2. Slide 14.1 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Chapter 14 Writing and presenting your project report

3. Slide 14.2 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + The main elements of the report You will be doing projects on varied subjects The structure for your report may vary slightly depending on your topic and discipline, for example, writing up a science experiment versus exploring a social phenomenon There are elements of the report common to all projects Follow up after the session Discuss with your teacher/supervisor the best structure for your individual project

4. Slide 14.3 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Elements common to all reports Introduction Literature review Methodology/strategy for investigation/technique Findings of the investigation Discussion Conclusions Tell them what you are going to say Say it Tell them what you said These elements may guide your structure (you may wish to use them as headings) or you may prefer to combine some of these elements into different sections or chapters. Remember there may be additional elements or different names for these elements in your own discipline

5. Slide 14.4 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Getting started with writing Practical hints Create time for your writing Write when your mind is fresh Find a regular writing place Set goals and achieve them Use word processing Generate a plan for the report Finish each writing session on a high point Get friends to read and comment on your work

6. Slide 14.5 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Structuring your research report Suggested structure Abstract Introduction Literature review Method Results Discussion Conclusions References Appendices

7. Slide 14.6 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Writing for different audiences Key differences between an ‘Academic’ report and a ‘Consultancy’ or ‘Management’ report The academic report: Tends to be longer Will be marked and graded Will contain contextual descriptions The consultancy report: Has less focus on the development of theory Contains recommendations relating to the organisation’s business

8. Slide 14.7 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure The abstract Four short paragraphs that answer the questions: 1. What were my research questions and why were they important? 2. How did I go about answering the research questions? 3. What did I find out in response to these questions? 4. What conclusions can be drawn? Adapted from Saunders et al. (2009)

9. Slide 14.8 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure Introduction - include The research questions(s) and a clear statement of research objectives Brief background and a guide to the storyline

10. Slide 14.9 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + The Introduction This is where you will introduce the project to the reader. Think about: Describing your topic. What is your aim? Do you have a specific question to answer Are you exploring a topic in detail Are you creating something Defining the topic e.g. - a geographical area, a period of time, a measurement, a material or a social phenomenon There may be a number of interpretations of your topic, make it clear to the reader what you are studying Why have you chosen this topic ? is it important subject of particular interest relates to a hobby or maybe you future career plan

11. Slide 14.10 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Activity 1: Have a chat! Talking to others about your project and asking questions can be really helpful in clarifying your topic Describe your topic/aim Individually write one short sentence about your topic Defining the topic In a small group take turns read out your sentence and ask questions about each topic, start to define the area E.g.what do you mean by….? how would you measure...?

12. Slide 14.11 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure Literature review - purpose To set your study in the wider context To show how your study supplements existing work

13. Slide 14.12 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + What is a literature review? Focuses on a specific topic and is organised around and related directly to your project Compiles the research/information that has been published on the topic by recognised scholars and researchers Provides background for the problem (research question) or puts the problem into historical perspective Informs the reader about the current concepts and state of research on the topic and any controversies Describes the pros and cons of particular studies and may suggest areas for further research Organizes the literature into a narrative

14. Slide 14.13 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + It also demonstrates your skills Information seeking: the ability to search the literature efficiently, using manual or computerized methods, to identify a relevant set of articles (and books) Organisation Appraisal: to identify good evidence/arguments Writing: structure and presentation It is a creative process These skills are part of the assessment!

15. Slide 14.14 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Structuring the literature review How can you order your literature review? Chronologically (historical) Thematically Methodologicall y By key researchers

16. Slide 14.15 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Developing a clear line of argument On its own, evidence cannot contribute to academic debate. The interpretation and presentation of that evidence within an argument allows the evidence to make a contribution. Make sure that: There is always a clear link between your own arguments and the evidence uncovered in your reading You include a short summary at the end of each section You acknowledge opinions which do not agree with your argument. If you ignore opposing viewpoints, your argument will in fact be weaker

17. Slide 14.16 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Going beyond description You not only need to show you can extract, interpret and summarise information but that you can go beyond this and show connections between ideas, information, sources etc. Compare and contrast different authors' views on an issue group authors who draw similar conclusions note areas in which authors are in disagreement highlight exemplary studies highlight gaps in research Show how your work relates to previous studies/developments relates to the literature in general

18. Slide 14.17 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + When to stop It is important to keep control of the reading process, and to keep your research focus in mind. Always bear in mind your research question Why am I including this? It might be interesting but is it relevant? Planning your review is the best way of keeping the focus. Decisions need to be made about where to focus your reading, and where you can refer briefly to an area but explain why you will not be going into it in more detail.

19. Slide 14.18 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Methodology The reader needs to know how you carried out your investigation/created something. You may be discussing a physical process – an experiment or a survey or a creative process – creative writing or making a film. It is helpful to break it down into steps and explain how and why decisions were made Use your reflective diary as you are going along to document this Report structure

20. Slide 14.19 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure Methodology Participants How many? How were they selected? What were their characteristics? How were refusals/non-returns handled? Materials What tests/scales/interview or observation schedules/questionnaires were used? How were purpose-made instruments developed? How were the resulting data analyzed?

21. Slide 14.20 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure Methodology Procedures What were the characteristics of the interviewers and observers, and how were they trained? How valid and reliable do you think the procedures were? What instructions were given to participants? How many interviews/observations/questionnaires were there; how long did they last; where did they take place? When was the research carried out?

22. Slide 14.21 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure Results chapter(s) - purpose To report the facts your research discovered To support the facts with quotes from participants Discussion chapter- purpose To interpret results and relate the findings to the original research goals and objectives To indicate implications of the research

23. Slide 14.22 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Findings and critical discussion How will you present your findings, results or ideas? Charts and diagrams Map Film or painting A play or creative writing Quotes from an interview What do they mean ? How have you interpreted your findings? This part of the project/dissertation is the really fundamental bit where you must spell out clearly and systematically an argument that will lead to a conclusion.

24. Slide 14.23 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Reporting The Findings Frame a percentages and proportions in absolute numerical terms “Sixty percent (n= 18) of the sample either strongly agreed or agreed with the statement that the holiday season tends to cause a great deal of anxiety.”

25. Slide 14.24 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 The Use of Data In Reports Tables should support discussion points “Third quarter performance peaked dramatically in the East relative to the West and North. Overall brand performance remained stagnant from region to region in the first, second, and fourth quarters.”

26. Slide 14.25 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + The Use of Data In Reports Bar charts are appropriate for category comparisons Pie charts visually represent portions of the whole

27. Slide 14.26 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure Using a matrix in the planning of the content for the results and conclusions chapters Saunders et al. (2009) Figure 14.1 Using a matrix in the planning of the content for the results and conclusions chapters

28. Slide 14.27 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Discussion & Interpretation Revisit the Research Problem Statement Organize discussion around concepts of interest, research concepts Don’t just spout numbers; tell the story behind the data Highlight, topline, and synthesize information

29. Slide 14.28 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Discussion & Interpretation Leave the reader with food for thought What does the quantitative data suggest? Based on complete evidence in the data gathered, what conclusions can be drawn? What recommendations, suggestions can be made to address the marketing problem?

30. Slide 14.29 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure Conclusion chapter – purpose To answer the research question(s) To meet the research objectives To consider the findings To present any contributions to the topic displayed in the literature To reflect on any implications for future research

31. Slide 14.30 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Conclusions Real conclusions, not just a summary/repetition of the findings The extent to which you achieved what you set out to achieve Possible weaknesses/limitations of the methodology and interpretations Recommendations for the future Reflections on doing the project – use diary/activity log to help you here how well you performed at different stages of the project what you would do differently next time and why what you have learned about conducting research and writing a dissertation

32. Slide 14.31 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Report structure References Use a convention that is accepted by your university (e.g. Harvard, APA) Cite all sources referred to in the text Check all citations to prevent plagiarism Appendices Include only essential supporting material Include copies of interview schedules Keep appendices to a minimum

33. Slide 14.32 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Organising the report content (2) Main points to consider Choosing the title Telling a clear story Helping the reader by- Dividing your work Previewing and summarising chapters Using suitable tables and graphics Writing in a suitable style

34. Slide 14.33 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Writing style Key points: Clarity and simplicity – avoid jargon Checking grammar and spelling Preserving anonymity Regularly revising each draft

35. Slide 14.34 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Finishing touches The Abstract (if required) – should be written when you have completed the dissertation Presentation is very important, it does make a difference if your headings are consistent, everything is labelled properly and all the pages are there! Try not to print out at the last minute Leave time to read through you work. Check for typos, formatting and make sure all of your references are correct in the text and in the reference list Ask someone reliable to proof read your dissertation

36. + The Oral Presentation

37. Slide 14.36 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Questions You Need To Ask To whom are you presenting? How much do they know about the topic? How educated and/or sophisticated are they? How large is the audience?

38. Slide 14.37 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + More Questions To Ask How long is the presentation? What is the purpose of the presentation? Inform? Persuade? Entertain? What do you want to convey?

39. Slide 14.38 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 Know Your Subject Have something of substance to say. Learn more than you will say. The more you know, the more enthusiastic you will be. 38

40. Slide 14.39 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 Fear Is Good Fear of failing Fear of audience 39

41. Slide 14.40 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 40 Audience Fears Allayed The audience doesn ’ t know what you intended to say or to do. You know more about the topic than anyone in the audience.

42. Slide 14.41 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 41 Elements of a Good Presentation Clear purpose or objective Sufficient, but not too much, information Organized Meets needs of audience For the ear to hear as well as the eye to see Stories and examples

43. Slide 14.42 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Outlining Your Presentation Methods of organization chronological or sequential three points problem-cause-solution n ways to … Stories 42

44. Slide 14.43 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Opening Crucial Sets the tone Need to grab audience 43

45. Slide 14.44 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Types of Openings Preview Ask a question Ask a rhetorical question Pose a hypothetical situation Describe something new or dramatic Make a startling statement 44

46. Slide 14.45 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 Delivery of a Good Presentation Be enthusiastic Use body language Talk to the audience Dress appropriately 45

47. Slide 14.46 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Closing the Presentation Too important to wing it A speech is like a love affair; any fool can start one but to end it requires considerable skill. - Lord Mancraft (1914-1987) Last chance to tell what to know and do Direct, brief, and strong 46

48. Slide 14.47 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 47 Closing Styles Summarize Call to action Anecdote or story Rhetorical question

49. Slide 14.48 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 48 Summary Elements of a good presentation Be clear about its purpose. Prepare. Have an attention-getting opening. Make the content organized and interesting. Be enthusiastic. Talk to the audience. Have a memorable closing.

50. Slide 14.49 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Tips for the Presentation All members must attend and actively participate Use team members‘strengths where necessary Support your team members Support other teams

51. Slide 14.50 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Presentation Do’s Do introduce yourself and your team members and your project focus early in the presentation Do establish an outline that will be used to present your research Do highlight, summarize the process and findings from research Do rehearse before the presentation

52. Slide 14.51 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + The Biggest Do Be professional, but DO HAVE FUN

53. Slide 14.52 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Presentation Don’ts Don’t hide behind an avalanche of slides/overhead transparencies Don’t be a distraction to yourself or to the speaker (Be attentive) Don’t stop the presentation because the “script,” or the technology, is not working It’s not about the show, its about the information No one knows the data better than you and your team

54. Slide 14.53 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Oral presentation Three key stages: Planning and preparation Use of visual aids Presenting

55. Slide 14.54 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Summary: Chapter 14 Writing is a creative process and a powerful way to clarifying your thinking A project report needs a clear structure that helps to develop the storyline All the information should be readily accessible to the reader

56. Slide 14.55 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Summary: Chapter 14 Use a clear writing style free and check for spelling and grammatical errors Be prepared to rewrite the first draft several times Remember to check the assessment criteria

57. Slide 14.56 Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, Research Methods for Business Students, 5 th Edition, © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2009 + Summary: Chapter 14 Failing to prepare for your presentation is preparing to fail Visual aids help the audience understand your presentation Remember to – Tell them what you're going to say Say it Tell them what you said