Project Guidelines for students
Objective of Project (Semester IV – 6 Credits)
The objective of the 6-credit project is to enable students to apply the knowledge, skills, and
analytical frameworks acquired during the MBA program to a real-world business challenge
or research inquiry. This capstone component is designed to foster independent thinking,
problem-solving, and evidence-based decision-making. Through the project, students are
expected to demonstrate their ability to conduct in-depth analysis, formulate relevant insights,
and present practical or research-driven recommendations aligned with their chosen area of
specialisation. The project serves as a bridge between academic learning and professional
application, reinforcing the student’s readiness for industry or advanced study.
SECTION 1 – PROJECT PRE WORK
Objective of Project Pre-work (Semester III – 0 Credits)
The objective of Project Pre-work is to provide structured early mentorship and guidance to
students for their final project, which will be formally undertaken in Semester IV as a 6-credit
course. Recognizing that many students face challenges and may need guidance in successfully
completing their project work, this preparatory phase ensures that students begin the process
well in advance. During Semester III, they will select their program specialisation, choose a
project format, define a project title aligned with their domain, and receive timely feedback.
This early engagement is intended to improve project readiness, reduce last-minute challenges,
and increase the overall success rate of student projects.
Semester III – Project Pre-work
1. Two-Stage Project Structure
The Project is divided into two stages:
o Semester III: Project Pre-work (Zero Credits) – Optional but strongly
recommended
o Semester IV: Project (6 Credits) – Mandatory
2. Purpose of Project Pre-work (Semester III)
The zero-credit stage in Semester III is designed to help students begin their project
journey early. Although participation is optional, engaging in this stage will provide
students with valuable guidance and significantly enhance their chances of successful
completion in Semester IV.
3. Selection of Project Format
During Semester III, students must select one of the following approved project
formats:
o Research-based Project: Involving literature review to build a research
argument.
o Business Plan: Identifying a gap or opportunity and proposing a viable
business solution.
o Problem-Solving Proposal: Addressing a specific issue within the student’s
department or organisation.
4. Project Title Submission based on area of specialization
Students are required to submit a title for their project. The title must:
o Be concise (not exceeding 20 words)
o Clearly reflect the chosen project format
5. Relevance to Area of Specialisation
The project title must be clearly aligned with the student’s chosen area of
specialisation. Students must ensure that the scope and focus of their project reflect
subject matter expertise in their specialisation. The areas of specialisation offered
include:
o Business Management
o Finance
o Human Resource Management (HR)
o Marketing
o Operations & Data Science
Students specialising in, Finance, HR, Marketing, Operations & Data Science must
choose project topics that directly pertain to their respective specialisation.
Students with Business Management as their specialisation have broader flexibility and
may choose topics related to any area of management, allowing them to integrate cross-
functional perspectives or explore interdisciplinary management challenges.
5. Alignment and Review
The submitted title will be reviewed for alignment with the selected specialisation by
faculty mentor. Students will receive feedback to confirm whether the title is
appropriate or needs revision.
Pre Work Submission on Student Portal
Login to Student Portal > Exams > Project Pre-work > Choose Specialization | Project
Format > Enter Details (Project Title | Description) | Save | Submit
A separate thread will be created for each specialisation.
• Students will initiate and participate in relevant DF threads based on their chosen
format.
• Each specialisation’s DF will be moderated by assigned faculty members.
6. Synchronous Faculty Sessions
• From week 4 of Semester III, students are recommended to attend synchronous
sessions led by faculty for Project Pre-work.
• In these sessions, teachers will:
o Explain the structure and expectations for each project format
o Clarify how to write and refine the title, introduction and design of data
collection.
o Guide students on what to write and how to participate in the DF
o Explain how constructive feedback on student submissions will be given on
DF.
o Explain it is not a final evaluation but a mentoring session for development
purposes for final submission.
7. Academic Integrity and Originality
• All project submissions (title, drafts, proposals) must be:
o Original
o Properly cited if secondary sources are used
• Even an approved title in Semester III will be re-verified for plagiarism during final
submission in Semester IV.
• Non-Participation/ Non Approval in Project Pre-work
Students who do not participate in Project Pre-work tasks, they will miss the
opportunity to receive mentorship and early feedback.
• Students whose project pre work submitted is not approved or does not participate in
Pre-work can rework and resubmit or directly submit the final document based on the
feedback received (in case of non approval), in Semester IV as per scheduled
timelines.
• However, they may still request limited mentoring support via the “Post My Query”
feature on Student Portal, at least 15 days before the final project submission
deadline.
• Mentoring / feedback/ title approval will not be provided at the last minute under any
circumstances.
8. Deferred Submission Policy
• If a student receives title approval in Semester III or Semester IV but does not submit
the final project in Semester IV, they may either proceed with the same approved title
or opt for a new title in next exam cycle, as per the applicable examination cycle
deadlines.
• Grading will be based solely on the final submission made in Semester IV .
• The project fee will be applicable for each deferred submission in every examination
cycle. Project fees once paid, will neither be carried forward nor refunded.
SECTION II – PROJECT
Project Registration & Preparation Guidelines for MBA Online (Sem-IV) students
Semester IV – Project Submission Guidelines (6-Credit Course)
Objective:
Project is one of the mandatory subject of the respective Semester. (Passing 40/100)
All students enrolled in Semester IV are required to submit a comprehensive project as part of
their 6-credit course requirement. The following steps must be strictly followed for successful
submission and evaluation. Six asynchronous learning sessions via Student Portal is available
for students in Semester IV.
1. Registration for Project
Project Registration Guidelines
Step 1: Register Separately for the Project
Students must register for the project independently, as it is not included in the regular exam
registration process.
Step 2: Pay the Project Fee
A non-refundable fee of Rs. 800/- must be paid within the announced deadline for the exam
cycle.
Step 3: Submit the Project via Student Portal
Project submission is allowed only after successful registration and fee payment, through
the designated student portal.
Step 4: Adhere to Deadlines
If the student who does not register for ‘Project’ in the particular exam cycle, the student will
not be eligible for Project submission for that particular exam cycle.
2. Selection of Project Format
Students must select one of the following approved project formats from the given
dropdown at the time of submission:
• Research-Based Project : A formal academic study involving literature review,
research questions, methodology, data analysis, and conclusions.
• Business Plan: A detailed plan proposing a new product, service, or business idea
with market analysis, operations, and financials.
• Problem-Solving Proposal : A practical project addressing a real-world problem in a
specific organisation or department with proposed solutions.
3. Project Title Selection
Students are required to select a title for their project. The title must:
o Be concise (not exceeding 20 words)
o Clearly reflect the chosen project format
4. Relevance to Area of Specialisation
The project title must be clearly aligned with the student’s chosen area of specialisation.
Students must ensure that the scope and focus of their project reflect subject matter expertise
in their specialisation. The areas of specialisation offered include:
o Business Management
o Finance
o Human Resource Management (HR)
o Marketing
o Operations & Data Science
Students with Business Management as their specialisation have broader flexibility and may
choose topics related to any area of management, allowing them to integrate cross-functional
perspectives or explore interdisciplinary management challenges.
In case of non alignment with the specialisation or project format selected and submitted, the
Project will not be graded.
5. Academic Integrity and Originality
• All project submissions (title, drafts, proposals) must be:
o Original
o Properly cited if secondary sources are used (mention sources in your
submission under References)
6. Submission Components
Each student must upload the following on the student portal:
• Main Project Document: This is the core submission, containing the complete
project content in PDF format only.
• Supporting Documents: Any additional materials used to support the project (e.g.,
charts, survey data, screenshots, photos, interview transcripts, spreadsheets, graphs,
PowerPoint presentation, journal or report link, video links etc.) should also be made
part of main document as ANNEXURES. This too should be in PDF format only.
• No handwritten or scanned image file submitted will be considered and will be
awarded zero.
• Student needs to submit the Project online only through the Student Portal. No hard
copy submission will be accepted at NMIMS University / NMIMS Regional Office’s
or at any Authorized Enrollment Partner. Project Hard copies submitted or sent by
courier by the students at Authorized Enrollment Partner / NMIMS will not be
accepted.
7. Submission Instructions
• Registered student needs to submit the (typed) soft copy of Project through Student
Zone – Exam Menu – Project Submission for the applicable exam cycle within the
timelines announced.
• Students must ensure all files are legible, virus-free, and correctly formatted as per the
project guidelines.
• No late submission will be considered or accepted by NCDOE after the closure of
timeline in any case whatsoever.
• Students should not wait till the last date last minute for project registration. They
should try to complete the project registration (exam fee payment) a day prior to the
last date of project submission to avoid any last-minute banking/network issues.
• Suggested Layout and Design Specifications
Category Specification
Total Pages
Overall Length 30 to 60 pages
Pages per Section 10 to 20 pages
Reference See Grading Criteria for detailed section requirements
Font & Size
Body Font Calibri or Arial
Body Text Size 11 pt
Section Headings 14 pt, Bold
Sub-headings 12 pt, Bold
Table Text 10 pt (inside cells)
Page Settings
Margins 1 inch (all sides)
Line Spacing 1.15
Paragraph Spacing 6 pt before and after
Paragraph Alignment Justified
Title Alignment Centered
Page Numbers Bottom center, in tabular format (e.g., Page 1 of 30)
8. Plagiarism policy
• Projects are scanned against submissions made by other students, Web, and Gen AI. If
the content matches and exceeds a certain percentage (which is defined at a tolerance
level decided by University), the Project will be graded zero.
9. Deferred Submission Policy
• In case of non-submission of Project after Exam Registration and Payment of Fees:
Exam Fees paid will not be refunded nor will be carry forwarded to next scheduled
exam cycle. The student will be marked ‘Absent’ in that respective subject & in the
grade sheet issued.
• Project not submitted will lead to non-completion of program and thereby the student
will be non-eligible for Issuance of Final Certificate.
• Re-submission of Project: If the project is not submitted and / or if the student has
scored less than the passing percentage criteria (less than 40 marks), the student needs
to resubmit new (fresh) Project again in the next scheduled exam session but within
the completion of program validity by paying the stipulated exam fees *as per the
revised applicable guidelines for that respective Exam cycle.
Student can also refer to the following documents as under
1. Templates for three formats
2. Evaluation criteria for each format
TEMPLATES
Template: Research Project (Advancement of Academic Knowledge)
1. Title Page Research Title
Student Name, SAP ID
Specialisation
2. Abstract Summary of research problem, Methodology, findings, and
implications
3. Introduction Background and significance
Research problem and objectives
4. Literature Review Theoretical framework
Gaps in existing literature
5. Methodology Research design
Data sources, sampling, tools
6. Data Analysis & Findings Presentation and interpretation of results
7. Discussion Comparison with previous studies
Theoretical and practical implications
8. Conclusion Summary of insights
Recommendations
9. Limitations & Future Research
10. References APA/MLA style as per institutional guideline
11. Appendices Survey tools, raw data, tables, charts, etc
Template: Problem-Solving Proposal (Managerial: Real-World Problem Solving)
1. Title Page Project Title
Student Name, SAP ID
Specialisation
Semester & Year
2. Executive Summary Brief overview of the problem, analysis, solution, and impact.
3. Introduction Background of the organisation
Nature and scope of the identified problem
4. Problem Identification and Definition of the core problem
Situational Analysis Contextual analysis using tools like SWOT, PESTEL
takeholder mapping
5. Solution Development List of alternative solutions
inal solution selected
Justification using data/theory
6. Implementation Plan Steps, timeline, resources, and responsibilities
7. Business/Organisational Impact Financial, operational, strategic benefits
Sustainability and risk considerations
8. Reflection and Learning Leadership, teamwork, and decision-making experiences
9. References Proper academic and source citations
10. Appendices Supporting documents (e.g., surveys, charts, images)
Template: Business Plan (Entrepreneurial: Capitalizing on Business Opportunities)
1. Cover Page Business Name (if any)
Student Name, SAP ID
Specialisation
2. Executive Summary Business idea, opportunity, value, and goals
3. Market Opportunity Analysis Market size, trends, segmentation
Competitive analysis
4. Business Concept Unique value proposition
Product/service overview
5. Business Model Revenue streams, cost structure, key partners/resources
6. Marketing & Go-to-Market Strategy Promotion, pricing, distribution, positioning
7. Financial Plan Revenue projections, break-even, capital needs
P&L, cash flow, and balance sheet (estimated)
8. Risk Analysis & Mitigation
Strategies
9. Implementation Plan Timeline, operations, hiring, and logistics
10. Sustainability & Social Impact
11. References
12. Appendices Financial models, visuals, research data
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Evaluation Criteria
Project Type: Problem-Solving Proposal (Managerial: Real-World Problem Solving)
Project Structure and Assessment Parameters
No. Parameter Evaluation Dimension Marks
Section 1: Problem Identification and Analysis
1 Clarity of Problem Precision in identifying the core business problem. 10
Definition Relevance and significance of the problem to the organization
or industry.
2 Depth of Comprehensive understanding of the context, causes, and 10
Situational contributing factors.
Analysis Use of tools like SWOT, PESTEL, or root cause analysis.
3 Stakeholder Identification and understanding of key stakeholders and their 10
Analysis needs.
Consideration of stakeholder impact in the proposed solutions.
Section 2: Solution Development and Decision-Making
4 Innovative and Creativity in proposing solutions tailored to the identified 10
Practical Solutions problem.
Feasibility and practicality of the solutions in a real-world
context.
5 Analytical Rigor Application of management theories, frameworks, and data 10
and Use of analytics.
Frameworks Logical reasoning and evidence-based decision-making.
6 Evaluation of Exploration of multiple solution options with a clear rationale 10
Alternatives and for the chosen approach.
Trade-offs Consideration of constraints, risks, and trade-offs in decision-
making.
Section 3: Implementation and Managerial Impact
7 Implementation Detailed and actionable implementation steps with timelines, 10
Plan resources, and responsibilities.
Assessment of operational and strategic alignment with
organizational goals.
8 Impact Assessment Evaluation of potential business impact (e.g., financial, 10
operational, or strategic benefits).
Consideration of long-term sustainability and scalability of the
solution.
9 Leadership and Demonstration of leadership skills in coordinating efforts and 10
Team managing team dynamics.
Collaboration Effective handling of conflicts, feedback, and decision-making
processes.
10 Presentation and Clarity, coherence, and professionalism in presenting the 10
Communication project.
Ability to articulate ideas, handle questions, and persuade
stakeholders effectively.
Project Type: Business Plan (Entrepreneurial: Capitalizing on Business Opportunities)
Project Structure and Assessment Parameters
No. Parameter Evaluation Dimension Marks
Section 1: Opportunity Identification and Feasibility
1 Market Evaluation of market size, growth potential, and target audience 10
Opportunity segmentation.
Analysis Clarity in identifying gaps or unmet needs in the market.
2 Innovativeness and Originality of the business idea and its differentiation from 10
Uniqueness competitors.
Use of innovation to create value (product, service, or process).
3 Feasibility Study Assessment of technical, operational, and economic feasibility. 10
Realism in forecasting initial resource requirements (capital,
skills, infrastructure).
Section 2: Business Model and Planning
4 Business Model Strength of the value proposition, revenue streams, and cost 10
Viability structure.
Scalability and adaptability of the business model.
5 Financial Planning Accuracy and thoroughness of financial statements (profit and 10
and Projections loss, cash flow, balance sheet).
Realistic break-even analysis and investment needs.
6 Risk Assessment Identification of key risks (market, financial, operational). 10
and Mitigation Proposed strategies for mitigating identified risks.
Section 3: Implementation and Business Impact
7 Marketing and Go- Effectiveness of promotional, pricing, and distribution 10
to-Market Strategy strategies.
Alignment with the target audience and business objectives.
8 Operational Quality of implementation strategies, timelines, and resource 10
Execution Plan allocation.
Feasibility and sustainability of operational workflows.\
9 Sustainability and Integration of sustainable practices in the business plan. 10
Social Impact Evaluation of social, environmental, and community impact.
10 Presentation and Clarity, professionalism, and persuasiveness in presenting the 10
Communication project.
Quality of supporting materials (visuals, documentation, etc.)
and ability to answer questions.
Project Type: Research Project (Advancement of Academic Knowledge)
Project Structure and Assessment Parameters
No. Parameter Evaluation Dimension Marks
Section 1: Research Foundation and Design
1 Clarity of Research Precision in defining the research problem and its relevance to 10
Problem and academic and managerial contexts.
Objectives Alignment of research objectives with the stated problem.
2 Literature Review Depth and breadth of literature review, showcasing 10
and Theoretical understanding of prior research.
Framework Identification of research gaps and development of a robust
theoretical framework.
3 Research Design Appropriateness of the research design (qualitative, 10
and Methodology quantitative, or mixed methods).
Justification for selected methodologies and tools (e.g.,
sampling techniques, data collection methods).
Section 2: Data Collection and Analysis
4 Data Quality and Relevance, accuracy, and reliability of data collected. 10
Relevance Adherence to ethical guidelines in data collection.
5 Analytical Rigor Use of appropriate analytical techniques and tools for data 10
analysis.
Depth and clarity in interpreting findings in relation to the
research objectives.
6 Critical Thinking Ability to synthesize data and derive meaningful insights. 10
and Insight Discussion of findings in relation to existing literature and
theoretical frameworks.
Section 3: Contribution, Impact, and Presentation
7 Originality and Degree of novelty and originality in addressing the research 10
Contribution to problem.
Knowledge Contribution to academic knowledge, managerial practice, or
both.
8 Implications and Practical and actionable recommendations derived from the 10
Recommendations research.
Thoughtful discussion of implications for academia, industry, or
society.
9 Limitations and Acknowledgment of study limitations and their potential impact 10
Future Research on findings.
Directions Suggestions for future research based on identified gaps and
limitations.
10 Presentation and Quality and coherence of the written report, including citations 10
Documentation and adherence to academic standards.
Clarity, professionalism, and engagement during the oral
presentation.