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    National University o f C o m p u t e r & E m e r g i n g S c i e n c e s - I s l a m a b a d

    F a s t S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s

    FAST SCHOOL of BUSINESSFinal Year Project guidelines, proceduresand regulations for graduates:

    Year 2009

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    SERIALNUMBER

    CONTENTS PAGE NUMBER

    1.0 Introduction 3

    1.1 Objectives 3

    1.2 Approaching the undertaking 3

    2.0 Format options 4

    2.1 The empirical research paper 4 2.2 The theoretical paper 5

    2.3 The feasibility study / businessplan

    6

    2.4 The business consultancy report 7

    2.5 Approximate timelines relevant toeach format

    9

    3.0 Thesis layout 11

    4.0 Timelines and penalties 12

    5.0 The marking structure 13

    6.0 Essential guidelines 14

    6.1 The project brief 14

    6.2 The project proposal 14

    6.3 Providing references 15

    6.4 Plagiarism 18

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    GUIDELINES FOR FINAL YEAR PROJECT1.0 INTRODUCTION

    1.1 ObjectivesThe objectives set for students undertaking the final year project are:

    To explore one area of your program in depth.

    To work independently on your own initiative.

    To gather information in a thorough and rigorous manner.

    To process and integrate material in a sustained exercise of intellectual ordering.

    To produce a coherent, literary document.

    The FYP is a concise report comprising of a minimum of 10,000 and maximum of

    20,000 words. MBA students are required to carry out FYPs on an individual basis.

    In case of external supervision, an observer from the department will be recommended

    to ensure that the quality of the report remains up to the standard.

    1.2 Approaching the UndertakingAll research poses a question to which it seeks an answer. The FYP is no different. This

    project will ask a question about an aspect of business studies; it will research the

    material necessary to engage with that question; it will analyze and interpret that material

    to reach a conclusion; and it will present its findings in a concise report.

    The FYP initiates its own investigation and then gathers the material necessary to satisfy

    that inquiry. The Final Year Report, therefore, establishes an area of inquiry, assembles

    relevant evidence and argues to a conclusion that is supported by that evidence.

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    2.0 Format Options

    There are a number of different formats that you may use for the final, written document

    of your FYP. In conjunction with your FYP Supervisor, you should review the options

    and select the format that best suits the nature of the topic. The following formats are

    acceptable for your final report:

    a) The empirical research paper

    b) The theoretical paper

    c) The feasibility study / business plan

    d) The business consultancy report

    2.1 The Empirical Research Paper

    Empirical research involves the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. An

    empirical research paper presents its findings in the form of a well-developed analysis

    defended by the evidence. The data may be gathered first-hand (e.g. interviews,

    questionnaires, observations, focus groups, etc.) or second-hand (e.g. a content analysis

    of financial reports, television commercials or an organizations internal correspondence;or a re-analysis of existing data like OECD reports or computerized personnel records,

    etc.). This format is also appropriate for case studies.

    Like all FYPs, an empirical research paper will include an abstract, title page, table of

    contents, etc. The following is indicative of the layout of the main body of an empirical

    research paper:. Introduction summarizes the aims of the research project; defines the

    area or topic; sets the context

    . Literature Review reviews the relevant literature providing a

    commentary on the existing state of knowledge (theories and empirical evidence), trends,

    controversies, etc.; identifies gaps in the knowledge and concludes with specific research

    questions

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    . Method outlines the steps taken in the collection of data with enough

    detail that the study could be replicated (repeated); it provides concise justification for the

    research strategy chosen

    . Results details the findings from the data collection: may include tables,

    figures, and/or quotes from interviews; may include descriptive and inferential statistics.

    . Discussion (including Conclusion) pulls together the research questions

    that were asked with the answers that were obtained through the analysis of the data;

    provides commentary on these findings (e.g. do they confirm or reject particular views?;

    how do they inform the literature?); identifies limitations of the existing study and makes

    suggestions for future research; states clearly the conclusions that are reached and the

    implications and recommendations for relevant stakeholders (e.g. businesses,

    practitioners, governments, academics).

    There must be clear links amongst the various sections of the paper. You are telling one

    story that is made up from several parts; these parts must be well integrated. The data

    you collect must be linked to the research questions you have identified in your

    Introduction and to the conclusions you reach in your Discussion. Your Discussion must

    also refer back to the Literature Review.

    Not all empirical papers follow this precise layout and you and your Supervisor maydecide that another layout suits your research better. However, it is important to

    understand the role of the various sections and how they fit together. If you deviate from

    this layout, you should be clear why you are doing it.

    2.2 The Theoretical Paper

    The Theoretical Paper essentially involves the completion of a comprehensive literature

    review on a topic of choice. This review draws upon material that has already been

    published or otherwise exists. That is, it does not include the gathering of data. The

    purpose of the literature review is clearly established at the beginning of the paper and

    generally involves exploring and developing ideas around a particular topic.

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    Like all FYPs, a theoretical research paper will include an abstract, title page, etc.

    However, unlike the other format options, there is no typical layout for the main

    body of a theoretical paper. The chapters may include:

    Introduction

    Background reasons for selection of topic / scope of the paper

    Methodology (of short listing papers/articles/reports)

    Literature review (including analysis & critique; please note that this is

    the key analysis of a theoretical paper)

    Contribution to the literature.

    Theoretical papers may have any number of specific purposes. The purpose or rationale

    may be to provide new insights into a particular issue, to refine an existing theory or

    create new linkages, to challenge existing theory or even to develop a new theory.

    Perhaps the intention might be to develop a set of research assumptions or propositions

    that can subsequently be tested or modeled (by others).

    Regardless of the central purpose, the writing of a sound theoretical paper requires a

    number of specific skills and abilities that will further be developed and honed through

    the research process. Those undertaking the theoretical paper must know how to, or learnto, develop and apply theoretical concepts; must develop and apply a strong analytical

    approach to interpreting and evaluating existing evidence; and be capable of presenting

    coherent and consistent arguments to demonstrate the significance of the work

    undertaken.

    2.3 The Feasibility Study / Business Plan:

    Whereas an empirical paper asks and answers a research question, a feasibility study asksand answers a question about whether establishing a new product or service is feasible. It

    assesses the commercial and technical viability of the proposed enterprise by exploring

    potential markets, preparing costing and financial projections, considering the sourcing of

    raw material, assessing any plant and equipment needs, etc.

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    Like all FYPs, it will include an introductory summary. However, in a feasibility study,

    this summary is called an Executive Summary instead of an Abstract. Like all FYPs, it

    will also need to include a title page, table of contents, appendices, etc. A typical layout

    for the body of the feasibility study is:

    . Introduction establishes the rationale for the business ideas, includes

    any relevant background information and generally introduces the project

    . Product/Service & process Description provides a clear description

    and profile of the proposed product/service researches how you propose to manufacture

    the product or process the service

    . Product scope, future sales projections and demand gap

    .

    Management/Employee Structure who will manage the business, howmany staff do you require, profile of staff required

    Facility layout Operational view of the business

    . Financial Requirements what finance is required to start the business,

    how/where do you propose to source this finance and financial projections up to the

    break-even

    . Plans for Future Development of the Business where and how will

    you progress the business idea, what are the issues and challenges

    . Conclusion is the product/service feasible, what are your conclusions

    and recommendations?

    .

    2.4 The Business Consultancy Report

    A Business Consultant draws on theory, knowledge and practical experience and applies

    them to solving a particular business problem or issue. In the Business Consultancy

    Report, the student assumes the role of a consultant advising the client on the best options

    available to solve a business problem. This process involves clarification of the specific

    business problem, identification, research and evaluation of the various solutions to the

    problem, the recommendation of one best solution and recommendations on how best to

    implement this solution. The consultancy project could be in Financial Management,

    Accounting system design, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information

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    Technology, etc. It could involve the analysis of an industry, a company, a brand or

    product line, an expansion, a take-over, as well as systems development, training,

    exportation, etc. As with all FYPs, your project will require a title page, table of

    contents, appendices, etc. It will also need an introductory summary (here called anExecutive Summary instead of an Abstract). A possible layout for the body of a business

    consultancy report is:

    . Introduction describes the consultancy project, its goals and the initial

    issues and options identified

    . Scope & Goals includes the time scales, the areas the project covers,

    basic assumptions and constraints. Covers the goals relating to the project

    .

    Methodology details the research process. Analysis includes a review of the findings (primary and secondary).

    Identifies and lists the issues

    . Recommendations makes recommendations of the options based on the

    analysis carried out

    . Implementation (if applicable) details the action plan for carrying out

    the recommendations

    . Consequences and Requirements (if applicable) identifies the

    implications of the recommendations

    . Conclusions

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    2.5 APPROXIMATE TIMELINES RELEVANT TO EACH FORMAT

    The summary with approximate timelines for the chapters of each of the format is givenbelow:

    For P-1, semester 1

    Timelines Week 1-5 Week 5 -10 Week 10-15 Week 15 - 18

    Empiricalresearchpaper

    Brief and draftproposal

    Finalizationof proposal

    Working onintroduction andliteraturereview, andpossibly datacollectioninstrument

    Finalization of chapters.Viva/presentation.Award of grades forSemester I

    Theoreticalpaper

    Brief and draftproposal

    Finalizationof proposal

    Working onintroduction andbackgroundreasons forselection of topic/scope of the paper

    Finalization of chapters.Viva/presentation.Award of grades forSemester I

    Feasibility

    study

    Brief and draft

    proposal

    Finalization

    of proposal

    Working on

    introduction,product serviceand productservice processdescription

    Finalization of

    chapters.Viva/presentation.Award of grades forSemester I

    The businessconsultancyreport

    Brief and draftproposal

    Finalizationof proposal

    Working onintroduction,scope and goals,and possiblymethodology

    Finalization of chapters.Viva/presentation.Award of grades forSemester I

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    For P-2, semester 2

    Timelines Week 1-5 Week 5 -10 Week 10-15 Week 15 - 18

    Empiricalresearchpaper

    Method of thestudy should befinalized, andfieldwork should be inprogress

    Resultsshould beconcluded

    Conclusion mustcome to an end

    Finalization of chapters.Viva/presentation.Award of grades forSemester II

    Theoreticalpaper

    Methodology of short listingarticles andpapers etc. be

    finalized

    Literaturereviewincludinganalysis &

    critique beconcluded

    Student mustprove andconclude his / hercontribution to

    the literature

    Finalization of chapters.Viva/presentation.Award of grades for

    Semester II

    Feasibilitystudy

    Product scope,future salesprojections,management/employeestructure etc. befinalized

    Financialrequirementschaptershould beconcluded

    Plans for futuredevelopment of the business andconclusionchapters mustcome to an end

    Finalization of chapters.Viva/presentation.Award of grades forSemester II

    The businessconsultancyreport

    Methodology befinalized

    Analysis &recommendations should beprovided

    Implementationand conclusionmust come to anend

    Finalization of chapters.Viva/presentation.Award of grades forSemester II

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    3.0 Thesis Layout

    The physical layout of the thesis should be as follows:

    Sections of FYP Information to be included, in specified order1. Front cover The name of the institution

    Title of FYP The authors name and student ID number Programme of Study for which FYP is submitted Supervisors name Year of completion (i.e. 2009)

    2. Title page The name of the institution. Programme of Study for which FYP is submitted (e.g.MBA, BBA etc.) The year of submission The authors name and student ID number

    The title of the FYP The word count The name of the Supervisor The following statement to be included at the bottom of the title page: This project is solely the work of the authorand is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of _______ (submit appropriate degree, e.g.Bachelors of Business Administration)

    3. Abstract (Executive This stand alone summary should not exceed one pageSummary)

    4. Acknowledgements Not required, but you may wish to thank individuals ororganisations that helped with the project

    5. List of contents Should be entitled Contents Include list of titles of sections of the project

    6. List of tables and figures* Include if there are more than five tables/figures7. Main body of text8. Bibliography Should follow the format provided in the handbook

    9. Appendices Should include details that are not appropriate to includein the main body of the text (e.g. questionnaires, transcriptsof interviews, etc.) To be lettered A, B, C, etc. To have a cover page Appendices that appears in thetable of contents It is not counted as part of the 10,000 word count

    10. Back cover

    *All tables, figures and charts should be clearly labeled and numbered. Each table, chart orfigure will have a number which reflects the chapter and the order within the chapter e.g. thefirst table in Chapter 3 will be Table 3.1, while the first figure in Chapter 3 will be Figure 3.1

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    4.0 Timelines and penalties

    The following table details key times and events in the FYP process. It is your

    responsibility to ensure that you meet your deadlines and progress at the expected rate.

    Semester Time Description PenaltiesP-1 (1 st

    semester)Weeks 1-3 Explore ideas; anticipate a

    project brief; talk to facultymembers (see Item 6.1 fordetails of project brief)

    P-1 Week 4 Submission of project brief (see Item 6.1 for details of

    Students maybe leftwithout supervisors

    project brief)P-1 Week 6 Research Proposal/Proposal

    draft submitted to supervisor

    (see Item 6.2 for details)

    Project may be postponedtill next semester

    P-1 Week 8 Proposal submitted to theacademic office for officialrecords.

    Grade reduction inevaluation of the proposal

    P-1 Week 16 Proposal finalized.Submission of first couple of chapters of FYP e.gintroduction, literature reviewand methodology in empiricalresearch paper.

    P-1 Week 18 -20 Viva / Presentation. Award of final grade for Semester I

    One grade reduction bythe department for latesubmission

    P-2 (2 nd semester)

    P-1 is a pre requisite for P-2

    P-2 Week 8 Data collection andcompletion

    P-2 Week 12 Findings and analysiscompletion

    P-2 Week 15 Final project reportsubmission

    P-2 Week 18 - 20 Viva/presentation and awardof final grades

    One grade reduction bythe department for latesubmission

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    5.0 MARKING STRUCTURE FOR THE FYP REPORT

    Marking Structure for P-1

    Sr.# Criteria Allocated Marks

    1. Proposal 102. Quality of Substance Matter in

    Final Proposal/Chapters of FYP50

    3. Consultation with the supervisor 10

    4. Viva Voce/Presentation 30Total Marks 100

    Marking Structure for P-2

    Sr.# Criteria Allocated Marks1. Quality of FYP 702. Consultation with the supervisor 15

    3. Viva Voce/Presentation 15Total Marks 100

    * Students are required to present their project, however, department in consultation withthe supervisor, has the right to change the modus operandi in case of an exigency.

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    6.0 ESSENTIAL GUIDELINES

    6.1 The project brief

    The project brief is a one page document which conveys the main idea of the project to

    the prospective supervisor. This is the basis of initial discussions between students andsupervisors. Rather than a purely oral discussion, students must approach supervisors

    with a project brief.

    Parts of the brief

    The brief should have the following parts:

    Project title

    Three to six keywords

    Two paragraphs (approx. 250 words) explaining the key idea and methodology of

    the project.

    6.2 The project proposal

    The proposal is a roadmap, showing the location from where the journey begins, the

    destination, and the route taken to get there. It tells us what, why, how, where, and to

    whom and by whom will the research be done. It is a work plan, an outline, a statement

    of intent or a draft plan. The proposal should be no longer than 2 pages (or1000 words,

    maximum) and should take the following form:

    Parts of a proposal

    The proposal for a final year project should have the following parts:

    Project title

    Purpose of the study (introduction/brief background)

    Aims and objectives (usually written as 4-8 bullet points) Literature review (including importance/benefits of the study)

    Research design and methodology

    The analysis (i.e. the proposed analysis)

    Timeline / project plan (over 9 months)

    Output/Deliverables

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    Bibliography

    Appendices brief CV of the researchers

    Appendices e.g. measurement instrument, depending on project

    6.3 PROVIDING REFERENCES (MADE SIMPLE)

    References form an essential part of the FYP. To provide proper references, you musttrain yourself to think in term of in-text referencing and end-referencing which is alsocalled the list of references. The former is about providing a reference while you arewriting the main document, while the latter is a detailed list which is provided at the endof a document. Examples of Harvard referencing, which is the most commonly used stylein management journals, are provided below. Please keep this document safe and USEIT!

    In text referencingSome examples of how to use references in the main text are:. Cooper and Schindler (2001) argued that ... There is general consensus in the literature that.. (Goodstein, 1994;Ingram and Simons, 1995; Wood et al., 2003).. It has been argued that (Goodstein, 1994a, 1994b, 2003; Ingram andSimons, 1995).. The findings of an earlier paper by Goodstein (1994) differ from thesubsequent trends indicated by the literature in this area (Goodstein, 2003; Ingram andSimons, 1995; Wood et al., 2003; Wikipedia, 2007; MoD, 2007).

    When indicating a page number, you can do it like this (Meyer and Rowan, 1977, pp.342) or (Meyer and Rowan, 1977: 342) or (Meyer and Rowan, 1977, p. 342)

    Please note:. All the commas, semicolons, colons full stops and brackets serve apurpose.. Where the name of an author is a natural part of the sentence, it is notwritten in the brackets.. ALL NAMES ARE SURNAME i.e. FAMILY NAMES or SECONDNAMES, so the faculty members would be: Nadeem, S., Bhatti, Y., Sadiq, M. DONOT USE FIRST NAMES

    The list of references at the end of a documentThis should be arranged alphabetically, by the SURNAME of authors. Table 1 providesexamples of how information should be presented for commonly used material (usingHarvard system). The same material is provided as a list of references after Table 1..

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    Nature of material The way information should be presentedBook: When thewhole book iswritten by the named

    author(s).

    Cooper, D. R. and Schindler, R. S. (2001), Business Research Methods (7th edition), Singapore, McGraw-Hill. Note: provide theinformation on edition of the book if available.

    Book: When you arenaming the editor of the book

    Baum, J. A. C. (ed.) (2002), Companion to Organisations , Oxford,Blackwell Publishers Ltd. Note: use (ed.) for one editor and (eds.) if more than one editors.

    Book chapter:When each chapter iswritten by differentauthors.

    Amburgey, T. L. and Singh, J. V. (2002), OrganisationalEvolution in Baum, J.A.C. (ed), Companion to Organisations ,Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd. Note: Mention edition of thebook at the end of the book name, if applicable.

    Report 1: A standalone report

    Chaplin, J., Mangla, J., Purdon, S. and Airey, C. (2005), TheWorkplace Employee Relations Survey 2004 Technical Report ,London, National Centre for Social Research.

    Report 2: Part of aseries, hence seriesnumber mentioned

    Hogarth, T., Hasluck, C. Pierre, G., Winterbotham, M. & Vivian, D.(2001), Employee friendly flexible working 2000: Baseline study of employee friendly flexible working practices in Great Britain, DfEEResearch Report No. 249, Nottingham, DfEE Publications. Or Withthree or more authors, you can give the first two surnames and et al.So the above would be: Hogarth, Hasluck et al. (2001), Employee

    friendly ..Journal article: Meyer, J. W. and Rowan, B. (1977), Institutionalised organisations:

    formal structure as myth and ceremony, American Journal of Sociology , Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 340-63. OR Meyer, J. W. and Rowan,B. (1977), Institutionalised organisations: formal structure as myth

    and ceremony, American Journal of Sociology , 83(2), 340-63.Magazine article :e.g. in Time

    Elliott, M. (2007), The Chinese Century, Time , Vol. 169, No. 2, pp.15-23, January 22 Or Elliott, M. (2007, January 22), The ChineseCentury, Time , Vol. 169, No. 2, pp. 15-23

    Newspaper article1: When author isknown

    Roberts, D. (1998), BAe sells property wing for $301m, The DailyTelegraph , London, 10 October, pp. 31.

    Newspaper article2: When author isnot known

    Guardian (1992), Fraud trial at Britannia Theme Park, TheGuardian , Manchester, 5 February, pp. 4.

    Net download 1:Your favourite site

    Wikipedia (2007), Harvard Referencing , [online] Available fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_referencing , [Accessed 6thApril 2007] Note: Trust this sheet more than you trust wikipedia!Note: On most web pages, you can see the date on which it was lastmodified. Use that date in the initial parenthesis and not the dateyou accessed it on.

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    Net download 2:Corporate author

    Telenor (2007), About Telenor , [online] Available fromhttp://www.telenor.com/about/ , [Accessed 6th April 2007] Note: Onmost web pages, you can see the date on which it was last modified.Use that date in the initial parenthesis and not the date you accessedit on.

    Working paper Dex, S. and Smith, C. (2001), Which British employers have family- friendly policies? Analysis of the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey , Research papers in management studies, WP17/2001, Cambridge, The Judge Institute of Management Studies.

    Thesis David, S. (2003), The role of power in employment relations ,Unpublished PhD thesis, Cass Business School, London.

    Table 1 : Examples of the way information should be presented in the end list of references

    REFERENCES

    (This is how your end referencing should look like ALPHABETICALLY arranged)

    Amburgey, T. L. and Singh, J. V. (2002), Organisational Evolution in Baum, J.A.C. (ed),Companion to Organisations , Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd.

    Baum, J. A. C. (ed.) (2002), Companion to Organisations , Oxford, Blackwell Publishers Ltd.

    Chaplin, J., Mangla, J., Purdon, S. and Airey, C . (2005), The Workplace Employee RelationsSurvey 2004 Technical Report , London, National Centre for Social Research.

    Cooper, D. R. and Schindler, R. S. (2001), Business Research Methods (7th

    edition), Singapore,McGraw-Hill.

    David, S. (2003), The role of power in employment relations , Unpublished PhD thesis, CassBusiness School, London.

    Dex, S. and Smith, C. (2001), Which British employers have family-friendly policies? Analysisof the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey , Research papers in management studies,WP 17/2001, Cambridge, The Judge Institute of Management Studies.

    Elliott, M. (2007), The Chinese Century, Time , Vol. 169, No. 2, pp. 15-23, January 22

    Guardian (1992), Fraud trial at Britannia Theme Park, The Guardian , Manchester, 5 February,pp. 4.

    Hogarth, T., Hasluck, C. Pierre, G., Winterbotham, M. & Vivian, D. (2001), Employee

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    friendly flexible working 2000: Baseline study of employee friendly flexible working practicesin Great Britain, DfEE Research Report No. 249, Nottingham, DfEE Publications.

    Meyer, J. W. and Rowan, B. (1977), Institutionalised organisations: formal structure as mythand ceremony, American Journal of Sociology , Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 340-63.

    NUCES (2006). Undergraduate Students Handbook 2006-2007 , Islamabad, National Universityof Computer and Emerging Sciences.

    Roberts, D. (1998), BAe sells property wing for $301m, The Daily Telegraph , London, 10October, pp. 31.

    Telenor (2007), About Telenor , [online] Available from http://www.telenor.com/about/ ,[Accessed 6

    th

    April 2007]

    Wikipedia (2007), Harvard Referencing, [online] Available fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_referencing , [Accessed 6

    th

    April 2007]

    Note: Contact the library for further information.

    6.4. PLAGIARISM

    Presenting the words, the work, or the opinions of someone else as ones own,without proper acknowledgement is plagiarism. This includes material published onthe Internet.

    Equally, copying the sequence in which someone else has arranged their ideas, theirthoughts or the material they have collected and analysed without properacknowledgement (even if you are using your own words) is also plagiarism. Thisincludes copying material from other students.

    Information on plagiarism is provided in the Universitys Students Handbook (NUCES,2006: 3). The next sub-section elaborates some commonly held misperceptions aboutplagiarism.

    ELABORATING PLAGIARISM IN THE WORDS OF STUDENTS

    1. You cannot copy anybody elses wording word by word even if you are going togive a reference at the end as this is plagiarism. (The idea is to summarize thethoughts of others in your own words and then give a reference)2. Definitions, where it is acceptable to copy the words, can be in quotes followedby the proper in-text reference. It is also acceptable to write a definition without

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    quotation marks and give the reference immediately after the definition sentencefinishes. (Note: Definitions are usually one sentence long)3. You cannot copy multiple paragraphs (even if you are using your own words)from someone elses work, and give reference at the end of the last paragraph only,without making it clear that all the paragraphs are from another source as this is still

    plagiarism. You cannot assume that people will know that e.g. all four paragraphs arefrom the source mentioned at the end of the fourth paragraph.4. If you are copying a list developed by another author (and even if you are usingthe list to develop sub-heading for your document), you must make it clear that thelist was developed by Author X, giving proper in-text and end-text reference. If youdo not identify the source of the list, this is plagiarism.5. If you copy the first sentence or two of each of the ten to twelve paragraphs froma document and make it into a new paragraph, it is still plagiarism.6. If you are consistently using the work of one author for many paragraphs, youmay think that it is not essential to repeatedly give the reference. This could beacceptable if you have made it clear that the discussion in a particular sub-section or

    under a subheading is influence by the work of Author X. (Note: As mentioned inItem 1, you still cannot use the words of Author X)7. If you first copy someones words and then explain the same idea in your ownwords, not making it clear which are your words and which are borrowed, this isplagiarism.8. If you copy the key thoughts from a paragraph of another author, Author Y, andthat author has used multiple references in his/her work in this paragraph, you mayend up copying all the referencing in the paragraph. Copying multiple referencingfrom another source is plagiarism unless you make it absolutely clear that thiscollection of references is not yours but that of Author Y.

    Overall, referencing should be given in such a way that it is obvious to the reader that youhave used the ideas of another person in a paragraph or multiple paragraphs.

    Also,forgetting to give a reference is plagiarism.Cutting references by accident because the word count was too high is plagiarism.

    Please note, you may be tempted to retain the well structured sentences of the original documents, but they are not your work.

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    FYP Guidelines MBA Page 20

    REFERENCES

    Final year project booklet for undergraduates, class of 2008: Kemmy BusinessSchool