Instructions for the Research Project in Sections 5 and 6 of Admn 507
Instructor: Beth O'Sullivan
Each of you will choose a business topic and conduct research that leads
to a 5-7 page written report and a final ten-minute oral presentation.
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. Often, managers ask
for "everything you can find on Company X," when they really have
a much more limited and specific inquiry in mind. In this project, you will
specify a topic and send me a memo outlining your research for my approval.
This memo, which is due on September 19, should explain the question, issue,
or problem you want to research, tell why this is an important matter to
you or other business leaders, and sketch the process of interviewing, bibliographic
research, and other tasks to be performed during your project. (Flex-time
students may want to choose a current problem at work, such as whether to
implement a just-in-time production process, whether to establish a 401K
plan for the company, how to conduct a leveraged buyout, etc.)
Begin your bibliographic research using the research strategies outlined
in Chapter 12. Business research must be up-to-date and reflect current
thinking and trends so that good decisions can be made. To obtain the latest
information, you will need to search on-line services and current periodicals.
By October 3, you must turn in a bibliography of at least five different
sources (including recent articles) about your topic. The bibliography must
include at least three references from 1995 or later. Please do not submit
a data dump.
A common part of business research is a call or visit to someone who knows
a great deal about the topic under investigation (this may NOT be someone
within your own company!). Select a knowledgeable individual and set up
an informational interview (preferably in person, but by telephone is O.K.).
Read the assigned materials on conducting interviews and plan your questions.
After the interview, send a thank-you letter to the person you interviewed
(e-mail is not acceptable), and hand in a copy of the letter, along with
notes from the interview. Interview notes must be typed and should include
the questions you asked and notes on responses. Complete this part of the
assignment by October 10.
Collect and evaluate information. Identify the issues concerning this subject.
For example, if you chose the feasibility of a small business implementing
a 401K program, you might investigate both the costs and benefits of such
a program, types of companies now offering these plans, examples of problems
that have occurred in plan administration, and the effect of the programs
on employee morale. As you prepare to write your final report, think about
who your audience will be. If you are not dealing with an issue relevant
to your current employer, select readers in an industry or situation who
would make a decision on the report you provide. Organize the issues appropriately
and create a first draft.
Follow the guidelines in the chapter on writing reports, using parenthetical
references and a list of works cited at the end. The quality and depth of
discussion must be of the sort that would earn you recognition from your
boss. Do not submit a paper prepared for another class or an ìacademicî
style paper. Make sure you have a high quality executive summary and proofread
your paper. Use headings and sub-headings to guide your readers. The body
of this paper will probably be five to seven pages long, using a typeface
large enough to read (consider Times New Roman, 12 point) with 1.5 line
spacing.
Now develop a ten-minute presentation that captures the highlights of your
study. Aim this presentation at classmates, who may know much less about
the topic than your audience for the written document. Create appropriate
visuals and handouts, if needed, to enhance your talk. The report will be
due on October 24. The final presentations will be given during the last
four sessions of class, starting on Tuesday, October 29, and continuing
until November 7.
The various elements of the research project will add up to 30% of your
grade for this course. The memo, bibliography, thank you letter, and interview
notes make up one-third, the paper one third, and the final oral presentation
one third. Please consider the volume of work, plan your time accordingly,
and contact me if you have any questions.
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Last updated September 2, 1996.