HL IA a Guide for Students1

7/24/2019 HL IA a Guide for Students1

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IB Business ManagementHigher Level Internal Assessment

A Guide for Students

First examinations November 2016


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Table of Contents

Instructions to students..................................................................................................4Introduction......................... .................. ................. .................. ................. .................. ............ ..... ...... ..... 4

Requirements................... .................. ................. .................. ................. .................. ............ ..... ...... ..... ... 4

Research Proposal............................ .................. ................. .................. ................. ............ ...... ...... ..... .. 5

Example layout for action plan (but a Gantt chart is better)................................................!o" to frame #usiness $ana%ement internal assessment research question (not

from I#&)..................... ................. .................. ................. .................. ................. .................. ........ ..... ..... '

uestion de*elopment process. (+ot from I#&).....................................................................''

,ollectin% primary research.............................. ................. .................. ................. .................. ...... .. '-

! /ritten Report............................. ................. .................. ................. .................. ................. ......... .. '-

/ord ,ount.................... ................. .................. ................. .................. .................. ................. ....... ...... .. '4

0I+1 2!&3G!2........................ ................. .................. ................. .................. ................. ........... ..... '5

HL research project Criteria........................................................................................!,riterion 1 Research proposal................................................................................................................. '6

,riterion # ources and data ("ritten report)..................................................................................'

,riterion , 3se of tools7 techniques and theories ("ritten report)...........................................'8,riterion 9 1nalysis and e*aluation ("ritten report)....................................................................-

,riterion E ,onclusions ("ritten report)............................................................................................-'

,riterion 0 Recommendations ("ritten report)...............................................................................-'

,riterion G tructure ("ritten report).................................................................................................-'

,riterion ! Presentation ("ritten report)..........................................................................................--

,riterion I Reflecti*e thin:in% ("ritten report)............................................................................... .--

HL IA A Guide for Students 2


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Instructions to students

Note that any text shown here is direct instruction from the I!" Any text with a #rey

box has been added to hi#hli#ht further ex$ectations of students

Introduction

The HL internal assessment is a research $ro%ect that allows students to demonstrate

the a$$lication of their s&ills and &nowled#e to business issues or decision'ma&in#

HL Research Project

Requirements

(ou must select a real business organizationor a range of organizations for this)

not a fictional one) and the issue or decision under in*esti#ation must also be real"

(ou are ex$ected to #ather rimar! researchfrom the or#ani+ation and use this as a

base for your re$ort" Secondary research may be used as su$$ort"

(ou ha*e to carry out research that addresses an issuefacin# a business or#ani+ation

or ran#e of or#anisations or analyses a "ecisionto be made by a business or#ani+ation

or ran#e of or#anisations"

(ou must also $roduce a research roosalthat can be used as a $rimary $lannin#document and be $resented in terms of an action $lan" It must not exceed ,-- words"

(our titleis *ery im$ortant" The research .uestion should be forward'loo&in#)

tar#eted at an issue or a decision still rele*ant for the business or#ani+ation/s0 rather

than descri$ti*e of somethin# already finished) and should re.uire you to ma&e

recommendations for further action" Guidance from the teacher in formulatin# an

a$$ro$riate research .uestion is im$ortant"

(ou must $roduce a written re$ort that does not exceed 2#000 $or"s"

Ideally you should choose your own to$ic and or#anisation that you find bothinterestingand motivating"

ear in mind that some or#ani+ations fail to rovi"e "ata) which may undermine the

.uality of your re$ort" So before you start) ma&e sure that you will be able to obtain

the necessary data from the chosen or#ani+ation"

(ou must also be aware of ethical consi"erations" There is a need for tact) sensiti*ity

to other $eo$le and res$ect for confidentiality"

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Research Proposal

The internal assessment must start with a research $ro$osal" This will become the

$rimary $lannin# document) #i*in# direction to the research $ro%ect" The maximum

len#th of the research $ro$osal is %00 $or"s& 'he $or" count must be state" on the

submitte" $or(&If the word limit is exceeded) the teachers assessment must bebased on the first ,-- words of the $ro$osal" It will not be read beyond ,-- words"

The research $ro$osal has a re.uired format consistin# of four com$onents"

HL IA A Guide for Students

Research )uestion

This is your title" It must be $osed as a .uestion"

3e can modify this title and $erfect it before the final deadline" (ou should consult with your teacher on

the title"

It must be forward loo&in# rather than descri$ti*e and re.uire you to ma&e recommendations for furtheraction

Proose" *etho"olog!This should include4

Rationale for stu"!+

3hy did you choose to in*esti#ate this s$ecific .uestion5 The reasons should be business related /what is the

context of this issue or decision to the mana#ement of the or#anisation50"

,reas of the s!llabus to be covere"+

S$ecifically state the name and sections of the course that will be included) with a brief %ustification as to their

rele*ance as a tool6theory aidin# you to answer your research .uestion"

7"#"4 8The extended mar&etin# mix 9":) es$ecially ;hysical e*idence will be considered as I will be com$arin#

mar&etin# strate#ies between Caf < and its main ri*al Caf Y in the trendy Gan#nam nei#hbourhood=

Possible -ources of .nformation+

3hat main $rimary methods will you use to #et your information /inter*iews with certain $eo$le) sur*eys with

certain $eo$le0 and why5 3hat are the ad*anta#es and $ossible disad*anta#es to these methods5 3hat

su$$ortin# secondary information will you use and why5

/rganizations an" in"ivi"uals to be aroache"+

3ho will you as& the .uestionnaire6sur*ey to5

>o you ha*e useful contacts5 3hat is their role5

3ho do you thin& will be the most useful $erson a$$roached5

3hat information do you ho$e to #et from these $eo$le5

*etho"s to be use" to collect an" anal!ze "ata# an" the reason for choosing them+

How will you collect $rimary data5 3ill you use sur*ey6inter*iew6.uestionnaire5 3hat sam$lin# methods will

you use and why5 3ill this information be useful5

3hat methods will you use to collect secondary data and why5

3hat tools /business or other0 do you $lan to use to analyse your data5 3ill you in*esti#ate usin# $ercenta#es or

#ra$hs for .uantifiable data5

'he or"er for activities an" a timescale for the roject+

3hen will you com$lete your acti*ities in what #eneral order5 3hat are li&ely to be the delays in your $ro%ect5

3hat is the total timescale) and how mi#ht delays im$act your $lan5

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Example layout for action plan (but a Gantt chart is better)

>ate to be

com$letedAction 7x$lanation ?odifications

/add when0 /add your action0 /be s$ecific about what youwill do0

/lea*e this blan& can addhandwritten notes to this

later0


,nticiate" ifficulties# such as limite" or biase" sourcesThis should include4

As ex$licitly stated in the title) what difficulties re#ardin# data sources and bias will you ha*e5 Also understand

that all sources %ust about contain bias) but be more critical when assessin# bias"

3hat other $roblems do you thin& you will face5 /e"#" lan#ua#e barrier etc"0 5

How do you $ro$ose attem$tin# to sol*e these $roblems5

>o you see yourself facin# an! confi"entialit!sensitivit! issuesand how will !ou solve these5 @emember)you cannot write stron# recommendations based on wea& information" Some financial data is essential to

achie*in# the to$ #rades"

,ction lan

This is e*idence of $lannin# it must be as s$ecific as $ossible" It should also allow for modification after it has

been finalised /handwritten0) and this will not be added to the word count unless extensi*e additional writin# not

$re*iously added"

It is a *ery #ood idea to use a Gantt chart rather than a table) as it demonstrates business &nowled#e"

urthermore) it is a tool that uses *ery few words) so will allow you to write more about the 1 $oints abo*e /the,-- word maximum is a ti#ht word count0"

,


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How to frame Business ana!ement internal assessment researchquestion (not from IB")

Buestion @emar&s

1 3hy are


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#uestion de$elopment process% (&ot from IB")

Buestion @emar&s

E How can


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H ritten Report

The written re$ort) which follows the research $ro$osal) is the second $art of the research

$ro%ect" This will document the main findin#s of the research"

The re$ort must follow acce$table $ractice in re$ort $resentation) reflected in the re.uired

format for the written re$ort shown below"

The written re$ort must consist of the followin# sections"

'itle Page

The title $a#e should #i*e a clear indication of the content of the research $ro%ect)

includin# the name of the stu"ent/(our L7GAL name0) the title of the $ro%ect) the

intended audience and the word count"

,c(no$le"gements

The ac&nowled#ements should reco#ni+e any indi*idual and6or or#ani+ation that made the

$roduction of the re$ort $ossible"

ontents PageThe contents $a#e should include the ma%or headin#s in the re$ort) be#innin# with the

executi*e summary" ;a#e numbers should be clearly indicated"

7xecutive -ummar!

8,bstract9

The executi*e summary should be a concise) clear and ex$licit summary of the document)

includin# the recommendations and conclusions" The research .uestion and executi*e

summary should #uide the reader to the substance of the re$ort" The maximum len#th of

the executi*e summary is 200 $or"s) and this is not included in the word count"

These 2-- words are extra" They are not included in the ,-- words for the research

$ro$osal or the 2)--- words for the written re$ort"

The reader should be able to read this $art and &now e*erythin# you did from the

be#innin# until the end"

(ou ha*e to try to include e*erythin# in your summary) from the introduction) to the

methodolo#y) to your findin#s and conclusions6recommendations"

It is recommended that the executi*e summary include three elements4

" the research .uestion

" the sco$e of the research /includin# the methodolo#y0

" the main findin#s) conclusions and recommendations"

.ntro"uction

The introduction should demonstrate some bacround &nowled#e about the

or#ani+ation/s0 and #i*e a clear outline of the issue or decision under in*esti#ation"

riefly outline the issue" This is N!T a history of the com$any"

Include a hoo& a connection to the rationale in the research $ro$osal that ma&es this

worth readin#

7nd with4

This has therefore led me to the followin# research .uestion4

;ut your title at the end of your introduction"

Research :uestion

See Introduction"

This is your title and is to be written at the end of your introduction"



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*etho"olog!

7mlo!e"

The methodolo#y section should be a summary of the $rimary /and) where rele*ant)

secondary0 research underta&en and the business tools) techni.ues and theories a$$lied" It

should also include an assessment of the *alidity and reliability of the data collected /for

exam$le) $artiality and sco$e0 and the methods em$loyed" Any chan#es made as the wor&

$ro#ressed should be ex$lained"

It needs to be in sentences) but you can brea& it down into ste$s"

If you had the chance to do this a#ain) what would you chan#e and why5

*ain results an"

fin"ings

The main results and findin#s section should clarify what the raw data has re*ealed" This

should include a summary of the data collected and of the findin#s made) and should)

where a$$ro$riate) be su$$orted by tables) #ra$hs and statistics"

It does not need to include the results to e*ery sur*ey .uestion" The title is main

results and findin#s" Summari+e data into tables or #ra$hs when $ossible

There should be N! analysis here" It is $urely your results summarised" Therefore

there should also be lots of referencin# as the sources are either the a$$endix /$rimarysources0 or from some secondary sources"

,nal!sis an"

"iscussion

In the analysis and discussion section) the results and findin#s should be analysed with the

hel$ of rele*ant business tools) techni.ues and theories"

It is not about how many tools6techni.ues6theories you choose" ?a&e sure you choose

the most a$$ro$riate that enable you to analyse and e*aluate your findin#s within the

word count"

They should also be inter$reted4 what main issues emer#e from the research) and why and

how are they hel$ful /or not0 to answerin# the research .uestion5

An e*aluati*e a$$roach to the discussion of findin#s should be $ursued4 for exam$le) what

are the stren#ths and wea&nesses of the *arious $ositions on the issue or decision under

in*esti#ation and what are their im$lications5

This is the most im$ortant $art of your re$ort" This is N!T the time to ha*e lots of

#ra$hs and charts" This is a >ISCSSI!N of your findin#s"

Loo& at effects) causes) solutions /The I?;ACT0"

Consider the needs of the business"

Consider alternati*es"

Consider $ossible reasons"

se your findin#s to bac& u$ your ar#uments and it is !J to ma&e %ud#ements)

as& .uestions critically e*aluateKKIdentify the main issues and ex$lain their

si#nificance"

3hat do your findin#s tell you about your business5 Is this a #ood indicator for

the business5



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@emember4

To e*aluate /wei#h u$ the ar#uments0

@ationale /loo& for $ossible reasons0

Critically examine6assess /for and a#ainst0

@eflecti*e discussion4 always reflect on your su##estions and ideas and findin#s"

8This could be due toM=5"

@ememberM

(ou must $ro*e to the examiner that you are able to use your research and

#ather new ideas and therefore form discussions from them"

(ou must de*elo$ a detailed brea&down of the themes outlined earlier" It should

be clearly or#anised"

The discussion should be well referenced"

There should be e*idence of inter$retation of findin#s"

To #et the hi#hest mar& in your analysis) your discussion has to be $robin#) in'de$th

and informati*e" (our ideas ha*e to be inte#rated well and the issues you are

discussin# ha*e to ha*e a lo#ical and coherent order" There has to be consistent

e*idence of critical) reflecti*e thin&in#"

onclusion an"Recommen"ations

(ou should ha*e one headin#) but ha*e two clearly se$arated $arts for conclusionsand recommendations

The conclusions should follow on from the analysis and discussion new facts or ar#uments

should not be $resented" @ecommendations should be $recise) answer the research .uestion

and be $ractical $ro$osals for action that stem from the conclusions"

Answer the initial research .uestion clearly and ex$licitly" (our final conclusion does

not ha*e to be correct) but it must be su$$orted by the $re*ious analysis and

e*aluation in the analysis section"

It is o&ay if you feel li&e you are re$eatin# a little bit" (ou are su$$osed to be usin#

your $re*ious ar#uments and %ud#ments

If the results of the research are inconclusi*e) further research should be recommended"

7*en if you are .uite conclusi*e /meanin# your conclusion is ob*ious0) you should still

ad*ise of further research to com$lete"

To be of $ractical *alue to mana#ement) the re$ort should be forward'loo&in# and su$$ort

the or#ani+ations decision'ma&in# $rocess"

This means your recommendations /ha*e more than one0 should be useful and rele*ant

to their current issue or decision to be made" They should also be substantiated and not%ust be a last minute idea that you had"

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References an"

bibliograh!

or $resentation of references and biblio#ra$hy) $lease see the section on ac&nowled#in#

the ideas and wor& of another $erson in the 8The >i$loma ;ro#ramme= section of this

sub%ect #uide"

(ou must use an a$$ro*ed style and be consistent in that style throu#hout your whole

re$ort" @emember to reference your a$$endices too if ma&in# a claim based in

$rimary research

,en"ices

The a$$endices should contain only information or data that is re.uired to su$$ort

of the text and should be clearly referred to where rele*ant" The a$$endices will

ty$ically include exam$les of $hoto#ra$hs) documents) .uestionnaires) numerical

raw data in tables and statistical calculations"

!ften the most misunderstood $art of the re$ort" This is where you add information

that you need to reference) but are not able to write the citation as the information

does not exist anywhere else" If you find a table or a #ra$h in a secondary source)you can use it in your re$ort and reference it) but it does not need to be added to the

a$$endix" If you collate the results of your own sur*ey into a #ra$h and use the

#ra$h in your re$ort) it needs to be referenced to the a$$endix where the raw data

needs to be shown) as this is the only $lace that this information can be accessed

from"

ord 'ount

The written re$ort must not exceed 2)--- words" A word count must be included as $art of the

written re$ort" If the word limit is exceeded) the teachers assessment must be based on the

first 2)--- words of the re$ort"

N!T74' moderators will not read beyond 2)--- words for the written re$ort

The following are notincluded in the 2,000-word count:

title page

acknowledgments

contents page

executive summary (abstract

tables of statistical data

diagrams or figures

e!uations, formulae and calculations

citations (which, if used, must be in the body of the commentary

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references (which, if used, must be in the footnotes"endnotes

bibliography

appendices#

$lease note that footnotes"endnotes may be used for references only# %efinitions of businessmanagement terms and !uotations, if used, must be in the body of the work and are includedin the word count# $lease note that citation is a shorthand method of making a reference in thebody of the commentary, which is then linked to the full reference in the bibliography#

Su##ested word countM

Introduction4 2-- words

?ethodolo#y em$loyed4 2-- words

?ain results O indin#s4 2-- words

Analysis and >iscussion4 E--- words

Conclusion and recommendations4 9-- words"

The above is a suggestion only and you may wish to change it, as long as your report does

not exceed 2,000 words.

*I&+ ,H"-GH,.

)ualit! of Language+ -elling# unctuation# terminolog! an" grammar&

Presentation+ ;ou can have hotograhs# tables# grahs# "iagrams&

Reort structure+ $or" rocesse"# age numbers# full! reference"#

bibliograh!&

Have the same hea"erfooter for each age $ith logo# or coman!


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H research pro/ect 'riteria

The &' business management research proect is assessed against nine criteria that are related to theassessment obectives for the business management course# )riterion * refers to the research proposal,

while criteria + are used to assess the written report#

.hen the work to be assessed has been read, the descriptors for each criterion should be studied until adescriptor is reached that most appropriately describes the achievement level# f a piece of work seems

to fall between two descriptors, both descriptors should be read again and the one that moreappropriately describes the student/s work chosen#

There are nine assessment criteria for the research proect#

)riterion *: esearch proposal

)riterion +: 1ources and data

)riterion ): se of tools, techni!ues and theories

)riterion %: *nalysis and evaluation

)riterion 3: )onclusions

)riterion 4: ecommendations

)riterion 5: 1tructure

)riterion &: $resentation

)riterion : eflective thinking

riterion ,+ Research roosal

Please note+Criterion A should be used to assess the research $ro$osal only"

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student $resents a research $ro$osal

that #i*es an effecti*e direction for the $ro%ect) with all the re.uired elements



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riterion =+ -ources an" "ata 8$ritten reort9

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student selects $rimary sources and

collects data which address an issue or a decision to be made by an or#ani+ation or a

ran#e of or#ani+ations in a$$ro$riate de$th and breadth"

riterion + >se of tools# techni:ues an" theories 8$ritten reort9

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student understands and a$$lies

rele*ant business mana#ement tools) techni.ues and theories so that a #reater insi#ht

into the situation of the or#ani+ation ensues"



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riterion + ,nal!sis an" evaluation 8$ritten reort9This criterion assesses the extent to which the student uses his or her results and

findin#s effecti*ely in order to ex$lain the issue or decision to be made and is able to

inte#rate his or her ideas coherently" This criterion also assesses the extent to which

the student e*aluates his or her ar#uments and ma&es %ud#ments that are well

substantiated"

riterion 7+ onclusions 8$ritten reort9

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student is able to draw rele*ant

conclusions based on the analysis of the re$ort"



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riterion F+ Recommen"ations 8$ritten reort9

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student is able to ma&e substantiated

recommendations that are consistent with the conclusions made and answer the

research .uestion"

riterion ?+ -tructure 8$ritten reort9

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student or#ani+es his or her ideas into a

structured re$ort with an ar#ument that is easy to follow"

riterion H+ Presentation 8$ritten reort9

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student $resents all the re.uired

com$onents of the written re$ort in the correct order and format"



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riterion .+ Reflective thin(ing 8$ritten reort9

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student is able to reflect critically on

their own wor&"


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Documents

HL IA a Guide for Students1