iba guidelines 2012

7/18/2019 IBA Guidelines 2012

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/iba-guidelines-2012 1/17

IBA’s guidelines for writing

assignments and preparingproject presentations

N.B.: These guidelines are general and intended as a guide. Therefore, remember always

to ask your tutor/supervisor whether you can deviate from the general guidelines inspecic situations.

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Table of contents

1. FORMALITIES............................................................................................................3

!.!. Template........................................................................................................"

!.#. Number of $haracters:..................................................................................."

!.". %ayout and font.............................................................................................."

!.&. ections, marking and numbering................................................................."

!.'. ubmission....................................................................................................&

2. REFERENCES............................................................................................................5

#.!. $itations.........................................................................................................'

#.#. Bibliography...................................................................................................'

3. REPORT/PROJECT...................................................................................................8

".!. (ront page and title page).............................................................................*

".#. +reface...........................................................................................................*

".". ummary.......................................................................................................*

".&. Table of contents)..........................................................................................

".'. -ntroduction)..................................................................................................

".. +roblem +roposal)..........................................................................................

".. 0elimitation)................................................................................................!1

".*. 2ethodology)..............................................................................................!1

".. 0escriptive section......................................................................................!1

".!1. 3nalysis section)......................................................................................!1

".!!. +roposal/olution......................................................................................!1

".!#. $onclusion)...............................................................................................!!".!". +erspective...............................................................................................!!

".!&. Bibliography)............................................................................................!!

".!'. 3ppendices...............................................................................................!!

4. SYNOPSIS................................................................................................................12

5. OPPONENT PRESENTATION.................................................................................13

6. ORAL PRESENTATION OF PROJECTS..................................................................14

7. SUPERVISION..........................................................................................................15

8. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA........................................................................................16

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1.Formalities

1.1. Template

3 4ord template designed in accordance with below layout formalities and whichalso includes a 5gross table of contents5 covering the sections of the report isavailable on Blackboard.

1.2. Number of !aracters"

The pro6ect description states ma7imum 8and sometimes minimum9 number ofcharacters.

The character reuirements must be observed, otherwise the result of theassessment will be lowered. -f an indicative number of characters is stated, thismust be followed within a range of ;/< ' per cent.

3 standard page contains #,&11 characters including spaces. The number ofcharacters must be stated on the title page of the assignment.

Table of contents, summary, bibliography, preface and appendices are not includedin the number of characters. The te7t must be readable in its entirety withouthaving to consult the enclosed appendices 8appendices will not be assessed9.

1.#. $a%out and font

=se a simple and businesslike font with or without feet 8eg 3rial, Times New >oman, Tahoma9. The same font must be applied throughout the entire document.

Below reuirements to the layout must be met:+age si?e: 3&%ine spacing: !.'

Top margin: ".' cm%eft margin: #.' cm

>ight margin: #.1 cmBottom margin: #.1 cm

1.&. 'ections( mar)ing and numbering

3dd suitable headlines to the sections and mark clearly where the section belongsby using the numbering in order to clarify which information in the report thatbelongs together 8as in this guide9.

-n addition to numbering the sections you can use typographic marking to

emphasi?e main sections and subsections by using di@erent font si?es and boldfonts.

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>emember that 3%% pages of the report must be numbered.

1.*. 'ubmission

The pro6ect description states how to submit your report or presentation.

Aften reports must be submitted electronically as well as physically.

=sually, two or more bound hard copies must be submitted to your supervisor or tothe secretariat. The reports must be submitted in hardcover in order to ensure thatall pages are included.

(urthermore, an electronic 4ord version must be submitted to the supervisors

=rkund mail address in order to check for plagiarism. 3 full list of the lecturers=rkund mail addresses is found on Blackboard.

-n some cases you may also be asked to submit the 4ord format document on a=B or $0. Clectronic media must be supplied with name and title, and they will notbe returned to you.

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2.+eferences

3ll information stated which is not your own must be supplied with clear references.

2.1. itations

-t is important that citations and references in your assignments can be traced. 3good citation style is therefore very important.

-B3 recommends Coventry University Harvard Reference Style, which is basedon the following principle:

$itations of less than three lines must be marked with uotation<marks in the te7t. -f part of the citation is left out because it is found irrelevant 8to the meaning9 it mustbe demonstrated as 8D9 in the citation. (ollowing the citation, the source must bestated as follows: +arenthesis, surname of the author, date of publication, pagenumber, end of parenthesis. +lease see below e7ample:

Bobos leadership styles may be critici?ed for being distorted models: 5theleadership styles are prototypes and general E and there are hardly two leaders whobasically can be said to have the same leadership style.5 8F6Gr et al., #11, p. !9

$itations of more than three lines must be demonstrated by indent and reducedtypography/line spacing. -n this case uotation marks may be left out. +lease seebelow e7ample:

Bobos leadership styles may be critici?ed for being distorted models thoughproviding a good reference frame when we need to e7amine a specic leadershipstyle closely:

The leadership styles are prototypes and general E and there are hardly two leaderswho basically can be said to have the same leadership style. Het, all ve prototypesmay to some e7tent hold some of the leaders who are employed in the public sector aswell as in the private sector, in small or large companies and in very di@erentindustries. 8F6Gr et al., #11, p. !9

Below we will e7amine Iens Iensens leadership style and nd out where to place itin Iack Bobos modelD

>emember also to add the sources of references when you reproduce a te7t in yourown words. (or more information on how to refer to te7ts, please seewww.stopplagiat.nu.

3ll models and illustrations/gures must be numbered and supplied with sources. -fyou have created your own model, you must write: 8own model9.

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http://www.stopplagiat.nu/

http://www.stopplagiat.nu/



0anske Bank, www.danskebank.dk, 5+rol5, http://danskebank.dk/da<dk/Am<banken/Fort<om<os/+ages/+rol.asp7, found 1.1.#1!#

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http://www.danskebank.dk/

http://danskebank.dk/da-dk/Om-banken/Kort-om-os/Pages/Profil.aspx


http://www.danskebank.dk/





,t!er sources

Ather sources must be stated as precisely as possible. 4hen using unpublished

booklets and various kinds of company material which is not directly available, asmuch information as possible must be stated and the material must be saved incase it has to be presented in case of doubt.

+ersonal interviews conducted must indicate:Name, 6ob title, place, date, way of interview, and indication of whether theinterview has been recorded.

3 detailed guide < $oventry =niversity Jarvard reference style < including citationmethods on other kinds of material is available on below link:

http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/caw/cuhrs/0ocuments/JarvardOMuideOv".1.!.pdf or onBlackboard

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http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/caw/cuhrs/Documents/Harvard_Guide_v3.0.1.pdf

http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/caw/cuhrs/Documents/Harvard_Guide_v3.0.1.pdf



#.+eport/0roject

Below list describes the content of reports at -B3. ome of the reports are short andcontain fewer elements. Clements marked with a star 8)9 are, however, alwaysincluded in a written report at -B3.

#.1. Front page and title page

$over page/front page must include the title of the report together withname/names and class. The title should be short and describe the content of thereport. The front page layout may be creative and rePect the content of the report.

The title page must include all data for identication of the report:

• Title• Name of the author• ignature of the author• ub6ect• Name of the study programme/course• Name of the academy• Name of the company if any• 0ate of submission• Name of the supervisor• Number of characters

-f the pro6ect is condential this must be stated clearly on the front page and thetitle page.

#.2. 0reface

-nformation which is not part of the report may be included in the forewordQinformation such as:

• Target group of the pro6ect• C7planation of the choice of pro6ect• $omments on assisting persons, companies, etc.

3 preface is not obligatory. The preface must always be supplied with date andsignature.

#.#. 'ummar%

Not all pro6ects need a summary. +lease check the pro6ect description. The summarymust be a concentrated summary rePecting the content of the report, a shortdescription of the theories and approaches applied, results and conclusions. 3lready

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at this stage, the reader must be given an overview of the report, enabling thereader to determine the relevance.

Aften 0anish students write a summary in Cnglish 83bstract or C7ecutive ummary9.

#.&. Table of contents

3ll assignments must be supplied with a table of contents which shows the structureof the pro6ect divided into main sections and subsections including page references.

2ain sections and subsections must be numbered.

The te7t of the table of contents must be identical to the headlines of the report.

The word processing programmes functionality may be used, but double check toavoid errors and omissions. -n addition to headlines, page numbers must also beincluded. +reface and summary must be included in the table of contents eventhough these sections usually come prior to the table of content. %ist of references /Bibliography and list of appendices must also be included in the table of contents.

#.*. Introduction

The introduction must give the reader an understanding of the pro6ect and itsbackground. -n the introduction you introduce the issue of the pro6ect and thestarting point 8a current idea, a relevant issue or a pro6ect draft supplied9 ande7plain what you will focus on in the report.

#.-. 0roblem 0roposal

The pro6ect must have one main problem which can be supported by relevant subuestions.

The problem proposal must be short and precise, possibly dened as a uestion. The specic form of your problem proposal depends on the given problem area. Therefore, it is recommended to discuss your problem proposal with your

supervisor.

The sub uestions show which research you will conduct to address the overallproblem proposal.

Hou need to reach a ta7onomic level which is not only descriptive but also settingthe actions. -.e. you are not supposed to 6ust Kdescribe5 something, but e.g.5e7amine5 the cause 5discuss5 and 5provide recommendations5 to.

3ll together your problem proposal section will answer: 4hatR and JowR

3n adeuate problem proposal will be the guiding star for the complete pro6ect. Theproblem proposal must therefore be precise and guide your way from the beginning

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of the pro6ect. C7perience shows however, that problem proposals can changeduring the pro6ect. -n these cases you must see to that the pro6ect still is coherentand answers the problem proposal.

#.7. 4elimitation

-n this section you describe what you have included in the report:

E 4hat is includedR 8topics, geography, target groups etc.9E 4hat is not includedR

3nd most important: 4hy/4hy notR 3nd what are the conseuences of your

delimitationR

#.. 5et!odolog%

This section describes what models, theories, methods and analytical approachesare applied in the report. This section also o@ers you the chance to prove yourability to be critical of the methods. C.g. if you would have preferred access to morerecent or other kinds of data, whether you nd that +orters ve forces are suScientto cover the industry you are e7amining, or whether more recent theories critici?ingthe theories you have applied e7ist, etc. But this is of course also the section inwhich you argue for your choice of method.

The section on 2ethodology must also present to the reader the structure of theassignment and an e7planation hereof.

Hou must remember to consider theory as well as empirics.

#.. 4escripti6e section

Brief description of the situation, the company, markets or D.. -nclude onlyinformation which is relevant for the pro6ect. The descriptive section should only be

given its own section if it is necessary for the understanding of the area. Atherwisedescription and analysis can be placed in same section.

#.13. Anal%sis section

+resentation and analysis of the information collected including coherence andcause/e@ect interrelation. ub conclusions are appreciated.

0escriptions, analyses and evaluations must be stated in logical order. Hou mustensure that the reader can follow each of your steps in how you analyse and

evaluate the problem proposal, and how you gradually approach the nal result.

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#.11. 0roposal/'olution

3 presentation of your proposal, solution, action plan and critical evaluation of

elements of uncertainty related to the suggested solution must be included.

#.12. onclusion

The concluding section addresses the problem proposal and covers a summary ofthe most important issues of the pro6ect cf. sub conclusions, and ensures that alluestions and/or hypotheses raised in the pro6ect have been answered.

>emember that no new problems can be raised in the conclusion.

#.1#. 0erspecti6e+erspective may be included if relevant for the assignment. This is a concludingsection which goes beyond the frames of the assignment, and may demonstrate theimpact of the reports conclusions on the company or the market, current trendssupporting the conclusion, the prospects e7pected within the area, or other issuesthat would be interesting to e7amine more closely.

#.1&. Bibliograp!%

+lease see above guidelines for bibliography.

#.1*. Appendices

3 list of all appendices of must be included either in the list of content or before theappendices.

The appendices must be numbered and supplied with consecutive page numbering.Anly appendices referred to in the te7t should be included.

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&.'%nopsis

3 synopsis is an e7am oriented version of a full report. This means that in thesynopsis you describe the purpose of your research or your pro6ect in order toinform your e7aminer and the e7ternal e7aminer of your choice of issue and itsrelevance, your way of approaching the sub6ect, and your ability to supportsuggested solutions.

The synopsis serves as introduction to your oral presentation. The synopsis shouldnot include the complete research you have made, but state the main points whichyou are to discuss in detail during the oral e7am.

The synopsis usually includes below elements from the report, but of course, all in abrief version:

• (ront page• -ntroduction• +roblem proposal• 0enition• 2ethodology• Brief descriptive and analytical section• $onclusion• The main conclusion• +erspective E very brief as this is often the sub6ect of the oral e7am• Bibliography

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*.,pponent presentation

3n opponent presentation is an evaluation of the pro6ects weaknesses andstrengths. The opponent presentation is typically written in brief 8!<# pages9 andincludes an oral discussion between opponent 8group9 and author 8group9. The frontpage must be similar to the front page of the report and clearly state that this is anopponents presentation and clearly state who is the opponent group and againstwhich group.

3n appropriate structure of the opponents presentation may include the followingheadlines:

•

+roblem proposal delimitation and denition of the issue• 0isposition/weighting• $ontent including use of concept and model, literature and choice of model,

validity of argumentation and depth and scope of sub6ect treatment• $oherence between problem proposal, analysis, discussion and conclusion• individuality of the work, including argumentation

• %inguistic style and technical level• %iterature search and use• =nderstanding of the issue• The ability to treat the issue from di@erent points of view

+lease note that it is the opponents responsibility to be critical on important andgeneral issues of the reportQ however, the opponent presentation does not need tobe Knegative5. (urthermore, it is important that the opponents do not go into detailand they must ensure that the authors of the assignment are given the chance todefend the ob6ects of criticism. The opponents presentation serves the purpose ofopening a constructive debate.

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-.,ral presentation of projects

3n oral presentation is often included in the pro6ect and is often part of the entireassessment. 4eighting of the written and oral part will be informed in the specicpro6ect description.

=sually the oral e7am will include an introduction where you or the group will give apresentation. 3 rule of thumb is that this part brings something new to what iswritten in the report. =nless otherwise stated, you can e7pect that the e7aminershave read the report and you are now to demonstrate further perspectives, discussin detail important problem proposals, suggest further sub6ects to e7amination,discuss conseuences etc. Aften some of the issues you mention in your section on

perspective. Hou will be assessed on your ability to clearly demonstrate relevantnew issues during your oral presentation. Hou can e7pect to be interrupted duringyour presentation if the e7aminers have further uestionsQ but if you wish to do theindependent presentation without interruption, you must inform so.

-t may be an advantage 8sometimes a reuirement9 to bring a visual presentation aspart of your oral presentation. The presentation should be made brief and factual. 3computer will be at your disposal in the room so that you can make yourpresentation by using a =B<stick. ometimes you will also be allowed to bring yourown computer. -f you are in doubt please ask your supervisor. pecial presentation

formats 8besides ++T9 reuire e7tra attention to ensure correct performance.

+ay special attention to the time schedule. Hou are responsible for the time youhave at your disposal during which you must give the e7aminers the very bestimpression of your considerations and your skills.

(ollowing your oral presentation the e7aminers 8tutor, opponent group, e7aminer9will ask uestions to the report. >emember that uestions are not always meant ascriticism and you must behave balanced when listening to possible critical issues:i.e. listen carefully to the uestions and defend your view if you are absolutely sureof your point, but it is also all right to admit if your assignment has weak sides, andit is often considered constructive to recogni?e possible errors and state what wouldhave been a better solution in the specic situation.

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7.'uper6ision

4e recommend that you use the guidance and supervision available to you, whenpossible.

2uch of the supervision relates to discussion on problem proposal, method, choiceof theory, data collection and disposition. =sually, the draft needs to be discussedmore than once.

The supervisor is not obliged to review drafts of sections, nor is the supervisorallowed to approve in advance the pro6ect or parts of the pro6ect.

The student must make the initiative to the process. The supervision is based on thestudents uestions. -t is important that you are well prepared for the supervision.

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.Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria of the specic pro6ect are described in the individual pro6ectdescriptions. The assessment criteria may not always be the same, it is thereforeimportant that you study the criteria closely on each individual pro6ect.

The pro6ect description also informs you whether you will be given grades, pass/failand/or whether you will receive oral or written feedback on your assignment. 0ue toinsuScient resources detailed feedback on grades is not always possible.

-rrespective of the pro6ects academic area the assessment will be based on anumber of general conditions:

• Jave the formal criteria been observedR• Jas the pro6ect been communicated clearlyR pelling and writing skills are

included in the assessment• -s there coherence between the pro6ects problem proposal, the chosen

method, the pro6ects content and conclusionsR• 0oes the problem proposal consider the issue and denes it in a clear and

precise way and is it delimitedR• -s the choice of method and theories well<foundedR• Jow are data collected and based on which considerationsR• 3re the graphs, models and tables relevantR 3re they interpreted and used in

the pro6ectR• 0oes the conclusion answer the problem proposalR Jas conclusion been

made on the pro6ects analysisR

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