Note on EGMG6021- SDM-IMD

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Guidelines on Dissertation ON CONTEMPORARY ISSUES A. Concept: Dissertation on Contemporary Issues is an elective course of three (3) credits that is offered in the term VI. The primary objectives of the course are: Relate contemporary concepts, themes, and events to management / business concepts, themes, and events. Study major theoretical perspectives and issues related to management (or strategy) research. Determine sources of possible solutions to business conflicts, dilemmas and problems. Identify and analyze the role of management theories in solving these problems. Provide an interdisciplinary perspective on contemporary issues in management. Develop a research bent of mind in the student. Use critical thinking skills to resolve issues. Expand consciousness and knowledge of current events and their managerial implication. Dissertation on Contemporary Issue (CI) is generally based on literature survey and secondary data and the students may not be expected to carry out field survey for collection of primary data. Broadly speaking, Contemporary Issues focuses on explaining the strategies, policies, conduct and performance of firms / industry sector with applicability of management related concepts to it. An illustrative list of the issues addressed in contemporary management issues includes identifying the profit potential of industries, exploring relationships between firm scale, scope and performance, and understanding the managerial and organizational determinants of firm, and business-level outcomes. Sometimes the issues may be dilemmas; i.e. cases where there is compelling support for two or more conflicting courses of action. The course draws upon theoretical perspectives from the areas of Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Operations, Information Technology, Economics, traditional strategy, ethics or cross-disciplinary approaches towards understanding firm performance and related issues. Many of the issues examined, such as firm diversification, industry structure, organizational and inter-organizational networks are also common themes in the disciplines such as industrial organization economics, and others mentioned above. B. Choice of Topic: 1. In choosing the topic of study, one approach would be to choose an Industry, Product or Service and identify the areas of concern therein. Reports and debates on these aspects in business newspapers and magazines could be gleaned to have an overall idea of the extent of conflicting thought. The applicability of any management theory Page 1 of 5

Note on EGMG6021- SDM-IMD

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that the students have studied, to the issue in hand must be reflected upon. Also, the feasibility of obtaining ready data for the topic proposed must be considered. Alternatively, instead of starting from the Industry/Product/Services, a corporate situation could be taken and looked at from the above angles. 2. The focus of the study could be multi-functional or relating to an intricate matter within the same functional area. 3. After the project has been chosen, a brief outline should be submitted to the PGDM office in the file given for the purpose, giving the nature of the study, scope, objectives, methodology and hypothesis of the proposed study. 4. The faculty will be assigned based on the topic and the availability of faculty. 5. The Faculty Guide will give comments/directions on the extent of data required and will issue instructions on possible thrust areas of the study as well as the methodology to be followed. C. Administration: The following guidelines will help the students to understand the requirements of this course: 6. Individual students will work on the topic of their choice, as modified by the faculty guide
7. The topic of study chosen should be one of current managerial /business/industry

concern. It is recommended that the topic chosen is the area of specialization chosen by the student-group. 8. Students are advised to discuss with the faculty in the area of their interest regarding the appropriateness and feasibility of completing the study within the time allocated for the study.
9. Students have to submit the tentative topic of the study and the functional area to the

PGDM Office by the 10.00 am, on the date indicated in the Table Schedules and Weights.
10. The details of the faculty guide allocated to each student will be indicated separately.

The topic of CI can then be fine tuned in consultation with the faculty guides. D. Evaluation Pattern:
11. Fortnightly reports on the progress in data collection, and on other matters regarding

the study should be submitted to the Faculty Guide. The fortnightly reports should contain a realistic and accurate account of the progress. The timely submission of these reports and the systematic progress in the development of the study as evidenced by it will be given due weight age in the evaluation.
12. Students must file all the papers relating to the study the outline, the initial

comments by the Faculty Guide, fortnightly reports, and other relevant documentschronologically and carry the file for all discussions with the Faculty Guide. Page 2 of 5

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13. An interim report outlining the progress made and the difficulties encountered, as well as modifications to the initial thrust and hypothesis should be submitted to the Faculty Guide as per time frame indicated below.
14. Students must fix up appointments with the Faculty Guide from time to time and

actively develops the study. The final report should be submitted clearly delineating the executive summary, scope, objectives, methodology, analysis, the conclusions, the testing methodology adopted, the references made and other observations, as per deadlines prescribed below.
15. In case, a Student want additional inputs from faculty other than the faculty guide,

then, with the prior permission of their faculty guide, he / she should fix appointments with other faculty and clarify their doubts.
16. The components for evaluation of this 3 credit course are listed hereunder. The

faculty guide will evaluate the student at each stage and inform the score. Schedules & Weight of Submission(s) are as follows:

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Table1: Schedules and Weights Evaluation Component Submission of outline to PGDM office Faculty Feedback returned to students 1st report 2nd report Interim Report 3rd report Date of Submission
on 19 December)

Weight

26 December 2011 (VI term commences 10% 02 January 2012 09 January 14 January 27 January (Midterm between 16 21 January) 03 Feb exam Not Applicable 5% 5% 15% 5%

Final Report to be submitted to Faculty 10 February Guide for Approval Faculty guide to suggest any correction/ 17 February (End term exams Not modification between 20 25 February) Applicable Submission of Final Report to PGDM 01 March 2012 (Students who wish to leave after the end term exams have to ensure office after incorporating correction submission on an earlier date) Report Presentation Style The quality of the study and development of ideas Not Applicable Validity of Conclusions Application of theories and models Presentation to Communication Ability to professionally the 10% 10% 10% 10% faculty Mutual convenience of faculty 5% and the student questions Not Applicable Total 5% 10% 100%

answer

Potential for publication Yes / No

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E.

Report Structure:
17. The report should contain the main text of about (but not limited to) 5000 words

exclusive of Exhibits and Annexure. The final report should be printed (with): a. On only one side of the paper b. Table of Contents to enable the reader to reach a specific sub-topic easily. c. Double line spacing. d. Font in Times New Roman, size 12. e. Appropriate Page Headers f. Page numbers indicated in the footer. g. Acknowledging all references and text quotations. publications referred to should also be given. h. Attractive spiral bind. F. Submission: In addition the hard copy, a soft copy must be placed in the folder Stud-fac\2nd Year\CI Report. After this, students will be required to make a 20-minute presentation to the faculty on the salient features of the study and its conclusions. The presentation must be on the lines of a corporate session and should be fully professional. Although Power Point slides can be used for enhancing the style, the thrust must be on the ability to hold forth on the subject with flair. Final report including all the corrections and revisions as suggested by faculty guide to be submitted to PGDM office by 12 noon on date mentioned in the Table: Schedules and Weightages
G.

A bibliography of all

Course Completion of Contemporary Issues After the completion and submission of the report each Student will make a presentation to the faculty. After the report and presentation are evaluated the consolidated marks for all the students are arrived at. The PGDM Committee will then look at the distribution of the overall marks and decide on the cut off marks for A, B+,B,C+,C,D etc. The cut off need not have any similarity with the other courses, and will be purely based on the distribution of overall marks. Students will be intimated of their letter grade for the course but not the final consolidated marks. Chairperson PGDM Page 5 of 5