Programme: Bachelor of
Commerce
Credit Value: 12
Module Tutors: Kabita Chhetri, Jigme Tashi, Dip Raj
Pradhan, Tirtha Raj Puri, Carl Wonder, Priyanka Sharma, Jeroen Uittenbogaard
Module
Coordinator: Carl
Wonder
General
Objective: This module
is a semester long business or research project designed to enable students to
apply knowledge, skills and abilities they have acquired from their respective
specialization areas. Students individually will be required to conduct an
in-depth study of a business problem of a business entity or alternatively
carry out a group research project. Students are required to identify business
problems, design study, conduct a comprehensive investigation and propose
analysis-based recommendations or identify research area of their interest and
carry out an independent group research. The module further aims to enhance
student’s ability to identify researchable problems, formulate business
problems, conduct an independent enquiry and propose evidence based decision
options. In the process, students will learn how to write project/research
proposal, how to design a business /research project and how to determine the
nature and source of information and data required, analyse data and
communicate/disseminate findings.
Learning Outcomes – On completion of the module, students
should be able to:
1.
Identify business
problem or researchable phenomenon
2.
Formulate business
or a research problem
3.
Rationalize a
methodology to best achieve the objective of the business/research project
4.
Present and defend
the project proposal/research problem to the organization, module supervisors
and the external evaluators
5.
Collect appropriate
data and information
6.
Evaluate the merits
of different data gathering strategies.
7.
Appraise information
and data for issues with reliability, validity, and biasness.
8.
Transform
information and data into specific, concise outputs as appropriate for a
particular project, e.g. graphs, tables, diagrams, etc.
9.
Formulate sound
conclusions based on findings
10.
Propose and complete
an implementation plan with clear milestones and deadlines
11.
Present and justify
outcomes/findings of the project
Teaching and Learning Approach:
|
Approach
|
Hours
per week
|
Total
credit hours
|
|
Discussion
with supervisors including client organization
|
3
|
15
|
|
Group
work/Independent work
|
4
|
60
|
|
Data
collection
|
3
|
45
|
|
Total
|
120
|
Assessment Approach:
A.
Proposal:
Portion of Final Marks: 20%
Students working on a business project,
will individually select, engage and become familiar with the client
organization and prepare a report of 1000 words. Students should consult and
secure commitment from the client organization to allow as well as support them
to study a business problem during the semester break. Each student should
provide a letter from a point of contact at the client organization confirming
the relationship with the organization and the commitment on part of the
organization to cooperate with the student for the duration of the semester.
Each student is then expected to become familiar with the client organization
including the background of the organization and the core processes and
activities of the organization, and analyze the organization using SWOT and
STEEPLES analyses to identify problems or issues facing an organization.
2% identify and engage client
organization including obtaining letter from organization
10% document the background, core
activities, processes of the organization and identification of the problem
5% analysis using appropriate
tools and formulation of project objectives
3% prepare report template/first
draft of the project report including; background information of the
organization; the core activities/processes of the organization and the section
headings of the project report properly formatted
On the other hand, students doing
research in group of 4-5 should get support and acceptance from the research
supervisor on the selected topic/problem. In the beginning of the new semester,
student groups must submit Letter of Acceptance from the research supervisor.
By the end of second week of the semester, student groups are required to
submit their project/research proposal (1000 words) to the Programme Leader’s
Office. The assessment will be done for written report as well as presentation.
Assessment team must include supervisors, an external evaluator and a competent
evaluator (internal/external), collectively evaluating based on the following;
5% identification and formulation
of business/research problem, objectives/questions
5% review of literature including
framework for solving business problem
5% methodology: design, sampling,
data collection, analysis procedures, milestones (work plan) and ethical considerations
5% presentation of the
proposal
1% presentation mechanics:
slides-balance between text and visuals, slide titles
1% organization of ideas, emphasis
on key action areas, transition between ideas
1% presentation skills: language, preparedness,
clarity of ideas
2% q&a: ability to explain,
clarify, and convince evaluators
Note: irrespective of grading, the evaluation
panel shall communicate one of the following decisions to the student groups:
1.
Proposal approved
2.
Proposal approved with
minor changes
3.
Recommended major changes
4.
Proposal not approved
In case evaluation
panel recommends for major changes or proposal is not approved, student groups
will be given a week time to rework the proposal and submit to Programme
Leader’s Office for reevaluation.
B. Mid Term Progress Report Submission
(Draft Report) and Presentation:
Portion
of Final Marks 40% for individual business project/20% for research report
Individual students working on business
project is expected to complete a thorough analysis of the organization,
including at a minimum a SWOT Analysis, STEEPLES Analysis and interview with
senior management. Each student will identify likely approaches or solutions
for issue(s)/opportunity(ies); execute their project proposal by analysing the
alternatives including pros and cons of each alternative solution. Such
analysis could be based upon primary or secondary data and information, or a
combination of both.
5% formulation and justification
of project topic
5% identification of likely approaches
or solutions
10% design of methodology to
evaluate possible alternatives.
10% critical evaluation of each
option(s) including possible implication and ramifications
10% identification and justification
of optimal solution(s)
Alternatively, the student researchers
will be required to submit mid-term progress report to the Programme Leaders
Office within 8 weeks from the date of proposal approval. Between proposal
approval and mid-term progress report submission, student groups are expected
to complete data collection and analysis, and be able to submit draft report.
The draft report evaluation (written and presentation) is a quality assurance
mechanism wherein progress of students work and its quality can be ascertained,
and appropriate measures adopted to enhance quality of students work before
submission of final report. The Programme Leaders Office will organize draft
report evaluation internally.
Marking
Criteria: Written Component 10%
2% relevancy and
credibility of data and information gathered
2% logical coherence
with the proposal
6% data analysis,
preliminary findings and recommendations
Marking
Criteria: Presentation 10%
2% presentation skills
8% q&a: ability to justify use
of data analysis techniques, preliminary findings and recommendations
C. Submission of Final Report and Presentation: Portion
of Final Marks: 40% for business report/60% for research report
Each student is expected to prepare a
final project report of 5,000-7500 words that is of a standard consistent with
University level writing, organization and attention to detail. Grammar,
punctuation, formatting and layout should be proper and without errors.
Citations should be thorough and APA style. The project report should clearly
identify the findings, the relevance of the findings, and propose decision
alternatives. The evaluation of final report (written and presentation) will be
done by evaluation team (2 external and 1 internal (other than supervisor)) for
research project and by the client organization for business report.
Business
Project
Written
Component: 30%
2% formatting and layout, grammar,
punctuation, style and attention to detail
3% understanding of subject and
completeness of information.
5% appropriate integration of best
practices in business project deliverables
7% quality of analysis and
findings from the project
5% relevance of findings towards
implementation of organizational goals
5% value-added to organization
3% identification of sources of
data and information through citations/references. (no plagiarism)
Presentation:
10%
Individual students will do presentation
of the findings to client and client feedback in the form of an executive
summary or a slide presentation and by delivering the project report. A brief
summary of the client’s feedback, questions asked or suggestions should be
prepared by each student for their faculty advisor.
5% preparation
of executive summary/abstract or slides
5% feedback
from client organization
Research
Project
Written
Component: 40%
2% formatting and layout, grammar,
punctuation, style and attention to detail
10% problem formulation,
literature review and methodology
12% quality
and analysis of findings
13% coherence and relevance of
findings, recommendations and objectives the study
3% identification of sources of
data and information through citations/references (no plagiarism)
Presentation
Component: 20%
5% presentation Mechanics: slides,
and presentation skills
10% ability to present credible
story linking business problem/research problem to analysis to recommendations
5% ability to respond to questions, logically, based
on facts and figures
|
Areas of Assignments
|
Quantity
|
Weighting
|
|
Business Project
|
Research Project
|
|
A. Select, engage and become familiar with client
organization, document information, identify and formulate business problem
and submit a proposal or identify a researchable phenomenon of student
group’s interest and submit a proposal
|
1
|
20%
|
20%
|
|
B. Gather data, analyze and write a draft report
(mid-term progress report)
|
1
|
40%
|
20%
|
|
C. Prepare final report and present to client
organization or the evaluation team
|
1
|
40%
|
60%
|
|
Total Continuous Assessment (CA)
|
|
100%
|
100%
|
Pre-requisites: RES301 Research Methods in Business
Supervision and
Monitoring
The
Office of the Dean of Research/Head of the department and the office of the
Programme Leaders will facilitate students to network with the prospective
client organizations. The Dean, Research or Head of department and Programme
Leaders office will also take initiative to find right supervisors for the
students. Through supervisors, the progress of the student groups shall be
monitored by Programme Leader’s Office. The Programme Leader’s Office will also
follow up with the client organization periodically.
Specific
Roles and Responsibilities
A)
Student
The students in group are required to decide on an area of study in
consultation with the research supervisor or client organization. Students
should also initiate and discuss with the allocated supervisor the type of
guidelines, contact hours, and other relevant activities. In short, students
should follow and be acting in accordance with WAL and other academic
standards.
B)
Programme Leader
The Programme Leader in collaboration with the office of the DRIL is responsible
for offering assistance to the student researchers to decide on an area of
study, choice of organization, and identifying relevant sources of information.
Programme Leader should also assist students in the appointment of an
appropriate supervisor and of examiner.
C)
Research Supervisor/Focal
Person
Research supervisors will be appointed by the Programme Leaders based
on their specialist expertise and research experience. Supervisors are
responsible for providing guidance to the students in terms of choosing a field
of study, data collection and analysis, planning for research proposal,
ensuring academic regour and offering necessary support and monitoring
services.
Reading List:
1. Essential Reading
1.1
Davies, M., &
Hughes, N. (2014). Doing a successful student research project using
qualitative or quantitative methods (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
1.2
Easterby-Smith, M.,
Thorpe, R., & Jackson, P.R. (2012). Management research (4th ed.).
Sage London.
1.3
Sekaran, U. & Bougie, R.
(2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. Wiley.
1.4
Raisel, E. (1999). The
McKinsey way. McGraw Hill
1.5
Dawson, C (2007). A practical
guide to research methods (3rd ed.). Amazon Reader Review.
2.
Additional
Reading
2.1
Roam, D. (2013). The
back of the napkin: Solving problems and selling ideas with pictures.
Penguin.
2.2
Kothari, C. R. (2010). Research
methodology, methods and techniques. New Age International Publishers.
2.3
Saunders et. al. (2009). Research
methods for business students (5th ed.) 2009. Pearson Education.
2.4
Yin, K.R. (2014). Case study
research design and methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
2.5
Bryman, A & Bell, E. (2007). Business
research methods. Oxford University Press.
2.6
Dooley, D. (2009). Social
research methods. Prentice Hall.
2.7
Gillham, B. (2000). Case study
research methods. Real World Research.
Date: July, 2017