Dr N Balakumar

Though appears last in the order of arrangement, Concluding Chapter is equally important in a project work.

The concluding chapter concerns with the outline, findings, implications, limitations of the study and future research areas after executing the survey and analysis of the obtained data.

The salient features of the study are enumerated as the outline of the research. The key findings revealed by the analysis of data through statistical tools are exhibited as the findings of the study; and also presented are the implications of the project work based on the research findings. Further, the limitations of the research are given, which may lend a lead for future research avenues.

Under Outline, you will mention the need of the study, overview of the topic (or industry), summary of prior work, study objectives, hypothesis, data and methodology.

You will provide brief inputs on the findings of the study, something similar to an executive summary.

Under implications, you will summarise the interpretations of the findings. This is in short exhibiting your own views coupled with experience and expertise. There may implications for several segments. For example, findings of a project work can have implications at the firm level, industry level and policy making level. Thus, you may sub-divide implications on these parameters and summarise the same in this part of the concluding chapter.

You will also not forget to include the limitations of the project. Usually the limitations will be with regard to sample size. For a project work you would have taken a smaller sample size due to time factor. Thus, you may mention that your study is limited to the number of samples selected. You may also mention the period of study as a limitation, especially, in the event of your research work depending on secondary data, since researchers could get different results for different time periods.

You may also express your feelings with regard to time factor and indicate that you could not execute or expand the research work due to time factor. Thus, this may give research ideas for further research in the direction of your research.