Department of Management Sciences

University of Gujrat

Course Outline Spring-2023

Course Information
Course Title Research Project Course Code MGT-
Credit Hours 6 Course Level MBA
Project Coordinator Information
Name Ms. Mehwish Riaz Office A-207
Email mehwish.riaz@uog.edu.pk Contact No.

Project Guidelines
The final semester of the MBA degree program requires students to undertake a project that
involves conducting an industry analysis or industry based case study. To ensure a well-
structured and organized project that meets the necessary requirements, it is important to follow
a clear outline guideline. Here is a general guideline for this type of project:
Evaluate the real-life business environment: Analyze and identify managerial and organizational
problems that require solutions.
Practical application of concepts: Apply the knowledge gained from coursework to address the
identified problems and challenges.
Professional skill development: Gain exposure to various operational and practical aspects of
business, which helps in sharpening professional skills.
Interviewing and report writing skills: Develop the ability to conduct interviews with relevant
stakeholders and effectively communicate findings through comprehensive report writing.
Managerial and leadership skills enhancement: Improve problem-solving, decision-making, and
leadership skills through the project work.

Guidelines for Project Work:

Project supervision: The project should be carried out under the guidance of a project supervisor
who will provide support and mentorship throughout the process.
Types of projects: The project can be one of the following types:

a) Field Survey (Industrial Project): Conduct research and gather data by visiting relevant
industries and observing their operations.
b) Comprehensive Case Study: Analyze the functioning of a specific business unit or
organization in detail, examining its challenges, strategies, and outcomes.

By following these guidelines, students can successfully complete their project work, gain
practical experience, and demonstrate their ability to address real-world business challenges
effectively.

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 Department of Management Sciences
University of Gujrat

Course Outline Spring-2023

A) INDUSTRIAL PROJECT
An industrial project involves conducting an in-depth study on a specific issue or topic within
the business sector or management science field. The project should demonstrate the application
of research principles at a Master's level.

An industry analysis is a comprehensive examination of the current and future state of a

particular industry. It provides insights into the industry's competitive landscape, growth
prospects, and opportunities and challenges faced by businesses within the industry. By
including the following key contents in an industry analysis, businesses can gain a better
understanding of the industry and make informed decisions about their strategies:

 Industry overview: Provide an introduction to the industry, including its size, scope, and
structure.
 Market trends: Identify and analyze key market trends within the industry, such as
changes in consumer behavior, emerging technologies, and regulatory developments.
 Competitive landscape: Analyze the competitive landscape of the industry, including
major players, market share, and competitive strategies.
 SWOT analysis: Conduct a SWOT analysis of the industry, highlighting its strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. highlighting areas where the industry is
performing well and areas where it may be vulnerable
 Market segmentation: Identify and examine different segments within the industry,
considering their unique characteristics and needs.
 Customer analysis: Analyze customer behavior and preferences within the industry,
including purchasing habits and attitudes towards products and services.
 HR practices: analyze the HR practices of the organization by considering recruitment
and selection, training and development, performance management, health and safety,
work-life balance and wellbeing, compensation and rewards, conflict management and
succession planning.
 Industry economics: Examine economic factors that impact the industry, such as supply
and demand, pricing, and cost structures.
 Financial considerations: analyze financial factors that impact industry, such as capital
expenditure, operational expenses, cost analyst, financial projections, funding sources,
return on investment, financial risk assessment, financial controls and reporting.
 Future outlook: Provide a forecast of the industry's future state, including potential
opportunities and challenges.

The project should involve systematically collecting relevant and up-to-date information about
the chosen issue, either through primary research or by referring to published studies and
publicly available data. This information should be analyzed, interpreted, and discussed
following standard academic and management research practices.

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 Department of Management Sciences
University of Gujrat

Course Outline Spring-2023

Based on the analysis, conclusions should be drawn, and recommendations should be made that
contribute to the current knowledge and practice in the management science field of study.
Finally, a report should be written and presented in accordance with academic standards,
focusing on the selected industry sector.

(B) CASE STUDY PROJECT

A comprehensive case study focusing on the functioning of a business unit or organization can
be developed to address management, HR, marketing, or finance-related problems. The project
aims to apply various methods to identify, analyze, implement, and evaluate specific problems,
providing practical suggestions to overcome them. The case study revolves around areas where
organizations require in-depth analysis of critical problems, which may include:

 New Ventures/Feasibility Studies

 Management Control Systems
 Human Resource Restructuring
 Strategic Analysis & Management
 Marketing Strategy
 Supply Chain Management
It's important to note that the project scope is not limited to the mentioned areas, as many
projects are interdisciplinary and may encompass multiple areas.

The contents of this case study typically include:

 Introduction and Design of the Study: This section introduces the case study, presents
the problem statement, discusses the scope and significance of the study, provides a
brief review of relevant studies, outlines the objectives of the study, describes the
research design, and presents the chapter plan.
 Profile of the Study Unit: This section provides an overview of the business unit or
organization under study, including its background, history, size, structure, and relevant
contextual information.
 Analysis relating to Objectives of the Study: This section presents the analysis of data
and information collected to address the objectives of the study. It may involve
applying appropriate methods and frameworks to examine the identified problem in
depth.
 Summary of Findings: This section summarizes the key findings from the analysis
conducted, highlighting the significant insights and outcomes discovered during the
case study.
 Suggestions and Recommendations: Based on the findings, this section provides
practical suggestions and recommendations to overcome the identified problem or
improve the functioning of the business unit/organization. These recommendations
should be actionable and aligned with the objectives of the study.
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 Department of Management Sciences
University of Gujrat

Course Outline Spring-2023

 Concluding Remarks: This section concludes the case study by summarizing the main
points discussed, emphasizing the importance of the findings, and offering any
additional insights or reflections.

By following these contents, the comprehensive case study can effectively analyze a specific
business problem, provide valuable recommendations, and contribute to the practical
knowledge and understanding of management, HR, marketing, or finance-related issues.

Rules for Project

Here are some guidelines and requirements for the project work:
 Group Formation: A group should be constituted containing 3 students preferably
including students from All three major specializations i.e. Finance, Marketing and HR.
Students can select the organization of their choice to avoid the financial and physical
costs.
 Timely submission: The project work must be submitted on or before the notified
deadline.
 Individual project reports: Each group must prepare their own project report based on
their selected option. No two student groups can submit a project report on the same topic
or firm.
 Supervision: Students seek supervision from an assigned project supervisor who will
guide them throughout the project. The supervisor will provide an official document
stating that the student effectively executed their responsibilities under their supervision.
 Supervisor's acknowledgement: The project report must include an acknowledgement
from the supervisor, confirming the authenticity of the student's work.
 Plagiarism report: A plagiarism report must be attached at the end of the project report.
The report should be signed by both the student and the supervisor to verify its
originality.
 Attendance proof: Attendance records must be maintained for meetings with the project
supervisor, according to the supervisor's availability. The attendance sheet should be
submitted along with the project report.
 Presentation to the panel: Students will present their project work to a panel consisting of
expert faculty members in the relevant domain. Each panel member will evaluate the
presentation individually, and grade will be assigned to students based on the aggregate
evaluation.
By adhering to these guidelines and fulfilling the requirements, students can ensure a smooth and
comprehensive completion of their project work.
Formatting Guidelines
In the finished Project you have to follow the instructions given bellow:

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 Department of Management Sciences
University of Gujrat

Course Outline Spring-2023

1. Page layout: The page layout should be set to A4 size, with margins of 1 inch on all
sides. The text should be double-spaced and in 12-point Times New Roman font. Print
on one side only. Avoid double-sided printing.
2. Title Page: The title page should include the title of the paper, the author's name,
affiliation, and the date of submission.
3. Abstract/executive summary: The abstract or executive summary should be a concise
summary of the paper, typically no more than 250 words in length. It should include the
purpose of the paper, the methodology used, and the main findings.
4. Headings: The main text should be divided into sections and subsections, each with a
clear heading that reflects its content. Headings should be in bold, 12-point font and
numbered using a decimal system (e.g. 1. 1.1., 1.1.1). Only the main headings should be
in block letters and can also be bold. All the subheadings should be in sentence case and
can also be bold.
5. Include the author's last name and the year of publication, e.g. (Smith, 2018). .).
6. In-text citations: In-text citations should be used to acknowledge the sources of
information used.
7. Reference list: The reference list should be arranged in alphabetical order and include
the full details of the sources cited in the report, including the author's name, the title of
the work, the date of publication, and the publisher or journal. It should be single-spaced
and use hanging indentation.
8. Appendices: If necessary, appendices can be included at the end of the paper. These
should be clearly labeled and referred to in the main text.
9. No irrelevant images are allowed. There should be no wordiness or irrelevant
information, in order to increase the number of pages. Try to be to the point.
10. Give proper numbering to the subheadings.
11. Don’t underline the headings.
12. Give a professional look to your project. It should be written in concise, clear, and
Standard English.
13. Don’t use slang language.
14. Finally, properly bind your project.

Signature Signature
Project Coordinator Chairperson, Department of Management
Sciences

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