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Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

College of Business Administration, Hotat Bani Tamim

Department of Accounting

PROJECT GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS

ACCT 497: GRADUATION PROJECT – II

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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Consult with your project supervisor for detailed instructions on researching and writing

the project report. It is your personal responsibility to become clear about what you are

expected to do and the standards that are expected from you in the report. Your

supervisor is the best person to answer these questions.

2. Ensure that you participate in bi-weekly meetings with your supervisor as group process

carries 20 percent of the course mark. If you are absent from these meetings you would

loose valuable marks.

3. All groups should start work immediately when the semester starts and all group

members must co-operate with their group and complete the assigned work on time.

There is no time to waste in the semester as this is a major research project and you

would have to devote a significant amount of time to complete it.

4. Familiarize yourself with the marking scheme (also referred as marking rubrics) for the

reports, presentations and group activity. The marking rubrics are included in this

document.

5. Like any other course, attendance is compulsory for this course too.

6. Report writing guidelines are enclosed in Appendix 1.

7. Rubrics are given in Appendix 2.

8. Bi-weekly Group Process Activities are given in Appendix 3.

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APPENDICES

Appendix- 1: Project Report, Writing Guidelines

Appendix 2: Grading Rubrics for Reports and Presentations

Appendix 3: Students’ Weekly Group Process Activities

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Appendix–1: Writing Guidelines for Project Report

This is an independent research project which should follow both the (i) content and (ii) format

guidelines. The course instructor would explain the content sequencing and the format to the

students. Once the topics are allocated to the students the project supervisor would explain in

detail the major knowledge areas that he wishes the groups to research and include in the report.

The format is an APA style document.

Content Details

1. Title Page

Contains the name of the students, university id, title of the project, course name, supervisor

name, department name etc. It is advised to formulate the title of the topic in a specific and

precise manner. The title has to be representative of the main focus of the study. Sample

template of title page is as follows.

Sample template of title page:

Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

College of Business Administration, Hotat Bani Tamim.

Title of the study topic:

Submitted by:

1. 464152321 Ahmad Iqbal

2. 489326542 Omar Saud

3. 421569875 Awadi Khalid

4. 478459856 Saleh Abdullah

Under the supervision of

Name of the Project Supervisor, Designation

For official purpose only:

Total marks awarded: …………………

Feedback/Suggestions:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Acknowledgements and declaration

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The students should thank all the people who helped in various stages of their research till

completion. A formal statement in writing by mentioning the accountability of research and

the findings has to be mentioned in the form of declaration signed by the students.

3. Table of contents

This contains the contents and descriptions of the main headings such as chapter titles,

sections in the chapters and their page numbers in the report. Sample template of table of

contents is enclosed.

Sample template of table of contents:

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Declaration

Table of Contents

Abstract

Chapter I: Introduction

1.1 Industry overview

1.2 Key growth drivers

Chapter II: Objectives, methodology and Chapterization

2.1 Objectives

2.2 Methodology

2.3 Place of work and Facilities Available

2.4 Chapterization

Chapter III: Profile of the selected companies and analysis of the

study findings.

3.1 Brief profile of company

3.2 Analysis of the study

Chapter IV: Recommendations and Suggestions of the study

Chapter V: Conclusion

Bibliography

Page No.

4. Abstract

It is a maximum of 250 – 300 word synopsis of the main findings of the report. It should

mention the methodology used and the most important results found.

5. Introduction & Review of Literature

The need for research on the topic and the importance of the study has to be mentioned. It

addresses the focus of the research, purpose of research and justification of the research as

well as detailed literature review. The literature review would describe the past important

research and any new research from credible sources like academic books and peer reviewed

journals etc. It has to also mention the findings of the study topic of the study.

6. Main body

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The main body of the project report includes objectives and methodology of the study which

are the most important and essential components of the whole study. The main body also

shows any analysis with data used and that information should be conveyed through

appropriate tables and charts.

7. Company Profile

The profile of the company which is selected for the study and its history and achievements

have to be briefly mentioned in the report.

8. Recommendations

Based on the main findings of the study, mention any suggestions to improve the study

including any ideas for further research.

8. Conclusion

Conclusion should briefly mention what was investigated, the major findings of the study, and

any limitations of the scope of the study.

9. Bibliography/References

List all the resources includes the online resources that were used in the process of

preparation of research report. You have to mention the author names, titles of academic

works, the names or agencies or companies which publish the information, the dates of

publications and page numbers (see the attached APA format). The sources for the data

presented in the form of tables, charts and graphs have to be mentioned below the specific

charts and tables.

10. Project Presentations

Once the final report is ready at the end of the course, students should submit their research

findings to their respective supervisors.

The project presentations are group presentations.

Each group member will present the part of the presentation allocated to them by their

group.

The presentation should emphasize the main findings and the methodology adopted in the

study.

Each presentation would be followed by questions and answers from the course instructor

and the Project Supervisors.

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11. Project Report Submission

One soft copy on CD and two spiral bound copies of the report should be submitted to the

respective Project Supervisor..

APA Style of Format

APA (American Psychological Association) style is the most commonly used method to cite

sources within the social sciences.

Project report should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (A4) with 1"

margins on all sides.

APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font.

Page header (also known as the running head) has to be mentioned at the start of each

page of the report. The page header should be reflective of the section which is on that

page. If one section is ending and another one starting on that page then the header

should pertain to the next section that is starting on that page.

References should appear at the end of report. It provides the information necessary for a

reader to locate and retrieve any source that is cited in the body of the report. It should be

ensured that all sources cited in the main body of the report are included in the

References.

o References should begin on a new page separate from the text of the report and label

this page as "Bibliography” or “References".

o The heading “References” should be left-aligned.

o For more details on APA style formatting refer to the URL:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Example of Citing Books Ranzijn, R., McConnochie, K., & Nolan, W. (2009). Psychology and indigenous Australians: Foundations of

cultural competence. South Yarra, Vic: Palgrave Macmillan.

Example of Citing Book Chapters Groundwater-Smith, S. (2007). As rain is to fields, so good teachers are to students. In S. Knipe (Ed.), Middle

years schooling: Reframing adolescence (pp. 151-170). Frenchs Forest, N.S.W: Pearson Education Australia.

Example of Citing Journal Articles H. R., Weinborn, M., Badcock, J., Bates, K. A., Clarnette, R., Trivedi, D., … Martins, R. N. (2011). New lexicon

and criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Lancet Neurology, 10(4), 299-300.

Example of Citing web link articles Gagné, M., Forest, J., Vansteenkiste, M., Crevier-Braud, L., van den Broeck, A., Aspeli, A. K., . . . Westbye, C.

(2015). The Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale: Validation evidence in seven languages and nine

countries. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 24(2), 178-196.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1359432x.2013.877892

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Appendix–2: Grading Rubrics

Mark Allocation for Course

Rubric for Written Report

Rubric for Presentations

Rubric for Group Process Activities

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MARK ALLOCATION FOR COURSEWORK

A. Written Report – Group Work 50% B. Presentations of Report – Group Work 30%

C. Group Process Activity - 20% ---------- Total 100% Instructions

1. For part A all students in the group get the same mark in the Project Report.

2. For part B marks will be allocated based on both group and individual performance in the Group Presentation.

3. For part C marks will be allocated based on individual performance in the Group Process

Activity.

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RUBRIC FOR WRITTEN REPORT (50% of Total Mark) The report will be marked by the Supervisor according to the following rubric.

Assessment Method/Criteria Mark

Allocation Scheme

Marks Awarded

1. Title page, Table of Contents 10

2. Abstract /Executive Summary 10

3. Introduction, Objectives, Methodology 10

4. Review of Literature 10

5. Analysis and findings of the study 10

6. Profile of Company / Industry 10

7. Tables, Charts and Figures 10

8. Conclusion & Recommendations 10

9. Bibliography & Appendices (APA format) 10

10. Language and grammar 10

Total 100

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RUBRIC PRESENTATIONS (30% of Total Mark)

The presentations will be marked by a team of observers according to the following scheme.

Assessment Method/Criteria Mark Allocation Scheme Marks Awarded

Common mark for all group members

1. Introduction to the presentation should clearly state

what the study is about and the Conclusion should

sum up the study properly.

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2. Content of written Project Report must be covered in

the presentation- the PP presentation must be a good

summary of the report and should cover the essence

of the research covered in the report.

10

3. Division of work between group members should be

equitable and not skewed towards one person.

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4. Clarity of information on each slide and order of

slides.

10

Individual mark for each presenter

Consider the following in awarding these marks:

Degree of understanding of the part of research

that was assigned to him.

Ability to answer questions.

Confidence and speaking skills.

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Total 50

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RUBRIC FOR GROUP PROCESS (20% of Total Mark) Your group activity would be marked by your project supervisor according to the following

marking scheme.

Criterion Marks

Allocated

Marks Awarded

Meeting

1

Col 1

Mtg

2

Col 2

Mtg

3

Col 3

Mtg

4

Col 4

Mtg

5

Col 5

Mtg

6

Col 6

Mtg

7

Col 7

Total

Out of

70

Col 8

Average

Marks for 7

Meetings

Col 9

Attendance 10

Completion

of assigned

task

10

Cooperation

with group

10

Total

(out of 30)

30

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Appendix–3: Students’ Weekly Group Process Activities

Following are the guidelines for formation of the student groups and the activities to be performed by

each group.

1. Group members should meet to exchange their contact information and select a group

leader.

2. Develop a table of contents for the project.

3. Based on the table of contents the group members share the tasks.

4. Each group member would complete their allocated work and send to Group Leader.

5. Group Leader will ensure that each group member completes his work on time and

submits to him.

6. Periodical meetings have to be held between group members to monitor the progress of

their research.

7. First draft of the completed document should be compiled and read by all group

members.

8. The first draft should be shown to the project supervisor for his comments.

9. After getting the comments from the supervisors, the group should continue to do

research to finalize the project report.

10. Each group will maintain a log of its’ weekly meetings and it should also state the work

done in each week by specific group members.

11. It should be noted that while each group member is allocated their individual tasks,

however, each member must know about the whole report.

12. Course instructor should talk to each member of the group individually and maintain a

record of their comments regarding the quality and quantity of work done by the group

members and cooperation among the group members.