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Literature Review
The purpose of the Literature Review is to guide the inquiry.What research has been completed on similar topics in other organizations, the same industry, or other industries?This may include both academic and business literature.Questions to answer in this review are:
• How have others defined/framed similar problems?
• What approaches did they use to find solutions?
• What solutions did they discover?
• What were critical weaknesses of these approaches?
• What else have you learned from these studies that will help this study be more productive?
The Literature Review should provide the foundation for your Methodology section.How have others approached solving problems similar to yours?You choose approaches because they produced productive results in similar situations.You may choose not to use approaches because of their unproductive results.
The written Literature Review is not expected to be as long as it would in traditional research.The presentation of the Literature Review should lay a logical and complete foundation for the Methodology that follows.Warning:The Literature Review should not be a history of the organization.You do not need to tell a boss or a client the history of his/her organization.
Methodology
How will you proceed to answer the research question asked in the Statement of the Problem?What information do you need to gather inside and outside the organization to answer the question?What steps will you follow to systematically analyze this data?How will you know when your question is answered?In a Business Project, this should not be a lengthy section but it should provide clear guidance to you as you proceed.It also demonstrates that you were thoughtful and thorough in your approach to solving the organization’s problem.
Conclusions
By being thorough in earlier sections, this section should be brief and to the point.The findings are the setup for the recommendations to follow.Briefly review and recap what you discovered through your research.
• The problem and the question this study was expected to answer.
• Some of the issues/problems that were investigated
• Key findings of this investigation
• Possible solutions
Recommendations
The recommendations should build on your conclusions by stating actions steps that the organization can take to address those conclusions and make improvements.Consider the concept of “sufficiency.”Are your recommendations sufficient to significantly solve the problem?Are they practical?Affordable both in financial and other resources?If these obvious steps are not possible, what do you recommend?How do you present your recommendations in a way that gives decision-makers choices?Recommendations may have tiers.Clearly stating the expected results of each recommendation allows decision-makers to weigh the options and make their choices.
• Describe your final recommendations and why it is the best solution/prediction
• Describe alternative recommendations and why they are more limited
• Describe the implications for management/businesses with respect to these choices.
References
Only sources of information that have actually been cited in the project are included here.
Appendices
This section includes information that is too detailed to be included in its entirety in the body of the project.This would include raw data, sample questionnaires, and detailed computations.This section would also include information that is referred to but is not essential to the project, such as relevant policies, laws, forms, pamphlets, sample letters sent to organizations and subjects, or subject consent forms.
Part 5: General Guidelines Formatting a Written Report
Headings
• Major sections (sometimes called “chapters”) should be started on a new page (like the chapter of a book) and the title should be centered, bold, and typed with capital letters.
• Headings for sub-sections (second level headings) are left justified, bold, and the initial letter is capitalized.
• Headings for the next level of sub-section (third level headings) are left justified, capitalization of initial letter, and underlined. No letters are typed in bold.
Page Numbering
• All pages except the Title Page and Abstract or Executive Summary are numbered. These numbers are centered at the bottom of each page.
Spacing and Font Size
• The written project is double-spaced in 12 point, Times New Roman. Margins are one inch on all four sides.
Grammar “Don’ts”
• Do not use contractions, such as “don’t” instead of “do not” or “it’s” for it is.
• Do not use personal pronouns such as I, me, they, we, and you.
• Avoid clichés such as “hopefully”, “obviously”, “as you know”, and “in other words.”
Referencing Sources
• As a general rule, every statement of fact in the project ends with a citation that includes the author(s)’ last name and publication year. This citation must then appear in the Reference Section. For example: The extensive development in computer technology over the past decade is slowly being integrated into the classroom (Swan, 1997). Do not use footnotes.
Specific Style Issues
• Proper grammar, spelling, word usage, and sentence construction are required. Final Projects are expected to be submitted without errors. Projects with errors may be returned for correction.
Part 6: Course Assessment Elements
Content – 50%
• Completeness
• Relevancy
• Appropriate analysis
• Appropriate conclusions drawn
• Logical rational and/or justification
• Original thought
Research – 20%
• Evidence of appropriate information
• Evidence of multiple sources
• Evidence of relevant data collection
Structural – 20%
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Appropriate business format
• Citations
• Clear expression
• Tables, graphics, etc. appropriate and clear
Overall – 10%
• Appropriate context in logic
• Persuasive recommendations
