This document discusses the importance of research projects for M. Com students. It explains that research projects allow students to investigate problems in a scientific manner by applying management concepts. Research projects also help students learn how to conduct studies systematically and present conclusions and findings. The document provides guidance on various aspects of developing a research project such as selecting topics, developing the structure and contents of a project report, and common types of research projects. It emphasizes that research projects provide opportunities for students to apply their conceptual knowledge to practical situations.

1. Importance of ResearchImportance of Research
Project for M. Com.Project for M. Com.
StudentsStudents
Dr. G. Y. Shitole,Dr. G. Y. Shitole,
Professor and Head,Professor and Head,
Department of Commerce,Department of Commerce,
S. N. D. T. Women’s University,S. N. D. T. Women’s University,
Mumbai – 400 020.Mumbai – 400 020.

2. Project and Research ProjectProject and Research Project
 Project is specific task and goal directedProject is specific task and goal directed
activity.activity.
 Project is time bound activity.Project is time bound activity.
 Research Project is scientific and systematicResearch Project is scientific and systematic
study.study.
 Resolve problem with application ofResolve problem with application of
management concepts and skills.management concepts and skills.
 Scientific data collection, analysis andScientific data collection, analysis and
interpretation.interpretation.

3. Status of M. Com. StudentsStatus of M. Com. Students
and Teachersand Teachers
 Students are less knowledgeable.Students are less knowledgeable.
 Teachers are experts in managementTeachers are experts in management
subjects.subjects.

4. Why Research Project forWhy Research Project for
M. Com.?M. Com.?
 Opportunity to investigate problem.Opportunity to investigate problem.
 Application of managementApplication of management
concepts in scientific manner.concepts in scientific manner.
 Apply conceptual knowledge in aApply conceptual knowledge in a
practical situation.practical situation.
 Art of conducting study inArt of conducting study in
systematic way.systematic way.
 Presenting conclusions andPresenting conclusions and
findings.findings.

5. Why Research Project forWhy Research Project for
M. Com.?M. Com.?
 It is a device to explain a businessIt is a device to explain a business
phenomenon.phenomenon.
 It addresses a specific businessIt addresses a specific business
problem from different angles.problem from different angles.
 It answers a critical business problem.It answers a critical business problem.
 Offers solutions.Offers solutions.
 Analyses situation.Analyses situation.
 Evaluates performance.Evaluates performance.
 Systematic & critical appraisalSystematic & critical appraisal

6. CONCEPT OF RESEARCHCONCEPT OF RESEARCH
 Finding something new.Finding something new.
 Innovative, creative and original.Innovative, creative and original.
 Research in Physical Sciences.Research in Physical Sciences.
 Research in Social Sciences.Research in Social Sciences.
 Commerce, Management, etc.Commerce, Management, etc.
Social Science.Social Science.
 Multi-disciplinary or inter-Multi-disciplinary or inter-
disciplinary.disciplinary.

7. HOW TO DO RESEARCH?HOW TO DO RESEARCH?
 Research is finding out something you doResearch is finding out something you do
not know.not know.
 It is intelligence gathering.It is intelligence gathering.
 Research is based on an open system ofResearch is based on an open system of
thought.thought.
 Examine data critically.Examine data critically.
 Generalize and specify the limits onGeneralize and specify the limits on
generalizations.generalizations.
 Original contribution by researcher.Original contribution by researcher.

8. Research Process =Research Process =
Research MethodologyResearch Methodology
 Data collection.Data collection.
 Data processing.Data processing.
 Data analysis.Data analysis.
 Data interpretation.Data interpretation.
 Report writing.Report writing.

9. How to select a topic of project ?How to select a topic of project ?
 Subject of your studySubject of your study
 Subject of your interestSubject of your interest
 Prominent issues before a particularProminent issues before a particular
industryindustry
 Studies carried out elsewhereStudies carried out elsewhere
 Topic offered by a particular industryTopic offered by a particular industry

10. Where to search forWhere to search for
topics?topics?
 Class room discussions.Class room discussions.
 Suggestions from your teacher.Suggestions from your teacher.
 Research already done.Research already done.
 Contemporary business issues.Contemporary business issues.
 Issues discussed in news paper and print media.Issues discussed in news paper and print media.
 Business magazines.Business magazines.
 Research journals.Research journals.
 Corporate requests.Corporate requests.
 Consultancy projects.Consultancy projects.
 Request from social and government agencies.Request from social and government agencies.

11. How to search for project ideas?How to search for project ideas?
 Problems unanswered.Problems unanswered.
 Issues requiring attention.Issues requiring attention.
 Critical aspects associated with problem.Critical aspects associated with problem.
 Issues related with a particular industry.Issues related with a particular industry.
 Functional issues and problems likeFunctional issues and problems like
marketing and human resources.marketing and human resources.
 Attending Seminars and Conferences.Attending Seminars and Conferences.
 Looking for old projects, dissertations, etc.Looking for old projects, dissertations, etc.

12. How to start ?How to start ?
 Search for ideas, problems and issues.Search for ideas, problems and issues.
 Identify most suitable ideas.Identify most suitable ideas.
 Examine their project worthiness.Examine their project worthiness.
 Select two or three ideas initially.Select two or three ideas initially.
 Evaluate their feasibility.Evaluate their feasibility.
 your interest , capabilities , resources andyour interest , capabilities , resources and
time should be the principal criteria.time should be the principal criteria.

13. The limiting factors of projectThe limiting factors of project
reportreport
 Time availableTime available
 Resources availableResources available
 Information availableInformation available
 Availability of guidanceAvailability of guidance
 Purpose of researchPurpose of research

14. The structure of project reportThe structure of project report
 Problem definitionProblem definition
 Basic conceptual dataBasic conceptual data
 Methodology of researchMethodology of research
 Technique of data collectionTechnique of data collection
 Methods of data analysisMethods of data analysis
 Conclusions & findingsConclusions & findings
 Suggestions & recommendationsSuggestions & recommendations

15. Types of project reportsTypes of project reports
 Event analysisEvent analysis
 Performance analysisPerformance analysis
 Trend analysisTrend analysis
 System analysisSystem analysis
 Response analysisResponse analysis

16. Functional classification ofFunctional classification of
ReportsReports
 Marketing and sales relatedMarketing and sales related
problemsproblems
 Human resources related problemsHuman resources related problems
 Financial performance analysisFinancial performance analysis
 Investment, banking and insuranceInvestment, banking and insurance
related financial servicesrelated financial services
 Administrative and managerialAdministrative and managerial
system analysissystem analysis

17. Contents of project reportContents of project report
 PreliminariesPreliminaries
 Introduction and methodologyIntroduction and methodology
 Conceptual frameworkConceptual framework
 Profile of organization under studyProfile of organization under study
 Collection and analysis of dataCollection and analysis of data
 Interpretation of dataInterpretation of data
 Conclusions and suggestionsConclusions and suggestions
 AppendicesAppendices

18. PreliminariesPreliminaries
 Title pageTitle page
 Declaration by the candidateDeclaration by the candidate
 Certificate by guideCertificate by guide
 Contents and chapter schemeContents and chapter scheme
 List of tablesList of tables
 List of graphsList of graphs
 AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

19. AppendicesAppendices
 BibliographyBibliography
 QuestionnaireQuestionnaire
 Interview schedulesInterview schedules
 Letter to agencies from whom dataLetter to agencies from whom data
has been collectedhas been collected

20. CONTENTS OF RESEARCHCONTENTS OF RESEARCH
ProjectProject
1.1. Introduction.Introduction.
2.2. Statement of the problem.Statement of the problem.
3.3. Review of previous studies.Review of previous studies.
4.4. Scope of the study.Scope of the study.
5.5. Objectives of the study.Objectives of the study.
6.6. Conceptual model.Conceptual model.
7.7. Hypothesis.Hypothesis.

21. CONTENTS OF RESEARCHCONTENTS OF RESEARCH
ProjectProject
8.8. Significance of the study.Significance of the study.
9.9. Geographical area.Geographical area.
10.10. Methodology.Methodology.
11.11. Sampling plan.Sampling plan.
12.12. Chapter scheme.Chapter scheme.
13.13. Time budget. (only for project)Time budget. (only for project)
14.14. Financial budget. (only for project)Financial budget. (only for project)

22. Thank YouThank You
Dr. G. Y. ShitoleDr. G. Y. Shitole