MCOP-001: PROJECT COURSE

Guidelines for Submission of Synopsis and Project Report

Submission of Synopsis

 ODL Students of Master of commerce (M.COM) Programmes
 To, The Regional Director,
of your Respective Regional Centre.
For the address of the Regional Centre you may refer Programme Guide &
Prospectus given on our website www.ignou.ac.in
 MCOM Online (MCOMOL) will submit it through LMS Portal
 Payment of Project Evaluation Fee.
Submission of Project Report
 ODL Students of ODL Students of Master of commerce (M.COM)
Programmes

 To the Registrar (SED),

IGNOU, Maidan Garhi,
New Delhi -110 068.
 MCOM Online (MCOMOL) students can submit it through LMS Portal.

Commerce Discipline
School of Management Studies
 Guidelines for the Course MCOP-001: Project
in Masters of Commerce (M.COM) and M.COM
Online (MCOMOL) Programmes
The course “MCOP-001: Project” is a six credit course in 4th semester of M.Com and M.Com
online Programmes. For this course no additional study material is provided only
guidance by the Guide/Supervisor.
The course aims at developing research skills and applied tools and techniques to analyse and
validate the proposition related to the business issues and also explore multi-disciplinary
issues as well as logical approach related to the areas of the commerce and business. The
Project should be on a topic preferably from your area of interest such as Marketing, Finance,
Human Resource, International Business, Accounting & Taxation and other related and
emerging areas.

Process for Preparation and Submission of Project Synopsis

In order to proceed with your project course, the approval of the project synopsis is
necessary. Only on the approval of the synopsis, the project work can be taken up. The
process for preparation and submission of the project synopsis is to be done as follows:
Selection of topic
You can select any topic of your choice, preferably in your area of interest (as mentioned
above). The title should be communicating main theme of the dissertation. It should convey
the subject matter being covered in the project.
It could be either:
i) Survey Based Field study (empirical study).
ii) Comprehensive case study (covering single organisation/multifunctional area
problem formulation, analysis and recommendations).
iii) Inter-organisational study aimed at inter-organisational comparison/validation of
theory/survey of management practices, and;
iv) Any other research based work.
Note: You are advised to start preparation of the Synopsis of the Course MCOP 001:
Project, from 3rd Semester onwards.
1) Selection of Guide
Once you are clear about the field in which the project work is to be taken up, then contact a
person who has experience in that area and is interested in guiding, provided s/he fulfils the
specified eligibility criteria.
The Eligibility Criteria for guide/ supervisor is:
(i) Commerce Faculty in the School of Management Studies at Headquarters.
 (ii) All approved academic counsellors of the M.Com Programme having 5 year teaching
experiences at the study centres are recognized as supervisors for guiding project.
(iii) Commerce/Management Faculty having 5 years of PG teaching experience/
Professionals holding Masters’ degree in Commerce or allied disciplines having a
minimum of 5 years of experience in the relevant area. However, if you choose to
identify your own guide, then the bio-data of proposed guide is to be attached along
with synopsis for approval.

Note: Students are advised to select the guides who are interested to guide in the
relevant area of the selected topic as per the laid down eligibility criterion. The Project
guides are also requested to restrict guiding in their respective areas only.
2) Preparation of Project Synopsis
After selection of the guide and finalising the topic, the Project Synopsis should be prepared
in consultation with the guide. The Synopsis of the proposed project should essentially have
the following:
(i) Introduction: A brief background about the subject chosen for study.

(ii) Rationale: Why a particular topic has been chosen for the project work 2.

(iii) Literature Review: Review of the existing literature related to your topic of
project work

(iv) Objectives: This is the most important aspect of any project. It should mention
clearly and precisely the things which you hope will be able to know/achieve at
the end of the study. These may be clearly stated in behavioural terms.
Objectives need to be expressed in neutral manner, without any implicit
assumptions about the findings of the research.

Sample Objectives of the Project Synopsis

The objectives of this study are to:

examine the financial performance _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

explore the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

analyse the factors affecting _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

investigate the influence _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

(v) Research Methodology:

 Research Design
 Nature and source of data/information to be collected.
 Sample and sampling techniques. Rationale of chosen issues and the sample.
 Tools and Techniques to be used for data collection – details of the
tools/questionnaire to be used and its relevance with the objectives of the project.
 Method/s to be used for data collection.
  Data handling and analysis- organisation and analysis of data. Statistical tools to
be used for analysis. Relevance of statistical tools with the objectives of the
project.
(vi) Implications of the Study
(vii) Limitations of the proposed project, if any.
3) Submission of Project Synopsis
Project Synopsis should be prepared in consultation with the guide. It must have the
following components:
 Filled in proforma of Project Proposal /Synopsis (Annexure-I) duly signed by the
student and the guide with the date.
 Bio-data of the Guide- A detailed bio-data of the guide duly signed, in original, by the
guide along with date.
The bio-data of the guide must have the following information:
 Name and Date of Birth of the guide.
 Full Address and contact numbers of residence and current work place.
 Detailed Educational Qualifications – clearly mentioning the Degrees (with
specialisation), name and address of the University/Institution and the year of award
of degree/qualification, along with percentage of marks obtained.
 Detailed work experience, stated clearly in chronological order having details of the
designation, period, name and contactable address of the organisations.
 Any other information relevant for assessment of the eligibility of the guide. You may
also attach current business card of the proposed guide.
Once the synopsis is ready in the prescribed format, you should send the Project Synopsis
along with the Bio-data of the guide to
The Regional Director (of your Respective Regional Centre / designated RC)
For the address of the Regional Center you may refer Program Guide given on our
website www.ignou.ac.in .
You may submit hardcopy by hand or by Registered post / Courier or soft copy at LMS portal (for
online students).

E-mail ID of all RC’s are available at:

http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/aboutignou/regional/website
Instructions for filling up the Proforma for Approval of Synopsis (Annexure-1):
Enrolment No: Mention the enrolment number assigned to you by the university. If your
maximum duration of the programme (i.e 4 years) is over ,you need to seek Re-admission,
before sending the synopsis. In case your synopsis was Approved on the earlier Enrolment
Number, then the same has to be sought for the New Enrolment Number again, if you fail to
do so the Project Report may not be accepted.
Subject Area: The broad subject area on which you intend to carry out your project work
should be mentioned (example: if you are doing your project on ‘Financial Performance of
XYZ Ltd’ then the Subject Area would be Finance). Similarly based on the topic selected, the
subject areas could be HRM & OB/Accounting & Finance /Operations Management &
Information System/ Marketing/ Corporate Management / Any Other (you may specify as per
the topic selected).
Topic of the Project: this is the final topic on which you will be carrying on the Project
Work. It should be concise indicating clearly the work being taken up for study. The Final
Project Report should necessarily be on the title approved by the evaluator, no changes could
be made while submitting the Final Project Report.
Name and Address of the Guide/ Supervisor: The name and address of the guide/
supervisor, (preferably his/her official address) may be clearly mentioned on the Proforma. If
the supervisor is an Academic Counsellor, S/he should give the details of the study centre and
the courses for which the counselling is provided, to the learners.
Students being Guided for MCOP-001: The number of students that are being guided by
the supervisor for the Project Course as on that date. The supervisors may restrict the number
of students being guided by him/her to five only, at any given point of time.
In case if the student fails to submit the duly signed (original signature) Bio-data and
Proforma for Approval, the synopsis shall be rejected.
*Note: Project synopsis incomplete in any respect shall be rejected. You are advised to retain
a copy of the Synopsis. Project Synopsis not containing a complete and signed Bio-Data of
guide shall not be considered.
A Project Proposal Number is assigned to the project synopsis, which is unique for each
learner. This Project Proposal (PP) number can be used for further correspondence with the
RC.
4) Feedback / Communication to the Learner
After the project synopsis is evaluated by the evaluator a written communication regarding
the Approval / Non-approval of the project proposal will be sent to the learner along with
the Project Proposal Number within two/three months of the receipt of the proposal in the
regional center.
In case the proposed guide is not approved, the student is advised to change the guide by
ensuring the load down eligibility criteria and submit the project proposal afresh with the
signature of the new guide, as it will be considered as a new proposal.
Similarly, if a student wants to change his/her guide for any reason, s/he would be required to
submit the project proposal along with the signature of the new guide on a new project
synopsis proposal proforma. It would be considered as a new proposal.
5) Resubmission of Project Synopsis
In case of Non-Approval of the synopsis, the comments/suggestions for reformulating the
project Synopsis will be communicated to the student.
In such case, the revised project synopsis should be submitted along with fresh project
Synopsis proforma and a copy of the rejected proposal synopsis bearing the comments of the
evaluator and Project Proposal Number (PP. No) allotted by the Regional Center.
PROJECT REPORT (DISSERTATION) SUBMISSION
After a written communication regarding the Approval of synopsis is received, the Project
course work may be undertaken.

1) Preparation of Project Report (dissertation)

Once you have carried out the study as envisaged in the approved synopsis then a dissertation
of the project work done needs to be prepared. The length of the dissertation may be about 60
to 80 double spaced typed pages. However, rational variation is permissible.
2) Structure of Project Report (dissertation)
(i) Introduction: Introduce the research work along with the rationale of the study.
(ii) Review of literature: detailed review of the existing studies on the selected
topic.
(iii) Research Methodology: It may give details about Rationale, Statement of
problem, Objectives of the Project, Scope of the study etc.
It should include the Research Design, Nature and Source of data/information
collected, Sample and Sampling method with rationale.
Details of the tools:
 The Questionnaire and other methods used and their purpose
 Reliability and Validity of the tools used
 Data collection, Statistical tools used for Data Analysis

(iv) Results and Discussion: This should present the results in tabular or graphical
format. The Interpretation of the data and results/findings may be given
elaborately.
(v) Summary and Conclusion
(vi) Recommendations
(vii) Implications
(viii) Limitations of the Project, Direction for further research (optional)
(ix) References / Bibliography (the students should follow APA style of referencing)
(x) Annexures /Appendices (Questionnaire used etc.)

The Final Project Report (dissertation) must have the following (Checklist):

 Cover Page – must have the Code and Title of the course ie., MCOP-001:Project,
Title of the Project/Dissertation; the Name and Enrolment No. of the Student; the
Name of the Guide, name of the School and name of the University;
 Detailed table of contents with page nos.
 All pages of the Project Report/Dissertation must be numbered as reflected in the
table of contents.
 Approved Proposal (i.e., Project Proposal, approved proforma and bio-data of the
guide) properly bound in the project and not just stapled. Please note that project with
stapled Proposal will not be accepted.
 Certificate of originality (Annexure-II)- duly signed by the student and the guide
with dates.
 A copy of the Project evaluation Fee Payment Receipt.
 3.) Submission of Project Report (dissertation)
One typed copy of the Project Report is to be submitted to the Registrar (SED), IGNOU,
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi -110 068. As soon as, you submit the Project Report
(dissertation), a PR. No. would be allotted. Student should quote this PR No. while
corresponding with Registrar (SED) regarding Project Report thereafter.
M.COM online students can submit their Project Report through LMS Portal.
Project Report can be submitted any time throughout the year.
Note: Project Report is submitted between 1st December to 31st May, the result will be
declared along with June Term-end Examinations.
Project Report is submitted between 1st June to 30th November, the result will be
declared along with December Term-end Examinations.
The project report has to be submitted within the maximum duration of the programme
failing which evaluation of the project shall be rejected.

Further Information
Any query regarding the approval of Project Synopsis/ Proposal should be addressed to :
The Regional Director of your Respective Regional Centre.
For the address of the Regional Center you may refer Program Guide given on our website
www.ignou.ac.in
For seeking the status of the project synopsis / proposal you can write to the concerned
Regional Centre at www.ignou.ac.in > Regional Network > Regional Centre’s (E-mail ID of
all RC’s are available at http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/aboutignou/regional/website)
Queries regarding Project Reports / Dissertation should be addressed to The Registrar
(SED), IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068. Email: [email protected]
4. Plagiarism in Project Reports
The Project Report submitted by the student should be free from plagiarism and his/her
original work. In case if the project report is found to be plagiarised, action will be taken as
per the policy of the University.
 Important Notes While Preparing - Project Proposal (Synopsis)

Send only one copy of the Project synopsis/ Proposal, and retain a copy with you.
ii) “MCOP-001” should be written prominently on the envelope and should be addressed to
The Regional Director (of your Respective Regional Centre)
For the address of the Regional Center you may refer Student Handbook & Prospectus given
on our website www.ignou.ac.in or
http://www.ignou.ac.in/ignou/aboutignou/regional/website)
iii) Ensure the inclusion of the following while submitting the Project synopsis /Proposal:
a) Ensure that duly filled in Proforma for Approval of Project synopsis Proposal, signed by
both, the student and the guide along with date (Annexure-I).
b) Detailed Bio-data of the Guide duly signed by him/her.
M. COM(online) submission of Synopsis through LMS Portal.

Important Notes While Preparing Project Report / Dissertation

Send only one copy of the Project Report/ Dissertation and retain a copy with you. The
Project Report submitted to the University will not be returned to the student after
Evaluation.
The Project Report/ Dissertation should be submitted in original in A-4 Size, typed in double
space, in a bound volume to ‘The Registrar (SED), IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-
110068’ by Registered/Speed Post/by hand.
Before binding the Project Report / Dissertation, the student should ensure that it contains
the cover page with details, the Approved Project Proposal Proforma along with Approved
Proposal/ Synopsis, Bio-data of the Guide, Originality Certificate duly signed by the Student
& the Guide; and a copy of the Project Evaluation fee payment receipt. Project
Report/Dissertation if received without any of these documents, the same will be returned to
the students for compliance.
Mention on the top of the envelope “PROJECT REPORT-MCOP-001”. This will facilitate
sorting out Project Reports received in Student Evaluation Division (SED) for various
Programmes.
M.Com (online) students may submit Project Report/Dissertation through LMS Portal.
Duly filled in Remuneration Bill (Annexure III) for guidance of the project work should
be submitted in a separate envelope along with the submission of the Project
Report/Dissertation .
 Annexure-I

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110068

PROFORMA FOR APPROVAL OF PROJECT PROPOSAL/ SYNOPSIS FOR

MCOP – 001: PROJECT

Enrolment No. ___________________ Project Proposal No ___________

Study Centre ____________ (To be assigned by the Regional Centre)
Regional Centre _____________ Subject Area:_________________

Name of the Student : ____________________________________________________

Address of the Student: ____________________________________________________
(Complete Postal Address where the ____________________________________________________
synopsis, is to be sent )
Email Address: ____________________________________________________

Topic of the Project : ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Name and Address of the Guide/ Supervisor: ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Is the Supervisor an Academic Counselor Yes / No If yes, Code of Study Centre__________________

of Management Programme of IGNOU?
Courses he/ she is counseling for: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
No. of Students being guided: ____________________________________________________

Signature of Student Signature of Supervisor

Date: Date:
Please do not forget to enclose the synopsis of the project and the Bio-data of the Supervisor. In case the complete
and signed Bio-Data of the Supervisor is not enclosed, the proposal will not be entrained.
For Office Use Only
Synopsis Supervisor
Approved Approved Signature of Evaluator
Not Approved Not Approved Date:

Comments & Suggestions of the Evaluator

(Use backside of the proforma, if the space for writing
the comments is not Sufficient) Counter Signature of the
Regional Director/ Asst. Regional
Director
 Annexure-II

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY

This is to certify that the project titled “______________________________________

_____________________________________________________” is an original work of the

Student and is being submitted in partial fulfilment for the award of the Master’s Degree in
Business Administration of Indira Gandhi National Open University. This report has not been
submitted earlier either to this University or to any other University/Institution for the
fulfilment of the requirement of a course of study.

SIGNATURE OF SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE OF STUDENT

Place: Place:

Date: Date:
 Annexure-III
The remuneration bill has to
be submitted along-with the
submission of the Project
Report.

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

STUDENT REGISTRATION & EVALUATION DIVISION
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110068
REMUNERATION BILL FOR GUIDANCE OF PROJECT WORK

1. Programme Title : Master of Commerce

2. Name of Supervisor : …………………………………………………………………
3. Residential Address : …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
4. Designation : …………………………………………………………………
5. Official Address : …………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
6. Telephone No. Off : ………………………… Res: ………………………………...

S.No. Project Enrolment No. Name of the Student Amount

Certified that I have guided the student for their Project Work.
Dated: ………………
Signature of the Supervisor ……………….
Note: The remuneration payable for guidance of Project Work is 300/- per student.
Certified that the above Project Supervisor was approved and recommended by the concerned
school of study and above class may be admitied.

Dr. Registrar/Asstt. Registrar Section officer Dealing Assistant

SOMS-IGNOU/P.O. 5T/September, 2012
Printed at : Akashdeep Printers, 20-Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002