CIP2014

Report Writing Guidelines

Project Report Outline
A. Cover Page
B. Acknowledgement
C. Certificate from the Organization

1. Table of Contents
2. Executive Summary
3. Introduction to the Project
4. Background of the Industry & the
Organization
5. Project Methodology
6. Observations/Findings
7. Recommendations &
Conclusions
8. References
9. Appendices

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A. Cover Page
Instructions:-

Cover Page should state:
The title of the report
The title should give a brief but complete indication of the
purpose of the project report.
Addresses and titles of the Student Intern and Faculty Mentor
also to be included.
For whom the report was prepared
By whom it was prepared
(Refer Annexure-A; Dont change the prescribed format)
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B. Acknowledgement

Instructions:-
There are many persons who may have helped you during the course of your
project. It is your obligation to acknowledge and thank them for their help.
Customarily, thanks are due to the following persons in the given order.

a)Company Mentor.
b)Faculty Mentor.
c)Others.

Dont paste the above content; Compose your own acknowledgement
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C. Certificate from the Organisation

Instructions:-
Affix the Corporate Internship Program completion certificate that you have received
from the Organisation after completion your project. You can attach the coloured
photocopy of the Certificate received from the Company.
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1. The Table of Contents
Instructions:-

Should list the Chapters , Sections and Sub sections of the report with page
references.
Is based on the final outline of the report, but it should include only the first-
level subdivisions.
Should be followed by List of Figures and List of Tables
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2. The Executive Summary

Instructions:-

Briefly explains why the project was conducted, what aspects of the problem were
considered, what the outcome was, and what should be done.
A condensed statement of what is important in the report- one-to two-page
synopsis is a must for most project reports.
Since many executives/recruiters read only this, it is extremely important that this
section be both accurate and well written.
This is not a miniature of the main report. Rather, it provides the
reader/organization with those project findings having the most impact on the
actions/decisions to be made.
Executive summary should include:
1. Objectives of the project.
2. Nature of the problem/issues.
3. Key results.
4. Conclusions (based on the project undertaken).
5. Recommendations for action .
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3. Introduction to the Project

Instructions:-

Discuss background information and the specific objectives of the project.
The purpose is to provide the reader with background information needed to
understand the remainder of the report.
This part is conditioned by the diversity of the audience and their familiarity with
the project report.
It must clearly explain the nature of the problem and the project objectives.

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4. Background to the Industry and the Organization
Instructions:-
The description of the Industry and the Organization should be compiled in this
chapter. It can include the ranking, market share or, benchmarking of the different
organizations and the current trend of business. This chapter should provide a
macro view of the circumstances surrounding the decision problem. The nature of
any previous studies on the problem can also be reviewed.

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5. Project / Research Methodology
Instructions:-
Describes the structure and technical procedures of the project. It may be
supplemented with an appendix or glossary of technical terms (if any).
Project/ Research design (Type of Project/ Research)
Sample design
Data collection design
Statistical Design
Operation Design
The purpose is to describe the nature of the research design, the sampling plan,
data collection and analysis procedure.
This section should explain the steps taken in a sequential order to fulfill the
objectives. Enough detail must be conveyed so that the reader can appreciate
the nature of methodology used.
The use of technical jargon must be explained.
The methodology section should tell the reader whether the design was
exploratory or conclusive.
The sources of data secondary or primary should be explained.
The nature of data collection method communication or observation must be
specified.
The reader needs to know who was included in the sample, the size of the
sample, and the nature of the sampling procedure.

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6. Observations/Findings
Instructions:-

Presents the findings of the project. It includes tables, charts, and an organized
narrative.
The bulk of the report is composed of the project findings, which should be
organized around the project objectives and information needs.
This chapter should involve a logical unfolding of information as one is telling a
story.
The reporting of findings must have a definite point of view and fit together into a
logical whole; it is not just the presentation of an endless series of tables.
Rather, it requires the organization of the data into a logical flow of information
for decision-making purpose


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7. Recommendations & Conclusion
Instructions:-

The section should provide opinions based on the results and suggestions for action.
These must flow logically from the presentation of the results.
They should link the project findings with the information needs, and based on these
linkage recommendations for action.
The Intern must focus on the decision problem and think in term of action.
The Intern must appreciate the broader management issues and the role of research
in the decision-making process.
The Intern may identify recommendations not otherwise considered by the
Organization.
In the final analysis, however, the action taken is the responsibility of the
organisation, and the recommendations put forth in the project report may or may not
be followed.
The conclusion should answer all the questions posed in the project objectives.
Every project has weaknesses, which need to be communicated in a clear and
concise manner. The purpose of this section is not to disparage the quality of the
project, but rather to enable the readers to judge the validity of the study results. The
limitations in a project generally involve sampling and non-response inadequacies
and methodological weaknesses. It is the Interns professional responsibility to clearly
inform the reader of these limitations.



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9. References
Students are advised to follow APA style of referencing.

You may view the tutorial from the link:
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx

(Refer Annexure-B)
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10. Appendix


Instructions:-

The purpose of the appendix is to provide a place for material, which is not
absolutely essential to the body of the report.
Contains material that is too technical or too detailed to go in the body
includes materials of interest only to some readers or subsidiary materials not
directly related to the objectives.
This material is typically more specialized and complex than material presented
in the main report, and it is designed to serve the needs of the technically
oriented reader.
The appendix will frequently contain copies of the data collection forms, details
of the sampling plan, estimates of statistical error, interviewer instructions, and
detailed statistical tables associated with the data analysis process.
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General Instructions

The Student Interns are required to follow the Project Report guidelines
template to bring uniformity and standardization in the report structure to be
submitted.
Each student intern will have to submit two copies of the Project Report. One
copy of the report will be returned to the Student Intern after the presentation.
Students are also required to mail the final copy approved copy from FM of the
report to cip@fiib.edu.in with CC to their respective FM.
The cover page of the Project Report must be hard bound in Navy Blue Color
with golden embossing.
The text material should be typed with single spacing between the lines. Ten
point font size is to be used in Arial font.
The Title (including sub-heading) on the cover page should be of 14 font size,
Caps and Upper Case, Bold and Centered.
Other details on the cover page should be in Arial font of size 12 and layout as
per Annexure A
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General Instructions (Contd)

A left-hand margin of approximately 3-3.5 cm is to be left for adequate
space for binding. The top margin of the first page and of the first page of
each succeeding chapter/Section should be 4 cm. Other top margins, the
right side and bottom margins should be a minimum of 2.5 cm in size.
The Project Report must include a copy of the Corporate Internship
Program completion certificate from the Company with details of the
project start and end date, the project title, project location and the
name and designation of the CM.
Since CIP is a full three credit course, the Project Report should range in
length between 50-80 pages with a deviation of ten pages.

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General Instructions (Contd)


Consider the Audience: Make the report clear; use only words familiar to the
readers, and define all technical terms.
To make the comparison use percentages, rounded-off figure, ranks or ratios; put
the exact data in a table within the text or in the appendix.
Use graphic aids (charts, graphs, picture, etc.) for clarification.
Address the Information Needs: Project report is designed to communicate
information of decision makers.
Make sure the project findings are logically related.
Be Concise, Yet Complete: Most recruiters/managers will not want to read about
the details of a project project.
Be clear on knowing what to include and what to leave.

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General Instructions (Contd)

Be Objective: Sometime the results might not be easily accepted by the
Organization.
The findings may conflict with the Organization's experience and judgment, or
on the wisdom of previous decisions.
The project findings should be presented in an objective manner (i.e. without
bias).
Writing Style: Here are a few tips to help in writing a report.
Write in brisk, business like English.
Use short words and sentences.
Be concise
Use graphs and charts, used primarily to illustrate visually.
Write in the present tense. Use the active voice
Placing short quotes from respondents.
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