How To Prepare For A Summer Project

I) Introduction 1) PGDM Students are required to carry out a summer project and submit a ProjectReportasarequirementofthePGDMPrograminIVTerm. 2) TheProjectworkshoulddemonstratetheabilityofthestudentintermsofdata collection,applicationofconceptslearntduringthefirstthreeterms,analysis ofdata,formulationofrecommendationsandsuggestionsofaviablescheme forimplementationoftherecommendations. 3) Thequalityandcontentoftheprojectratherthanthecompanyandtheguide matters during the course of placement interviews. Therefore, do not be choosyaboutthecompanytopursueyoursummerproject. 4) The Title / Topic of summer project is not in your hand and invariably dependsuponthecompanyguide. 5) Companymayhaveaspecificprojectintheirmindwhichtheymayaskyouto do.Youcantakehelpofyourfacultyguideandbymutualdiscussionthe scopeoftheprojectcanbeenriched. TypeofprojectsindifferentfunctionalareasMarketing Hereisashortlistofsomeofthepopularprojectsstudentsundertakeinmarketing. Althoughthis listis notexhaustive, itwillprovidesomeperspective onpotential projectsyoucanundertakeorexplorewithyouremployers. Launchofanewproduct Improvementsinexistingproducts Studyconsumerbehavior Consumersatisfactionsurveys Pricing CompetitiveIntelligence Distribution Logisticalstudies Salesforceeffectiveness Studyexportpotential MeasurePromotionalEffectiveness HumanResourceManagement Manpowerplanningforfuture Redesignoforganizationstructure Defineduties&responsibilities Measuremanagerialeffectiveness Performanceappraisal Developcompensationpackage Analyzestaffturnover Measureemploymentsatisfaction Studytrainingneedsofemployeesanddesignanannualcalendar Careerplanning Stressmanagement Developentrepreneursintheorganization

II)

Finance Analyzethefinancialhealthofacompany Interfirmcomparison Analyzethestockmarketperformanceofacompany Raisecapitalanalyzealternatives Costauditing Capitalbudgetingandinvestmentappraisals Debtrestructuring Forecasting Pricing Financialprojections StrategicManagement Strategic planning, preparation oflongterm plans withvisionandmission statements,goalsandtargets IdentifyopportunitiesforMergersandAcquisitions,duediligence Breakevenanalysis,sensitivityanalysis ApplicationofdifferentmodelslikeBCGProductportfoliomatrix,Mckinsey 7Sframework,GEmarketattractivenessmodelandothers Revivalofsickindustries,developingstrategiesforturnaround Successionplanning III) Researchprocess Theresearchprocessgoesthroughthefollowingsteps. Eachoneisdiscussed in detailseparately. Problemformulation Researchmethodology Researchdesign Selectingdatacollectiontechniques Sampledesign Datacollection Analysisandinterpretationofdata Conclusions Recommendations Reportwriting Howtostart? Thesearethesteps,whichyoucanundertake: Prepareaproposalspellingoutobjectivesofthestudy,researchmethodology to beused,coverage (Geographical, Sample frame andSample size), time tableandoutofpocketcosts. Showthistoyourcompanysupervisorandobtainhisapproval Getclarificationonwhatwillbeyourallowancesduringthisperiodontravel, lodgingandboardingandlocalconveyance. GetapprovalfromyourInternalGuide. ReportWriting Areportmustbepresentedinaprofessionalmanner. FormatofReport Titlepage Contentspage

IV)

V)

Certificates Executivesummary Introduction Companyandproductprofile Secondaryresearchdata/industrydata Analysisofquestionnaireandinterpretation Conclusions Recommendations Bibliography Appendix

Some of the above are discussed separately where normally students are found wanting. ExecutiveSummary 12pages Itshouldbrieflydefinetheobjectivesandresearchmethodologyused Itshouldgiveasummary ofthefindings whichyouwilldraw from your conclusionsandrecommendations Itshouldnotgivedetailsofinformationalreadyknowntothecompany. Itispreparedforthebenefitofseniorexecutiveswhodonothavetimetoread theentirereport Introduction Objectives can be broken down as Primary Objectives and Secondary Objectives ResearchMethodologywhetherprimaryresearchusedorsecondaryresearch Coveragethetowns/areascovered,thepeoplemet Sampleselectionwhichmethodofsamplinghasbeenused Timeperiodthemonthanddaysduringwhichtheresearchwasdone Limitationsdetailsonthetypeofdatawhichcouldnotbecollectedandthe reasonsthereof Deliverableshowthisresearchworkcanbeusedbythecompany Conclusions Theywillbebasedonyouranalysisofthesecondaryandprimarydata Thesecondarydatawillbeusedfortrendanalysis Theprimarydatawillbeusedtounderstanduserrequirements Together,youdrawspecificconclusionswithrespecttotheobjectivesofthe research. Recommendations Ensurethatyourrecommendationsfulfilltheobjectives Theyshouldbeclearandspecific Forprojectsinstrategicmanagementand/ormarketing,therecommendations canbeofferedunderrespectiveheadingsasgivenbelow: StrategicStatement Targetmarketdefinition Productdifferentiation Pricingstrategies Distributionstrategies

Promotionstrategies Positioningstrategies Salesforcestrategies Marketintelligencestrategies Marketinnovationstrategies Competitivestrategies Marketingbudgetingstrategies

References/Bibliography Thereisadifferencebetweenthesetwoterms.Whenyougiveaspecificquoteand thepagenumber/sfromasource,itiscalleda'reference'. Whenyougiveonlythe sourceinaparticular format,itiscalled'bibliography'. Bibliography Books Y.K.Alagh:RegionalAspectsofIndianIndustrialization, universityofBombay, 1977. Articles ChakrabartyS.OntheQuestionofHomeMarketandProspectsofIndianGrowth, EPW,Spl. NoAug.1972 Reference Anshuman,VRaviandS.Chandrashekar(2003),BenchmarketingIIMBangalorePGP Courseculum to Global Standards, working paper : IIM Bangalore, December pp........... Thiswillincludeallsecondarysourceswhichyoumayhaveusedduringthe study Mayincludetextbooks,newspapersormagazines,reportsanddataobtained from governmentpublications,websitesandanyothers. Itisimperativethatyouacknowledgeallsourcesofsecondaryinformation Thereferenceshavetobegiveninaparticularformat. ThetextbooksshouldbegivenasshownNameoftheauthor,nameofthe book, edition, name of publisher and the specific page, which you have referred. Newspaperandmagazinesshouldgivethedateandpagenumber Websitesshouldbelistedaccordingly Thereisageneraltendencyofthestudentstoindulgein'piracy'.Avoidit. Youcanfoolyourselfandyourinstitute bycopyingareportbutyouwill neverlearntheresearchmethodologyandalsomayfaceprobleminvivavoce. Doasincerejobandyouwillfeelimmensesatisfaction.Asummerprojectis yourfirstprofessionalwork.Itwillunderscoreyourcreativity. Appendix Thiswillincludethefollowing: Copyoftheblankquestionnaire Listofcontactsotherthanthoseusedinconsumerresearch Companyproductliterature Competitorsproductliterature Anyothersecondaryreports

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Presentationofdata Thedatacanbepresentedinanyofthefollowingforms:

Tabular:Ensurethatthereisatablenumber,titleforthetable,units forthecolumnsandrows,referenceiftakenfromsecondarysource. Charts:Youcanusepiechartandhistograms.Giveappropriateunits.The barchartscanbegivenindifferentformslikehorizontal,vertical,mixedand others Graphs:GivecorrectunitstotheX&Yaxis

Pictograph : These are typically used forpopulation studies andshows a caricatureof personsperfamilyandsoon Cartogram : These are used on the backdrop of the map of the country showingplant locations, warehouses, distributors, sales in different territoriesandothers

Note: ThisnoteisheavilybasedonapublicationHowtoprepareforaSummer Project.ByProf.DilipM.SarwateandmaterialcollectedfromInstituteof MaterialManagement,CBDBelapur.

Remember that the contents should be given 70% importance/ The context will have 30% importance. Remember that fatter the report is not necessarily a better report. report cannot be evaluated on kilogram basis !

The quality of a