculty in management institution having at least 3-years of teaching experience.

(NOTE: Prior to selection of the Project Title, please approach the organization of your choice
with the authorized request letter from university study centre where you have taken admission).

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Planning for the project work
It is necessary to plan ahead, to make sure that you will complete your work with in the specified
time for the project work.

To achieve this, you should work out a precise schedule.

You should measure the progress of your project work according to your project schedule.

Preparation of project synopsis and submission to University study centre:

With in six weeks from commencement of your fourth semester, students are required to submit
project synopsis to University study centre for approval and it should contain the following
points.

Title of the project work: this should convey the general issues that interest you. The title
should not be generic in nature and should imply that the work is being made to be able to make
certain conclusions. The title may indicate the organization in which the research is being
carried out.

Objectives: objectives of the project should be clearly mentioned.

Methodology: You should specify the methodology which you are going to adopt to carry out
the project.

Format of report for the submission:

1. The full content of the report must be hard bound together so that the pages cannot be
removed or replaced.
2. The cover of the report must contain, title, name of the candidate, the award and the year of
submission. (Refer annexure A).
3. Text pages should be printed on one side of the paper, preferably with 1.5 line spacing, and
page numbers at the bottom of the each page. Margins should be 2” on the left and 1” on
the right.
4. Please use separate index sheets for all chapters each chapter should start from a new
page.
5. The declaration must be duly signed by the student ( Refer annexure B)
6. The project report must be about 100-150 pages.
7. Report must contain all the necessary documents such as Certificate from the viva-voce
panel (refer annexure C), Certificate of the University study centre (Refer annexure D),
Company certificate, acknowledgements etc.
8. One copy of the project report along with CD, must submit to the UNIVERSITY.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Executive summary
i) Introduction
ii) Objective
iii) Methodology.
iv) Analysis
v) Conclusions
vi) Recommendations.

Part I
Company Profile
i) Brief Introduction of a company
ii) History (very brief) of the organization.

PART II
Project overview
i) Introduction
ii) Objective
iii) Methodology
iv) Analysis
v) conclusions
vi) Recommendations

Part III
i) Appendix
ii) Bibliography
iii) References
iv) Glossary
Note: this is only suggestive but not exhaustive

Annexure A (cover page)

Emblem

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University centre address and code No:

Title of project report

By
(Your name)

A project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Business Administration of Sikkim Manipal University, INDIA

Sikkim-Manipal university of Health, Medical and technological sciences

Distance education wing
Syndicate house
Manipal – 576 104

Annexure B (student declaration)

I here by declare that the project report entitled
(Title)
submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of business
Administration to Sikkim-Manipal University, India, is my original work and not submitted for the
award of any other degree, diploma, fellowship, or any other similar title or prizes

Place: (Name of candidate)

Date: Reg. No:

Annexure C (Examiner’s certification)

The project report of

(Your name)
Title
is approved and is acceptable in quality and form

Internal Examiner External Examiners

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(Name, qualification and designation) (Name, qualification)

Annexure D (university study centre certificate)

This is to certify that the project report entitled

(Title)

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Business
Administration of Sikkim-Manipal University of Health, Medical and technological sciences

(Student Name)

has worked under my supervision and guidance and that no part of this report has been
submitted for the award of any other degree, Diploma, Fellowship or other similar titles or prizes
and that the work has not been published in any journal or Magazine.
(Reg. No) Certified

(Guide’s Name and Qualification)

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