Research Manual

RESEARCH MANUAL
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

BAHRIA UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD
Introduction
Describing the master of business administration (MBA) thesis and the relevant
assessment criteria, the MBA thesis/ project is intended as a guide for graduate
students and supervisor(s) is to facilitate the project’s successful and timely
completion.
This research manual or guidelines apply to the final research project/ thesis of
MBA Program. Determined by the supervisors involved, the specific content of
the thesis may vary according to the program track.
The first section of this research manual address the general guidelines of the
MBA thesis/ project. The second section deals with the research proposal of the
thesis/ project, high lighting such aspects as formal procedures, methodology;
formatting research objectives, problems and drafting research plans.
The third section deals with the structure and organization of the thesis/ project
which include the format of the thesis/ project and referencing style.
Objectives
In completing the MBA, the student should:

1. Independently conducts research, generates a solution to a practical field.
2. Acquire more in depth knowledge and applies into his/her field of study
(further education).
3. Demonstrates the skill (including verbal and written communication skills)
acquired in completing the MBA program curriculum.
4. Reflect his/her own original work.
5. Finishes the assignments(i.e. conducts research/ generates a design
solution with in the time permitted.
To this end, the student independently develops and implements a research-
oriented and/ or designing- oriented project. He/she completes the project with in
the time permitted; justifies the models, theories, methodology and techniques
used, as well as the research / design process as a whole, analyze the work
completed and make both oral and written of his/her work.
We hope that the information provided in this manual will enhance your
understanding of conducting a thorough research and will benefit you in future
research activities.
Research Cell Team
2
Research Team
Kashif Ahmed
Senior Lecturer
Research Coordinator
051 9260002 ext 300
kashif@bahria.edu.pk
Amna Yameen
Lecturer
Research Officer
Sana Aziz
Research Assistant
051 9260002 ext 298
sana-aziz@hotmail.com
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General guidelines…………………….…..………………………………………………4
Format of the Proposal.........………………………………………………………………6
Structure and Organization of the Thesis…………………….…………………………...9
Structure and Organization of the Project…………...……………………………… .…26
Harvard Referencing Style …..……………………………………………………..……41
Abstract Sample... ……………………………………………………………………… 50
4
GENERAL GUIDELINES
1. The candidate should make supervision arrangements to

discuss possible research title by choosing the name
of the supervisors approved by the Research Cell of
MS Department Bahria University.
2. Student should get approval of his/her supervisor
appointment from the Research Cell and getting
signature on research proposal submission form.
3. After getting supervisor approved by the Research
Cell, the student should arrange time to meet the
supervisor to discuss the possible research topic.
4. After the initial discussion with the supervisor, the
candidate should prepare a brief research proposal.
5. After the development of the research proposal with
the help of supervisor, the student has to get the
approval of the research plan on research proposal
submission form from the research cell. The proposal
MUST be submitted within 4 weeks after registration
of final project/thesis.
6. After getting approval, student has to submit the
original research proposal submission form, research
proposal along with required documents to the
Research Cell. Student may keep photocopy of the form
with him/herself.
7. After the submission of research proposal, student
should start research under the supervision of
his/her supervisor.
8. After the completion of thesis, student has to submit
three spiral bound copies of complete thesis with the
5
approval certificate of his/her supervisor to the
Research Cell of MS Department for final defense with
in due date. The reprint should be submitted within 6
months after registration.
9. Research Cell will arrange final defense for the
student.
10. Student has to defend his/her thesis in front of
panel that comprises of two members i.e. internal
examiner (permanent faculty) and external examiner
(visiting faculty).
11. After defending the thesis, the student has to
incorporate all the corrections given by the
panelists during the final defense.
12. After incorporating all the corrections given by the
panelists during the final defense, student has to
get signatures of supervisor, internal examiner,
external examiner, Head of Research Cell/Research
coordinator and Head of MS Department on the final
approval sheet.
13.The final approval sheet is placed after the title

page of hardbound copy of final thesis. Approval sheet
format is available with photocopier.
14.Final thesis would not be accepted by the MS Research

Cell without the approval sheet.
6
FORMAT OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
(THESIS)
1. Research Title
2. Background of the research
3. Rational for research
• Motivation for research problem
• Importance of proposed work
• Author’s contribution/ originality to existing
knowledge on the topic
4. Literature review
• There should be at least 15 to 20 academic
journals for literature review
• Use proper in-text referencing
5. Research question (problem statement)
6. Research objectives
7. Research design
8. Research methodology
• Study design (research instruments i.e.
experiment, survey, case study, creative endeavor)
• Population/sample
• Procedure
• Type of data (primary and secondary data)
9. Expected outcomes (results of research)
10. Timelines (expected time to complete thesis)
11. References (using Harvard Referencing Style)
7
FORMAT OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
(PROJECT)
1. Project Title
This should provide reader a clue what you
want to do in the project.
2. Background of the company and the

problem/opportunity
3. Rational for project research

a. Motivation for research problem
b. Importance of the proposed work/why the project
is worth doing
c. Author’s contribution/originality to existing
knowledge on the topic.
d. Benefits of proposed plan
4. Problem statement/priority issue
5. Project objectives
List the aim that will be achieved at the end of the
project. This could be a re-statement of the priority
issue, recognizing that the project may not fully solve the
problem, but will contribute positively and significantly
to its solution.
6. Contemporary Research (Literature review)
7. Project audience
Who is the project audience i.e. who wants to use the
results and recommendations of the project?
8
8. Research design
9. Research methodology
a. Target industry, company
b. Population/sample
c. Procedure
d. Type of data (primary and secondary data)
10. Expected outcomes (results of research)
11. Timelines (expected time to complete project)
12. References (using Harvard Referencing Style)
9
STRUCTURE AND GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH THESIS
A thesis is evidence of an individual’s ability to

conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the
results of that research in a coherent document. The
research should address an important problem of manageable
scope in the chosen field of study, and should make a
significant contribution to the profession’s theory or
practice. Most commonly, the work builds on previous
research findings and involves the collection, analysis and
interpretation of new data.
A thesis is not merely the effort of one scholar working in

isolation. Research candidates benefit greatly from the
input and support of faculty members, supervisor and
administrators. The Research Cell and others can offer
important advice to the research candidate in areas such as
research design, data collection procedures and analysis of
data. Ultimately, however, the student remains responsible
for the integrity of the research.
Before beginning of the thesis process, a research

candidate should become familiar with thesis previously
published in the specific field of study. This will help
provide the student with an impression of the format and
style of accepted thesis. However, the format of that
thesis may differ in many particulars from the standards
set forth in this manual. In these instances, the
10
requirements detailed here should be regarded as the
appropriate style.
Faculty Management Sciences at Bahria University is

committed to the preservation and dissemination of the
research contributions of its students. Most of the
requirements outlined in this thesis manual are established
with that commitment in mind. This thesis manual outlines
procedures that are designed to make preparation as
efficient as possible. Please read and follow these
procedures carefully to avoid costly and time consuming
revisions in format.
Format requirements
A typical thesis is made up of three parts:
• Preliminaries
• Text
• Supplementaries
Each part may be organized as shown below:
Preliminary Pages
• Flyleaf
• Title page
• Approval sheet
• Abstract
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• Dedication (optional)
11
• Table of contents
• List of tables (optional)
• List of figures (optional)
• List of symbols (optional)
Text
Main body of thesis
The main text contains the following chapters:
Ch 1) Introduction
It includes the following parts
• Broad problem area/Background

• Rational of the study
• Problem statement
• Theoretical framework
• Objectives of the study
• Hypothesis development (if any)
• Definition of the terms
Ch 2) Literature review
There must be proper in-text referencing in literature
review. There should be atleast 15 to 20 academic journals
quoted in references. Students should also make sure that
2006 and 2007 journals are quoted. In-text references
should also be quoted in bibliography. For more details see
Harvard referencing guide. This chapter should also include
the theoretical framework and hypothesis of the study which
may be supported by the literature.
12
Ch 3) Method
It includes the following headings:
• Sample/data
• Instruments and measures/sources of data
• Procedure
Ch 4) Results and Discussion

Ch 5) Conclusion and recommendations
Supplementary (Optional)
• References or bibliography
• Appendices (optional)
Preliminary pages
These are numbered with lower case Roman numerals at the

bottom.
Flyleaf
Each thesis should have a flyleaf (a blank sheet with no
page number assigned) at the beginning and the end of the
thesis.
Title Page:
It includes
13
Title: It summarizes the main idea of the paper. It
should be a concise statement of the main topic and should
identify the actual variables. A title should be fully
explanatory when standing alone. Its principal function is
to inform readers about the study.
Author’s name (byline): the preferred form of an

author’s name is the first name, middle initial and last
name. This form reduces the likelihood of mistaken
identity.
Institutional affiliation: the affiliation identifies

the location where the author or authors conducted the
investigation, which is usually an institution.
The date shown must be the term and year of graduation in

which the student is officially graduating. Title must be
the same on title page, approval sheet and abstract. Titles
should be concise and descriptive. To facilitate indexing,
titles should be indicative of the contents. Avoid the use
of phrases such as “A study of”, “Effect of”, “Laboratory
Study of” etc. Abbreviations in title are discouraged.
However, recognized acronyms in the field may be
appropriate.
Approval Sheet
A number is awarded to this page but it should not be
printed on the page.
Original signatures (in ink) must appear on hardbound copy

of the thesis. The Department Head’s signature,
14
supervisor’s signature, internal examiner’s signature and
Head of Research Cell/Research Officer are required on the
Approval Sheet of the thesis.
Abstract
An abstract is a brief, comprehensive summary of the
contents of the thesis. It allows readers to survey the
contents of thesis quickly. It enables abstracting and
information services to index and retrieve articles. A good
abstract is
Accurate: ensure that the abstract correctly reflects the
purpose and content of the manuscript.
Self contained: define all abbreviations and acronyms.

Define unique terms. Paraphrase rather than quote. It
includes names of authors and dates of publication in
citations of other publications.
Concise and specific: Make each sentence maximally

informative, especially the lead sentence. Be as brief as
possible. Begin the abstract with the most important
information.
Non evaluative: Report rather than evaluate. Do not add

to or comment on what is in the body of the manuscript.
Coherent and readable: Write in clear and vigorous

prose. Use verbs rather than their noun equivalents and the
active rather than passive voice. Use the present tense to
describe results with continuing applicability or
15
conclusions drawn. Use the past tense to describe variable
manipulated or tests applied. Use the third person rather
than first person. Avoid sentences and phrases that contain
no real information.
Abstract should contain the following information:
Name of student
Name of supervisor
Research title
Number of pages
Degree conferred
Date
Problem
Objectives/Hypothesis
Method
Conclusion/Recommendations
All theses require an abstract. The first page of the

abstract is always numbered with small Roman numeral i.e.
iii. A sample abstract is shown in the end. Abstract should
not be of more than one page.
Paper Requirement
Standard-sized A4 paper of 90 grams must be used to prepare
the final copy of the thesis. Text must be printed on one
side of the paper. All pages of the manuscript must be the
same side. Do not use half sheets or scripts of paper
glued, taped or stapled to the pages.
16
Language
Thesis must be written in English.
Typeface
12-pt Courier New: it is the standard typeface for thesis.
Only 12-pt Courier New typeface must be used throughout the

thesis. All text, page numbers, table numbers, figure
numbers, captions and references must be in the same
typeface. For general text, the font size should be 12
points.
Line Spacing (1.5)

It means leaving 1.5 lines blank between each line of type
on the page. For most word-processing software, this means
setting the line spacing to 1.5 lines.
Single Spacing: Bibliography or list of reference entries,

table and figure captions, and data within large tables are
to be single-spaced. Lengthy descriptions in the appendix
may also be single spaced. Quoted material of more than
three typewritten lines is indented and single spaced.
Quoted material which is three lines or fewer may be single
spaced for emphasis.
Text
The text pages, from beginning to end, are numbered with
Arabic numerals.
Style of type
17
Produce an accurate, clear, clean copy that will reproduce
well. The 12-pt Courier new style of type should be used
throughout the thesis.
Print styles that are similar to standard typefaces are

preferred. Italic type may be used for foreign words,
citation of titles, and special emphasis.
Margins
Requirement (minimum): Top-1”; bottom-1”; left-1.5”; right-
1”. Leave 1 inch margin on top, bottom and right sides
where as 1.5 inch margin on left side of every page to
allow for binding.
The top margin of the first page of the preliminaries,

chapters, appendices and bibliographies is 2 inches. Margin
sets for different word processing systems will vary. The
right margin may be violated occasionally by one space and
bottom margin by one line. Always continue the text to the
bottom margin at the end of a chapter. WARNING: Photo
reproduction results in a slight enlargement, therefore
margins should be strictly observed on the original. The
bottom and right margin must never be less than ¾ inch on
reproduced copies.
These same margins are to be observed for tables,

illustrative materials, bibliographies and appendices as
well as n the text. Folded pages are not allowed in the
text as they may be damaged when thesis is trimmed. Right
justification is acceptable if the printer does it
18
properly, i.e. does not separate punctuation from
characters and does not leave gaps in the text.
Space between Words

Use one space between words and sentences.
Page Numbering
Each page of the thesis must be assigned a number.
Preliminary pages are numbered at the bottom with lower
case Roman numerals. Preliminary page number i.e. I is
assigned to, but not printed on the title page.
The main text, typically starting with Chapter I, is

numbered with Arabic numerals. Begin each chapter on a new
page. First pages of introduction or sections, appendices,
and bibliographies are either left unnumbered (though a
number is always assigned) or numbered at the bottom. All
other text pages may have numbers placed either top or
bottom, and either centered on the text or aligned at the
right margin of the text. Most word processing programs
will do this automatically and, generally the automatic
placement will be acceptable as long as the following
criteria are met. Text should never fall outside the
margins as specified in this manual. Page numbers may be
inside or outside the top or bottom margins, but never less
than ½ inch from the edge of the page. If inside the
margin, the number should not be more than one line below
the top margin or above the bottom margin. There should
never be less than one blank line between the first or last
text line and the page number. Stamped page numbers are
discouraged.
19
Word Limit
Thesis must not exceed from 15,000 to 20,000 words or 70 to
100 pages with 1.5 line space.
Headings and Subheadings

Use level 5 for chapter headings and levels 1-4 (if needed)
for headings within chapters.
Heading font size is 14 pt. Bold.
Heading Level 5
CENTERED UPPERCASE HEADING
Heading Level 1
Centered uppercase and lower heading
Heading Level 2
Centered, Italicized, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
Heading level 3
Flush Left, Italicized, Uppercase and lowercase
Heading level 4
Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading
Each chapter is started on a new page. Headings for all

preliminary pages must be centered and in uppercase.
Text Alignment
Justified text is recommended
20
Paragraphs
When it is necessary to divide a paragraph at the end of a
page, at least two lines should appear at the bottom of the
page and two at the top of the following page.
Endnotes
If end notes are used, they may be placed in the
supplementary at the end of thesis. Write the endnotes
under the heading of “endnote”.
Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should follow immediately after first
mention in the text or on the next page. If they are placed
on the first, continue the text to the bottom of preceding
page. Do not leave a space (gap) on the page where the
table or figure was first mentioned.
Figures must look professional. Hand lettering is

unacceptable unless executed by a professional
draftsperson. Any diagram, drawing, graph, chart, map,
photograph or other type of illustration must be presented
in the thesis as a figure.
Broadside Tables and Figures

In order to fit large tables or figures on a page, it is
sometimes necessary to place them broadside. The binding
21
margin for such a table or figure must be 1 ½ inches and
all other margins must be 1 inch. The top margin and page
number location must be the same as on a regular page.
Numbering of Tables and Figures
Numbering of tables and figures should be consecutive

throughout the entire thesis or within each chapter,
including those in the appendix. If the tables and figures
are to be numbered consecutively within each chapter, the
chapter number should appear along with the table or figure
number e.g. 1.1, 1.2(for chapter 1); 2.1, 2.2(for chapter
2). The number and title of a table should be placed above
the table. Tables and figures are numbered separately.
Computer Output
Computer output, including pen plotting and screen
plotting, is acceptable provided the material is dark,
clear, readable copy transferred to acceptable paper. If
the material is tabular, room must be left at the top for
the table number, caption, appropriate lines, and columnar
headings unless the entire table is to be printed by the
computer printout machine.
Supplementaries
References or Bibliography
The style for references should follow the format given on

next page and Harvard Referencing Method attached. The
style used must be consistent throughout the thesis. There
22
are many good sources that may be consulted for certain
fields or to solve special problems. Advisors and committee
members usually have excellent references to suggest.
Appendices
Quality and format should be consistent with requirements
for other parts of the thesis including margins and
reproduction. Computer printout must conform to margins.
Reductions must be clear and readable. Appendices may be
treated in a fashion parallel to chapters. That is, the
first page of an appendix would have a one inch top margin
and begin with a title – e.g., “Appendix I”, Appendix:
Diagrams.” Alternatively, an appendix may be introduced
with a cover page bearing only the title. The content of
the appendix then begins on the second page with the
standard one inch margin.
Students are supposed to quote atleast 15 to 20 academic

journal references in text and in bibliography. They should
also make sure that 2006 and 2007 journals are also quoted.
Thesis Submission Requirements

Two hard bound copies and a soft copy of thesis on CD
(placed in CD pocket in hardbound copy) are to be submitted
to the Research Cell. Thesis approval sheet should be
attached in both hard copies.
Color of Hard Bound Copy
23
Golden or silver color of text is recommended on black or
blue color background of hardbound copy of thesis.
Spine
Name of student
Title of the research project
Year
Rules and Regulations
Marks breakdown
Final Defense
Progress report by the supervisor 20%

Internal examiner 40%
External examiner 40%
Consensus would be developed among the panelists before

awarding grade to the student.
Max Time Frame and Penalty

Maximum duration for the submission of final hardbound copy
of thesis is 6 months starting from the date of
registration. Extension may be given to student if he/she
is at final stage of thesis and cannot submit due to solid
reason. In case of failure, student has to re-enroll the
thesis in order to continue the same research work.
24
Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the supervisor
The research supervisor is responsible for providing
training to the research student to use the application
soft wares and other instruments to enhance their research
capabilities.
The research supervisor should strive to maintain

continuous support for the student.
• His/her role is to guide the student throughout

his/her research time frame
• He/she is responsible for the timely completion of the
projects
• He/she has to check the work progress consistently
• He/she guides the student in research methodology and
corrects the technical errors. He/she suggests the
sources of information.
• He/she also evaluates the student’s work a final stage
• He/she has o check research topic archive provided in
the online database to ensure that research work is
not done on the same/similar topic, which the student
is going to finalize for his/her research work
Responsibilities of the student

• To show intentions to learn
• To carry out assigned duties satisfactorily
• To fulfill all academic requirements
• To follow instructions of supervisor
25
• To visit the supervisor on regular basis to seek
proper guidance
• To dedicate himself/herself to the study
• To complete the research work in the given time frame
• He/she has to check research topic archive provided in
the online database to ensure their research work is
not done on the same/similar topic, which he/she is
going to finalize for his/her research work
26
STRUCTURE AND GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH PROJECT
A project is evidence of an individual’s ability to

conceptualize and carry out research and to communicate the
results of that research in a coherent document. The
research should address an important problem of manageable
scope in the chosen field of study, and should make a
significant contribution to the profession’s theory or
practice. Most commonly, the work builds on previous
research findings and involves the collection, analysis and
interpretation of new data.
A project is not merely the effort of two or more scholars

working in isolation. Research candidates benefit greatly
from the input and support of faculty members, supervisor
and administrators. The Research Cell and others can offer
important advice to the research candidate in areas such as
research design, data collection procedures and analysis of
data. Ultimately, however, the student remains responsible
for the integrity of the research.
Before beginning of the project, research candidates should

become familiar with the problem discussed and specific
subject, organization of study. The format of project is
set forth in this manual. The requirements detailed here
should be regarded as the appropriate style.
Bahria University is committed to the preservation and

dissemination of the research contributions of its
students. Most of the requirements outlined in this project
27
manual are established with that commitment in mind. This
project manual outlines procedures that are designed to
make preparation as efficient as possible. Please read and
follow these procedures carefully to avoid costly and time
consuming revisions in format.
Format requirements
A typical project is made up of three parts:
• Preliminaries
• Text
• Supplementaries
Each part may be organized as shown below:
Preliminary Pages
• Flyleaf
• Title page
• Approval sheet
• Abstract
• Acknowledgements (optional)
• Dedication (optional)
• Table of contents
• List of tables (optional)
• List of figures (optional)
• List of symbols (optional)
Text
Main body of project
28
The main text contains the following chapters:
Ch 1) Introduction
It includes the following parts
• Broad problem area/Background

• Problem statement
• Objectives of the study
• Research Methodology; it has the following parts
o Type of study
o Population/Sample
o Instruments and measures
• Scope and limitations
Ch 2) Contemporary Research (Literature review)
Ch 3) Industry overview/industrial analysis
Ch 4) Organizational overview
There should be proper in-text referencing in literature
review, industry overview and organizational overview. The
sources of information must be mentioned in-text and in
bibliography. There must be atleast 15 to 20 academic
journals quoted. Student should also ensure that 2006 and
2007 references should also be quoted. For more
information refer to Harvard Referencing Method.
Ch 5) Identification of issues
Ch 6) Possible options/alternatives
29
Ch 7) Best option/recommendations
Ch 8) Action plan
Bibliography
Annexure: Call Reports
 Date and time of meetings
 Persons interviewed
 Interview sheet
Preliminary pages
These are numbered with lower case Roman numerals at the

bottom.
Flyleaf
Each project should have a flyleaf (a blank sheet with no
page number assigned) at the beginning and the end of the
project.
Title Page:
It includes
Title: It summarizes the main idea of the paper. It

should be a concise statement of the main topic and should
identify the actual issues. A title should be fully
explanatory when standing alone. Its principal function is
to inform readers about the study.
Author’s name (byline): the preferred form of an

author’s name is the first name, middle initial and last
30
name. This form reduces the likelihood of mistaken
identity.
Institutional affiliation: the affiliation identifies

the location where the author or authors conducted the
investigation, which is usually an institution.
The date shown must be the term and year of graduation in

which the student is officially graduating. Title must be
the same on title page, approval sheet and abstract. Titles
should be concise and descriptive. To facilitate indexing,
titles should be indicative of the contents. Avoid the use
of phrases such as “A study of”, “Effect of”, etc.
Abbreviations in title are discouraged. However, recognized
acronyms in the field may be appropriate.
Approval Sheet
A number is awarded to this page but it should not be
printed on the page.
Original signatures (in ink) must appear on hardbound

copies of the project. The Department Head’s signature,
supervisor’s signature, internal examiner’s signature and
Head of Research Cell/Research Officer are required on the
Approval Sheet of the project.
Abstract
An abstract is a brief, comprehensive summary of the
contents of the project. It allows readers to survey the
contents of project quickly. It enables abstracting and
31
information services to index and retrieve articles. A good
abstract is
• Accurate: ensure that the abstract correctly reflects
the purpose and content of the manuscript.
• Self explanatory
• Concise and specific: Make each sentence maximally

informative, especially the lead sentence. Be as brief
as possible. Begin the abstract with the most
important information.
• Non evaluative: Report rather than evaluate. Do not

add to or comment on what is in the body of the
manuscript.
• Coherent and readable: Write in clear and vigorous

prose. Use verbs rather than their noun equivalents
and the active rather than passive voice. Use the
present tense to describe results with continuing
applicability or conclusions drawn. Use the third
person rather than first person. Avoid sentences and
phrases that contain no real information.
NOTE: abstract should not be more than one page
Paper Requirement
Standard-sized A4 paper of 90 grams must be used to prepare
the final copies of the project. Text must be printed on
one side of the paper. All pages of the manuscript must be
32
the same side. Do not use half sheets or scripts of paper
glued, taped or stapled to the pages.
Language
Project must be written in English.
Typeface
12-pt Courier New: it is the standard typeface for project.
Only 12-pt Courier New typeface must be used throughout the
project. All text, page numbers, table numbers, figure
numbers, captions and references must be in the same
typeface. For general text, the font size should be 12
points.
Line Spacing (1.5)
It means leaving 1.5 lines blank between each line of type
on the page. For most word-processing software, this means
setting the line spacing to 1.5 lines.
Single Spacing: Bibliography or list of reference entries,
table and figure captions, and data within large tables are
to be single-spaced. Lengthy descriptions in the appendix
may also be single-spaced. Quoted material of more than
three typewritten lines is indented and single-spaced.
Quoted material that is three lines or fewer may be single
spaced for emphasis.
Text
The text pages, from beginning to end, are numbered with
Arabic numerals.
Style of type
33
Produce an accurate, clear, clean copy that will reproduce
well. The 12-pt Courier new style of type should be used
throughout the project.
Print styles that are similar to standard typefaces are

preferred. Italic type may be used for foreign words,
citation of titles, and special emphasis.
Margins
Requirement (minimum): Top-1”; bottom-1”; left-1.5”; right-
1”. Leave 1 inch margin on top, bottom and right sides
where as 1.5 inch margin on left side of every page to
allow for binding.
The top margin of the first page of the preliminaries,
chapters, appendices and bibliographies is 2 inches. Margin
sets for different word processing systems will vary. The
right margin may be violated occasionally by one space and
bottom margin by one line. Always continue the text to the
bottom margin at the end of a chapter. WARNING: Photo
reproduction results in a slight enlargement, therefore
margins should be strictly observed on the original. The
bottom and right margin must never be less than ¾ inch on
reproduced copies.
These same margins are to be observed for tables,

illustrative materials, bibliographies and appendices as
well as in the text. Folded pages are not allowed in the
text as they may be damaged when project is trimmed. Right
justification is acceptable if the printer does it
properly, i.e. does not separate punctuation from
characters and does not leave gaps in the text.
34
Space between Words
Use one space between words and sentences.
Page Numbering
Each page of the project must be assigned a number.
Preliminary pages are numbered at the bottom with lower
case Roman numerals. Preliminary page number i.e. I is
assigned to, but not printed on the title page.
The main text, typically starting with Chapter I, is

numbered with Arabic numerals. Begin each chapter on a new
page. First pages of introduction or sections, appendices,
and bibliographies are either left unnumbered (though a
number is always assigned) or numbered at the bottom. All
other text pages may have numbers placed either top or
bottom, and either centered on the text or aligned at the
right margin of the text. Most word processing programs
will do this automatically and, generally the automatic
placement will be acceptable as long as the following
criteria are met. Text should never fall outside the
margins as specified in this manual. Page numbers may be
inside or outside the top or bottom margins, but never less
than ½ inch from the edge of the page. If inside the
margin, the number should not be more than one line below
the top margin or above the bottom margin. There should
never be less than one blank line between the first or last
text line and the page number. Stamped page numbers are
discouraged.
35
Word Limit
Project must not exceed from 15,000 to 20,000 words or 70
to 100 pages with 1.5 line space.
Headings and Subheadings

Use level 5 for chapter headings and levels 1-4 (if needed)
for headings within chapters.
Heading font size is 14 pt. Bold.
Heading Level 5
CENTERED UPPERCASE HEADING
Heading Level 1
Centered uppercase and lower heading
Heading Level 2
Centered, Italicized, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
Heading level 3
Flush Left, Italicized, Uppercase and lowercase
Heading level 4
Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading
Each chapter is started on a new page. Headings for all

preliminary pages must be centered and in uppercase.
36
Text Alignment
Justified text is recommended
Paragraphs
When it is necessary to divide a paragraph at the end of a
page, at least two lines should appear at the bottom of the
page and two at the top of the following page.
Endnotes
If endnotes are used, they may be placed in the
supplementary at the end of project. Write the endnotes
under the heading of “endnote”.
Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should follow immediately after first
mention in the text or on the next page. If they are placed
on the first, continue the text to the bottom of preceding
page. Do not leave a space (gap) on the page where the
table or figure was first mentioned.
Figures must look professional. Hand lettering is

unacceptable unless executed by a professional
draftsperson. Any diagram, drawing, graph, chart, map,
photograph or other type of illustration must be presented
in the project as a figure.
Broadside Tables and Figures

In order to fit large tables or figures on a page, it is
sometimes necessary to place them broadside. The binding
37
margin for such a table or figure must be 1 ½ inches and
all other margins must be 1 inch. The top margin and page
number location must be the same as on a regular page.
Numbering of Tables and Figures
Numbering of tables and figures should be consecutive

throughout the entire project or within each chapter,
including those in the appendix. If the tables and figures
are to be numbered consecutively within each chapter, the
chapter number should appear along with the table or figure
number (e.g. 1.1, 1.2(for chapter 1); 2.1, 2.2(for chapter
2). The number and title of a table should be placed above
the table. Tables and figures are numbered separately.
Computer Output
Computer output, including pen plotting and screen
plotting, is acceptable provided the material is dark,
clear, readable copy transferred to acceptable paper. If
the material is tabular, room must be left at the top for
the table number, caption, appropriate lines, and columnar
headings unless the entire table is to be printed by the
computer printout machine.
Supplementaries
References or Bibliography
The style for references should follow the format of

thesis. The style used must be consistent throughout the
project. There are many good sources that may be consulted
38
for certain fields or to solve special problems. Advisors
and committee members usually have excellent references to
suggest.
Appendices
Quality and format should be consistent with requirements
for other parts of the project including margins and
reproduction. Computer printout must conform to margins.
Reductions must be clear and readable. Appendices may be
treated in a fashion parallel to chapters. That is, the
first page of an appendix would have a one inch top margin
and begin with a title – e.g., “Appendix I”, Appendix:
Diagrams.” Alternatively, an appendix may be introduced
with a cover page bearing only the title. The content of
the appendix then begins on the second page with the
standard one-inch margin.
Project Submission Requirements

Two hardbound copies and a soft copy of project on CD
(placed in CD pocket back side) are to be submitted to the
Research Cell. The sample of title page of the hardbound
copy can be obtained from the Research Cell. Project
Approval sheet should be attached in both hard bound copies.
Color of Hard Bound Copy
Golden or silver color of text is recommended on the black

or blue color background of hardbound copy of project.
39
Spine
Name of student
Title of the research project
Year
Rules and Regulations
Marks breakdown
Final Defense
Progress report by supervisor 20%
Internal examiner 40%
External examiner 40%
Consensus would be developed among the panelists before

awarding grade to the student.
Max Time Frame and Penalty

Maximum duration for the submission of final hardbound copy
of project is 6 months starting from the date of
registration. Extension may be given to student if he/she
is at final stage of project and cannot submit due to solid
reason. In case of failure, student has to re-enroll the
project in order to continue the same research work.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the supervisor
40
The research supervisor is responsible for providing
training to the research student to use the application
soft wares and other instruments to enhance their research
capabilities. The research supervisor should strive to
maintain continuous support for the student.
• His/her role is to guide the student throughout
his/her research time frame
• He/she is responsible for the timely completion of the
projects
• He/she has to check the work progress consistently
• He/she guides the student in research methodology and
corrects the technical errors. He/she suggests the
sources of information.
• He/she also evaluates the student’s work a final stage
• He/she has o check research topic archive provided in
the online database to ensure that research work is
not done on the same/similar topic, which the student
is going to finalize for his/her research work
Responsibilities of the student

• To carry out assigned duties satisfactorily
• To fulfill all academic requirements
• To follow instructions of supervisor
• To visit the supervisor on regular basis to seek
proper guidance
• To complete the research work in the given time frame
• He/she has to check research topic archive provided in
the online database to ensure their research work is
not done on the same/similar topic, which he/she is
going to finalize for his/her research work
41
HARVARD REFERENCING STYLE
In writing academic reports, essays and dissertations, you

will frequently have to refer to (or cite) books, journal
articles, reports and other documents. These citations must
be linked in some way to a full list of
references/bibliography presented at the end of your work.
Importance of accurate citation and referencing:

To enable you keep track of where you searched for
information
To enable you quickly locate information you have already
cited
To enable your tutor to check the veracity of the
information quoted
To enable others follow your research
To prevent plagiarism
The content of your references should answer the following

questions
Who wrote or is responsible for the work?

What is the title of the work?
Where, when and by whom it was published?
THE HARVARD REFERENCING SYSTEM:

Harvard Referencing System consists of two parts:
1. The in-text referencing
2. Bibliography
In-text referencing:
The in-text referencing is the part you must include in
text. It must contain enough information for the reader to
look it up in your bibliography
Bibliography:
The Bibliography is a list of the references you have used in the
text, and in developing your text outline. It appears at the end
of your written material. Every in-text reference, except
personal communications, MUST be included in the Bibliography at
the end of your material.
42
References/bibliography should contain appropriate
information in the following order:
Originator (author, editors or company)
Date of publication (Harvard Method)
Title
Material Designation (non print resources)
Edition
Publication Details
Date of publication (Numeric system)
Page numbers where appropriate
A sample bibliography is given at the end.
1. Referencing a book
When using in-text referencing for published texts, you must
include enough information so that the reader knows the author’s
surname, the year of publication, and the specific page numbers
where the material can be found.
The In-text reference
Two common methods of writing are shown here without referencing.
You might say:
Dwyer suggested that we should aim to create associations that

are favorable rather than unfavorable.
Alternatively, you might present the same material like this:
In 1999, Dwyer suggested that we should aim to create

associations that are favorable rather than unfavorable.
On the other hand, you could even present it like this:
However, as these concepts are not your original material, you

must reference them. There are a number of referencing methods
shown below. It does not matter which of them you use, however as
the most important consideration is that you be consistent
throughout your material.
Any of the following in-text referencing methods are acceptable.
 Dwyer (1999, p.195) suggests that ...
Dwyer (1999:195) suggests that ...
In 1999, Dwyer (p.195) suggests that ...
We should aim to create associations that are favorable rather
than unfavorable (Dwyer, 1999, p.195).
The Bibliographic entry

In all the above cases, there would be only one bibliographic
entry. This must be written as:
Dwyer J, 1999, Communication in Business – Strategies and
Techniques, Prentice
43
Hall, Sydney.
You will see that this is written in the form of:
Author or Editor, year (no brackets), title, (edition number),
publisher, city of publication
2. Referencing a conference paper

If you refer to a paper presented at a conference, then the
following examples illustrate how this should be treated.
(Boudreau, 1990, p.9)
Boudreau J, 1990, ‘Cost-benefit analysis applied to human
resource management decisions’, Paper presented to IPM NZ
Conference, Auckland, NZ, 12-14 September, pp.1-11.
3. Referencing a corporate publication

If you refer to material from a business or non-government
organization, and you know who the author is, then treat it like
a book. If you do NOT know who the author is, then the business
or organization is assumed to be the author.
This is illustrated below.
(Aurion Corporation, 1999, [p.3])
Aurion Corporation, 1999, “Taking the Journey with you”, Aurion
Corporation, Brisbane.
4. Referencing an e-mail
If you wish to refer to an e-mail message, use the following
format.
The in-text reference should show the author, the year of
transmission, the day of transmission, the month of transmission,
and then the word “e-mail”. If the person’s name is unclear, you
should use their e-mail “name”. This is the section of the e-mail
address in front of the “@” symbol.
Note: If the e-mail address is a person’s private e-mail address
and not a business e-mail address, you should obtain that
person’s permission.
In 1999, the Manager of Foley Industries, Ms Bernice Foley (10
July, e-mail), cited the current economic conditions as still
being a major factor in or
The current economic conditions are still seen as a major factor
in business today (Foley B, 1999, 10 July, e-mail).
44
As shown below the bibliographic entry should include the
“subject line” of the message as a title and the full date
instead of just the year. It should include the “e-mail to” and
both e-mail addresses.
Sender (sender’s e-mail address), day month year, subject of
message, e-mail to
receiver (receiver’s e-mail address).
an example is as follows:
Berwick J, (jb45@norfolk.nf), 15 January 2000, Management on
Norfolk, e-mail to I
Nicholson (dr_nich@moreton.qld.edu.au)
5. Referencing an edited publication

When you refer to the work of an author from a chapter or a paper
that has been contributed by that author to a collection of
material by different authors and edited by one of the authors or
another person, then the material is from an edited publication.
So if you refer to material written by W Weaver, taken from a
publication edited by AG Smith, then it should be presented as
shown here.
This refers to Weaver’s work even though the material appears in
an edited publication.
(Weaver W, 1996, p.17)
You must include both of these entries so that, together, they
show that Weaver has contributed material to a publication edited
by Smith.
Smith, AG (Ed), 1996, Communication and Culture, Holt, Rinehart &
Wilston, New York.
Weaver W, 1996, “The Mathematics of Communication”, in Smith
1996, pp.15-24
6. Referencing a Government document

If you refer to material from a Government department and you
know who the author is, then treat it like a book. If you do NOT
know who the author is, then the Department is assumed to be the
author. This is illustrated below.
(Attorney-General’s Department, 1998, p.16)
Attorney-General’s Department, 1998, Privacy Act 1988, Ausinfo,
Canberra.
7. Referencing a website
45
www.mhhe.com
Searching for …..( write the type of information
that you have found from internet)
Accessed on February 3, 2008
Available at: ……(here paste the complete web link)
EXAMPLE:
Searching for effect of enrichment on working environment
Accessed on 30th November, 2007
Available at: www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/ViewContentServlet?
Filename=Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/0260250605.htm
l#b6
8. Referencing a journal or magazine

If you refer to an article in a journal or magazine, you need to
follow the same rules as for published texts.
“It is time for three spirits to work together” (Dattner, 1999,
p.12).
You will see that the article’s name is in quotes, the Journal’s
name is in Italics, and the Journal’s
issue identification is also included.
Dattner F, 1999, “Formidable, Reflective Capacity”, Management
Today, September,
p.12.
9. Referencing a journal from an

electronic database
If you refer to an article in a journal from an electronic
database, you need to follow the same rules as for articles from
the Internet.
“Retention of personnel depends on the companies’ ability to
formulate preventive defection program(Gordon, 1999).”
You will see that the article’s name is in quotes, the Journal’s
name is in Italics, the Journal’s issue identification is
included, and so is where the article was found.
Gordon C, 1999, “Forced outside. (external hiring)”, Human
Resource Planning, March, v22 i1 p18(2) [electronic]. Available
from: Moreton TAFE Libraries, Moreton E-Files, Article A54657577
[9 August 2000].
46
10. Unpublished minutes of a meeting
Always include the following:
 author (usually an organization)
year meeting occurred
title of the minutes with quotation marks
place of meeting
date of meeting, in the form 21-24 August
Management Team, 2004, “Minutes of Monthly Staff Meeting”,
Moreton Institute of
TAFE, 26 October.
11. Referencing a newspaper

E-mail is society’s new “time-waster” (Cameron, 2000, p.17), and
it seems that ....
Cameron M, 2000, “Firms pay high price for e-mail overload”, The
Courier Mail, 15 January, p.17.
If you refer to an article from a newspaper and you do NOT know

who the author is then
E-mail is society’s new “time-waster” (The Courier Mail, 2000,
p.19), and it seems that ....
The Courier Mail, 2000, “Firms pay high price for e-mail
overload”, The Courier Mail, 15 January, p.19.
12. Referencing a personal communication

During an interview in 1998, the Manager of Foley Industries, Ms
Bernice Foley, cited the current economic conditions as a major
factor in ...
or
The current economic conditions are seen as a major factor in
business today (Foley, B, 1998, Personal Interview).

In neither case should you include a Bibliographic entry.
13. Referencing a thesis

If you reference a thesis, then the example below should be
followed.
47
(Nicholson, 1996, pp.120-123)
Nicholson IJ, 1996, “The First 100 Years - The development of
technical education in
Queensland to 1977”, PhD Thesis, University of New England,
Armidale, NSW.
14. Referencing unpublished material

If you refer to material that has not been published, follow the
examples below.
(Nicholson, 1999, p.14)
Nicholson IJ Dr, 1999, “Risk Management”, unpublished notes.
15. A reference with two authors

If a reference has two authors, always refer to both names every
time the reference occurs in the text.
Use an “&” between the names.
(Compton & Nankervis, 1991, p.45)
Compton RL & Nankervis AR, 1991, Effective Recruitment and
Selection Practices, CCH Australia Limited, Sydney.
16. A reference with more than two authors

If a reference has more than two authors, use all the names ONLY
in the first in-text reference.
Always use an “&” before the last name.
The first In-text reference
(Dessler, Griffiths, Lloyd-Walker, & Williams, 1999, p.26)
In the subsequent in-text references, use the first author’s name
followed by “et al” in italics.
The second and subsequent In-text references
(Dessler et al, 1999, p.29)
Dessler G, Griffiths J, Lloyd-Walker B, & Williams A, 1999, Human
Resource
Management, Prentice Hall, Melbourne.
An example Bibliography
This example bibliography is included to show HOW you should do
it.
48
Attorney-General’s Department, 1998, Privacy Act 1988, Ausinfo,
Canberra.
Aurion Corporation , 1999, “Taking the Journey with you”, Aurion
Corporation, Brisbane.
Bee R & Bee F, 1990, Management Information Systems and
Statistics, Institute of Personnel
Management, London.
Berwick J, (jb45@norfolk.nf), 15 January 2000, Management on
Norfolk, e-mail to I Nicholson
(dr_nich@moreton.qld.edu.au)
Boudreau J, 1990, ‘Cost-benefit analysis applied to
personnel/human resource management decisions’,
Paper presented to IPM NZ Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 12-
14 September, pp.1-11.
Cameron M, 2000, “Firms pay high price for e-mail overload”, The
Courier Mail, 15 January, p.17
Castio WX, c.1997, Costing Human Resources, Kent, Boston.
Castio WX, 1998, Reducing Human Resource Costs, Kent, Boston.
Compton RL & Nankervis AR, 1991, Effective Recruitment and
Selection Practices, CCH Australia
Limited, Sydney.
Dattner F, 1999, “Formidable, Reflective Capacity”, Management
Today, September, p.12.
Dessler G, Griffiths J, Lloyd-Walker B, & Williams A, 1999, Human
Resource Management, Prentice
Hall, Melbourne.
Doran A & Rampton G, 1999, “Making A Business Case for a New
HRIS” [online]. Available from:
www.hronline.com/lib/hris/phbus.html [12 March 2000].
Dwyer J, 1997, The Business Communication Handbook, 4th edn.,
Prentice Hall, Sydney.
Dwyer J, 1999, Communication in Business – Strategies and
Techniques, Prentice Hall, Sydney.
Gordon C, 1999, “Forced outside. (external hiring)”, Human
Resource Planning, March, v22 i1 p18(2)
[electronic]. Available from: Moreton TAFE Libraries, Moreton E-
Files, Article A54657577 [9
August 2000].
HROnline, 1999, “Making A Business Case for a New HRIS” [online].
Available from:
www.hronline.com/lib/hris/phbus.html [12 March 2000].
Menday J, 1996, Call Centre Management - A Practical Guide,
CallCraft, Newdigate, UK.
Nankervis AR, Compton RL & McCarthy TE, 1996, Strategic Human
Resource Management, 2nd
edn., Thomson Publishing Nelson, Melbourne.
Nicholson IJ, 1996, “The First 100 Years - The development of
technical education in Queensland to
1977”, PhD Thesis, University of New England, Armidale, NSW.
Nicholson IJ Dr, 1999, “Risk Management”, unpublished notes.
Harvard Referencing – 3rd Edition
Dr Ian Nicholson Page 20
49
Resmanag.com, nd, “Estimating your manpower needs” [online].
Available from:
www.resmanag.com/lib/hris/estmanpwr.html [1 October 2004].
Stone RJ, 1998a, Human Resource Management, 3rd edn., Wiley,
Brisbane.
Stone RJ, 1998b, Readings in Human Resource Management, Vol.3,
Wiley, Brisbane.
The Courier Mail, 2000, “Firms pay high price for e-mail
overload”, The Courier Mail, 15 January,
p.19.
Willson-Murray R, 1997, Managing Projects - a new approach, John
Wiley & Sons, Brisbane.
Web References:
Searching for effect of enrichment on working environment

Accessed on 30th November, 2007
Available at: www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/ViewContentServlet?
Filename=Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/0260250605.htm
l#b6
50
ABSTRACT SAMPLE
In an extension of research demonstrating causal effects of

intercessory prayer for physical healing in a medical
setting, the present study experimentally examined the
effects of intercessory prayer for improved task
performance in an employment setting. Trained customer
service representatives either did, or did not, receive
(over a 14 day period) daily intercessory prayer for the
specific needs and challenges of their workplace. Speed of
call handling was evaluated for each customer service
representative. The specific dependent measures were number
of calls per hour and number of seconds per call. No
statistically significant differences between prayer and
non-prayer groups were found for either calls per hour or
seconds per call. Recommendations for research in this new
era of study center on methodological issues, including the
selection of relevant dependent measures.
51
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RESEARCH MANUAL

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

In completing the MBA, the student should:

Research Cell Team

1. The candidate should make supervision arrangements to

13.The final approval sheet is placed after the title

14.Final thesis would not be accepted by the MS Research

2. Background of the company and the

3. Rational for project research

4. Problem statement/priority issue

6. Contemporary Research (Literature review)

10. Expected outcomes (results of research)

11. Timelines (expected time to complete project)

12. References (using Harvard Referencing Style)

A thesis is evidence of an individual’s ability to

A thesis is not merely the effort of one scholar working in

Before beginning of the thesis process, a research

Faculty Management Sciences at Bahria University is

A typical thesis is made up of three parts:

Each part may be organized as shown below:

The main text contains the following chapters:

• Broad problem area/Background

Ch 4) Results and Discussion

These are numbered with lower case Roman numerals at the

Author’s name (byline): the preferred form of an

Institutional affiliation: the affiliation identifies

The date shown must be the term and year of graduation in

Original signatures (in ink) must appear on hardbound copy

Self contained: define all abbreviations and acronyms.

Concise and specific: Make each sentence maximally

Non evaluative: Report rather than evaluate. Do not add

Coherent and readable: Write in clear and vigorous

Abstract should contain the following information:

All theses require an abstract. The first page of the

Only 12-pt Courier New typeface must be used throughout the

Line Spacing (1.5)

Single Spacing: Bibliography or list of reference entries,

Print styles that are similar to standard typefaces are

The top margin of the first page of the preliminaries,

These same margins are to be observed for tables,

Space between Words

The main text, typically starting with Chapter I, is

Headings and Subheadings

Heading font size is 14 pt. Bold.

Each chapter is started on a new page. Headings for all

Tables and Figures

Figures must look professional. Hand lettering is

Broadside Tables and Figures

Numbering of Tables and Figures

Numbering of tables and figures should be consecutive

The style for references should follow the format given on

Students are supposed to quote atleast 15 to 20 academic

Thesis Submission Requirements

Color of Hard Bound Copy

Rules and Regulations

Progress report by the supervisor 20%

Consensus would be developed among the panelists before

Max Time Frame and Penalty

The research supervisor should strive to maintain

• His/her role is to guide the student throughout

Responsibilities of the student

A project is evidence of an individual’s ability to

A project is not merely the effort of two or more scholars