FORMAT: The project should be word processed in an A4 format and 12 point type (Century Schoolbook, Times New Roman or Bookman Old Style) Pages should be numbered consecutively through the document; page numbers should be located centrally at the bottom of the page. Appendices should follow the main text and precede an index (if provided). Appendices may consist of supporting material of considerable length or of lists, publications, tables or other evidence which, if included in the main text, would interrupt its flow.
Referencing and Citations: Harvard Style
PROPOSAL:
The PROJECT PROPOSAL should be used as a working document for the FMP. It should be word processed, and approximately 2,000 words in length, excluding bibliography.
Irrespective of the choice of the kind of project undertaken as the FMP, each student is required to provide evidence of scientific rigor and credibility. Each FMP should have a section on identifying the research problem(s), a relevant literature review, hypotheses (where the methodology demands it), identification of dependent and independent variables (where suitable), justification of methodological choice, primary and secondary data collection, data analysis, results and conclusions, suggestions for future research, limitations, and managerial and theoretical implications.
WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE FINAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT? An abstract or executive summary (summary of the essential points of the project) An introduction (including the objectives of the project, identification of the research problem being addressed) Key definitions, identification of the key variables (independent, dependent, confounding) if necessary A section demonstrating the significance of the research and how the knowledge gap is being addressed A literature review (a review of the most important pieces of literature in the student’s domain) A section on methodology including students’ arguments supporting their choice of methodology among the different options available to them A section on how students collected data in the field. This section may also include a discussion of the challenges encountered in collecting data and how students overcame them A section on data analysis A section on the results obtained from their data analysis. This section needs to be elaborated to include a discussion of their findings A section on students’ theoretical and managerial implications A section on the limitations of their work, both theoretical and methodological Bibliography (in alphabetical order and fully referenced) Appendices
STRUCTURE GUIDELINES
I. An abstract or executive summary (summary of the essential points of the project) II. An introduction (including the objectives of the project, identification of the research problem being addressed) III. Key definitions, identification of the key variables (independent, dependent, confounding) if necessary IV. A section demonstrating the significance of the research and the how the knowledge gap is being addressed V. A literature review (a review of the most important pieces of literature in the student’s domain) VI. A section on methodology including the students’ arguments supporting their choice of methodology among the different options available to them VII. A section on how students collected data in the field. This section may also include a discussion of the challenges encountered in collecting data and how they overcame them
Viii. A section on data analysis IX. A section on the results obtained from their data analysis. This section needs to be elaborated to include a discussion of their findings X. A section on their theoretical and managerial implications XI. A section on the limitations of their work, both theoretical and methodological XII. Bibliography (in alphabetical order and fully referenced) XIII. Appendices
LENGTH GUIDELINES (word count) Introductory 5 – 10% (750 – 1500 words) Secondary Research 20 – 25% (3000 – 3750 words) Primary Research Methodology 25 – 30% (3750 – 4500 words) Primary Research Analysis 15 – 20% (2250 – 3000 words) Discussion, Conclusions and contributions 20 – 25% (3000 – 3750 words) Limitations and reliability/validity 5% (750 words) Student/Tutor flexibility (Variance within agreed wordcount between tutor and student) +/-10% (1500 word