MUST Research Project Guidelines

MBA (ODL)
MBA 3311
RESEARCH PROJECT
HANDBOOK
53
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Executive Summary 3
1.0 Introduction 5
1.1 What is MBA (ODL) Project 7
1.2 What is Research? 7
2.0 MBA (ODL) Project Process Flow 9
2.1 Identifying and Selecting a Research Topic 9
2.1.1 Finding the Research Area 10
2.1.2 Developing a Topic 10
2.1.3 Practical Considerations 11
2.2 Initial Research Proposal of Project (IRPP) 13
2.2.1 Research Problem 13
2.2.2 Research Objectives/Questions 13
2.2.3 Literature Review 14
2.2.4 Methodology 14
2.3 Allocation of Supervisor 15
3.0 Writing Your Work 17

3.1 Planning the Thesis Write-up 17
3.2 Writing-up 21
4.0 Submission, Extensions and Grading 23
5.0 Presentations 24
6.0 Consent Letter to Conduct Research 25
Appendix 1 : Initial Research Paper Proposal 26
Appendix 2 : Project Paper Log 28
Appendix 3 : MBA (ODL) Project Cover Page 33
Appendix 4 : MBA (ODL) Project Paper Layout 35
Appendix 5 : MBA (ODL) Project Submission Extension Request Form 46
Appendix 6 : MBA (ODL) Project Assessment Form 47
Appendix 7 : MBA (ODL) Project Assessment Criteria Matrix 48
Appendix 8 : MBA (ODL) Project Assessment form 50
Appendix 9 : Postgraduate Grading Systems 53
Appendix 10 : Proposal Defence Evaluation Form 54
Appendix 11 : Viva Evaluation Form 56
Appendix 12 : Sample of Letter of Consent to Conduct Research 58
Appendix 13 : Thesis / Project paper front cover 59
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The MBA (ODL) Project is a vital part of your programme in the Faculty of Business (FOB).
This project provides a valuable avenue for master candidates to demonstrate their ability to
carry out a significant piece of independent study to achieve a Master’s degree successfully. This
guide has been produced to help you. It lists key dates associated with the project, gives tips on
planning and writing up your work, and specifies the format for presentation of completed work.
Please ensure you read the guide thoroughly and carefully as soon as possible. If you have any
queries contact either the Head of Programme (HOP) for Business Post-Graduate Studies or your
supervisor.
The guide includes the following main points:
➢ The compulsory MBA3305 Business Research Methods and MBA3303 Business

Statistics courses are designed to enable you to understand the research nature of the
MBA (ODL) Project and the special techniques required to complete the research work.
The knowledge acquired should enable you to achieve the research goals you identify in
a suitable way.
➢ Make the first contact with your supervisor; do not wait for them to contact you. You
must not seek to change your supervisor without permission. Be available, if you are a
full-time student, for supervision meetings during the whole of the write up period until
the submission date.
➢ Ensure that a confidential project is clearly marked ‘Confidential’ on the title page.
➢ Submit three (3) spiral bound copies of the project. A copy of the proposal, along with
your MBA (ODL) Project Log should be included as appendices. A CD copy of your
work as a single file in Word format is also required.
➢ You must do two presentations which will be evaluated by a panel of academicians.

These evaluations are important in that they determine your readiness to proceed further
(i.e. proposal defence presentation) and your readiness to submit a final thesis copy to the
faculty (i.e. for viva presentation).
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➢ Be aware that extensions are only granted in extenuating circumstances. Any request
must be supported by documentary evidence when submitting with a duly filled
Academic Appeal form and may incur an extension fee if it takes you into the next
academic year.
➢ Understand that MBA (ODL) Project is a research initiative undertaken by you with
the view of identifying, analysing and seeking solutions to real world business problems.
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1. INTRODUCTION
The MBA (ODL) Project is the largest single piece of work required to achieve your Master’s
degree. It is an independent, individual piece of research of significant length (around 15000
words, as mentioned in the MBA 3311 Research Project MBA (ODL) Project course structure
which is carried out over a given period of time. The quality and content of the project is
expected to reflect this fact.
Whether you have completed a major project at first degree level or not, it is normal that you will
be approaching the project with some trepidation. It is the purpose of this guide to ease your
mind by providing an introduction to the work you have to do and our expectations of you at all
stages in the process.
This handbook cannot be all encompassing and is not intended to be, but it does attempt to
address the key issues and answer important questions that you may have. If there are any issues
you encounter that are not included, you should discuss them with your Head of Program (HOP)
or the MBA (ODL) Project Coordinator, if you do not have a project supervisor yet.
If you wish to understand more about what a project is and how it could be carried out, including
approaches to data collection and analysis, We have recommended some general business
research texts for you to consult in the list that follows. This list also conforms to the APA
Referencing Rules that you must employ in your own work. It is normal in a project to include
all of your cited references in the reference list.
General Business Research Texts
• Bryman, A., and Bell, E. (2011), Business Research Methods, 3e. Oxford University
Press.
• Cooper, D.R., and Schindler, P.S. (2011), Business Research Methods, 11/e. McGraw
Hill.
• Saunders, M., Lewis, P., and Thornhill, A. (2009), Research Methods for Business
Students, 5th Edition). FT Prentice Hall.
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Specific Methodological Texts
• Bryman, A., and Cramer, D. (2005), Quantitative data analysis with SPSS 12 and 13: A
guide for social scientists, Hove, Routledge
• Denzin, N.K., and Lincoln, Y.S. (2011), The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research,
Fourth Edition. London, Sage
• Miles, M.; Huberman, M. and Saldana, J. (2013), Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods
Sourcebook, (3rd Edition), London, Sage,
• Moser, C., and Kalton, G. (1985), Survey Methods in Social Investigation (2nd Ed),
Aldershot, Gower
• Silverman, D. (2013), Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook (4th Ed),
Sage, London
• Strauss, A.L., and Corbin, J. (2007), Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and
Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, (3rd Ed), USA, Sage
It is strongly recommended that you look at some of these texts at the start of the project process.
Attendance at the Research Methodology Workshop and MBA3305 Business Research Methods
and MBA3303 Business Statistics will support much of the material to be found in these texts. If
you find other texts that are useful, please let us know so that we can include them in this guide
for the benefit of future students.
By the time you have completed your project, you will have realised that anything approaching a
reasonable spread of information can only be gathered from a wide variety of sources. You will
also realise that information can only be of use when it is synthesised into an understanding with
which you are comfortable. When you can explain and demonstrate the significance of this
knowledge to others, you will have reached your objective. Once you have achieved such a level
of understanding, you will have produced a piece of work of which you can be proud of.
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1.1. What is an MBA (ODL) Project?
An MBA (ODL) project is a research work undertaken by students with the view of identifying,
analysing and seeking solutions to real world business problems. The aim of the MBA (ODL)
Project is to assess your ability to:
i) Develop and apply postgraduate level skills of independent research on issues of

concern to business community, industry and government with the aim of
contributing to the relevant body of knowledge and also providing an avenue for
actions/implementations with recommendations for further research.
ii) To identify, comprehend, and establish research problems enveloped within
business and academia perspective. This also involves gauging postgraduate
students’ data collection, analysis, academic writing, and presentation
capabilities.
iii) Manage projects on tight deadlines
iv) Communicate and maintain academic relationships with related parties.
Completing of MBA (ODL) project showcases that you have:
i) Undertaken a sound review of research work in your research area which has
helped in identification and establishment of research problems,
objectives/questions and hypotheses.
ii) Selected a robust research methodology to gather and analyse required data.
iii) Gathered the data and analysed it with academic rigour and integrity;
iv) Used the data collected to construct an argument which will allow you to draw
conclusions which your reader will find valid and persuasive;
v) Documented and presented the whole process and its outcomes as a coherent,
correct and interesting piece of work, i.e. as a project.
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1.2. What is Research?
Research is an exercise to explore or investigate on issues of your interest by reading, reviewing,

synthesising literatures and analysing data. To be able to prepare fully for the project, you do
need to understand a little about the nature of research, as this will be at the centre of your work.
You will be deciding upon what you wish to discover about a specific topic or situation in a
particular area of the business world. You will be deciding the perspective from which you will
be approaching this topic, carrying out your investigation, and analysing your findings. At the
end of this process you will be able to draw some conclusions and perhaps make some
recommendations for further action or give some directions for further research.
The process is not just about writing down what you have observed, or recording the answers to
the questions you have asked. It is not simply a question of putting down a list of the books or
journal articles that have already been written on the subject. A research project is about taking
this information and understanding its significance. Research is not merely descriptive, it is
analytical, critical (in the positive sense) and it is interrogative. The researcher enters into a
dialogue with the material and asks questions such as ‘why’ or ‘how’?
To support you in your understanding of the nature of research, the Faculty of Business runs
Business Research Methods and Statistics and Decision Analysis modules. Attendance is
compulsory and the programme is assessed.
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2. MBA (ODL) PROJECT PROCESS FLOW
The completion of an MBA (ODL) project involves undergoing the following processes.
2.1. Identifying and selecting a research topic
The choice of a suitable topic will vary from programme to programme. The project may focus
on a business or management issue or management opportunity of strategic importance to a
company; or it may involve researching and critically addressing an academic area within
business or management that may help to provide solutions to a strategic management problem
faced by companies; or it may involve posing a business or management related hypothesis and
subsequently being able to confirm or refute that hypothesis.
You will be spending several months on the chosen topic of your project. It is a long piece of
work (perhaps the longest you have ever undertaken) and you will need to sustain your interest
in it through the process of researching and writing it. Therefore you will need to spend some
time thinking about what you are going to research.
Do not rush into something that initially seems attractive. The attraction may be superficial. We
suggest that you choose your subject by going through a refining process such as the one
described below:
2.1.1 Finding the research area
What are you interested in? Depending on your own work experience or your interests, you may
have already found a subject within your taught modules, such as Human Resource
Management, Marketing, Strategy or Finance that you find particularly engaging. The area you
choose must be complementary to your study programme.
Ideally the subject area chosen will be one in which you have a good fundamental understanding
of both the theory and practice that you are happy to develop further. Most important of all,
however, is that it is one that will sustain your attention throughout the period. (You may find it
inspirational enough to want to pursue the research further to an even higher level!).
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Once you have a broad idea of the area you wish to study, you should complete an MBA (ODL)
Initial Project Initial Proposal Form (IRPP) (refer to Appendix 1). This allows the MBA
(ODL) Project Co-ordinator to arrange for a suitable supervisor. It may be that you have already
discussed the idea with a member of staff and he/she may even have agreed to act as your
supervisor. If so, please record this fact on the form and get the prospective supervisor to sign it.
The details of the IRPP are highlighted in Section 2.2 of the handbook.
It is essential that you give as much detail as possible about the subject you wish to pursue.
It is not enough to say “Marketing” or “Accounting”. Your form should show that you
have approached the selection of a topic professionally.
If you have not already arranged a supervisor, you are free to indicate a preference as to who it
should be on the form. This does not guarantee that you will be allocated that person. Remember
that supervisors have their research interests too and the first allocation round will attempt to
match student and supervisor interest areas! It is most important to have a supervisor who can
adequately support you in the subject area.
2.1.2 Developing a Topic
Do not expect your supervisor to simply take your area of interest and give you a title for your
project. It is up to you to develop a specific topic from within your chosen area and present this
to your supervisor as a basis for discussion. When doing this, you should ask yourself two
questions:
Does it Suit You? One important consideration before you settle upon a research topic is its
suitability to your preferred way of working. You are reaching the final stages of your Master’s
degree and you should by now be able to judge honestly the ways in which you work best. If you
are someone who likes to deal in theoretical arguments (or whose work pattern means that it is
not practicable to conduct field studies) then bias your project towards a conceptual or thematic
approach, as long as the requirements for your programme allow it.
If you are not comfortable working with numerical data, then try to find an issue that will benefit
from a qualitative approach. If you feel that your writing skills are not necessarily up to
constructing a dense theoretical and highly discursive argument then choose something that will
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allow you to take a statistical, quantitative approach. Essentially, if you choose a topic that will
play to your strengths and not rely too heavily on areas in which you are weakest, you are more
likely to enjoy your project and therefore produce a better piece of work.
Is it Feasible? After you have chosen your broad research area, you must carry out a little pre-
research investigation. Is the proposed research feasible? Is there data already available which
will provide a context or a springboard for your work? If there is little or no published research
already available, do not be discouraged. It may simply mean that no one has tackled it yet –
which will provide an excellent opportunity for you to provide good original research. However,
if this is the case the onus is on you to decide very quickly exactly what kind of information you
will need to gather in order to answer your research questions. Remember, you will have little or
no guidance from existing published data. Having said this, a creative researcher will discover
ways into the topic by taking guidance from closely related subjects.
Alternatively, you may find there is so much research on the topic that you are at a loss to know
where to start. Here focus is essential. However impressive a journal article is, you should
quickly learn to judge whether it really gives any answers to the questions you are asking. The
pre-research process of analysing and critically evaluating existing scholarship is a useful one.
You should concentrate upon honing your ability to distinguish between the relevant and the
interesting but unrelated. Good research is well disciplined. If you are rigorous about not being
sidetracked right from the beginning, your final project will be well focussed and all the more
authoritative on it.
2.1.3 Practical Considerations
The research process is certainly demanding in time and is often costly in financial terms. You
must therefore ensure that you are aware of the real requirements of your proposed research
programme. It is also important to be honest and assess your own level of expertise. You should
ask yourself the following questions:
i) Where will you find the information and how much will it cost to obtain?
ii) If you require a very large sample to make your research valid can you organise
(and possibly pay for) a big enough survey?
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iii) Do you have the facilities or the expertise to analyse the raw data?
iv) Can you afford the time or the money (or do you have the connections?) to
interview key experts?
v) Will the people you need to talk to want to talk to you?
vi) If you are intending to do desk research, do you have access to the necessary
data?
vii) Is the data freely available? If not, who will pay for it?
viii) Does the appropriate secondary data actually exist?
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and you should take time to consider all the unknowns.
There are therefore many questions to ask even before you decide on the exact topic of your
project. But, in line with all good research, the more questions you ask, the better the
information you will have. And as you may well have discovered from your postgraduate study,
the more information you have the better able you are to come to a well-informed decision. The
conclusion to be drawn from all this is that before finally deciding upon a topic, you should
ensure that you have the resources to obtain results from which you can obtain a valid
conclusion.
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2.2 Initial Research Proposal of Project (IRPP)
Once you have decided on your research area and tentative research topic, you must produce a
research proposal using the IRPP form that encompasses the following main issues (the other
key issues are highlighted in the IRPP form):
2.2.1 Research problem
A research problem is the identification of one or several research issues which require research
attention. A research problem in the MBA (ODL) Project context involves identification of
research issues enveloping both business (practical) and research (academia) perspectives. A
research problem can be categorised into two dimensions:
• Research gap dimension

Research gap is the phenomenon of ‘what is missing in the literature’. Various studies
could have been undertaken on a particular issue such as e-commerce uptake, but
research focussed on e-commerce uptake by housewives could either be missing entirely
OR quite limited. You can attempt to address such gap(s) (if more than one gap) and
produce results which could lead to plausible solutions to address the gap.
• Emerging new issues dimension

Emerging new issues entails real and recent practical events which possibly be
understood via research. For example, the limited inflow of maids into Malaysia
currently could have significant socio-economic impact to Malaysians such as lowered
women in workforce, reduced big sized house purchasing and increased childcare
centres. In most cases, research in this dimension would be exploratory with significant
emphasise on case study, interview or observation based research. Such research however
could also be undertaken using other form of research approaches.
2.2.2 Research Objectives/Questions
Once you have established the research problem(s), the next step is to write the research
objectives OR research questions. A research objective is the research aim which you wish to
achieve. A research question is a research question which you wish to answer. Both essentially
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have the same meaning. Either research objective, or question, should have a general or
overarching element followed by specifics. For instance:
“The general objective of this research is to understand the extent housewives are adopting e-
commerce for their daily routine purpose”, [overarching objective]. The specific objectives are:
• To examine the role of convenience toward e-commerce adoption by housewives
• To examine the role of quality toward e-commerce adoption by housewives
2.2.3 Literature Review
Literature review is the process of reviewing research materials for two main purposes. First
literature review is done to identify and discuss the key points leading to the research problem.
Second literature review assists in the establishment of the research hypotheses to be tested in the
research. Establishment of the hypotheses also implies identification of the key variables of
interest in the research such as the independent and dependent variables. Literature review needs
to be critical and incorporate chronological based reviews i.e. from old to recent articles. More
recent articles/materials need to be used for review.
2.2.4 Methodology
In its simplest term, methodology is the way/approach in which you would undertake your
research. In executing your research, you would need to plan and determine the best way to
undertake the research such as primary or secondary research, the data collection process, the
target of the research, sampling technique and type, and data analysis approach. Methodology
represents a significant part of your thesis.
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2.3 Allocation of Supervisor
Once you have prepared and submitted the IRPP form to the faculty, MUST UNIVERSITY will
allocate you a supervisor to guide and help you to undergo the MBA (ODL) project journey and
complete the thesis accordingly.
A supervisor’s role in MBA (ODL) project is to be your guide and advise you on the subject
matter and the research process. You are required to maintain a good relationship with your
supervisor throughout the journey and (of course, post the project). You must make the effort to
contact your supervisor and seek his/her guidance. You must adhere to the following
requirements in regards to your supervisor.
a. You must maintain open communication with your supervisor. Issues, problems and
challenges need to be communicated with the supervisor and forwarded to the MBA
(ODL) programme coordinator, if needed.
b. You must meet your supervisor at least ten times throughout the semester. The purpose
of these meetings is to seek guidance and update your progress to your supervisor. You
need to maintain a log or your meetings which will be then attached in your thesis
document (Appendix 2). Organising regular meetings with your MBA (ODL) Project
Supervisor is your responsibility. Your supervisor has received a time allocation for your
supervision, which incorporates several hours for reading drafts and your final
submission, plus second marking of other students work. Time with your supervisor is
valuable and must be used wisely. Make sure you have clear objectives in mind for your
meetings and always be prepared to discuss your ideas and progress rather than simply
asking what to do next. Remember, the meetings with your supervisor are part of the
management of the project and therefore form part of the overall assessment.
c. The faculty has the right to change your supervisor in the following scenarios:
i. Your present supervisor resigns from MUST UNIVERSITY, takes long leave of
absence or seconded to other MUST UNIVERSITY campuses.
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ii. Your present supervisor decides to stop supervising you based on a rational and
acceptable justification.
iii. You decide to change supervisor due to irrevocable differences and agreed by the
faculty.
d. The study period for full-time students includes all periods when no teaching is taking
place. Students are expected to be available for supervision at the Faculty of Business for
the whole of the study period. If you are an overseas student and return home at any time
during this period you must ensure that your supervisor is aware of this and approves of
any arrangements you have made to continue the supervision process. You must also be
available for possible viva voce arrangements during the assessment period.
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3. WRITING YOUR WORK
The test of a good project is in the reading. No matter the quality of the work you have
undertaken, the assessment is dependent upon how that work is presented. You must ensure the
project is coherent and achieves the objectives stated. If it does not achieve the objectives, then it
should explain why not in a reasoned and informative way, perhaps suggesting further work that
might be done in the area.
The purpose of the project is to allow you to show that you can present an independent and
intellectually sophisticated argument that can withstand a rigorous process of examination. It
does not need to contribute significantly to the body of world knowledge, (as a doctoral thesis
would), but it should contain some originality of thought. It must be correctly written and it
must be rigorously referenced. Any hint that any of the work included in the project is not your
own and is not acknowledged as such will be heavily penalised and you may be accused of
plagiarism.
Please be aware that ALL projects will be processed through anti-plagiarism software known
as TURNITIN.
The project itself will take the form of a piece of writing of around 15,000 words. The following
sections makes some suggestions so that at the end of the research process you do not find
yourself with a huge amount of data and no discernible way of turning it into an ordered piece of
work.
3.1. Planning the MBA (ODL) Project Write-up
As early as possible, make a plan. How will you divide up your project? It is a good idea to
start the planning process as soon as possible so that you know exactly what will be required of
you. Since the standard structure of the project follows the pattern laid out overleaf it is a good
idea at any given point to ask yourself where the work that you are doing fits into this structure:
Title page – use the master document contained in the Appendix 3. Add the name
of the Masters programme, project title, your name and date of submission
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(Month Year). If the contents of the project are confidential then the word
“Confidential” should also appear on the title page.
Abstract/synopsis/executive summary – this is a brief overview of the project and

its findings. The abstract should contain the following issues: (i) project aim, brief
introduction, methodology adopted, key results and the main conclusion and
recommendations. This section should be a maximum of 250 words.
Contents page – Do not forget to include page numbers!
Acknowledgements - You should thank all those people who have helped in some
way above and beyond their paid employment. Interviewees and organisation
representatives who have helped you should be mentioned. Equally, it is polite to
acknowledge library staffs that have been helpful in obtaining articles and inter-
library loans for you. It is customary to thank your supervisor for their efforts.
The background to the research – the background of the research presents a

discussion on the research issue from a holistic perspective. This means that
students need to introduce the research issue by discussing from a general
perspective first before moving on to discuss the specific research issue(s) of
concern (narrowing it down). By narrowing down to a specific research
concentration, the research problem identification will also be done. For instance, if
you are researching about technology adoption by SMEs in Malaysia, you would
need to commence background discussion about SMEs in general, SMEs in
Malaysia, uptake of technology by SMEs in the country, and the lack of technology
uptake by SMEs in Malaysian northern region. The statement in bold represents
the problem identification (main problem) and thus would then be used to form
the research objectives or questions.
Remember that writing the background of the research involves substantial

literature review. A thorough appraisal and critical analysis of the work already
done will demonstrate that you are constructing your argument from a position of
authority. You do not have to agree with everything that you have read, but you
must show that you have an appreciation of it. In all cases a critical review of
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current literature relevant to key aspects of the project is essential. Such reviews
will normally be woven into the project itself, but may be presented as a ‘stand
alone’ chapter. Merely writing about the literature itself is not sufficient; criticism
and discussion is essential, and the ability to integrate this into the report is
important.
Research objectives/questions – in this section you are expected to write either the
research objective(s) or the research question(s). Both research objectives and
questions can have an overarching objective or question that encapsulates the entire
research focus. Several sub objectives or questions can then be written. The sub
objectives or questions will become the platform for identification and
establishment of the research hypotheses or propositions to be used in the research.
The methodology – it is important to explain what methodology you have adopted

and consequent methods you used and why you used them so that your reader can
appreciate how your results inform your findings. The methodology section
generally discusses the following issues:
• research methodology choice, i.e. quantitative or qualitative
• the sampling procedure and size
• data collection strategy
• measurement strategy/plan/source
• data analysis approach/technique/tools
Findings – the presentation of your findings and your argument. This should also
be structured into understandable sections (chapters) each of which will deal with a
specific aspect of your research, tackling any possible objections to your findings
as you go. All this will lead ultimately to the conclusion.
Conclusions – Here you will summarise your ideas, and draw them together into a
final statement. Everything you include in this conclusion must have some basis in
the evidence you have already presented through the project. The conclusion is the
synthesis of the findings. At this point the reader should feel that they have been
carried on a journey through your research and that they have arrived at a logical
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and acceptable destination. You may not have answered all the questions raised
during the process but you will have demonstrated that you have understood them
and can suggest what needs to be done next.
Recommendations – These are included if appropriate. They will generally be

required in management-oriented projects. In other projects it may be appropriate to
consider policy implications here. In more theoretically weighted projects you may
like to suggest the limitations of your work and suggest where further research is
needed.
Personal Reflections – Part of the assessment of the management of the project

process is based on a chapter which reflects on your own learning having designed,
carried out and written up your research.
References – Ensure that all books and articles cited in the text are listed, using
Harvard Referencing style.
Appendices – are used to offer useful and supportive information which may not
have found a comfortable home in the body of the project. They may also provide
essential extra proof. The form and number of appendices will depend on the style
of the project, but they must be relevant. Do not try to prop up a weak project
either with acres of pointless and unintelligible data or pie charts in a dazzling
variety of colours which do not really offer anything extra.
MBA (ODL) Project Proposal, and MBA (ODL) Project Log – should be included
as the final two appendices.
Layout and Presentation – follow all the rules for layout and presentation of your
work as specified in Appendix 4.
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3.2 Writing-up
Assuming that you have devised a structure fairly early on in the project process, you should
then plan down to a more detailed level. Each chapter needs to be planned around a central part
of your argument and the text of the chapter should be written around this central plan. It is a
good idea to write your sections as you go along and not leave it all to the end. Chapters can
then be refined and polished and this will help keep you focused on the smooth progression of
the project. It also means that at the end of the process you are not faced with the daunting task
of creating a coherent 15, 000 word example of genius from a chaotic pile of unrelated material.
The golden rule in writing up is to ensure that you include all that you want to say and nothing
that is irrelevant. As you become more at ease with your material, you will be able to distinguish
between useful and necessary information and the material that does not move your argument on
and which therefore only serves to confuse the reader. Perhaps the most difficult part of the task
is to stay focused. There will inevitably be moments when your work becomes problematic and
seems to be /going nowhere. This is a normal part of the process – but a good researcher will
always retain that initial sense of curiosity, the ‘why?’ or ‘how?’ which lies at the centre of the
project.
If you are citing other people’s work, you must acknowledge them by making reference. There
is no excuse for using other people’s material as though it is your own (we are aware that we
keep repeating this point, but it is too important to say just once!). You must also use the
Harvard system (guidelines to which are available in the Now Student Starter Kit) as this is the
Faculty of Business standard.
By all means incorporate quotations from outside sources in your text if you feel that they offer a
useful illustration of an idea. However, you should always ensure that they flow into the text
coherently and that they are relevant and concise. Referencing is not simply about allowing your
supervisor to check whether you are plagiarising. It is also about offering a guide to other
researchers as to where useful information may be found. If you write a particularly fine project,
other academics may come along and be interested enough in your findings to want to explore
your sources further.
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Last, but not least … the writing style. Throughout the writing process you must be aware that
someone will have to read this work. It must therefore be:
➢ Clearly presented according to the guidelines given in this handbook.
➢ Grammatically correct, with attention to spelling and punctuation.
➢ Appropriately written.
You are not writing for a newspaper or a magazine, so colloquialisms, inappropriate slang and
casual jokes should be avoided. Equally, academics are frequently accused of hiding their own
woolly thinking behind a façade of scholarly obfuscation. (See what we mean!).
You should therefore avoid jargon and convoluted sentences that are impossible to understand.
The finest minds can explain very difficult concepts in relatively plain language. So, keep your
sentences short and your paragraphs under control. Finally, a spell checker must be used which
has a UK English dictionary base, preferably; or US English. Consistency of the choice of
English must be maintained throughout the project.
When you have finished writing your project, try to find a (very good!) friend who is willing to
proof read it for you. You will be surprised how many typographical errors remain in work that
the author believes to be error free. This is also a good test of how readable your work is. An
independent reader may be able to point out places where you have not expressed yourself as
clearly as you intended.
From time to time students submit projects that contain confidential information, perhaps about
the company they work for. We are able to guarantee confidentiality by not making such work
publicly available. Where confidentiality is requested, the work will be read by two (or very
occasionally three) internal and possibly one external examiner, all of whom will respect the
confidentiality of the work. If you wish your work to remain confidential, discuss your reasons
for this with your supervisor and ensure that the project is clearly marked ‘Confidential’ on the
title page.
23
4. SUBMISSION, EXTENSIONS AND GRADING
You must submit Three (3) copies of your project, spirally bound, along with a CD containing
the work as a single Word File in an electronic format. You must submit to the Faculty of
Business, by the relevant date set for your course. Late work will be penalised! Do not
leave it to the last minute, as there may be a long queue. It is quite acceptable to hand in work
early!
In view of the extended period for completing the project, extensions will only be allowed in
the most exceptional circumstances and with supportive evidence. To request an extension it
is necessary for you to complete an MBA (ODL) Project Submission Extension Request Form
(Appendix 5), which must be signed in the first instance by your supervisor and then handed to
the MBA (ODL) Project Coordinator. The form will be presented to the Chair of the Board of
Examiners for consideration.
Please note that the same standards of support are required as when applying for Extenuating
Circumstances. Lack of supporting evidence will almost always result in rejection of the
extension request.
Your finished work will be assessed by your supervisor and a second internal assessor who will
consider it independently, using the assessment sheet contained as Appendix 6 together with the
criteria on the assessment matrix (Appendix 7), before agreeing a final grade. If the two
assessors cannot agree a grade, a third assessor will look at the work and provide advice. A
sample of projects from each subject area will be sent to external examiners whose role is to
confirm that the quality of an MBA (ODL) Project at MUST University is comparable with those
of other universities’ masters’ projects. The grade you are given will then be considered
alongside the grades for your taught courses at a Post Graduate Board of Examiners.
24
5. PRESENTATIONS
Students must complete TWO (2) presentations throughout the MBA (ODL) project duration.
The first presentation is called the ‘Proposal Defence’ (PD). PD is normally carried out in Week
3 or Week 4 of the semester. The purpose of PD is for students to propose their research idea by
highlighting rigor and confidence in their research idea. As the name indicates, students are
required to ‘defend’ their research idea involving the details given in the IRPP form.
PD entails an evaluation process. An evaluation on the PD is done by a panel of 3 – 4

academicians and a Chair. The evaluation form is presented in Appendix 8. The evaluation
contains three outcomes:
i) Pass in the first presentations attempt and proceed to the next stage (i.e. continue with
the thesis) – P. [Total marks = 60%]
ii) Conditional pass with changes to be made and second presentation within two weeks.
Clearance of the second presentation infers continuance to the next stage – CP. [Total
marks = 50%]
iii) Fail. Extension of one semester is deemed necessary as the student failed to show
rigor, confidence and knowledge to purse with the thesis – F. Appeal by the student is
allowed and will be handled on case by case basis. [Total marks = 49% or lower]
The evaluation is done based on a five-point likert scale of 1 = incompetent to 5 = highly

competent. The total marks for PD is 100%. A pass infers total marks of 60%; while conditional
pass infers total marks of 40%. Fail indicate total marks of 49% or lower.
The second presentation is called the MBA Symposium ‘Viva’. Viva involves students’
summarizing and presenting their thesis work involving issues such as research objectives,
hypotheses, methodology, findings and implications.
The primary idea behind Viva is to gauge students’ understanding, knowledge and confidence
toward their work. Viva also involves an evaluation with two outcomes (Appendix 11):
25
i) Clear to Submit (CTS). Student displays adequate understanding, knowledge and
confidence on their thesis work and shows sound implications of MBA (ODL) level.
Students may make minor changes and submit their final thesis copy to the faculty.
ii) Deferred Submission (DS). This outcome implies that the student has failed to show
sound understanding and knowledge toward his/her thesis work and lacks confidence
in the research framework, methodology, findings and implications. The student must
make necessary changes and do a second presentation in the subsequent semester.
The evaluation is done based on a five-point likert scale of 1 = incompetent to 5 = highly

competent. The total marks for PD is 125%. A clear to submit infers total marks of 62.5%; while
deferred submission infers total marks of 50% or lower.
6. CONSENT LETTER TO CONDUCT RESEARCH

Students can obtain a letter to conduct interview, observation and/or survey from the Centre of
Post-graduate Studies (sample of letter given in Appendix 12).
26
APPENDIX 1
MUST University
Master of Business Administration (ODL)
Research Project MBA 3311
Initial Research Paper Proposal
STUDENT NAME & ID NO

BROAD AREA
Concise Title
Problem Definition
Research Questions OR
Objectives
Scope of study
Significance of the Research
Literature Review
Research Methodology
27
Guidelines for the use of questionnaires via e-mail and the internet
The following guidelines are adapted from a document called Internet Research Guidelines
produced by The Market Research Society. The full document is available from
http://www.mrs.org.uk/standards/internet.htm
These guidelines deal with data collection:

• using a questionnaire that is distributed by email or which is placed on a website to be
downloaded, or by participating in an online interview or discussion.
The purpose is to collect and analyse information and not to influence the opinions of anyone
participating. Cooperation is voluntary and respondents (i.e. the people who fill in your
questionnaire) must not be inconvenienced. The objective of the survey should be given.
Respondents must be provided with your name and an email address at which you can be
contacted.
You must not make use of surreptitious (i.e. sly or sneaky), misleading or unsolicited data
collection techniques – such as obtaining email addresses from websites, using agents to collect
personal information without the respondent’s explicit awareness, spamming, scamming or
baiting respondents.
The anonymity of respondents must be preserved unless they have given their informed consent
for their details to be revealed. A respondent’s email address is personal data and must therefore
be treated as such. You must ensure that when emails are sent in batches the email addresses of
the respondents are not revealed to other respondents. This can be achieved by entering the
addresses in the bcc (blind carbon copy) address box.
If you are contacting people using a list of names, you must explain where you obtained this list
to your respondents.
All personal data that is collected must be protected.
28
APPENDIX 2
MUST UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF BUSINESS
PROJECT PAPER LOG

This is an important document, which is to be handed in with your dissertation. This log will be taken into
consideration when awarding the final mark for the dissertation.
Student Name:
Supervisor’s Name:
Dissertation Topic:
SECTION A. MONITORING STUDENT DISSERTATION PROCESS
The plan below is to be agreed between the student & supervisor and will be monitored against
progress made at each session.
Milestone/Deliverable Date
Activity
29
SECTION C. RECORD OF MEETINGS
The expectation is that students will meet their supervisors up to seven times and these meetings
should be recorded.
Meeting 1
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
Meeting 2
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
Meeting 3
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
30
Meeting 4
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
Meeting 5
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
Meeting 6
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
31
Meeting 7
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
Meeting 8
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
Meeting 9
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
32
Meeting 10
Date of Meeting
Progress Made
Agreed Action
Student Signature
Supervisor’s
Signature
Section D. Comments on Management of Project
(to be completed at the end of the dissertation process)
Students Comments
Supervisors Comments
Signature of Date
Student
Signature of Date
Supervisor
33
APPENDIX 3
34
APPENDIX 4
MBA (ODL) Project Paper Layout and Presentation Specification

This section covers all the rules for layout and presentation of your work.
Number of copies
You must submit THREE printed, spiral bound copies of your paper/dissertation. You should
also submit an electronic copy in Word format as a single file to FOB. If the electronic copy is
larger than around 2MB you should review the work to ensure that graphics images are held as
JPG images within the work. This minimizes the storage space required.
Your work will be checked for plagiarism and as such submission of write-up in a single file is a
must. Failure to do so will without good cause will be treated with the suspicion that you are
attempting to avoid having your dissertation check for plagiarism
The dissertation should be presented to a high standard. No marks are specifically awarded for
good presentation, but poor presentation (including poor spelling) will result in loss of marks.
Layout Specification
You must use the Title Page supplied in the Additional Documents Folder.
General Requirements
Language
All research project submitted must be written in English. Malaysia University of Science and
Technology does not impose strict requirement on whether British or American English is used,
but consistency is expected.
Printing and Paper

White simile A4 size (210mm x 297mm) paper (80g) or paper of equivalent quality should be
used. Students must include an extra blank sheet for the front and back of the thesis. Photocopies
of the project paper must be on similar quality paper.
35
The project paper must only be printed on a letter-quality or laser printer. Only the original copy
of a thesis or good and clean photocopies will be accepted. Copies with correcting fluid will not
be accepted.
Project Paper Title
The title of the thesis should not exceed 20 words.
Number of Pages
The number of pages is dependent on the programme of study and should not exceed 150 pages
for a Master’s thesis (around 15000 words) (excluding tables, figures and appendices). Students
must obtain written permission from the School of Business before submitting a thesis longer
than the prescribed length. Students should provide strong justifications to support their request.
Page Layout
The text should be presented in the portrait layout. The landscape layout may be used for figures
and tables.
Typeface and Font Size

The text of the thesis, including headings and page numbers, must be produced with the same
font or typeface. The font size should be 12-point and should not be scripted or italicised except
for scientific names and terms in a different language. Bold print may be used for headings.
Footnotes and text in tables should not be less than 8-point. Fonts appropriate for a thesis
include:
• Arial
• Book Antiqua
• Bookman
• Palatino
• Tahoma
• Times New Roman
Margins
The left margin should be at least 35 mm / 3.5cms, and the right, top and bottom margins at least
25 mm / 2.5cms. Margin specifications are meant to facilitate binding and trimming.
36
Spacing
The thesis should be 1.5-line spaced, with 12-point space between paragraphs and sections.
The following, however, should be single-spaced:
i. Footnotes (if necessary)
ii. Quotations of three lines or more, indented and set in a block
iii. References or bibliography (except between entries)
iv. Multi-line captions (tables, figures)
v. Appendices, such as questionnaires, letters
vi. Headings or subheadings
Pagination
All pages should be numbered consecutively throughout the thesis, including pages containing
tables, figures and appendices. Page numbers should be centred at either the bottom margins.
Page numbers should appear by themselves and should not be placed in brackets, be hyphenated
or be accompanied by decorative images.
Writing Style
Generally, APA Style should be used, except when the school or program requires you to adopt
another style. Official APA Style guide can be found at
http://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4210512.aspx
You are required to use the adopted style consistently throughout your thesis.
Paper
Good quality white 80 - 120 gsm
Binding
Before making the required number of copies and binding the thesis, ensure that all University
requirements have been met and necessary signatures have been obtained. Check that all pages
are in the correct order. The thesis should be bound with a dark blue hard cover.
The binding should be of a fixed kind in which pages are permanently secured. The following
are requirements for the front cover. The binding should be royal blue with GOLD lettering.
37
Research Project / Thesis Spine
The spine must be entirely lettered in gold, using a 20-point font and must contain the following:
• Name of student
• Degree for which the study is submitted
• Year of submission
Research Project / Thesis Front Cover

The front cover must be entirely lettered in gold using 18-point gold block font and contain the
following:
• University Logo
• Title of thesis
• Name of student
• Degree
• Name of the university
• Year of submission
Layout and Arrangement of Contents
Eve thesis is composed of 4 parts namely the Preliminaries, the Main Text, the Reference
Material and the Appendices. Each part is arranged in a numerical sequence of chapters.
A typical layout of a thesis is as follows:
Item Page numbering

Preliminaries
Title Page i, but not shown
Dedication ii onward
Abstract Continue from above
Acknowledgement Continue from above
Declaration Page Continue from above
Table of Contents Continue from above
List of Tables Continue from above
List of Figures Continue from above
List of Notation and Continue from above
Abbreviations
Main Text (Chapter 1 -5) Start from page 1, but not shown
References Continue from above
Appendices Continue from above
38
Preliminaries
All pages listed in Preliminaries, must be numbered in lower case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv).
Do not show page number in Title Page, and start page number for Acknowledgement Page with
page “ii”.
Title Page
Title page must contain the following:
• University logo
• Title of Thesis.
• Full name of Candidate.
• Degree for which the thesis is submitted
• Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of (Doctor of
Philosophy, or Master of Science, or Master of Arts, etc)
• Month and Year of submission
DO NOT number this page.
Dedication Page
The dedication page is optional. It is used to acknowledge those who have supported you during
your graduate studies. This is not typically the place to recognize those who assisted you in your
academic research, which is done on the required Acknowledgements page.
Abstract
An abstract is a summary of the entire thesis and should contain a brief write-up of the problem
statement, objective, methodology, and summary of the findings in context of the whole study.
Your abstract must not be more than 500 words.
Acknowledgements Page
This is a statement of appreciation to supervisor(s), source of scholarship, assistance obtained
during research, etc. At the end of the acknowledgement, state your full name, followed by the
month and the year.
Declaration Page
The declaration form should be written as shown in appendix 2.
39
Table of Contents
The Table of Contents comprises the titles of parts, sections or chapters and their subdivisions.
It must be worded exactly as in the text. It must have Headings (1,2, 3 and so on), subheadings
(1.1, 1.2, 1.3) and sub-sub-headings (1.2.1, 1.2.2 and so on).
The Table of Contents can be generated by the word processor (such as Microsoft Word).
List of Tables
The entries in List of Tables must be worded exactly as in the text. Captions of table must be
placed above the table.
The List of Tables can be generated by the word processor (such as Microsoft Word)
List of Figures
The entries in List of Figures must be worded exactly as in the text. Captions of figures must be
placed below the figure.
List of Figures
The entries in List of Figures must be worded exactly as in the text. Captions of figures must be
placed below the figure.
The List of Figures can be generated by the word processor (such as Microsoft Word)
List of Notations and Abbreviations (Optional)

The list of Symbols and Abbreviations is optional.
40
Main Text
The text is made up of chapters with several sections and subsections. All these sections must
begin on a new page. It usually comprises of:
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Literature Review
• Chapter 3: Research Methodology
• Chapter 4: Research Finding / Results
• Chapter 5: Conclusion
Chapter Sequence
Chapter 1: Introduction
This chapter serves the following functions:
• Gives a background and highlights the problems under investigation by describing the
status of the problem(s) conceptually or theoretically.
• Sets forth the scope and objectives of the study.
• Outlines plan of action or research protocol. Can include a fully-referenced review of the
existing literature.
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
[Write an introduction to this research].

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Problem Statement
1.3 Research Objectives
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance of the Research
1.6 Scope of the Research
1.7 Operational Definitions
1.8 Organization of Chapters
1.9 Conclusion
41
Chapter 2: Literature Review
This chapter reviews relevant literature related to the research. It encompasses a critical and
comprehensive review of the literature related to the topic of thesis. It is meant to act as a base
for the rest of the thesis. Literature selected must be up to date, and be analysed and synthesised
logically. It is not simply a summary of works of different authors. The review should give the
gist of each book or pertinent findings of a journal article explain how it relates to the topic and
show why it is not sufficient to answer the research questions. Review of journal articles is
preferred. Textbook materials on basic principles or theories should be kept to a minimum.
Materials from dictionary, encyclopaedia (including Wikipedia) and magazines should be
avoided.
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
[Write the introduction to Chapter 2]

2.1 Overview
2.2 The Broader Concepts
2.3 Specific Concepts
2.4 Fundamental Theories
2.5 Gaps in the Literature
2.6 Theoretical Framework
2.7 Hypotheses
2.8 Conclusion
Chapter 3: Research Methodology

This chapter varies from thesis to thesis depending on the discipline of study, and may be absent
in theoretical theses. It contains a description and justification of the materials, theoretical
approaches, sampling methods, experimental designs and methods (including statistical analysis)
used to achieve the stated objectives of the stud. In the social sciences, a conceptual framework
will need to be included. In engineering and in the pure and applied sciences, this may include,
but is not limited to, a description of the methodology, theoretical development, fundamental
philosophical foundation, experimental design and standard procedure description. The materials
and methods used in the study should be described in detail and concisely such that a reader
42
would be able to replicate the experiment solely with the information contained in this section.
References must be cited for published protocols or methods.
CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Overview
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Unit of Analysis
3.4 Sampling Design
3.5 Data Collection Methodology
3.6 Anlaysis Methodology
3.7 Conclusion
CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH FINDING

This chapter consists of results obtained from the study. It can be presented as a series of figures,
tables etc. with a descriptive text. Analysis of data such as statistical analysis can be stated.
CHAPTER 4. RESEARCH FINDING
4.1 Overview
4.2 Descriptive Statistics / Demographics of Respondents
4.3 Results of Preliminary Data Analysis
4.4 Results of Hypothesis Testing
4.5 Key/Summary of Findings
4.6 Conclusion
43
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendation
This chapter discusses the outcome of research in relation to results obtained and existing
evidence/reports. It contains recapitulation of the study's findings, discussion of the findings,
recommendation for future research, and the conclusion of the study.
CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Contribution
5.2.1 Contribution to Literature / Academe
5.2.2 Contribution to Industry
5.3 Limitation of Study
5.4 Future Directions of Research / Future Research Focus
Avoid Plagiarism
Plagiarism is taking the works of others and using them as if they were your own. Such works
include:
i. Words or ideas from printed literature such as journal papers, magazine articles,
books, newspapers, web pages, computer programmes, etc.;
ii. Published figures, tables, diagrams, illustrations, charts, maps, pictures or other visual
materials; and
iii. Information from interviews, etc. Plagiarism comes in three forms:
i. Copying full sentences or even paragraphs straight from the source as though they are
the student’s own work; and
ii. Using the original wording from the source material without inverted commas or
indentation, even if the source is acknowledged.
iii. Paraphrasing without acknowledgement.
Usually, a change in style alerts the reader to the possibility of plagiarism. Examiners are likely
to know the literature and recognise the plagiarism, but it is also true that it sometimes goes by
undetected. It is now possible to detect plagiarism by simply searching a small string of words on
the Internet.
Plagiarism-checking software programmes, such as Turnitin and PlagScan, are also widely
available. These programmes produce Originality Reports, which list the percentage of similarity
44
between the student’s words and the source. Even excerpts with minimal alterations will be
detected. Plagiarism is considered form of theft, and is under no circumstances acceptable in the
world of scholarship. As such, if plagiarism is proven in a thesis at the examination stage, the
thesis is automatically failed, and the students’ candidature terminated.
The key to avoiding plagiarism is to make sure credit is given where it is due when incorporating
another writer’s work. Students should do this even when the original source is paraphrased or
summarised. When quoting a published or verbal statement, it must be identical to the original
and must be attributed to the original author. Always cite the authors whose published works or
statements are used in the thesis.
The usage of materials such as diagrams and figures which are available on the internet or
published articles without the permission of the copyright owners is an infringement of copyright
and is not allowed.
Use of Editorial Services
Some students employ professional editors to improve their written thesis. This should be done
before the thesis is sent for examination. Be aware that some people who claim to be editors are
not qualified, so check carefully before you commit yourself to an editor.
IPS does not insist that all theses be sent to professional. However, students should know that the
IPS accepts only theses that are free from basic errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Supervisors cannot be held responsible for the grammatical errors in the student’s thesis. Their
main responsibility is to check the content of the thesis, and not the language used.
Upon submission of the final thesis prior to binding, IPS will browse through the research
project to ensure that it conforms to the present Guide.
45
APPENDIX 5
MBA (ODL) Project Submission Extension Request Form

To apply for an extension to your project work you must first gain the support of your supervisor
by asking them to sign this form after you have completed it, to indicate their approval. It should
then be submitted, together with relevant supporting documentation (e.g. medical certificate,
employer letter), to the HOP or RE: Business Post-Graduate Studies Research Committee for a
counter signature.
Applications without supporting evidence will normally be refused.
Applications made after the date of submission will normally be refused.
Student Name:
Student No
Programme Code:
Dissertation Supervisor:
Reasons for request:
Signed:
Date:
(Student)
Signed:
Date
(Supervisor)
Signed:
Date:
(Coordinator)
Approval granted: YES / NO Date for submission:
Fee Payable YES / NO
Students: Insert a copy behind the title page of all copies of your dissertation on submission.
Supervisors: Please keep a copy for your records.
46
APPENDIX 6
MBA (ODL) Project Assessment Form
First Marker / Supervisor Form
. Marks % Signature Final Agreed

Student ID Mark
First Marker /
Supervisor’s name
Student Name
Award a mark for each section and an A - C for an overall grade. Please refer to the rubric attach for marking.
Sections: Subsections: Comments:

Process Dissertation Proposal
Reflection
Marks: _______ / 20%
Dissertation Management
management
Marks: ______ / 10%
Structure Logical sequencing
Writing style
Referencing
Presentation
47
Marks: _______ / 10%
Method Methodology
Methods of data collection
Marks: _______ / 15%
Literature Identification of appropriate/relevant

theory
Literature employed
Critical assessment/review
Independence of thought/ideas
Marks:___ ____ / 20%
Analysis Analysis of data
Discussion -
Conclusions and recommendations
Marks: _______/ 25%
Overall comments by Supervisor
48
APPENDIX 7
MBA (ODL) PROJECT ASSESSMENT CRITERIA MATRIX
Guideline Distinction level, 70% and Commendation level, Pass Standard, 50 to Fail standard, below 50%
above (A Grade) 60 to 69% (B Grade) 59% (C Grade) (F Grade)
High level of reflection, High level of reflection, Some reflection, No reflection, no insight into
Process: excellent insight into own very good insight into satisfactory insight into own learning,
learning, own learning,. own learning, Proposal very poor or not
Dissertation
Proposal and Excellent proposal – clearly Very good proposal – Satisfactory proposal – submitted – research
defined and appropriate clearly defined and has adequately defined objectives and methodology
Reflection
research objectives and appropriate research research objectives and inappropriate or ill-defined or
chapter
methodology, realistic objectives and methodology, realistic absent, unrealistic or no
timescales, identifies methodology, realistic timescales, identifies timescales given, fails to
20% appropriate literature. timescales, identifies some appropriate identify appropriate literature
15% proposal appropriate literature. literature.
5% ref
Dissertation All forms submitted on time, All forms submitted on All forms submitted on Many or all deadlines
management regular meetings with time, regular meetings time, regular meetings missed, limited or no
supervisor, agreed actions with supervisor, agreed with supervisor, agreed meetings with supervisor,
undertaken in a professional actions undertaken actions generally agreed actions not
10%
manner. undertaken. undertaken.
This dissertation is submitted
late without having gained
permission through the
Business School procedures,
no Dissertation log, no copy
on disc provided.
Written in clear and concise Generally written in clear Generally coherent, Badly presented little or no
Structure: manner, well-constructed and concise manner, presentation satisfactory reference to appropriate
argument flows smoothly. good structure and indication of literature literature, fails to cite works
Logical
Broad and appropriate presentation, logically using one of the consulted in an appropriate
Sequencing;
range of references uses developed argument. recognised protocols. manner.
writing style;
one of the recognised Includes a wide and Properly referenced. Incoherent or has severe
referencing;
protocols. Presented to a appropriate range of Meets and fulfils aims faults in construction, is
presentation
high standard. Meets and references using the and objectives of a unduly derivative of (while
fulfils aims and objectives of recognised protocol. Dissertation for this acknowledging) the work of
10% a Dissertation for this Meets and fulfils aims programme. others.
programme. Referencing is and objectives of a Referencing is
comprehensive, appropriate Dissertation for this comprehensive,
and rigorous. programme. appropriate and
Referencing is satisfactory.
comprehensive,
appropriate and of a
good standard.
Suitable methodology Suitable methodology Methodology Methodology not described,

Method: employed, understood, well employed, understood satisfactorily alternative methodologies
explained and justified, explained and justified, understood, explained not considered, data
Methodology;
alternative methodologies alternative and justified, alternative collection methods
methods of
considered, appropriate methodologies methodologies may be inappropriate or non existent,
data collection
data collection methods, considered, appropriate considered, data data lacks validity and/or
data valid, reliable and data collection methods, collection methods reliability.
15% perhaps extensive. data valid and reliable. generally appropriate,
data generally valid and
reliable.
49
Distinction level, 70% Commendation level, 60 Pass Standard, 50 to 59% Fail standard, below 50%
Guideline
and above (A Grade) to 69% (B Grade) (C Grade) (F Grade)
Literature Critical debate of the Evaluation of the literature, Demonstrates an Demonstrates no

(formerly title literature, ability to evidence of ability to understanding of the appreciation of the
‘theory’) evaluate contrasting evaluate contrasting literature and existence of existence of alternative
Identification viewpoints, degree of viewpoints, some evidence alternative viewpoints, viewpoints, no evidence of
of independent thought, of independent thought, satisfactory evidence of independent thought, little
appropriate / comprehensive literature broad literature review, independent thought, has or no review of literature,
relevant review, thorough good understanding of key reasonable literature review, little or no understanding of
theory; understanding of key theoretical concepts shows understanding of key key theoretical concepts.
literature theoretical concepts theoretical concepts
employed;
critical
assessment /
review;
independenc
e of thought /
ideas
20%
Analysis: Ability to analyse and Ability to analyse and Good level of ability to Low level attempt to
Analysis of synthesise information synthesise information to a analyse and synthesise integrate theory to data,
data; to a very high level, high level, evidence of information, and to integrate lacks analysis, makes
discussion; application of theoretical ability to draw conclusions, theory to data, unsubstantiated statements
conclusions concepts to empirical ability to integrate recommendations (if or assertions, no
and issues, ability to draw theoretical concepts with appropriate), limitations recommendations made or
recommendati conclusions, may form data, suitable recommend- recognised. recommend not
ons the basis of a ations (if appropriate), appropriate, limitations not
publication, suitable limitations recognised and recognised.
recommendations (if addressed.
appropriate), limitations
25% recognised and
addressed.
50
APPENDIX 8
MBA Project Assessment Form
Second Marker
Please use this form for first and second marking
. Marks % Signature Final Agreed
Student ID Mark
Second Marker’s Name
Student Name
Award an A – B grade for each section and average for an overall grade.
Sections: Subsections: Comments:

Structure Logical sequencing -
Writing style
Referencing
Presentation
Marks : /30%
Method Methodology -
Methods of data collection -
Marks : /20%
Literature Identification of -
appropriate/relevant theory
Literature employed
Critical assessment/review -
51
Independence of thought/ideas -
Grade: /25%
Analysis Analysis of data -
Discussion
Conclusions and
recommendations
Grade: /25%
Overall comments by Second Marker
52
APPENDIX 9
Postgraduate Grading System 2018-2019

Numeric Grade Grading Criteria
Grade Descriptor Presentation and structure Presentation of References Breadth / Depth and Content / Knowledge Analysis, Critical
e.g. 10% e.g. 10% Integration of Literature e.g. 20% Evaluation and/or
e.g. 20% Reflection e.g. 40%
80-100 Outstanding Outstanding presentation Outstanding standard re: Outstanding breadth and Outstanding exploration of topic Outstanding level of
A grade work and clarity. Referencing within text. depth of literature. showing excellent knowledge and analysis, critical evaluation
(equivalent to No significant grammatical / • Accuracy of references in text to those in list. Outstanding integration of understanding. and/or reflection.
high distinction spelling errors. • Accuracy of reference list. literature into work. Highly developed / focused
at PG) • Use of recommended referencing system. work.
75-79 Excellent work Excellent structure. Excellent standard re: Excellent breadth & depth. Excellent level of knowledge and Excellent level of analysis,
A- grade (equivalent to Fluent writing style with very Referencing within text. Excellent integration of understanding demonstrated. Covers critical evaluation and/or
distinction at few errors. • Accuracy of references in text to those in list. literature into work. all relevant points and issues. reflection of issues.
PG level) • Accuracy of reference list. Frequent indications of original
• Use of recommended referencing system. thought.
60-74 Good to very Clear to very clear structure. Good to very good standard re: Good to very good Good to very good level of Good to very good level of,
B grade good work Articulate and fluent writing Referencing within text. breadth & depth knowledge and understanding analysis, critical evaluation
(equivalent to style. Very few grammatical • Accuracy of references in text to those in list. appropriate to topic. demonstrated. and/or reflection but not
Commendation errors and spelling mistakes. • Accuracy of reference list. Literature integrated very Some indications of original thought. consistently taken to full
at PG level) • Use of recommended referencing system. well. extent.
45-59 Marginal Fail Poor structure. Limited re: Limited in breadth and/or Addresses part of the question. Limited evidence of
Fail (equivalent to a Has many spelling and /or • Referencing within text. depth. Uncritical land Limited content / knowledge. Limited analysis, critical evaluation
grade fail at PG level) grammatical errors. • Accuracy of references in text to those in list. literature quoted without or muddled understanding of the and/or reflection but limited
C • Accuracy of reference list. comment. topic/question. Some errors / evidence of critical
• Use of recommended referencing system omissions Limited indication of evaluation. Too descriptive
original thought. in parts.
15-44 Clear fail Lacking re: Lacking re: Lacking in breadth and Lacking knowledge Content Lacking in its level of
Fail Structure –argument difficult • Referencing within text. depth. Some literature irrelevant / inaccurate. analysis / critical evaluation
grade to follow. • Accuracy of references in text to those in list. irrelevant to topic area. Does not address the question and and/or reflection.
D Poorly written and/or poor • Accuracy of reference list. therefore does not meet the learning Mainly descriptive
spelling and grammar. • Use of recommended referencing system outcomes.
No indications of original thought.
0-14 Little or nothing No discernable structure. Unsatisfactory referencing within text. No / unsatisfactory No / unsatisfactory level of Unsatisfactory level of
Fail of merit Very difficult to follow • Reference list does not match references in evidence of literature knowledge demonstrated. analysis / critical evaluation
grade Many grammatical errors. text. being referred to. Much of Content not appropriate to the topic. and or reflection.
Many spelling mistakes. • References list has incorrect citations and/or is the literature used No indications of originality in the Wholly descriptive
not the recommended format. irrelevant to topic area
• No reference list included.
PLAGIARISM OR COPYING is an extremely serious offence and may incur severe penalties beyond a Fail Grade
53
APPENDIX 10
PROPOSAL DEFENSE EVALUATION FORM

MUST UNIVERSITY
MBA (ODL) PROGRAMME
FACULTY OF BUSINESS
Student’s Name: _____________________________ ID No. _______________________
Proposal title: _________________________________________________________________
Criteria for evaluation Incompetent …… …… …… Highly

competent
INTRODUCTION
1. Identifies research problems and key issues 1 2 3 4 5
2. Appropriateness of objectives/questions given 1 2 3 4 5
the research problems
3. Appropriateness of research hypotheses 1 2 3 4 5
4. Clarity of research significance 1 2 3 4 5
Comments/Suggestion
LITERATURE REVIEW
5. Provides comprehensive analysis of literature 1 2 3 4 5
6. Demonstrates ability to critically evaluate 1 2 3 4 5
past literature
7. Shows ability in presenting literature review 1 2 3 4 5
and forming themes
8. Provides strong theoretical framework of 1 2 3 4 5
study
Comments/Suggestion
METHODOLOGY
9. Appropriateness of research design 1 2 3 4 5
10. Appropriateness of target population and 1 2 3 4 5
selection of samples
11. Appropriateness of sample size and sampling 1 2 3 4 5
procedure for the research questions and
methodology
12. Appropriateness of instruments/method for 1 2 3 4 5
gathering data
13. Validity of instruments 1 2 3 4 5
14. Reliability of instruments 1 2 3 4 5
15. Appropriateness of data gathering procedures 1 2 3 4 5
16. Appropriateness of data analysis approach 1 2 3 4 5
Comments/Suggestion
OVERALL
17. Utilizes appropriate language 1 2 3 4 5
18. Citation structure and format follows 1 2 3 4 5
acceptable protocols
19. Viability of study 1 2 3 4 5
20. Coherence of objectives/questions, data 1 2 3 4 5
53
gathering, methods and data analysis
approach
Comments/Suggestion
TOTAL MARKS (100%)
Recommendation: PASS/CONDITIONAL PASS/ FAIL

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………
Panel Member’s Name:
Signature: ________________________________ Date: __________________
For Faculty Use Only
Panel of Evaluators
Chairman’s Name: __________________________________ Signature: ___________________
Supervisor’s Name: _________________________________ Signature: ___________________
Date of proposal defense: ____________________________ Time: _______________________
Result
Please tick whichever is relevant.
1st attempt Date: ___________________ 2nd attempt Date: ___________________
The Evaluation Committee recommends that the proposal defense be concluded as:
( )
PASS. You have passed in the first presentation attempt and can proceed to the next stage (i.e.
continue with the thesis).
( ) CONDITIONAL PASS. You need to make changes based on the given comments and do a second
presentation within two weeks time. You need to pass in the second attempt to proceed further.
( ) FAIL. You have failed to show rigor, confidence and knowledge to pursue further with the thesis. You
are allowed to appeal through your supervisor to the panel.
55
APPENDIX 11
VIVA EVALUATION FORM
MUST UNIVERSITY
MBA (ODL) PROGRAMME
FACULTY OF BUSINESS
Student’s Name: _____________________________ ID No. _______________________
Proposal title: _________________________________________________________________
Criteria for evaluation Incompetent …… …… …… Highly

competent
INTRODUCTION
21. Identifies research problems and key issues 1 2 3 4 5
22. Appropriateness of objectives/questions given the 1 2 3 4 5
research problems
23. Appropriateness of research hypotheses 1 2 3 4 5
24. Clarity of research significance 1 2 3 4 5
Comments/Suggestions:
LITERATURE REVIEW
25. Provides comprehensive analysis of literature 1 2 3 4 5
26. Demonstrates ability to critically evaluate past 1 2 3 4 5
literature
27. Shows ability in presenting literature review and 1 2 3 4 5
forming themes
28. Provides strong theoretical framework of study 1 2 3 4 5
METHODOLOGY
29. Appropriateness of research design 1 2 3 4 5
30. Appropriateness of target population and selection 1 2 3 4 5
of samples
31. Appropriateness of sample size and sampling 1 2 3 4 5
procedure for the research questions and
methodology
32. Appropriateness of instruments/method for 1 2 3 4 5
gathering data
33. Validity of instruments 1 2 3 4 5
34. Reliability of instruments 1 2 3 4 5
35. Appropriateness of data gathering procedures 1 2 3 4 5
36. Appropriateness of data analysis approach 1 2 3 4 5
FINDINGS
37. Fulfilling the objectives of the study 1 2 3 4 5
38. Meaning interpretations of results 1 2 3 4 5
39. Relevance and significance of findings 1 2 3 4 5
56
CONCLUSIONS
40. Ability to summarise key findings 1 2 3 4 5
41. Ability to make appropriate inferences and draw 1 2 3 4 5
relevant implications
OVERALL
42. Utilizes appropriate language 1 2 3 4 5
43. Citation structure and format follows acceptable 1 2 3 4 5
protocols
44. Viability of study 1 2 3 4 5
45. Coherence of objectives/questions, data gathering, 1 2 3 4 5
methods and data analysis approach
TOTAL MARKS (100%)
Recommendation: CTS / DS
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Panel Member’s Name:
Signature: ________________________________ Date: __________________
For Faculty Use Only
Panel of Evaluators
Chairman’s Name: __________________________________ Signature: ___________________
Supervisor’s Name: _________________________________ Signature: ___________________
Result
Please tick whichever is relevant.
1st attempt Date: ___________________ 2nd attempt Date: ___________________
The Evaluation Committee recommends that the proposal defense be concluded as:
( )
Clear to Submit (CTS). Student displays adequate understanding
( ) Deferred Submission (DS). This outcome implies that the student has fail to show sound
understanding and knowledge toward their thesis work and lacks confidence in the research
framework.
57
APPENDIX 12
The Director of Personnel

Intel Technology
Penang.
MUST UNIVERSITY
Block B, Encorp Strand Garden Office,
No.12, Jalan PJU 5/1, Kota Damansara,
47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date
Dear ............................................,
Re: MBA (ODL) Project Paper
I am Nurul Sharafina and I am studying for a Master of Business Administration at MUST
UNIVERSITY. As part of my course I am undertaking a dissertation and am writing to request your help
with my research.
The aims of my research are .....................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(be concise and accurate and express non-technical terms)
I would be very grateful if you would permit me to interview you at a time that is convenient. The
interview would last for approximately forty five minutes.
Or
I would be very grateful if you would complete the enclosed questionnaire which should take
approximately thirty minutes and return it in the envelope enclosed.
The research complies with the Ethics protocols at MUST UNIVERSITY.
Any data that you provide me/us with will be treated with total confidence and the questionnaire is
anonymous/ the interviewees are treated anonymously. You should also be aware that participation is
absolutely voluntary and that you have the right to not take part and also that you may withdraw at any
time.
Thank you in anticipation for your cooperation.
Yours faithfully*1/ Yours sincerely*2

Your name
*1 When using the term Sir/Madam
*2 When using the name of the person
58
Research Project
Spinal APPENDIX 13
THESIS FRONT COVER
STUDENT FULL NAME
BENCHMARKING ON SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERING

EFFECTIVENESS IN TWO SEMICONDUCTOR
COMPANIES: A CASE STUDY APPROACH
Times New Roman / 18 Font Size / Bold
MBA
STUDENT FULL NAME
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

MALAYSIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
2019
APRIL 2017
59
DEDICATION
[Optional]
60
STUDENT’S DECLARATION
I, the undersigned, hereby declare that:

• I am the sole author of this thesis; or
• If I have included joint authored work, I have made clear the extent of my contribution;
• If any of my work contained within the thesis has been published prior to submission I have obtained the
necessary permission to reproduce / include it;
• I have fully acknowledged and referenced the ideas and work of others, whether published or unpublished,
in my thesis;
• My thesis does not contain work extracted from a thesis, dissertation or research paper previously presented
for another degree or diploma at this or any other university.
[Name/Identification Number]
[Signature] __________________________ [Date]: _____________________
61
ABSTRACT
[Your abstract here]
62
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
[Your acknowledgement here.]
[Your full name]

January 2017
63
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.1. What is an MBA (ODL) Project? .......................................................................... 8
1.2. What is Research? .............................................................................................. 9
2. MBA (ODL) PROJECT PROCESS FLOW........................................................... 10
2.1. Identifying and selecting a research topic......................................................... 10
2.1.3 Practical Considerations ................................................................................ 12
Guidelines for the use of questionnaires via e-mail and the internet ......................... 28
PROJECT PAPER LOG ................................................................................... 29
Section D. Comments on Management of Project ............................................. 33
General Requirements................................................................................................. 35
Language ............................................................................................................. 35
Printing and Paper ............................................................................................... 35
Project Paper Title ............................................................................................... 36
Number of Pages................................................................................................. 36
Page Layout ......................................................................................................... 36
Typeface and Font Size ....................................................................................... 36
Margins ................................................................................................................ 36
Spacing ................................................................................................................ 37
Pagination ............................................................................................................ 37
Writing Style ................................................................................................................. 37
Binding ......................................................................................................................... 37
Research Project / Thesis Spine ......................................................................... 38
Research Project / Thesis Front Cover ............................................................... 38
Layout and Arrangement of Contents ......................................................................... 38
Preliminaries ........................................................................................................ 39
Title Page ......................................................................................................... 39
Dedication Page .............................................................................................. 39
Abstract ........................................................................................................... 39
Acknowledgements Page .............................................................................. 39
Declaration Page............................................................................................. 39
Table of Contents............................................................................................ 40
List of Tables ................................................................................................... 40
List of Figures ................................................................................................... 40
Main Text .............................................................................................................. 41
Chapter Sequence ............................................................................................ 41
1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 41
1.2 Problem Statement........................................................................................ 41
1.3 Research Objectives ..................................................................................... 41
1.4 Research Questions ...................................................................................... 41
1.5 Significance of the Research ........................................................................ 41
1.6 Scope of the Research .................................................................................. 41
64
1.7 Operational Definitions .................................................................................. 41
1.8 Organization of Chapters .............................................................................. 41
1.9 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 41
2.1 Overview ........................................................................................................ 42
2.2 The Broader Concepts .................................................................................. 42
2.3 Specific Concepts .......................................................................................... 42
2.4 Fundamental Theories .................................................................................. 42
2.5 Gaps in the Literature .................................................................................... 42
2.6 Theoretical Framework.................................................................................. 42
2.7 Hypotheses .................................................................................................... 42
2.8 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 42
3.1 Overview ........................................................................................................ 43
3.2 Research Design ........................................................................................... 43
3.3 Unit of Analysis .............................................................................................. 43
3.4 Sampling Design ........................................................................................... 43
3.5 Data Collection Methodology ........................................................................ 43
3.6 Anlaysis Methodology.................................................................................... 43
3.7 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 43
CHAPTER 4. RESEARCH FINDING .................................................................. 43
4.1 Overview ........................................................................................................ 43
4.2 Descriptive Statistics / Demographics of Respondents ............................... 43
4.3 Results of Preliminary Data Analysis ............................................................ 43
4.4 Results of Hypothesis Testing ....................................................................... 43
4.5 Key/Summary of Findings ............................................................................. 43
4.6 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 43
CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................................... 44
5.1 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 44
5.2 Contribution ................................................................................................... 44
5.2.1 Contribution to Literature / Academe ...................................................... 44
5.2.2 Contribution to Industry ........................................................................... 44
5.3 Limitation of Study ......................................................................................... 44
5.4 Future Directions of Research / Future Research Focus............................ 44
Avoid Plagiarism .......................................................................................................... 44
Use of Editorial Services ............................................................................................. 45
First Marker / Supervisor Form ........................................................................... 47
Guideline ...................................................................................................................... 49
Distinction level, 70% and above (A Grade) ............................................................... 49
Commendation level, 60 to 69% (B Grade) ........................................................ 49
Pass Standard, 50 to 59% (C Grade) ................................................................. 49
Fail standard, below 50% (F Grade) ................................................................... 49
Guideline ...................................................................................................................... 49
65
Guideline ...................................................................................................................... 49
Guideline ...................................................................................................................... 49
Guideline ...................................................................................................................... 50
Identification of appropriate / relevant theory; literature employed; critical assessment /
review; independence of thought / ideas .................................................................... 50
MBA Project Assessment Form .......................................................................... 51
Second Marker .................................................................................................... 51
Grading Criteria............................................................................................................ 53
Breadth / Depth and Integration of Literature ..................................................... 53
Analysis, Critical Evaluation and/or Reflection e.g. 40% ............................................ 53
THESIS FRONT COVER .................................................................................... 59
Dedication ..................................................................................................................... 60
Student’s Declaration ...................................................................................................... 61
Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 62
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ 63
List of Tables.................................................................................................................. 68
List of Figures ................................................................................................................ 69
References ..................................................................................................................... 70
Appendix A. Questionnaire ............................................................................................. 71
Appendix B. XXXX ....................................................................................................... 73
66
67
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1.1. Numbers of children with and without proof of parental citizenship ............... !
68
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1. Interaction effects of organizational linkage and scalable partnering of SCP
69
REFERENCES
Anderson, J.C. and Narus, J.A. (1990), “A model of distribution ﬁrm and manufacturer ﬁrm
working partnerships”, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 54, pp. 42-58.
Baily, P., Farmer, D., Jessop, D. and Jones, D. (1994), Purchasing, Principles and Management,
7th ed., Pitman, London.
Bejou, D. and Palmer, A. (1998), “Service failure and loyalty: an exploratory empirical study of
airline customers”, Journal of Services Marketing, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 7-22.
Hair, J., Anderson, R.E., Thatham, R.L., Black, W. C. (1995). Multivariate Data Analysis with
Readings, Englewood Cliffs, NJ., Prentice Hall.
Harrison, G.L., McKinnon, J.L. (1999). Cross-cultural research in management control systems
design: a review of the current state, Accounting, Organizations and Society, vol. 24, no.
5/6, pp. 483-506.
Harzing, A. W. K. (2000a). Managing the Multinationals: An International Study of Control

Mechanisms, U.K: Edwad Elgar Publishing Ltd.
70
APPENDIX A. QUESTIONNAIRE
[If relevant, insert questionnaire here.]
71
APPENDIX B. XXXX
[Insert appendix text, figures or tables here]
53

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MBA (ODL)

3.0 Writing Your Work 17

The guide includes the following main points:

➢ The compulsory MBA3305 Business Research Methods and MBA3303 Business

➢ You must do two presentations which will be evaluated by a panel of academicians.

General Business Research Texts

i) Develop and apply postgraduate level skills of independent research on issues of

Completing of MBA (ODL) project showcases that you have:

Research is an exercise to explore or investigate on issues of your interest by reading, reviewing,

2.1. Identifying and selecting a research topic

2.1.1 Finding the research area

2.1.2 Developing a Topic

2.1.3 Practical Considerations

2.2.1 Research problem

• Research gap dimension

• Emerging new issues dimension

2.2.2 Research Objectives/Questions

2.2.3 Literature Review

3.1. Planning the MBA (ODL) Project Write-up

Abstract/synopsis/executive summary – this is a brief overview of the project and

Contents page – Do not forget to include page numbers!

The background to the research – the background of the research presents a

Remember that writing the background of the research involves substantial

The methodology – it is important to explain what methodology you have adopted

Recommendations – These are included if appropriate. They will generally be

Personal Reflections – Part of the assessment of the management of the project

PD entails an evaluation process. An evaluation on the PD is done by a panel of 3 – 4

The evaluation is done based on a five-point likert scale of 1 = incompetent to 5 = highly

The evaluation is done based on a five-point likert scale of 1 = incompetent to 5 = highly

6. CONSENT LETTER TO CONDUCT RESEARCH

STUDENT NAME & ID NO

These guidelines deal with data collection:

All personal data that is collected must be protected.

PROJECT PAPER LOG

SECTION A. MONITORING STUDENT DISSERTATION PROCESS

Section D. Comments on Management of Project

(to be completed at the end of the dissertation process)

MBA (ODL) Project Paper Layout and Presentation Specification

Printing and Paper

Typeface and Font Size

Research Project / Thesis Front Cover

Layout and Arrangement of Contents

Item Page numbering

List of Notations and Abbreviations (Optional)

[Write an introduction to this research].

CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW

[Write the introduction to Chapter 2]

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH FINDING

CHAPTER 4. RESEARCH FINDING

CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Use of Editorial Services

MBA (ODL) Project Submission Extension Request Form

MBA (ODL) Project Assessment Form

First Marker / Supervisor Form

. Marks % Signature Final Agreed

Sections: Subsections: Comments:

Marks: _______ / 20%

Marks:_ __ / 20%

Student’s Name: _______ ID No. _

Signature: ______________ Date:

Chairman’s Name: ________________ Signature: _

Supervisor’s Name: _______________ Signature: _

Date of proposal defense: ______ Time: _

1st attempt Date: _ 2nd attempt Date: _

Student’s Name: _______ ID No. _

Signature: ______________ Date:

Chairman’s Name: ________________ Signature: _

Supervisor’s Name: _______________ Signature: _

1st attempt Date: _ 2nd attempt Date: _

Yours faithfully1/ Yours sincerely2

[Signature] ______ [Date]: _