Report Format

Nafiza Islam, Lecturer

Department of Management Studies
Faculty of Business Studies
Jahangirnagar University
Contact: +8801912027635
E-mail: nafiza.urmila@gmail.com

Report Guidelines for MBA & BBA

Size: International standard paper size A4 (297x210mm) should be used.

Page number: Page should be numbered consecutively and clearly. No page number
should be indicated on title page, supervisor’s certificates, declaration and
acknowledgement; however, pages are to count from title page. From title page to
abstract page Greek numbers should be used.

Margin: Top 1.0”, Bottom 1.0” Left 1.5” Right 1.0”

Line spacing: Single

Font: Times new roman, size 12 for text, larger fonts may be used for headings &
subheadings.

Folded diagram/charts: These should be arranged so as to open to the top and right.

Landscape chart/ fig: Bottom of chart/ fig should be on right side.

Number of Copies: 1 hard copy.

Text: Before producing the final copies of a report the candidate should ensure that all
the spelling, grammar, punctuation and bibliography is complete and exact.

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The followings are the common heads (general guideline) not necessarily you will have to fill
everything, at the same time you can include any other point/information if you think relevant.

General Guideline

Preliminary Section

Title Page
Letter of Transmittal
Acknowledgements
Table of Contents
List of Tables and Figures
Executive Summary

In your transmittal letter, follow the procedures below:

1. State the report's title, and indicate that the report is attached.
2. Establish the purpose of the report.
3. Explain why, when, and by whom the report was authorized.
4. Summarize briefly the main subject of the report.
5. Point out especially relevant facts or details.
6. Explain any unusual features or organization.
7. State particularly important or key conclusions or recommendations.
8. Acknowledge those who offered valuable assistance in gathering information, and or preparing
the report.
9. Possibly, mention any relevant planned future reports.
10. Thank readers for the opportunity to prepare the report, or offer to do more study on the subject.
11. Recommend further action if needed.
12. Offer to answer any questions the reader may have or provide further information if needed.
13. Write sincerely/respectfully submitted/kind regards.

Body of Executive Summary

 Purpose: This part of your executive summary explains the purpose briefly. The executive
summary is all about brevity, the briefer and to the points you would be, the closer you would be
to your targeted audience. You should make clear sense of your report here.
 Methodology: The methodology indicates the procedures and practices which are being used in
the project. You must utter all the ways being used by the project. The project can go through
many procedures so you must say out all that.
 Findings: The finding part of your executive summary inculcates the facts which you find while
working on the project.
 Conclusion & Recommendations: Conclude your report with all the results came out through
the report; suggest the recommendations and suggestions which have come in report.

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Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Preliminaries- Concept & Background

1.2 Justification of the report
1.3 Plans: Communicating Objectives
1.3.1 Core Objective
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
1.4 Significance of the report
1.4 Scope of the report
1.5 Acknowledging exceptions and limitations

Chapter 2 Methodology

2.1 The Report Design

2.2 Questionnaire Development
2.3 Data Collection Procedure
2.3.1 Primary Data
2.3.2 Secondary Data
a. Paper-based sources – books, journals, periodicals, abstracts, indexes, directories, research
reports, conference papers, market reports, annual reports, internal records of organizations,
newspapers and magazines
b. Electronic sources– CD-ROMs, on-line databases, Internet, videos and broadcasts.
2.4 Data Processing Procedure
2.5 Gantt Chart

Chapter 3 Theoretical Framework

3.1 Literature review
A literature review is a search and evaluation of the available literature in your given subject or
chosen topic area. It documents the state of the art with respect to the subject or topic you are
writing about. A literature review has four main objectives:

 It surveys the literature in your chosen area of study

 It synthesizes the information in that literature into a summary
 It critically analyses the information gathered by identifying gaps in current knowledge;
by showing limitations of theories and points of view; and by formulating areas for
further research and reviewing areas of controversy
 It presents the literature in an organized way.

3.2 Related Theories

Chapter 4 Organizational Synopsis

2.1 An overview of the organization
2.2 Mission, vision, strategy statement
2.3 Ownership structure
2.4 Composition of the board
2.5 Capital and reserves

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2.6 Milestones in the development of the organization

2.7 Management structure
2.8 Risk management
2.9 Joint ventures abroad
2.10 Key figures
2.11 Terminology
2.12 HRD
2.13 District-wise Branch distribution
2.14 Balance sheet
2.15 Profit and loss account (Income Statement)
2.16 Cash flow statement

Chapter 5 (Report Topic) Analysis & Interpretation

Chapter 6 Findings Summary of Findings

Conclusions
What is the strongest and most important statement that you can make from your
observations?
If you met the reader at a meeting six months from now, what do you want them
to remember about your paper?
Refer back to problem posed, and describe the conclusions that you reached from
carrying out this investigation, summarize new observations, new interpretations,
and new insights that have resulted from the present work.
Include the broader implications of your results.
Do not repeat word for word the abstract, introduction or discussion.

Recommendations Preparing for the Future Change

Use Prioritization Matrices

References & Bibliography

Appendix
Include all your data in the appendix.
Reference data/materials not easily available (theses are used as a resource by the
department and other students).
Tables (where more than 1-2 pages).
Calculations (where more than 1-2 pages).
You may include a key article as appendix.
If you consulted a large number of references but did not cite all of them, you
might want to include a list of additional resource material, etc.
List of equipment used for an experiment or details of complicated procedures.
Note: Figures and tables, including captions, should be embedded in the text and
not in an appendix, unless they are more than 1-2 pages and are not critical to
your argument.

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List of References

These should appear after the body of the text. When specific facts, ideas or statements are cited,
references should be given. All references must follow the specified format (see below) and a
complete list of references given at the end of the report. For references with three or more
authors, the reference in the text should give the first author surname only, follow by et. al. in
italic (all names must be given in the full reference at the end of the report) Example: Hornison,
et. Al., 1991). In the text, the numerical order references and standard pattern are used.

For books, the information required is presented in the following order:

1. Author’s surname and initials
2. Year of publication, in brackets
3. Title of publication, in italic
4. Title of series, if applicable
5. Volume number or number of volumes, if applicable
6. Edition, if applicable
7. Editor, reviser, compiler or translator, if other than the author
8. Publisher
9. Place of publication

For example:
Herbert, W. G. (1964), The Australian Beef Industry: An overview. Australian
Livestock Council, Canberra.
Russell, B. (1967), The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, vol. 1. 1872-1914.
George Allen & Unwin, London.

For Journals, the references to articles in journals and periodicals, the following information is
required, in the following order:
1. Author’s surname and initials
2. Year of publication
3. Title of article
4. Abbreviated title of journal or periodical, in italics
5. Title of series, if applicable
6. Volume number, if applicable, in bold
7. Issue number or other identifier, if applicable
8. Page number or numbers

For example:
Dewhirst, C. (1986), Hot air over the Himmalayas, World Geographic, 1, 4, pp.
44-55.

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For Newspaper

1. Author (if known),

2. Title in Initial Capitals and Quotation Marks
3. Newspaper Name
4. (Date), section #, page #s
For example:
Luoma, J.R., "U.S. Hunts New Ways to Clean Up Wastes," New York Times (3
January 1988), pp. 15, 18.

For Interview

1. Speaker's Name,
2. Speaker's Affiliation (City of Interview: Date of Interview),
3. Type of interview.

For example: Lee, R., Engineer at Apple Corporation (San Jose: 5 June 1987), phone interview.

For Website

1. The author of the web page

2 Title
3 The complete URL
4. Date

For example: Bassett, Vicki, "Causes and Effects of the Rapid Sinking of the Titanic," (2002,
June 23) Retrieved from http://writing.eng.vt.edu/uer/bassett.html (Visiting Date)

APPENDIXES (if needed).

The appendix should contain copies of documents that have been used in the research. Examples
are: research instruments (questionnaires, interview checklists, names of respondents); research
data (raw data, computed results). Each appendix should be numbered. Page numbering should
be continued from the page numbering in the body of the report. If you have Appendix more than
one, please use A, B, C…. to list them.

Appendices follow the list of references.

Example: Appendix A: Questionnaire

Appendix B: Derivation of equations

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Sample Title Page

Title of the Report

A report submitted to the Department of Management Studies in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of the degree of Bachelor/Master of Business Administration in
Jahangirnagar University, Saver,Dhaka.

[Submitted To]
Nafiza Islam
Course Instructor

[Submitted By]
Your name
ID
Batch & Section

Date of Submission:

Department of Management Studies

Faculty of Business Studies
Jahangirnagar University
Savar,Dhaka.

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Sample Research Framework

•Review of Literature •Development of

•Conduct Pilot Survey questionnaire
•Construct Research •Pre-test of
Question questionnaire
•Identify Variables •Collection of Data
•Conduct Seminar on •Analysis of data
Methodology •Interpretation of
•Review Methodology Preliminary Analysis Findings
Phase Phase

Paper Paper
Preparation Submission
Phase Phase
•Prepare Draft Paper •Prepare Final Paper
•Conduct Seminar •Submit Paper
•Review Paper •Confront Defense

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Sample Gantt Chart

Activities Time Line

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3

First Second First Second First Second

Half Half Half Half Half Half

Preliminary Phase

Review of Literature,

Conduct Pilot Survey,

Construct Research

Question, Identify Variables,

Analysis Phase

Development of

questionnaire, Pre-test of

questionnaire, Collection of

Data, Analysis of data,

Interpretation of Findings

Paper Preparation Phase

Prepare Draft Paper, Review

Paper

Paper Submission Phase

Prepare Final Paper, Submit

Paper, Confront Defense

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Sample Prioritization Matrix

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Sample Report Topics

1. HRM Practice
 The Paths of Managing Human Resources in Your Specific Company: The Change and Continuity
 Human Resource Management Practices and Organizational Innovation: Assessing the Mediating
Role of Knowledge Management Effectiveness in Your Specific Company.
 Current HR Strategy in Your Specific Company: Its Role to Enhance Competitive Advantage in
Business. Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the strategy. Examples are: HR employment
planning, performance management system, organization design/development, compensation
planning, quality of work life (QWL), promotion of diversity, and team building.
 An Evaluation on the Capacity of Human Resources Department to Drive Organizational
Change: A Study on Your Specific Company
 Issues and Concerns in Human Resources Management: A Study on Your Specific
Company
 Current HR Policy & Issue in a Specific Company. Examples of policies are: recruiting, hiring,
orientation, training, succession planning, career planning, team development, performance
review, equal employment opportunity, pay incentives, a specific type of employee benefit or
perk, corrective/disciplinary action, OSHA compliance, and safety recognition.
 An overview of Your Selected Company Focusing on the Role of Human Resources
Management to Smooth Processes of Organizational Change
 Monitoring and Responding to Recent Trends and Developments in Approaches to
Human Resource Management: A Study on Your Specific Company

2. Recruitment & Selection

 Talent Acquisition in Your Specific Company: The Changing Dynamics of Recruitment &
Selection
 Forecasting and Predicting the Supply and Demand Cycle in Your Specific Company: The Role
of Human Resource Department
 Induction of New Employees: The Role of Human Resource Department in Your Specific
Company

3. Job Attitude & Satisfaction

 Making the Link Between Work-Life Balance Practices in Your Specific Company
 Understanding the Connections between Job Satisfaction, loyalty and Commitment of the
Employees: A Study on Your Specific Company
 Understanding Employee Turnover and Learning to Measure and Control: A Study on
Your Specific Company
 Rules and Regulations to Prevent Bullying and Harassment in the Work Environment: A
Study on Your Specific Company
 Cultural Diversity in the Workplace: A Study on Your Specific Company
 Work-life Balance: Benefits and Barriers in Your Specific Company
 Managing Stress and Emotional welfare: A Study on Your Specific Company

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4. Compensation Management & Performance Management

 Compensation Packages and the Effect of Corporate Employee Benefits Being Offered to
Retain Human Resources: A Study on Your Specific Company
 Examining the Implications of Performance Management for Potential Wage Capping: A
Study on Your Specific Company
 Current and Future Corporate Employee Benefit and Compensation Packages: A Study
on Your Specific Company

5.Employee Training
 Investigating the Use of Employee Training and Development to Increase Organizational
Flexibility Against Economic Crises: A Study on Your Specific Company
 Examining the Impact of Employee Training and Development on Organizational Profits:
A Study on Your Specific Company
 Evaluating Budgetary Considerations in Human Resources for Accommodating the Need
for Employee Training
 Measuring the Training & Development Effectiveness on Employees Productivity: A
Study on Your Specific Company

…………Wish U Luck……….

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