General Comments

1.)Cover pages
Cover pages should be based on the guidelines of your institutions

Sample cover page

An assessment of problem and prospect of micro and small scale enterprises: In a case
of……………………………….. (Your research title)

By: ----------------------- (name of the researcher)

Advisor: ---------------------------- (name of the Advisor)

A Research proposal submitted to the Department of Management in Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Masters of Business Administration. (Its purpose)

Name of College -----------

Name of Department------------

Nov 2023 (time period)

Addis Abeba, Ethiopia (location

N.B: Write the cover page properly with all relevant information keeping
 the layout/ design and
 font (size & type)
 line spacing
Use ‘Times New Roman’ font type throughout your whole document
 Before starting your study please read
at list 20 articles and journals to enhance
understandings of your study variables and
your title
 Before submitting your title
please be sure that
 you understand it very well.
 Your title concepts
 It dimensions
 The variables under it
 The methodology of measuring your
title
 Your real respondents of your title
 The fit between your title and your
case areas should be clearly understand by
your self
 Please Write and develop Your
Preliminary Pages According To The
Formats And Guideline Of Your Institution
 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

Write/ put chapter headings at the center

You must add chapter introduction for all chapters: This is sample for chapter 1: This chapter deals
about background of the study; statement of the problem; objectives of the study; significance of the
study; scope of the study; limitations of the study; operational definition of key terms, and organization
of the study.

Similarly write for the other remaining chapters.(only 2 – 5 lines in your final paper)

Be careful, follow strictly the guide you were given during attached and do your work accordingly.
General Comments on introduction
1. Introduction
1.1. Background of the study: The proposal begins with an introductory statement, which leads like
a funnel from a broad view of your topic to the specific Statement of the Problem. It provides
readers of the proposal the rationale (based on published sources), for doing the study. It is the
part of the proposal that provides readers with the background information for the research
proposal. Its purpose is to establish a framework for the research, so that readers can
understand how it is related to other research.
The background section sets out the direction the researcher intends to take.
a) Introduction to the topic is putting the study into context and broadly touching on some considered
key issues. It may begin by offering a broad context for the study, and quickly come to the point with
a narrow focus definition of the problem.
b) Pick on issues that lead you to the research problem or question by identifying various dimensions in
which problem manifests itself.
c) Place the study within the larger context of existing scholarly literature while reaching out to a
specific audience.
In addition on this section
1. Language, typographical error, margin, spacing between line and spacing between
paragraphs.....1.5, time new Roman and 12 fonts for EACH paragraph MUST BE CONSIDERED
FROM CHAPTER ONE TO FIVE
2. Write a lot about your key variable in detail
3. Compare and contrast ideas and concepts about the variables
4. The introduction part SHOULD show WHY YOU SELCT YOUR TITLE AND the justification of the
study
5. The key variable should be easily identified
6. The key variable should be supported by quantitative and qualitative studies and empirical
evidences in concrete manner
7. The introduction part should show the justification of the study
8. THE STUDY SHOULD observe major prospective of STUDY VARIABLES clearly under your study
that may be around the world
9. Pleas add and support your background of the study by identifying other findings that shows
major challenges in Ethiopia and your case area
10. THE COMPARITION ON STUDY VARIABLES SHUOLD BE shown as evidences
11. PLEASE ADD EXPERIENCES OF YOUR STUDY VARIABLES BY TAKING OTHER COUNTRIES
EXPERIENCES AS A BEST PRACTICES
12. Generally pls make your introduction and background of the study by applying deductive
knowledge approach (from general to specific knowledge development
13. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY REFERENCES
14. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 2 PLGES

3. General
Comments
 Statement
the problem
A research problem refers to a situation whereby there exist observable negative effects of which there is
a knowledge gap. The researcher needs to be focused, and must single out and clearly state the problem.
Is the problem:
a) Amenable to empirical investigation or evaluation through collection and analysis of relevant data.
b) Brief, clear and precise
c) Researchable in respect to appropriate sources of data/information that can provide solutions to the
problems identified
d) Solvable
e) Fitting itself well to established theories or concepts
The following guiding questions could be helpful;
Who is affected and how? What is missing and where? What went wrong and to what extent? What are
the notable effects, where, extent for whom? Is the problem self-expressive or does it generate other
problems?
Statement of the problem: A problem might be defined as the issue that exists in the literature, theory,
or practice that leads to a need for the study. The prospective researcher should think on what caused
the need to do the research (problem identification). The Statement of the Problem describes the heart
of your study in few succinct sentences. It identifies the variables the researcher plans to study as well
as the type of study he or she intends to do. The question that he/she should ask him/herself is: Are
there questions about this problem to which answers have not been found up to the present? The
research problem should be stated in such a way that it would lead to analytical thinking on the part of
the researcher with the aim of possibly concluding solutions to the stated problems. All other parts of
the proposal grow out of the problem statement
In addition
1. Statement of the problem section should not be is too narrow and should be supported by
quantitative and qualitative studies in concrete manner
2. Your proposal show gaps and evidences that grasp earlier research and statistical tools
3. Your STUDY should show how you know the gaps
4. You should show statement of the problems with quantitative and qualitative evidences around
the world, African continent
5. Your justification for each study variable under investigation SHOULD BE clearly stated
6. Please add other gaps that shows the major challenges and prospects on your study
 7. In general please write your statement of the problems starting from broad and come to the
narrower
8. Please compare and contrast the major gaps bay taking threshold values (best practices) that
were applied by other researchers
9. be sure that your introduction and statement of the problem were pararal (match ) each other
(shows the same meanings and variables
10. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE SUPPORTED BY REFERENCES
11. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM SHUOLD HAVE ATLEAST 2 PAGES

4. General
Comments
OBJECTIVES OF THE
STUDY
1.2. Objective of the study: The objectives of a research delineate the ends or aim which the
inquirer seeks to bring about as a result of completing the research undertaken. It may be
thought of as either a solution to a problem or an end state to be achieved in relation to the
problem. Commonly, research objectives are classified into two:

1.2.1. General objective:

 What exactly will be studied?
 General statements specifying the desired outcomes of the proposed project.\
 This is a clear and concise statement of what the study seeks to accomplish in your
own way or as already established by previous studies.
 This general objective is a broad statement which shows whether the research wants
to evaluate, explore, explain, and assess a chosen phenomenon. The objective is set in
such a way that it facilitates the formulation of specific objectives. For example,
evaluation involves numerous processes which can be the focuses of the specific
 objectives. The main objective should set out, in unequivocal terms, the purpose of
the study.

1.2.2. Specific objectives: It identifies in greater detail the specific aims of the research project,
often breaking down what is to be accomplished into smaller logical components. Use action
oriented verbs such as “to determine, to find out, to ascertain” in formulating specific
objectives which should be numerically listed.
1.2.3. These must be linked to the main objective in a logical way. When put together, the specific
objectives, which must be set in SMART formation must lead to the accomplishment of the
main objective of the study. For example, as a way of evaluating a given phenomenon, one
may want to measure certain indicators and so it would be appropriate to set a specific
objective that relates to quantification as part of the process of evaluation. It is normally the
case to formulate at least three specific objectives and no more than five.

 HOW CAN YOU MEASURE YOUR SPECIFIC OBJCETIVES and research questions ?
 be sure that your objectives both general and specific objectives were match with your
topics
 be sure that your objectives both general and specific objectives were match with your
study variables
 you have to know that how do you measure your general and specific objectives
 Do you have any threshold values to measure your specific objectives?

General Comments scopes of the study

1.1. Scope/delimitation of the study: Delimitations are restrictions the researcher sets on his/her
study. Explain the exact area of your research; for example in terms time period, subjects,
disciplines involved, unit of analysis, the methodology you will employed, etc.). Make clear in
what way and to what extent claims for generalizability can be made or what the limits are

 Please clearly identify your geographical, methodological and conceptual scopes?

Clearly show/ write in separate paragraphs the scope as or based on
 geographical scope/ coverage – write the selected branches
 thematic / conceptual scope / coverage – mention the constructs/ dimensions used to
measure IV and DV
 methodological scope/ coverage
 timeline scope
 Mention the selected Enterprises. Write each scope/ coverage in separate paragraphs.

General Comments scopes of the study Key Terms (operational meanings of variables)
 Write properly the key terms those will be used in this research exhaustively.
 Keep the sequence as well as the flow
 General Comments on Literature review
Before starting your study please read at list
20 articles and journals to enhance
understandings of your study variables
2. Literature Review:
The purpose of the literature review is to situate your research in the context of what is already
known about a topic. It need not be exhaustive. It should provide the theoretical basis for your
work, show what has been done in the area by others, and set the stage for your work. In a
literature review you should give the reader enough ties to the literature that they feel confident
that you have found, read, and assimilated the literature in the field. It should probably move from
the more general to the more focused studies, but need not be exhaustive, only relevant. In
literature section you must incorporate the following items;
 Theoretical analysis
 Empirical analysis

Literature review mainly categorized as

 WHICH MODEL/THEORY YOU MAYAPPLY FOR YOUR STUDY?

 Theoretical concepts
 Empirical (previous) studies
 Conceptual framework of the study
 Your conceptual frameworks should have sources
 Be sure that your literature shows the variables under investigations
 The literature should have
 Meanings of variables
 Relationships among variables (independent and dependent variables)
 The impacts or effects of each variables (independent and dependent variables)
 Develop your conceptual framework
 Investigate issues and concepts regarding your study variables
 Please make your literature reviews clear and understandable
 What makes your conceptual framework unique from others
 Please put sources for you conceptual framework
Literature review should be

 Selective
  Focused
 Exhaustive
 Related and
 Relevant/ appropriate
 Use sources (references) properly. No source/ reference. Even the used sources were most
from same source as well as old ones.

In addition
 Here you are required to review (theoretical and empirical) literature for your proposal work.
For your thesis you will expand the proposal literature in depth.
 2.1 Theoretical Literature Review: (here you should review theories, concepts, models,
approaches or and principles regarding your tittle or research areas)
 2.2 Empirical Literature Review: (here you should review previous studies related with your
area or title----their agreements, controversies or discourses regarding the area or outcomes or
relationship)
 2.3 Conceptual Framework: based on Theoretical and Empirical LR, develop or adopt or adapt
CF-Work to show the effect or relationship between Independent and Dependent Variables and
also moderating/mediating variables (if any)
 2.4 Hypothesis : Based o your LR and CF-work…put your proposed hyphothesis by supporting
empirical evidences

At the end of chapter two You should have

conceptual frame work
  6. General
Comments on
RESEARCH
METHODOLO
GY
CHAPTER THREE
3. Research Methodology: The methods or procedures section is really the heart of the research
proposal. You must decide exactly the design of the study, how you are going to achieve your stated
objectives. Furthermore it includes details about sampling technique, sample size (numbers of
people to be contacted), method of data collection, methods of data analysis and ethical
considerations.
3.1. Research Design: The Design section describes the research type of the study. It is here that the
researcher declares his or her study to be descriptive, correlational, and experimental or other
 types depending on the nature of research problems. The researcher should give sufficient
justification about why he/she prefer one research design over the other.
3.2. Target population: From the beginning, before selecting a sample, the researcher better to
define/identify the number of population who are available in the organization; the defined
population should have direct relationship with the study.
3.3. Sample size: After identifying the target population, the researcher better to determine the
desired sample size because sample is the representative of the population. Moreover given
considerations of cost and time, you have to reasonably determine the appropriate sample size
(number of participants in the study). The desired sample size can be determined by using of
standardized formulas which is designed by different scholars.

 Please use tables to identify the sample

size of each sample areas
3.4. Sampling technique: Sampling is the process of selecting a number of study units from a defined
study population. Knowledge of the various types of sampling design (probability and non
probability sampling) is a prerequisite to develop an appropriate description of your particular
sampling technique. You have to explain the reasons behind the choice of your sampling
technique. The sampling technique can led to us to point out the target respondents from the
total population scientifically.
3.5. Sources and Methods of data collection: This section contains information about the sources
the data, the types of the data (qualitative, quantitative) and instruments of data collection (like
questionnaire, interview, observation and other appropriate techniques).
3.6. Methods of data analysis: A research proposal often includes a statement that describes the
statistical tests that will be used to address the hypotheses and research questions. Thus you
have to describe the appropriate analytical tools to be used in the data analysis. A data is raw
facts which is collected from the target respondents; this raw facts should be changed into
meaningful information by using of whether descriptive data analysis tools or inferential data
analysis tools.
 Definition of terms: If you are using words that are operationally defined (i.e. defined by how
they are measured or have an unusual or restricted meaning in the study), you must define them
for the reader. There is no need to define obvious or commonly used terms.
 Time Schedule: The researcher needs to identify the sequences of stages necessary to complete
the proposed research and estimate the time needed to complete each stage. Dividing the
research project into manageable stages and assigning a date to complete each stage helps the
researcher to estimate the effort that will be required to complete the entire project and provides
opportunities for periodically evaluating the progress of the research project.
 Budget: The entire cost of a project should be explained. Do not attempt to be too economical to
demonstrate how cheaply you can run the project. At the same time, do not be too expensive so
as not to deter the fund providers. Cost of a proposal budget reflects direct cost (e.g. consumable
 supplies, equipment, travel cost, communication, and publication) and indirect cost (e.g. overhead
cost, administrative cost etc.). All project necessities should be itemized in detail as well as
justified in a narrative component of a budget section. When drawing up a budget, be realistic
 Please use this introduction for chapter three: This part describes the methodologies that will be
used in this study: the choice of particular research designs, sample and sampling techniques,
sources of data and data collection tools, and data analysis method along with an appropriate
justification associated with each approach.
 What is your research approach?
 Follow strictly the guide given and set the headings based on the contents mentioned.
 Avoid writing like lecture notes delivered in classroom for students.
 Please clearly identify your study population
 Please clearly indicate your sampling technique and why you choose it.
 Please you sample size must be large enough that satisfy scientific cut-off poits. Please don’t
have sample size less than 100 for quantitative study.
 You should discuss the Methods of data analysis part carefully, because it very crucial part for
your analysis (Chapter 4).
 Please never miss how to measure validity and reliability
 N.B: Your Research Methodology is Vague, confusing and disorganized
 Refine/ Edit your Research Methodology carefully.
 You have to discuss the methods you used to undertake your research.
 The methodology or methods section explains what you did and how you did it, allowing readers
to evaluate the reliability and validity of your research. It should include:

 The type of research you did

 How you collected and/or selected your data
 How you analyzed your data
 Any tools or materials you used in the research
 Your rationale for choosing these methods

Description of the Study Area

There is need to indicate where the study was done. Describe key characteristics of area (climate,
socioeconomic activities, population, etc.), linking them to the study. Indicate the geographical
locality (e.g. .... ABC sub city, 60 km south of X shopping mall) as well as the geographical co-
ordinates). A locality map for the study area is desirable but not mandatory. However, please
note that a brief half page description is quite adequate; you would rather spend more effort in
the scope of the study.

3.1 Research Design (eg Descriptive, explanatory, exploratory….the reason behind using
them)
3.2 Research Approach (eg Qualitative or Quantitative or mixed)
 3.3 Target Population of the study or Universe (Respondents from which data will be
collected and why)
3.4 Sample Design and Techniques
3.4.1 Sampling Frame and or Sampling Unit
3.4.2 Sampling Technique (Probability and Non-probability)
3.4.3 Sample Size Determination (Use Statistical Sampling Formula as per types of
population)
3.5 Sources of data
3.5.1 Primary Data Sources (eg Questionnaire, FGD, Interviews, etc)
3.5.2 Secondary Data Sources (annual reports, news papaer etc)
3.6 Methods of Data Analysis and Interpretation
3.6.1 Data management and Tools of Data Presentation like tables, graphs etc
3.6.2 Statistical Tools of Data Analysis
3.6.2.1 Descriptive Statistical Analysis eg mean, frequency standard deviation etc
3.6.2.2 Inferential Data Analysis eg correlation , regression etc
3.6.2.3 Model and Model Diagnostics or Specifications

General Comments on Reference

Write references properly

Be consistent.
Write properly the reference based on the
style you have selected. APA style is
recommended as usual
Use appropriate style recommended by your
college
Whose reference style are you using?

For Masters Proposal/thesis, at least 50 and

above references is must.

 Write references properly

 Be consistent.
 Write properly the reference based on the style you have selected. APA style is
recommended as usual
 Use appropriate style recommended by your college
 Whose reference style are you using?

 For Masters Proposal/thesis, at least 50 and above references is must.

 APA style sample reference

 For articles

 Lukic, T., Džamic, V., Knezevic, G., Alčaković, S., & Bošković, V. (2014). The

influence of organizational culture on business creativity, innovation and

satisfaction. Journal of Sustainable Business and Management Solutions in

Emerging Economies, 19(73), PP. 49-57

  For Books

 Armstrong, M. (2009).Armstrong Handbook of Human Resource

Management Practice. (11th Edition ed.). London, Philadelphia: Kogan

page.

Generally
 Please be sure that your
preliminary pages were written
according to the format of your
institutions
 The whole thesis and its body
should be written with times romans
writing style with 1.5 line spacing
and 12 as a font size
 Please avoid spelling errors
starting from your cover pages
 Under chapter two please do not
forget writing your variables with
details explanations as topic and
subtopics
 On chapter three please be sure
that you have the real respondents as a
populations with representative
sample size