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Recommended format (structure) for the Internal Assessment

There is no stipulated format for the Internal Assessment (IA). However, the IB does recommend the following for
the Business Management research project, which must be a structured piece of well-organized work. This means
there must be an introduction, main body, and conclusion.

1. Introduction

Brief background information about the chosen business organization.

Outline of the contemporary, real-world issue or problem under investigation (to provide context).

Rationale for the study, including choice of key concept.

Relevance of the research question to the chosen key concept.

Description of the methodology used to investigate the chosen issue or problem.

2. Body

Main findings (from the 3 - 5 supporting documents).

Analysis of the findings (in relation to the research question).

Application of relevant Business Management tools, theories, techniques, and terminology.

Integration of the chosen key concept.

Evidence of evaluation (critical thinking) in relation to:

1. Why and how the information in the 3 - 5 supporting documents are helpful (or unhelpful) in addressing the
research question

2. Strengths and limitations of the data/information in the 3 - 5 supporting documents with respect to
answering the research question.

3. An evaluative approach to the discussions, e.g., the short-term and long-term implications of the findings
on the chosen business organization, including the impact on employees, customers, or other key
stakeholder groups, as well as its finances.

3. Conclusion

Provide a clear and explicit answer to the research question, backed by the evidence presented in the main
body of the research project.

Do not introduce any new materials, facts, or arguments that have not been discussed in body of the
research project.

Acknowledge any aspect of the research question that has not been fully addressed from the findings and
analysis of the research project, outlining any further investigation needed to answer the research question
more effectively.

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Top tip 1 - The recommended format for the IA

The following structure/format works well for the IA.

Title page (cover sheet) - refer to the "Top tip 2" box below

Table of contents page

Introduction

Main body

Conclusion(s)

Bibliography and references (works cited)

Appendices: include the 3 to 5 supporting documents (to be electronically uploaded on IBIS or

Managebac as a separate document).

Good presentation also requires the appropriate use of headings and sub-headings, consistent referencing,
and numbered pages.

Top tip 2 - The Bibliography

For the bibliography, ensure you include all works cited in the business research project. This should include:

The 3 - 5 supporting documents. The first 3 to 5 items in the bibliography should contain full citations of
the supporting documents used.

Additional sources. These should include at least a textbook (for referencing the tools and theories
used, for example).

Top tip 3 - The Appendices

For the appendices, which are uploaded separately on IBIS or ManageBac, only include the supporting
documents. Do not place additional items (such as tables of statistical data or a full SWOT analysis) in
the appendices.

Students should label each of the supporting documents clearly (e.g., Supporting Document 1,
Supporting Document 2, and so forth).

Start each new supporting document on a new page. This makes is easier for the moderator (and your
teacher) to see where each SD starts and ends.

Highlight (or underline) the parts of the SDs used within the analysis of the business research project.

Ensure the SDs in the appendix are saved and uploaded as a single PDF document.

Top tip 4 - Recommendations for the cover page

Recommended structure for the title (cover) page:

Subject name, i.e., Business Management (SL or HL)

Session, e.g. May 2024

Research question

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Key concept

Word count declaration

Personal code#

Declaration of authenticity*

As the IA must be anonymised, do not include your candidate name, candidate number, or the name of the
centre (school).
# Please click on the icon below to read more about the use of personal codes.

Please note that the IA must be anonymized as per the IB's guidelines:

The candidate's personal information must not be included in the submission of the IA (i.e., the
candidate's name and the candidate number must not appear on the cover page of the IA or the report
itself.

The candidate's personal code (e.g., ghm007) can be used as this is indecipherable beyond the
candidate and the staff at the school. Speak to your IB DP coordinator to access the personal codes for
your own students.

When assessing the work, teachers must not refer to the name of the student in their comments on the
teacher feedback form - instead, they should use "the student". It is also acceptable to use the
student's initials.

Similarly, students must not refer to their teacher(s) at their school by name in their acknowledgements
(if included). Any acknowledgements made must not include any information that could identify the
school, or its location.

* Since November 2017, the IB has required schools to obtain candidates’ confirmation of authenticity of the
work
they submit for assessment. Please refer to the information from the IB about this matter by clicking the icon
below.

The IB coursework upload system allows IB coordinators or school administrators to upload work on behalf of
candidates. The system requires the teacher or coordinator uploading on behalf of candidates to confirm that
they have received signed declarations of authenticity from each candidate for every item of coursework
submitted.

It is the responsibility of the school to ensure that these declarations have been properly made, recorded and
stored, and that they are available to the IB if the authenticity of the work is called into question during the
assessment process.

Schools must ensure that the authentication from a candidate is for the work submitted for assessment. No
replacement work will be accepted by the IB after the authenticity of a piece of work is called into question or
the deadline for submission has passed.

Source: IB Coordinators Notes, January 2023, page 21

Suggested declaration of authenticity for the Business Management Internal Assessment:

I confirm that this work is all my own and that this is the final version of this written commentary. I have
acknowledged the use of any information collected from primary and/or secondary sources. All supporting
documents are attached in the appendices. These are contemporary in nature and were written within a
maximum of 3 years prior to submission. All parts in the supporting document that relate directly to this
commentary have been highlighted. Additional sources have been acknowledged in the bibliography.

Signed (candidate's initials) ……...………….

Top tip 5!

It can be useful to include the mission statement or vision statement, if appropriate, to the Introduction.

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Note that there is no formal requirement to include the mission or vision statement of the chosen organization
- after all, the IB does not prescribe a specific format or structure for the IA. However, and where appropriate,
including the mission or vision statement of the chosen business can add purpose and context to the
business research project. Also, providing the mission/vision statement can go some way to address the
following aims of the IA:

1. Select a real business issue or problem for the research project

2. Refer to a single business organization (but this can be related to industry-wide issues or problems
that impact on the chosen organization).

3. Use primary and/or secondary research to address the research question.

Having a clear and purposeful focus can also help students to formulate their IA research question and
provides the parameters for selecting the 3 - 5 supporting documents.

Top tip 6!

The IB recommends all IAs are produced using the following style of presentation:

Arial font or Times New Roman font

Font size 11 or 12
1.5 or double-spaced
Numbered pages

This makes it significantly easier for the moderator or examiner to check the work of the candidate.

I would also recommend that all internal assessments are converted into a PDF document and checked
before uploading to IBIS. This is because the Portable Document Format (PDF) document will keep the
original work intact. Word documents (in .doc or .docx format) do not always convert nicely once uploaded,
and the original work can become truncated with page numbers getting out of sync, especially when text
columns, images, photos, tables, diagrams, charts etc. are used.

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