Tips for Finding Good Dissertation Titles or Topics

Doing a Master-level dissertation is a major challenge. Students have to be mindful of when they are developing or

outlining good and interesting dissertation topics. Students must use information and knowledge that they have

learned during their studies in order to be able to form good research titles. The most important thing is to develop

the dissertation topics or titles that you feel comfortable with and have confidence with as it is you who have to work

on it. Get help and advice from supervisors who can give you some useful information.

TIPS:

Students should ensure that they discuss topics and titles for their dissertation with their Faculty

Supervisors, as a working relationship between Supervisor and students is very important. Supervisor can

help by giving guidance on forming, outlining and revising dissertation topics in order to produce the most

interesting titles.

Dissertation topics should be based in the real world of your study fields i.e. Marketing Human Resources

Management and Finance.

Topics must be based on your areas of interest and not on those of your Supervisor. This is because you

are the person who will have to carry out the research and so it is imperative that you feel comfortable

and have confidence in your chosen topics and titles.

It is useful for a student to be knowledgeable about his or her topic. A student should try to research a

topic that would be helpful for his/her prospective career.

Students must ensure that their chosen dissertation topics and titles are up to date in order to catch up

with the ever-changing world. This is because new knowledge, information, research and studies are

being added to the academic world all the time.

You could narrow your dissertation topic by concentrating on specific issues. However, topics should not

be overly narrowed down as students may risk not finding sufficient resources.

Do not consider dissertation topics which are too difficult for you to research. Most students tend to base

their dissertation topics or titles on the area or areas that are most interesting, but are not actually in their

interests. This is because most students think that difficult topics will be rewarded with good marks that, is

incorrect.

Research topics or titles must have critical approaches. Do not be tempted to bite off more than you can

chew as it might ultimately prove to be more harmful than helpful.

A great starting point for developing good and interesting dissertation topics is to begin thinking about

issues that you have discussed and learned during your programme so far. Think about the particular

content areas or subjects that you have studied within your modules and especially those that really help

trigger ideas that might help throw some light on the research questions and topics that you are

attempting to formulate.

Reading one or two selected text books and papers. Revising previously acquired knowledge, information

and ideas can help students to think of some good and interesting dissertation topics and titles. The

information students gain from reading or re-reading can also give them the ideas about whether theirs is

a good topic or not. Students will be able to gauge for themselves whether they can easily obtain relevant

information to support their research works if they decide to take up that particular topic.

Good ideas also come from sources other than textbooks and what you have learned in classes. Some

useful sources of information that can help students to generate ideas for developing good dissertation

topics include the Academy of Management Review, the Journal of International Business Studies, the

Journal of Management Studies, the Journal of Marketing, the Strategic Management Journal and other

current articles within specific journals and Journal web sites, for new areas of research that are being

developed .

The type of dissertation topics and research titles that students develop will be influenced by additional

factors such as current assignments, coursework and the relevant workload (Morris 2006, pp. 116-126).

Realistically, the context in which students carry out the research work is limited by the time and

resources available. In addition, it has been suggested that for Master- or MBA-level students, evaluation

research titles are often the best and easiest options for students to undertake. This involves looking at

some systems and practices that already exist and making recommendations as to how they might be

changed or improved. Most of the time, the recommendation section in the last chapter of relevant

research within a student's interests, can give them flashes of ideas for developing good and interesting

dissertation topics.

Whichever topic and approach the Master-level students decide to undertake, it is important to seek

advice and gain some opinions and ideas from experienced professionals. Usually guides have been

allocated to each student because they have similar interests or have experience of similar research

topics. However, the students should be prepared to use their own judgment and make decisions

accordingly as the dissertation topic will be focusing on your research works. If your supervisor does not

agree with your ideas or your selection of topics then it is your job to convince them, with reasonable and

logical evidence and explanation. This is because the main reason for asking students to undertake

dissertations or research works is to see whether or not students can think and carry out research

critically. The most important thing is to apply what you have learned during your programme to your

dissertation topics and research works.

There are two types of research methods - primary and secondary. Secondary source is a quick and low-

cost way of obtaining data. Less effort is expended and less time is taken. Also, sometimes it is more

accurate than primary data. Some information can be obtained only from secondary. Primary data is

obtained to help solve the problem at hand. The major methods of primary data collection include focus

groups, individual in-depth interviews, questionnaires, protocol analysis, project methods, action

research, and Delphi research. The research method depends upon the topic selected for research. It is

also necessary to get advice on research method selection from a supervisor..

. DISSERTATION TOPICS

1. IN FINANCE CATEGORY wise 

1. Personal Finance Dissertation Titles

The analysis of ever rising personal debt situation, how people manage to get into and out of it? You could also think student loans. Line of Credit or private Student Loan? Which is better for

college tuition fees? Will the economic predicament have an impact on students’ loan? If so, how and why? Personal auto finance companies- A case study

2. Corporate Finance Dissertation Ideas

Can Foreign Portfolio Investment Bridge the Smaller Firm Financing Gap Around the World? The Role of Arbitrageurs in the Takeover Process Explain how the use of derivatives can be used to determine maximum profit and minimal cost Corporate Finance and Governance research at HSE has recently focused on equity and debt

issues and particularly initial public offerings. How can this be helpful in increasing their productivity and services?

The central problem of Corporate Governance for UK listed firms is therefore rendering managers accountable to shareholders. Investigate the ways in which the mechanisms used to control these managerial agency problems are enforced.

A study on Financial sources for entrepreneurial Ventures in the company. Management of Finance in small Business units- A study of selected units. Mergers and acquisitions in India- A case study Sickness in Small scale Units- A case study Foreign Direct investment- A case study Performance of Multinational companies- A case study Financing pattern of private corporate- A case study On- line Banking- A case study

3. Accounting and Finance Dissertation Topics

Will raising the national minimum wage change the face of poverty in America, or will every income level jump with it

What is the role of contemporary accounting in identifying the capital accumulation’s conflicts? How the contemporary accounting theory one differs from the second issue? What are the intangible and tangible inflows/outflows which can help in the management of Cash

flow? Applicability of Sarbons Oxley Act on Corporate frauds in India. Applicability of Ratio analysis for the Financial performance of a company

Effect of dividend policies on market price of the securities of the company Financial structure of Two/Three advertising agencies in any city A study of cost control techniques of two manufacturing units. Issue of season tickets by APRTC – A cost benefit Analysis Working capital Management in small scale units- A study of selected units Sources and application of funds of a corporate/ Enterprise- A case analysis Dividend policies and practices – a comparative study of public and private sector banks. A study on International Financial Accounting standards And their applicability to Indian corporate Internal Control mechanism of Manufacturing companies- A case study

4. Risk Management

Assessing Risk in Introducing High Tech Products. New software implementation where all of your current systems are going to be replaced with a single, enterprise wide system like People soft or SAP.

Purchasing mortgage backed securities in today's market. Most are probably undervalued due to the scare but how do you manage the risks.

Purchasing a home in a declining market.

5. Banking & Insurance

What are the downsides to microfinance and micro-crediting? And what are effective alternatives to microfinance?

Transition to the cash economy: the design, description and analysis of a microfinance programme in indigenous San communities in western Botswana."

Microfinance: its impacts on Children and Women. " The impact on women: women empowerment; women knowledge of health, nutrition, and other basic social services messages. The impact on children: education (enrollment rates), health and nutrition; child labor.

Corporate Lending Credit Appraisal system in Banks and Financial institutions Rural Financing Liquidity Management in Banks Liquidity Management in Mutual fund Mutual Fund Strategy in Banks Credit Analysis in Banks Derivatives in banks Non- Performing Assets in banks Vehicle Finance in Banks Credit and Debit Card Analysis in Banks A study on Performance Evaluation of Mutual Fund Equity Schemes A Study on Systematic Risk Analysis on Indian Banking Scripts. Is there any connection between Service creativity & Profitability in a commercial bank? How do

the creativity for services in a bank recognized as following situations:

i.Creativity as boundary breaking in a bank

ii. Creativity as innovative in bank

iii. Creativity as boundary pushing in a bank

An analysis of the effect of the deregulation of a commercial banks investment How commercial banks can battle poverty more effectively than they are doing at the moment.

"Can the provision of micro-finance be lucrative for commercial banks?"

Prevention of Frauds in Banking System of United Kingdom ... Focus on the utility of Internet banking, mobile banking to the banks, disadvantages, cost-benefit analysis, and suggest measures to over come the shortcomings associated with these channels

Analyze the influence of quality in retail banking, in particular its emergence as a source of competitive advantage in personal banking.

Customer satisfaction on the role of commercial Banks in India Treatment of Non-performing assets of a commercial Banks Availability & Utilization of Bank Finance for working Capital needs – A study on selected units Children’s Savings schemes- A comparative study of schemes offered by selected banks. Management of Non-banking finance companies - A study of selected companies Working of Housing Finance companies – A case study of HDFC/ LIC/ any company Impact of Financial sector reforms on Banking sector- A study of selected banks. Effect of changes in Monetary policy on the performance of NBFCs – A case study

Is there any connection between Service creativity & Profitability in a commercial bank? How do the creativity for services in a bank recognized as following situations:

i. Creativity as boundary breaking in a bank

ii. Creativity as innovative in bank

iii. Creativity as boundary pushing in a bank

An analysis of the effect of the deregulation of a commercial banks investment How commercial banks can battle poverty more effectively than they are doing at the moment.

"Can the provision of micro-finance be lucrative for commercial banks?" Prevention of Frauds in Banking System ... Focus on the utility of Internet banking, Mobile banking to the banks, cost-benefit analysis, and suggest measures to over come the

shortcomings associated with these channels Analyze the influence of quality in retail banking, in particular its emergence as a source of

competitive advantage in personal banking. Changing role of commercial banks- A case study Changing role of Insurance companiesNPAs Debt Recovery Tribunal- A case study- A case

study

6. Alternative Investment & Portfolio Management What is US response to the Alternative Investment Market for stock trading? Some alternative investment options available for investors that are safe other than stock

market? An analysis of the disadvantages of using the payback period to compare investment

alternatives A Study on Investors' Perception towards Commodity Futures

Moving the Wheels of Prosperity Project Report on Portfolio Evaluation of Big Cap Companies.

A study on Performance Evaluation of Mutual Fund Equity Schemes A study on Impact of Derivatives on the Liquidity of the Underlying Stocks A study on Technical Analysis towards different Portfolios. A study on different price movements of commodity futures (gold/silver) . A Study on Strategies of Buying & Selling Mutual Funds

A study on Investment Opportunities in stock broking companies. A Study on Procurement Analysis and Portfolio Management A Study on Strategies of Buying & Selling Mutual Funds A Study on Procurement Analysis and Portfolio Management On line Trading A Study on Different Schemes with Comparison and Evaluation among the Mutual Funds A study on Portfolio Management (Risk & Return) of Inter Connected the company. A study on investor’s perception towards complaint redressal system. A study on investor’s perception towards investment options offered by the company. A study on investors awareness of systematic investment plan for Security A study on Cash Management System in company A study on Inventory Management system in the company. A study on Debtors Management in the company A study on Short-term Financing in the company Credit and Debit Card Analysis in Banks Risk Management in foreign exchange Relevancy of Capital structure planning on profit maximization Investments in corporate debts and Mutual funds- A comparative study A study on Financial Derivatives with reference to Bear Markets at a stock broking company. A study on technical analysis of IT and Banking with reference to any stock Broking Company. Bullion Market Currencies and forex market Commodities and derivatives Portfolio Management of Stock Brokers vis-à-vis share transfers Trends in Mutual Funds- A Case analysis Impact of liberalization in capital market Effect of liberalization on savings and investment in India Role of Institutional and small investors in capital market in India- A case study Status of Equity Research in India- A case study Currency swaps – A case study Insider trading- effects on stock returns Trading and settlement Mechanism of security markets- A study on the role of computers Equity share valuation – A case study af any company Securities Market on line trading—a case study

7. Financial Services

A comparative study of credit rating of various credit rating agencies Venture capital financing- A study of selected companies A study on credit system in fertilizer marketing and to evaluate a suitable credit rating `

system to minimize risk A Study on Investors Preference towards equity broking.

A study on Credit Appraisal for Car loan financing in the finance companies A study on Credit Appraisal for Car loan financing in the finance companies. A study on Leasing and Hire Purchasing system in the company Emerging trends in Merchant Banking – A study on selected cases Policies and practices of lease accounting- A study of selected companies Financial Services- A study of selected companies Working of stock Exchanges in India- A comparative study of BSE & NSE Liberalization & recent trends in Financial intermediation—Role of IDBI/ ICICI etc Issue Management- A case study

8.Working Capital Management

A study on Cash budgeting and Forecasting in the company. A study on Cash and Receivable management of the company. A study on Materials Management of Indirect Materials of the company A study on Revenue and Financial Statement Analysis in the company

9. International Business

What are the major Cost elastic products involved in construction in UK and how their elasticity can be reduced with the help of international trade and cost budgeting?

Auto mobile financing became a Key for UK countries to boost their international trade with third world countries. How did this affect their economical conditions and international relationship?

Business and Financial Analysis of a domestic business in Africa expanding towards International Trade.

Third world countries seem to be penetrating in the International Trade which is a threat to domestic markets of the International Trade Competitors. How can there supplies be utilized to promote domestic businesses and maintain international relationship.

The global financial crisis has made many international stock markets make a record breaking fall. China’s foreign exchange reserves dropped down for the first time in the last 5 years. Evaluate how this fall could be prevented and how can this issue be resolved?

There is an expected growth of Meat consumption in the global market of up to 3%. How can Ireland take a comparative advantage in the International Market?

10. Miscellaneous :

Activity based costing and Management Carbon credits Management SWOT Analysis of Women Enterprises Project Financing as a tool for the growth Environmental Reporting in India—A case study Rural Bus Transport Operators of APSRTC/ Ant state Road Transport—A case study

Page 1

WRITE TOPIC NAME

Name of the student

Hall Ticket No

2010-11

Under the guidance of

Name

Designation & Department

College Emblem

A Dissertation submitted as a partial Fulfillment for the Award of

Post Graduate Diploma in Management , to the Department of Finance/HR/ Marketing,

Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems & Management

Hyderabad.

CERTIFICATION FROM INTERNAL GUIDE

This is to Certify that the dissertation titled “---------------------------------------------------------------------“

By Mr /Ms-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is a record of research work done during the year 2010-11, under my directions and that the dissertation has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree or Diploma or Associate ship , with the similar title, by any other university/Institute.

Hyderabad Signature of Internal Guide

Date : (Name of the internal Guide)

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the dissertation on “-----------------------------------------------------------------------“

has been written by me during the year 2010-11, under the guidance of Prof.---------------------------

Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems & Management, Hyderabad, in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the award of Post Graduate Diploma in Management.

I also declare that this dissertation is the result of my own efforts and has not been copied from any other source or submitted to any other university/Institute, before.

Hyderabad Signature

Date: (Name of the student)

` CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that Mr. /Ms-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PGDM, IV Semester, at Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems & Management, Hyderabad, has prepared the dissertation titled “------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ during the year 2010-11 under the guidance of Prof----------------------------------------------------

as a partial fulfillment , for the award of Post Graduate Diploma in Management, by our Institute.

Hyderabad (Signature)

Date: Director, Academics

ACKNOWLEDEMENTS

Sequential order:

1. To the officials of the company2. To the Academic Director3. To the Faculty Guide4. To other faculty members ( If helped)5. Parents6. Friends

INDEX

Executive Summary

Chapter –I

Introduction

Need for the study

Objectives

Scope

Research Methodology

Limitations

Chapter-II

Profile of the Industry

Profile of Organisation- (Contents- Location, Composition of Board of Management, Products/ Services, SWOT Analysis )

Chapter – III

Review of Literature ( Definitions, Concepts, Existing works etc)

Chapter IV

Data Analysis & Interpretation ( Consider5years data, if required)

Chapter –V

Findings

Recommendations

Conclusion (Concluding remarks of Dissertation)

Bibliography

For Books & Journals-Authors’ Name, Title, Publisher & Year of Publication.

For Web source- Authors’ Name, Title, Web site.

Annexure:

Questionnaire

Documentary evidence

Dissertation- Evaluation:

Project Report : 100 marks

Viva-Voce : 100 marks

GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT PREPARATION

1. Each Dissertation should consists of Executive Summary and 5 chapters and Overall conclusion of the project.

2. There should be a correlation between the objectives of study, analysis, interpretations and findings.

3. The Recommendations/ Suggestions should be based on findings.4. Based on the topic selected, a questionnaire may be prepared based on the

objectives of study , for the collection of Primary data.5. The pattern of bibliography should be as follows:

Author, Title of the book, Publisher, place, year of publication.Ex:- Ambrish Gupta, Financial Accounting for Management, Dorling Kindersley ( India) Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, 2008

6. Font size should be 12 and Roman catholic or Times New Roman,1.5 spacing.

7. In Data analysis part- 8-10 diagrams, tables are compulsory.8. Minimum 2 to 3 Statistical tools are to be applied. 9. Check thoroughly spelling and grammatical mistakes.10.Each student should submit 2 copies of project reports with cardboard

binding, in Black colour. (1 copy with Bond paper and 1 copy A4 size normal paper.)

11.The project report must contain a minimum number of 70 pages.

IV Semester- Dissertations Important Dates

1. Topic selection with the mutual consent of Faculty Guide and student 10/1/2011

2. Submission of list of topics selected, by Faculty Guide to Coordinator 12/1/2011

3. Submission of Synopsis by students to Faculty Guide 20/1/2011

4. Submission of Data analysis to faculty Guides 10/2/2011

5. Completion of Corrections of Dissertation from Faculty Guide 20/2/2011

6. Final submission of Dissertations ( 2 Bounded copies) to Faculty Guides 10/3/2011

7. Viva- voce 25/3/2011-26/3/2011