INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FINAL
PROJECT
R&D Management
Objective Statement
Makes the Differenced
• every academic write-up must have an objective
statement
• practically all professional reports have an
objective statement
2
Objectives of
the Objective Statement
• readers expect an objective statement
• writing without an objective statement is
difficult
• if you do not know where you should go, you
are lost from the very beginning
3
Recommendations
Should Be Given
• clear recommendations should be given
• “What If” -analyses are often appropriate
4
How Recommendations
Should Be Given
• be clear but be considerate and polite. Even
when there is no intention to be offensive
people can be offended
• if the receiver does not listen anymore, all work
can go in vain
5
Formulate an Action Plan
• explicit, clear, like an algorithm
• recommended actions and sub-actions
• only the actions, no background or justifications
anymore
6
Rigor of Thinking
• use as many different approaches and
management tools in coming up with the
recommendations as possible
• explicitly reveal what was considered in deciding
on the recommendations
• important is how rigorous the reasoning is!
7
Assessing the Reliability of
the Information
• the reliability of the information given should be
assessed
• what are the consequences of identified
unreliable information?
• what is true?! Or what is probably true?
• Question everything! Do not believe all what
the company representatives told you
8
Assessing the Information
• identify important information from among the
flood of information
• what is important? How should the important
information be used?
9
Was This All?
• do not rely only on the information that the
company gives to you. Ask questions! Request
additional information!
• what additional information is needed?
10
BASIC STRUCTURE OF A RESEARCH PAPER
Abstract
Preface
Acknowledgements
Table of contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Research problem
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.4 Scope of the study
1.5 Research approaches and research methods
2 Review of existing knowledge related to the research topic
3 Description of the research process
4 Results of the study
5 Reliability analysis
6 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
8 Summary
References
Appendices
11
Use Systematic Check Lists
• try to be sure that everything that is of
important is considered. Systematic checklists
can help in this
• the real contribution comes from applying the
check lists in a rigorous and justified manner
12
Role of Calculations
• relevance?
• reliability?
• assumptions?
13
Financial Analyses
• credit is given for demonstration of ability to use
sophisticated analyses
• it is (even more) important to indicate to the
reader what the role of the analyses is in the
decision making
14
Stating the Assumptions
• assumptions can be made
• the assumptions made should be clearly stated
• the implications of the assumptions should be
discussed
15
Professional Usage
of Analysis Tools
• being familiar with a wide number of different analysis
tools
• selecting proper analysis tools
• using the selected analysis tools in a sound way
• utilizing inconsistent information and inconsistent
analysis results in an optimal way
• exercising rigorous thinking and taking everything of
relevance to consideration
• making valid and justified final conclusions
• giving clear recommendations for action
16
The Role of
Background Theories
• do not try to teach the company representatives
or the teacher
17
Mission, Vision, Strategy
• remember that R&D is serving the mission,
vision and strategy of the company
• R&D questions are not appropriately addressed,
if one is not looking at the company as a whole
18
Introduction to the Reader
• an introduction of the company and of the topic
of the project is highly recommended and a
typical contents of an introduction even if such
does not seem to be necessary in the specific
context
19
Making a Clear Presentation
•
•
•
•
•
•
a cover sheet is a must
add an Executive Summary
use headings and sub-headings in a long text
include a table of contents
use page numbers
use pictures, graphs, and other illustrations
20
Small Things Can be Big Things
• it is important to have correct spelling of all
names and titles
• check all the facts before presenting
21
Enhancing Credibility
• submit the report in a folder
22
Maintaining Credibility
• no corrections with a pen or pencil are allowed,
especially this applies to the cover sheet
23
Professional Reporting
• the presentation must be crystal clear
• professional English must be used
• everything in the report must be flawless
24
Every Document Should Have
•
•
•
•
the date
the name of author(s)
the name of report
the name of receiver
25
Emphasis of Importance
• the importance of various information should be
assessed. Accordingly, the more important
information should be given more thorough
emphasis in the analyses
• the importance of the matter should also reflect
in the way it is presented
26
Getting to the Point
• no needless words, no empty sentences
27
Listing the Information Given
• listing the information as was given by the
company with no value-added is a typical
characteristics of the very few reports that have
not been excellent
28
Deadline
• Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at 16:00
29
Submission to the Course Instructor
• Through the course website in MyCourses
• In addition, a paper printout at the beginning of
the session on Friday April 15, 2016. This is the
first final project presentation session
30
Submission to the Case Companies
• same deadline: Wednesday, April 13 2016 at
16:00
• it is the responsibility of the student groups to
submit the reports to their respective case
companies
• ask the company how it wants to get its report
31
Adhere to the Deadline
• “Please, adhere to the designated deadline. Any
report submitted after the deadline can be
accepted, but only with the lowest acceptable
grade which is 1 (one).“
32
Guidebook in English
• Ilkka Kauranen & Mika Aaltonen & Mika
Naumanen & Martti M Kaila. A guidebook for
writers of research papers in industrial
management. Publication series of Helsinki
University of Technology, Institute of Industrial
Management, publication number 1. Otaniemi,
Finland. 1992. 68 pages.
33
Guidebooks in Finnish
• Ilkka Kauranen & Pasi Ropponen & Mika
Aaltonen. Tutkimusraportin kirjoittamisen opas.
Publication series of Helsinki University of
Technology, Office of Study Affairs. Otaniemi,
Finland. 1993. 114 pages.
• Ilkka Kauranen & Mikko Mustakallio & Virpi
Palmgren. Tutkimusraportin kirjoittamisen opas
opinnäytetyöntekijöille. Helsinki University of
Technology. Espoo, Finland. 2007. 109 pages. 34
Guidebooks in Estonian
• Ilkka Kauranen & Mika Aaltonen & Mika
Naumanen & Martti M Kaila. Käsiraamat
uurimustööde kirjutajatele tööstusettevotete
juhtimise alal. ESKO Koolitus. Tallinn, Estonia.
1995. 68 pages.
35
Thank you!
36