Management Project Requirements

Table of Contents

• Course Description
• Is the MP for Me?
• Purpose of the MP
• Components of the MP
• MP Requirements
• MP Phases
• Appendix A: Forms
• Appendix B: Bibliography for Research
• Appendix C: Report Formatting
• MP Handbook Home

Advising

Before enrolling in a Management Project (MP) course, you are strongly encouraged to contact your faculty advisor. Their names and program responsibilities are listed below:

These faculty members may be reached by calling 301-985-7200.

Prerequisites for 690 Enrollments

You may begin work on the MP by enrolling in the appropriate 690 course according to the stated conditions for your particular program. These are outlined in the Graduate Catalog and are presented below:

Master of Science in Management: 33 credits (including ADMN 651) must be completed before enrollment.

Master of Science in Computer Systems Management: 27 credits (including CSMN 660) must be completed before enrollment.

Master of International Management: All required courses including IMAN 650 must be completed before enrollment.

Master of Science in Technology Management: 30 credits (and TMAN 671) must be completed before enrollment.

Master of Science in Telecommunications Management: 27 credits (and TLMN 660) must be completed before enrollment.

Master of Science in Environmental Management: 30 credits (and ENVM 670) must be completed before enrollment.

Enrollments

You are allowed only one three-credit enrollment in the appropriate MP course. In the event the project is not completed in one semester, one more one-credit enrollment will be permitted in the appropriate course. Registration is valid for one semester term only. If the MP is not completed within the allotted two semesters, you must switch to the two-course end-of-program option described in the current Graduate Catalog. If you present your project and receive either a conditional pass or a failing grade, you must successfully complete the MP within the time frame allowed by this policy. In either of these two cases, you may not switch to the two-course option.

Student Responsibilities

The MP is conducted on an independent basis under the guidance of a faculty advisor. You are responsible for developing and gaining approval of a concept paper and prospectus, carrying out the needed research for the project, and presenting your final report.

You are also responsible for ensuring that the work you submit is error- free. The role of the MP advisor is to review the concepts, methods, and thought processes employed to solve a problem, not to be an editor. If the advisor determines the work does not meet acceptable writing standards, it will be returned for revisions.

Official Catalog Description

You demonstrate your ability to structure and complete a major project that identifies and resolves an important management or organizational issue. You report the results of your efforts in written and oral form. The project may be developed in cooperation with your current employers or with some organization of your choice, provided there is no conflict of interest. The project is conducted under the direction of an on-site supervisor in cooperation with a faculty advisor.

Grades

If you do not complete and present the MP during the first enrollment, you will receive a grade of “I” (Incomplete). If the project is not completed after the second enrollment, the grade is changed to “W” upon request from you. When all components of the project have been completed, you will receive either an “S” (Satisfactory) or “F” (Failure) on your official transcripts.

Order of Completion of the MP

The standards for acceptance of a completed MP are consistent throughout the various programs of the Graduate School. The approved order for completion is

• You submit the concept paper to the department director.
• Department director reviews, approves, assigns an advisor, and notifies you.
• You consult with faculty advisor.
• You submit drafts of prospectus and modify the document based on advisor feedback
• Advisor either accepts the final draft of the prospectus or rejects it and requires you to begin a new project.
• You conduct the project investigation and analysis as proposed in the prospectus and prepare a final report on the results.
• Faculty advisor releases final publication-ready draft for presentation to an academic committee.
• You provide all committee members with the final report at least two weeks before the scheduled presentation.
• You make an oral presentation of study findings to a two- or three-member committee comprised of graduate faculty. The final report and oral presentation must be approved by all committee members, including the advisor.

Note: The oral presentation is not a thesis defense but an oral report/professional briefing. It is intended to provide an opportunity to explain the nature of the work that was done, to discuss recommendations that were made, and to answer any questions.

Timetable and Important Dates

All students are required to submit a projected timetable for completion of the MP. You should consult your faculty advisors about the timetable, and you must submit it for approval with the prospectus.

You should anticipate completion of all MP requirements by submitting an application for graduation by the deadline dates indicated in the Schedule of Classes.

All requirements of the MP must be completed by August 15, December 15, or May 15 of each year depending on the intended date of graduation. Completion of requirements after the deadline date will delay graduation and receipt of diploma until the next semester. In this case, you must submit a new application for graduation and pay the fee again.

You should recognize that as the end of the semester or term draws near, it is increasingly difficult to schedule a MP presentation. Faculty advisors return draft materials as soon as possible. However, it may be as long as five to ten business days before an advisor returns draft materials with comments. Thus, it is important to complete all requirements and obtain the faculty advisor’s approval to present the project as far in advance as possible. A minimum of 10 business days must be allowed between the time the faculty advisor receives the final draft of the report and the date of the presentation.

Presenting Findings to the Sponsoring Organization

You must consult with your faculty advisors before making a formal presentation of findings to the sponsoring organization. This should not occur, however, until after the faculty committee reviews and approves the report. Exceptions to this will be considered only if the request is included in the approved prospectus.

Writing Standards

All submissions of the concept paper, the prospectus, and the final report must be typed (double-spaced), and structured according to the guidelines of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 4th ed. You should review the manual carefully to ensure compliance with APA guidelines. Projects that do not meet these standards will not be accepted.