North South University

School of Business

Dr. Tamgid Ahmed Chowdhury

Director Summer 2020
MBA & EMBA Programs BUS-698
Field Study (Non credit)

What is Field Study?

A prerequisite in the successful completion of MBA program for students who have got waiver in two electives
based on job experiences. The students will write a report on the working environment of an
organization/company. The content of the report will be based on experiences, observations, secondary data,
and a limited primary research. The report will help in the assessment of the organization’s current state of
operation in specific areas that would lead towards significant improvement in service delivery, process
improvement, cost minimization or elimination of roundabout in activities.

Steps in undertaking a Field Study Report

There are two main overlapping steps in an organizational improvement effort. The steps are:
 Analyze the weaknesses and prioritize possible improvements;
 Design a change and work out a process for implementation;

Following is the flow-chart that will help students to initiate a project

I. Finding out the scope for change and setting a priority for action.

Scope the need for change

Opening discussion on change
With colleagues, work out or refine the
Discuss the need for improvement with purpose of your organization and to
your superior and with colleagues. If you assess strengths and weaknesses
are uncertain about what are the main Adopt a strategic management
problems, or if you want to share framework
understandings with colleagues, then you Carry out exercises such as PEST
should follow these steps. and SWOT: Summarize findings

Set priorities for change

The outcome of SWOT and the PEST will
lead to a number of identified
management weaknesses. Now think
Propose a course of action and about the opposite of these weaknesses;
seek commitment that is, possible strengths.

Take your list of potential changes and List the weaknesses and consider what
consult your ‘boss’ and other key kind of transformation is required to turn
stakeholders to establish a course of them into strengths
action that is relevant and achievable. Changes to policies?
Procedural changes?
You are now ready to define and plan Human resource management?
an improvement implementation Changes to rules or structures?
strategy. Or combinations of these

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II. Define plan and get agreement for a proposal for change

Get the agreement and support

Identify of your line manager
 A priority: a procedure or practice or Discuss your ideas with your line
structure in your organisation which manager and ask him/her for:
can be improved (and which is  Advice on how to approach the idea
manageable by you) within the time/ available resources
 A current change agenda, within your  To provide higher level support and
organization that requires further commitment and backing in the
investigation, direction and implementation
implementation

Write a proposal
Revise and Re-negotiate if
necessary Write proposal (two pages):

Check the feasibility of your proposal  Examine the context and set out the
 Discuss your proposal with administrative process to be
colleagues improved
 Be prepared to revise again if  Explain why the present situation
necessary? should change
 Secure the agreement of your line
manager and take advice  Mention the target group – who
 Analyse and select techniques for would benefit from this change and
the project method how; are there other advantages?
 Complete a workable action plan &  Note foreseeable obstacles to this
Time Frame change or possible side effects?
You are now ready to start working on
your investigation  State the risk factors and how would
you manage them?

Prepare Report (II. Project Part)

Your Report should contain the following:

Investigation
 Summary of the reasons for change /
improvement
Now you investigate your problem area
through;  Summary of what needs to change
 Informal interviews to find out about improve and why
the extent and or causes of the  Evidence (findings) to support the
problem, collect data, explore need for change/improvement and
opinion, identify interests and your proposed recommendations
investigate options for change.  Methodology – How you investigated
 Collation of emerging findings, and how implementation should
sharing these with key proceed
actors/stakeholders  Recommendations for change /
improvement – a plan of action on
what needs to be done and the way
forward
 Identification and quantification of the
Consult again and revise
benefits of your proposal which allow
savings or added value
 Make a further revision of The Draft
Report and recommendations for  Identification of resources needed
improvement and the expected time required for
the change process

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 Following table gives a profile of ideas with tasks

Profile of ideas: How to initiate your Project/Idea – Working guidelines

Aims Tasks

1) Improve a Policy  Identify and set out existing policy

The aim is to take an existing policy and see  Assess strengths and weaknesses
how it can be improved  Review stakeholders in the policy field
 Look for examples of good practice elsewhere
 Review options and make proposals

2) Simplify Procedures  Identify and map out the procedure that is to be

improved
Aim to improve efficiency, effectiveness or
customer satisfaction  Work out what is supposed to be achieved at
each step
 Identify stakeholders and what they might gain or
loose from changes
 Design a simplified system and assess likely
impact of changes

3) Improve performance of officers and staff  Conduct participative analysis of goal, objectives
and functions of the agency
The goal is to have a more effective,
committed and motivated team.  Analyse current job descriptions and current
tasks of key functionaries
 Redesign to better reflect the goal and purpose
of the unit
 Design and implement a ‘management of
change’ process
 Agree procedures for implementation

4) Implement a policy or organizational  Clarify the departmental or agency responsibility

change process on a trial basis that requires implementation

The aim here is to turn intended changes into  Design implementation process on a project
real changes that can be demonstrated to basis
have ‘worked’.  Negotiate with stakeholders
 Modify plans as necessary and develop support

5) Make a bit of management more  Identify strengths and weaknesses in present

accountable system

The goal is to develop appropriate means of  Decide what forms of accountability are required
giving account to superiors, partners or the in consultation with authorities
public.  Design a system
 Negotiate with key stakeholders

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 Please remember that each step is useful. You may not be able to complete them all, so work
out which steps are needed and design your idea accordingly. The report should have two
distinct parts:

I. Organizational Part

The organization part includes the following elements.

 Name, location and historical background of the company/organization with the mission, vision,
objectives and strategies of the company.

 Organizational structure to locate the link between various functional units for coordination.

 Description of its business and detailed description of various functional departments.

 Any strategic, operational and legal issues and problems facing the company and the strategies
and tactics used to cope with them.

II. The Project Part

The project part should contain the following items

 Introduction

 Objectives and significance of the study

 Methodology / Model

 Discussion of findings (if possible use statistical tool)

 Recommendations

 Limitations of the study

 Conclusions

Submit your proposal first and get consent from the instructor to write the full report.
You have to be in touch with the instructor at different stages of writing the report.
You better keep a record of the consultation time with the instructor to justify good
grade.If you have any questions about the field study or the report, you must consult
your instructor. The written report should be about 30 to 35 pages long, typed and
1½ spaced.

If you cannot complete your field study in one semester, you may request your
instructor for an “I” grade and he will set a deadline for submission of your report. If
you do not receive an “I” or cannot complete your report within the next semester,
your grade in BUS-698 will turn into an “F” and you must re-register for the course to
complete it later.

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