R. V.

INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT
GUIDELINES FOR FOURTH SEMESTER MBA DISSERTATION

INTRODUCTION

The students of MBA programme of Bangalore University are required to carry out
Dissertation, in the area of specialization under the supervision of an eligible guide
beginning at the end of 3rd semester and submit three hard bound copies and one soft
copy of dissertation on or before the time stipulated by the University, which is to be
evaluated for 200 marks followed by viva-voce examination for 50 marks.

The aim for dissertation is to give the students an opportunity to learn independently and
to identify, define and analyze problems and issues related to Management and integrate
knowledge in a business context. It is an important part of the programme that tests
students’ ability to understand and apply the theory, the concepts and the tools of analysis
to a specific problem situation.

The only precise rule on what constitutes an acceptable dissertation is that it should be an
ordered critical exposition, which affords evidence of reasoning power and knowledge of
the relevant literature in an approved field falling within the subject matter of
Management. The emphasis should be on applied research and the investigation of some
practical problem or issue related to the situation in which an organization or system
operates.

It must be noted that the dissertation must not be treated as just another assignment. The
dissertation provides an opportunity to judge the students’ time and self-management
skills and his/her ability to successfully undertake a long and in depth study. Hence it is
not only the product that is important, but also the process itself. Students must therefore
ensure that they maintain regular contacts with their guide and also that they provide the
guide with drafts of their work at regular intervals. Finally, to keep themselves up to date
and under control as regards their Dissertation, it is important that the students meet their
guide regularly.

DISSERTATION

The Dissertation is a practical in depth study of a problem, issue, opportunity technique

or procedure or some combination of these aspects of business. Typically, Students are
required to define an area of investigation, carve out research design, assemble relevant
data, analyze the data, draw conclusions and make recommendations. The Dissertation
should demonstrate organizational, analytical, and evaluation sills, and where
appropriate, an ability to design a suitable implementation and review procedure.
SELECTION OF TOPIC

Selection of topic is probably the hardest thing to do. The choice of topic is up to the
students with prior approval of guide. However while selecting a topic it is essential that
the topics be related to management and of current relevance. It should also be kept in the
mind that the topic chosen is agreed to by the organization where the Dissertation is
going to be carried out. The initial topic chosen is likely to originate in a vague form and
may lack a clear focus. These then needs to be developed into something manageable and
practical by consideration of available literature/texts and discussion with your
Dissertation guide. What meets requirement is that the study must involve carrying out
original research in order to meet the organization’s continual need for new information
for forward decision-making.

The main issues may be human, economical, functional, etc. but the construction and/or
application of some kind of research instrument are the focus of the study. The analysis
of the research findings (e.g. client’s responses to questionnaire about changing product
specifications) should take place, resulting in proposals about how to manage relevant
aspects of the organization’s future.

A macro study on a topic can be carried out, but care must be taken to ensure that it is a
contribution to the existing literature without any duplication.

SYNOPSIS

The students are required to submit a synopsis of two to three pages before commencing
the Dissertation. The synopsis should contain the following information.

1. Statement of the problem

2. Objectives of Research
3. Sample size
4. Sampling method
5. Analysis method
6. Contributions expected from the Research.

The students should submit both hard copy and soft copy of the synopsis to the guide.

PRESENTATION OF FINAL DISSERTATION REPORT

It is important that the students follow these guidelines. The final report should be
presented in the following sequences:

• Title Page
• Student’s Declaration
• Certification signed by both Guide, Director/HOD
• Certificate from the company/Organization
 • Acknowledgement
• Executive summary
• Table of contents (with page numbers)
o List of Contents
o List of Tables
o List of Graphs/Charts/Diagrams
o List of Annexure

CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION: The chapter must include an introduction to the broad

area of the topic chosen, specific area of the topic chosen, introduction to the topic itself
and an overview of industry in general.
(Appropriate references to be quoted as footnote giving serial number, author, title,
publisher, year of publication & page number)

CHAPTER2-RESEARCH DESIGN; This chapter must provide a plan of the study

which should include statement of the problem, need for study/significance of the
Dissertation, review of a few previous studied, Objectives, operational Definition of
Concepts, hypotheses (if any), scope, methodology, sample design, sources of data, tools
and techniques for data collection, plan of analysis, limitations and an overview of
chapter scheme.

CHAPTER 3 –PROFILE OF THE COMPANY/ORGANIZATION/SYSTEM

The chapter should contain a complete profile including history, nature of business,
products & services, organization structure, competitors, capital structure, turnover,
number of branches, etc.

CHAPTER 4-ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA: This chapter should

provide an analysis of the data with required interpretation. The information obtained
needs to be reduced to tables, graphs and charts which are to be used wherever necessary
interference are to be drawn following the interpretation of the table.

CHAPTER 5-SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS: This chapter must start with an overview of the Dissertation,
summarize the findings under each objective, and provide conclusions and other
recommendations based on the findings. It is to be noted that the recommendations are
practical, acceptable, and comprehensive.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: List the books, articles, websites that are referred and useful for
research on the topic of your specific Dissertation. The bibliography should be provided
in order the following sequence: Author, title of the book, edition, publisher, place of
publication, and year of publication.
E.g. Kotler Philip “Marketing Management” 10th Ed. Prentice Hall: NJ. 2004

ANNEXURE: The following annexure are to be provide as part of report at the end after
Bibliography
• Questionnaire/Schedule
 • Financial Statements (if any)
• Any other calculations supporting the analysis.
•
The Dissertation should be appropriately numbered. It is usual for page 1 to start with the
introduction. The sections prior to the introduction are usually numbered with small
Roman, i.e. ii, iii. It is easier if annexure are numbered in a separate sequence (suggested
A, B, C) rather than s a continuation of the main report.

THE SPECIMENS

TITLE PAGE (EXAMPLE)

Keep it very simple. Do not describe the contents. Have a working title and then decide a
final title when you have finished the Dissertation. This is the standard format of the Title
Page that every student is expected to follow.
A STUDY ON
“INVESTORS PREFERENCE TOWARDS DEPOSITORY PARTICIPANTS”

Dissertation submitted to
BANGALORE UNIVERSITY

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Submitted by
AKSHATA.M.D
REG. NO 07BUCM6005

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

DR.R.K.GOPAL
HOD, MBA Dept.
RVIM

RSST
R.V. Institute of Management
CA 17, 26th Main, 36th Cross, 4th ‘T’ Block Jayanagar,
Bangalore- 560041
 STUDENT’S DECLARATION

AKSHATA.M.D student of IV semester MBA of R. V. Institute of Management hereby

declare that this Dissertation titled “INVESTORS PREFERENCE TOWARDS
DEPOSITORY PARTICIPANTS” submitted by me to the Department of Management,
Bangalore University in partial fulfillment of requirement of MBA programme is
bonafide work carried by me under the valuable guidance of DR.R.K.GOPAL, HOD,
MBA Dept. RVIM. This has not been submitted earlier to any other University or
Institution for the award of any degree, diploma/certificate or published any time before.

DATE (AKSHATA.M.D)
PLACE: Bangalore 07BUCM6005

CERTIFICATE FROM GUIDE & HEAD OF THE INSTITUTION

Certified that Akshata.M.D carried out this dissertation entitled “INVESTORS

PREFERENCE TOWARDS DEPOSITORY PARTICIPANTS” submitted in partial
fulfillment for the award of MBA Degree of Bangalore University under the guidance of
Dr. R.K.Gopal. This has not been submitted earlier to any other University or Institution
for the award of any degree, diploma/certificate or published any time before.

Guide Director

COMPANY CERTIFICATE

VISION COMPANY LTD.

Bangalore-560000

Certificate

This is to certify that XXX OF YYY college has carried out a dissertation entitled”
INVESTORS PREFERENCE TOWARDS DEPOSITORY PARTICIPANTS” at our
company. He/she has put ---% of attendance in our company. His/Her performance has
been superior/Excellent/Good/ Satisfactory and his conduct during his stay at the
company was Superior/Excellent/Good/Satisfactory.

BHASKAR REDDY
General Manager
Financial Department
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Here you have the opportunity to thank the various people who have helped in the
development of the Dissertation. It might include specific individuals who have given
information, offered insights, or generally been supportive such guide, company,
Respondents etc. Gratitude may be expressed to groups of people, like those who were
studied, or fellow students. Try not to be too flippant or too: soppy”!

TALE OF CONTENTS

The contents page gives the reader the first view of how the Dissertation is structured and
how the author attempted to develop the topic. It lists sequentially the sections and major
sub-divisions of the sections: each identified by a heading and located by a page number.
The following box gives an example.

CHAPTER CONTENTS PAGE

NO. NO.
1 Introduction 01-20
2 Research Design 21-30
3 Profile of the company/Organization/System 31-40
4 Analysis and Interpretation of Data 41-80
5 Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations 81-95
Bibliography -

Annexure

TABLE & GRAPH

TABLE/GRAPH CONTENTS PAGE NO.

NO.
1 Table showing -
2 Table showing -
3 Table showing -

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE DISSERTATION

• T he Dissertation should be typed on A4 white paper, and be 1.5 line spaced of

Arial or Times Roman with a font size of 12.
• The left margin should not be less than 40 mm and the right margin not less than
20mm
• All pages should be numbered and numbers should be placed at the center of the
bottom of the page, not less than 10mm above the edge.
 • All tables, figures and annexure should be consecutively numbered or lettered and
suitably labeled
• 3 bound copies and a soft copy should be handed in to the Principal/Director of
your College/Institute at the time of submission.

NOTE: College in turn would submit two bound copies of all the Dissertations to the
University (CBSMS Bangalore University) along with consolidated CDs incorporating
the soft copies of the dissertation of all the students and the list of dissertation titles with
names and register numbers. College name and the year should be mentioned on the CD.

PLAGIARISM

Any attempt to copy from another (present or previous) student or to copy large chunks
from academics or other sources without appropriately referencing those sources will
trigger the full weight of plagiarism procedures. University will initiate appropriate
action.

All the material that relates to the dissertation including completed questionnaires or
tapes from interviews should be shown to the guide and be kept by the students until the
University has declared the results. Students are advised not throw the material away
once their dissertation is submitted, as they might be asked to present it as part of the viva
voce before their dissertation results are declared

ADVICE TO STUDENTS

• You must keep hard copies of each version of your work, and save copies of the
current version on a main and a backup disk (preferably kept apart from each
other). Disks should regularly be virus-checked. Also, make sure to keep printed
copies of working documents, and the raw data from any questionnaires or other
data collection.
• Choose a topic or an issue in which you are interested.
• Get organized; give yourself time to think about your dissertation. Look at the
information available. Is there enough information available for you to be able to
produce a good dissertation?
• Be wary if you are relying upon organizations to provide you with information.
They will not give you confidential or sensitive information and you must not
expect them to respond as promptly as you would like.
• Visit the library and spend some time looking at previous dissertations.
• With the help of your dissertation guide agree on the aims and objectives and the
structure of the dissertations as soon as possible
• It is worthwhile investing in some reliable storage devices for storing your
dissertation- related documents. Keep at least two copies (updated). Remember to
virus check your storage devices.
• The final printing and binding of your dissertation can be the most frustrating
time. Allow five working days. Numbering pages, rearranging pagination and
 putting together the contents page takes a deal of time- do not underestimate this
part of your task. By this time you will have been working on your dissertation for
some months-you will be bored with it, you just want to hand it in and move on to
the next assignment. So, to save your time and frustration, allow yourself five
working days for this part of this task.
• Do not underestimate the enormity of the task ahead of you. The key points are to
organize your time, make and maintain contacts with your guide, decide upon
your topic and when you have formulated your aims, objectives and structure-get
on with it.
• Finally, remember to print and bind a copy of the dissertation report for your own
use, as no copy of the report submitted will be returned to you.

VIVA-VOCE EXAMINATION

Students are required to appear for viva –voce examination on dissertation and
background subjects. The viva-voce examination carries 50 marks.