Instructions for the Research Paper and Presentation

Section 1 (Driskill)

Each person in Admn 507 chooses a business topic and conducts research that leads to a paper, supporting materials, and a final ten-minute oral presentation. This assignment is not a typical college "research paper" of the sort prepared by undergraduates. The topic must be timely and must have implications for leading or managing a business in 1996. Furthermore, it must draw on the variety of sources appropriate for business decision making.

Undergraduate research papers may be based solely on books, and professors may not care about how recent the sources are. In business, on the other hand, research must be up-to-the-minute, reflecting current thinking and trends, so that good decisions can be made. Such reports are seldom based on books only because the nature of the publication process means that the information in books was collected weeks earlier at the very least. This project prepares you for the sort of projects that students have found themselves doing in summer internships as well as in staff jobs.

SECTION 1 ONLY: Summary of Research project due dates. Other sections follow dates in their syllabi.
September 23 -- Topic proposal memo
October 14 -- Bibliography, interview notes, and thank you letter
October 23 -- Bring first draft of research paper for editing
October 30, November 4, and 11 -- Final research presentations
November 4 -- Hand in edited research paper

Supporting Materials

The Proposal Memo

In business, your first step in a research project is to confirm your understanding of the task with the person who assigned it to you. All too often a manager may say, "Get me everything you can find on Company B," when he or she really has a much more limited and specific inquiry in mind. In this project, you are the one choosing the topic, but to give you practice, you will have to have your choice confirmed by the instructor.

Your proposal memo, which is due on Monday, September 23rd, should

explain the question, issue, or problem you want to research
discuss why this is an important matter to you or to other business leaders
sketch the process of interviewing, bibliographic research, and other tasks to be performed during your project, and
indicate the name of someone you would like to interview to learn more about the topic in person.

Either compose this memo on e-mail or attach the memo to an e-mail message to me. Send e-mail to driskila@rice.edu. This memo will receive a grade as well as a response to your proposal.

The interview notes

The second step in research commonly is a call or visit to someone who knows a great deal about the topic under investigation. To jump start your project, select a knowledgeable person, call that individual, and set up an informational interview. It would be preferable to conduct the interview in person but a telephone interview is acceptable. Read the assigned materials on conducting interviews, and plan your questions. Attend the interview and obtain as much information as you can. Print your list of questions and your notes, filled out so that they make sense to another reader. Section 1 due date: October 14.

Thank-you letter

Appreciation and thanks are powerful ways of strengthening your relationships with others. Send a thank-you letter to the person you interviewed, and turn in a copy of that letter to your instructor, along with a set of typed notes from the interview. The gracefulness of your phrasing and adequacy of support will be important here. Section 1 due date: Oct. 14.

Annotated bibliography

Begin your bibliographic research, using the research strategies shown in Chapter 12. Turn in to your instructor by October 14th a bibliography of at least eight sources, including articles and books, about your topic. This bibliography must include recent references; at least three must have been published or produced in the last two years (any vital topic will have been discussed in print several times in the last 24 months). Look up the references and describe each resource succinctly in two to three lines. Section 1 due date: Oct. 14.

The Report

Collect and evaluate information. Identify the issues concerning this subject. For example, if you chose the feasibility of small businesses starting 401k plans for their employees, you might investigate both the benefits and the costs of such a program, types of companies now known to offer these plans, examples of problems that have occurred in the administration of such programs, and the effect of these programs on employee morale. Select an appropriate audience for your report. If you do not have a particular company in mind, at least select readers in an industry or situation who would make decisions on your report.

Your primary task is to present and evaluate multiple perspectives from various sources. Create a mind map of issues (see page 107 in BMC). What are the differences in assumptions, definitions, methods, or types of evidence that distinguish these perspectives? Organize issues appropriately to answer the primary questions your audience needs answered. Create a first draft.

IMPORTANT: Follow the guidelines in the chapter on writing reports, using in-line references and a list of works cited at the end. The quality and depth of the discussion must be of the sort that would earn you recognition from a boss. Do not submit a paper prepared for another class or an "academic" style paper. Make sure you have an excellent introductory summary and carefully proofread your paper. Use headings to guide the reader's attention. The body of this paper will probably be five to seven pages long. First draft due October 23rd. Final draft due Nov. 4.

The Presentation

Turn your report into a ten-minute presentation that captures the highlights of your study. Aim this presentation at classmates, who may be much less knowledgeable about the topic than the audience for your report. Create appropriate visuals and handouts, if needed, to enhance your talk. These presentations will be given on October 30, November 4, and November 11.

Back to Research Page

ADMN507 Course Page

Courses

For more information:
Please contact the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Administration