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MBA PROJECT School of Business and Management COURSE OUTLINE FIN 655 - Finance Research ProjectJanuary 2019 Instructor: Dr. Gurdeep K. Chawla, CPA Contact: Telephone: (408) 236-1138 Email:
[email protected] Welcome to the National University FIN 655, Finance Research Project. Please review the following course outline and let me know if you have any questions or comments. I will do everything I can to ensure that the next four weeks will be a profitable and enjoyable learning experience for each and every member of the class. Please also remember that I'm here to support you. Course Description: Students, under the guidance of their assigned faculty advisor, clarify topics, identify sources from which data will be gathered, and complete and present their research in written form. Grading is H, S, or U only. Course is eligible for an In Progress (IP) grade. Course Learning Outcomes: · Define a specific research problem clearly and concisely. · Conduct a comprehensive literature review relating to the research problem. · Identify sources of data to support the research. · Develop appropriate instruments to conduct the research in question. · Specify timeline and key milestones for execution and completion of the research. · Gather and analyze relevant data. · Draw conclusion from the analysis. · Present the research in written and oral formats. · Students with Disabilities: Students seeking special accommodations due to a disability must submit an application with supporting documentation, as explained under this subject heading in the General Catalog. Instructors are required to provide such accommodations if they receive written notification from the University. Writing Across the Curriculum: Students are expected to demonstrate writing skills in describing, analyzing and evaluating ideas and experiences. Written reports and research papers must follow specific standards regarding citations of an author's work within the text and references at the end of the paper. Students are encouraged to use the services of the University's Writing Center when preparing materials. The following website provides information on APA, MLA, and other writing and citation styles that may be required for term papers and the like: http://nu.libguides.com/citations National University Library: National University Library supports academic rigor and student academic success by providing access to scholarly books and journals both electronically and in hard copy. Print materials may be accessed at the Library in San Diego or through document delivery for online and regional students. Librarians are available to provide training, reference assistance, and mentoring at the San Diego Library and virtually for online or regional students. Please take advantage of Library resources: URL: http://www.nu.edu/library. Contact the Library: ·
[email protected] · (858) 541-7900 (direct line) · 1-866-NU ACCESS x7900 (toll free) Use the Library Training Tools (on the Library Homepage) for additional help · Recorded class presentations · Tutorials & Guides (APA/MLA, Peer-Review, and more) Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's ideas or work as one's own. Students must give credit for any information that is not either the result of original research or common knowledge. If a student borrows ideas or information from another author, he/she must acknowledge the author in the body of the text and on the reference page. Students found plagiarizing are subject to the penalties outlined in the Policies and Procedures section of the University Catalog, which may include a failing grade for the work in question or for the entire course. The following is one of many websites that provide helpful information concerning plagiarism for both students and faculty: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml Ethics: Ethical behavior in the classroom is required of every student. The course will identify ethical policies and practices relevant to course topics. Technology: Students are expected to be competent in using current technology appropriate for this discipline. Such technology may include word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Use of the internet and e-mail may also be required. Diversity: Learning to work with and value diversity is essential in every class. Students are expected to exhibit an appreciation for multinational and gender diversity in the classroom. Civility: As a diverse community of learners, students must strive to work together in a setting of civility, tolerance, and respect for each other and for the instructor. Rules of classroom behavior (which apply to online as well as onsite courses) include but are not limited to the following: · Conflicting opinions among members of a class are to be respected and responded to in a professional manner. · Side conversations or other distracting behaviors are not to be engaged in during lectures, class discussions or presentations · There are to be no offensive comments, language, or gestures Project Suggested Timeline ACTIVITY Class Week 1 2 3 4 Submit Completed Forms Form 1 – Project Selection X Project Process Review and Discuss Requirements X Topic Selection X Project Writing X X X Project Proposal X Draft Project X Oral Presentation** X Submit Completed Project X *Note: The Finance Research Project Course, FIN 655, is designed to be completed within a one month period. If extenuating circumstances exist, an extension in the form of an “I” or “K” may be negotiated with the instructor. ** The Oral Presentation is expected to be given at the end of course, regardless of whether or not the final written document is complete. FORM 1 Selection of Project Type and Topic Both parts of the form must be completed by all students regardless of project type Prior to the development of the project proposal, students select a topic for their project. The topic is submitted to the Faculty Advisor for approval. Date: ____________________ Degree Program: ___________________________________ Student(s) Name: ___________________________________________ ID Number:________________________________ Address: ________________________________ Telephone:________________________________ Email:________________________________ Name of Faculty Project Advisor:Dr. Gurdeep K. Chawla, CPA Format: ( ) Business Plan ( ) Finance Research Brief Description of Topic (or assignment, if selecting an internship):______________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ If team project, name of other student(s): ____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Student Signature: _______________________________ Date: _________________________ Action by Faculty Project Advisor: ( ) Approved ( ) Not Approved Comments:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature:______________________________________ Date:__________________________ Project Rationale Form 1 – Part 2 (On this or a separate sheet of paper, present your rationale for choosing this topic.) What about this project holds personal interest to you? (For example, for years you have wanted to have a small contracting business. Or, you have been frustrated with a particular manager. Then, say more about this personal interest.) ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ What is your business reason for pursuing this project? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ How will completing this project better prepare you for your work after you complete your degree? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Business Plan General Guidelines Business plans are business communications rather than an academic paper. The purpose of such communications is to provide the basis for business decisions. The reward here is for being concise and precise. This is not the place to show all that you have learned in your MBA program. Use what you have learned to choose the most critical information to include. The more clearly the business plan can be written, the more effective they will be. Business plans are used to acquire capital and to guide the operation. For these reasons, keys to a successful plan are in substantiating the viability of the venture. A business plan includes a clear statement of the nature of a business venture, the business opportunity, the steps to be taken to capitalize on the opportunity, and the financial requirements. Research in this option is primarily in quantifying the opportunity and the competitive situation. When used to acquire capital, the business plan must create a clear, coherent, persuasive argument on behalf of the business. When used to guide the operation, the plan must also be clear and coherent as it provides specific guidance for the business. The Business Plan format provides an opportunity for students to develop an actual, workable business plan for a new business or existing company. Guidelines for the Project A business plan is not a thesis and therefore does not involve a thesis-type literature review. However, a business plan does require research. At a minimum, marketing research is needed in order to quantify the opportunity which will include determining the total demand, the unmet demand, how competitors are or could satisfy this demand, how your offering is to be distinctive in this market, and your reasonable sales projections at your proposed selling prices. Marketing research for an existing product in a new market involves an analysis of demographics and customer profiles in markets where the product is currently being sold successfully, and the comparison of such demographics and customer profiles to those of the proposed new market. The proposal should cite the specific sources from which such data are obtainable. One of the most common problems with students’ business plans is the lack of connection between the market demand and the financial statements. There often is little or no foundation for the projected revenue figures cited, including initial sales and sales growth. Make sure this connection is crystal clear since failure to accomplish this task will result in a project that is unsatisfactory. Content and Organization of the Business Plan Project Title Page The title page is not numbered. Table of Contents This table is also numbered with lower case Roman numerals. Executive Summary The purpose of an Executive Summary is to write a brief description of your plan that allows the reader to gain the essence of the entire plan in less than two pages. It is intended to give a busy executive the key information and lead the reader to the sections that will answer the executive’s primary questions. It is not an introduction to the plan, as you may have written in typical papers. This Executive Summary, although positioned first in the project, should actually be written last. In this way you know what you are summarizing. Writing it earlier will cause it to tend towards a traditional introduction. This section begins the Arabic numbering of pages, beginning with “1.” The Business Plan Project The Business Plan must include the following topics. Various Business Plans organize this information in different orders but this content must be included. Chose an outline that most effectively builds the argument that this project is viable and has an acceptable risk. · Introduction · Purpose of the plan (attract