Specialist Diploma in Distribution Business Management - Specifications and Guidelines

Introduction

After you have successfully obtained three Certificates of Advanced Education from world-leading universities by actively participating in the annual Conference organized by the DBM Association, you are eligible to receive the Specialist Diploma in Distribution Business Management. The cost for submission is $400.00.

Graduation Paper Support and Supervision

Learning is a partnership to which members of the DBM Association, university faculty, employers and students contribute. It is based upon trust and cooperation within a framework of responsibilities designed to foster an effective and profitable learning environment.

Many working practitioners may not have undertaken a formal education process for some time. Consequently, great care is taken to ensure that a range of study and personal support is provided to each of them.

The Distribution Business Management Association, on the basis of their professional expertise in the subject of distribution and logistics, appoints professional supervisors to each student.

Graduation Paper Proposal

Before you start your graduation paper, you will be asked to submit a brief written proposal. The proposal should include:

1. The title of the graduation paper.

2. A description of the topic you wish to investigate clearly indicating the specific problem that you intend to address.

3. An outline of how you will carry out the graduation paper including the methods that you consider most appropriate for your work.

4. A suggested time table for your work that allows sufficient time for gathering data, analysis and writing the graduation paper.

Writing the proposal will help you in clarifying your ideas concerning the graduation paper and identify the way that it is to be accomplished.

The graduation paper proposal will be discussed with and approved by your professional supervisor before you start writing. This will allow the supervisor to offer advice and, where appropriate, constructive criticism. It will also provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and clarify all possible dilemmas and obstacles.

Graduation Paper Topics

It is important that you choose a topic which is of interest to you and relevant to your organization. Although the topics are not limited, they could follow the main track themes:

-Material Handling and Operations

-Software Solutions and Fulfillment Technologies

-Distribution, Logistics and Transportation

-Government Logistics and Security

-Supply Chain Strategies

Make sure that you define the problem clearly and concisely. Remember that the graduation paper will consist of 4,000 words and that there is a limited time in which to complete it so do not try to go too wide in your investigation of the problem.

Graduation Paper Methodology and Timing

Once you have chosen your topic, you should then attempt to break it down into appropriate elements and put forward the methods you will use to address each element. For example, if your graduation paper involves gathering empirical data, you may wish to devise a questionnaire or a format for a structured interview. As with any project, you should produce a plan that shows the time phasing of each element in relation to the overall time available for completion. Be careful not to underestimate the time required for each phase, particularly writing the graduation paper.

The amount of time that students are able to devote to studying varies according to their personal circumstances. Normally, students complete the graduation paper within one year.

Graduation Paper Writing

The following guidelines will help you in writing your graduation paper:

1. The report should be approximately 4,000 words long (excluding any appendices you might wish to add). It should type written on white paper.

2. It should include:

Although you may have collected a significant amount of material, you have to be selective in what you include. However, make sure you make reference to all the material in the text. Examples of questionnaires, computer printouts, etc. should be included as appendices.

The graduation paper is written specifically for the practicing engineers and manager and should, therefore, be written in a style that is clear and explicit.

Graduation Paper Submissions

The completed graduation paper (two hard copies and one copy on disk) should be sent unfolded in a suitable envelope to the DBM Association. Please put your name and address on the back of the envelope.

Graduation Award

Successful Students are awarded the Specialist Diploma in Distribution, Business Management at the annual conference dinner, which certifies that the knowledge demonstrated by them fully satisfies all graduation requirements.

Graduates are entitled to use either the full expression of the award or the abbreviation SDBM after their name in a manner compatible with the regulations of the DBM Association and cooperating Universities.

Instructions for Preparation of the Graduation Paper Manuscript

ABSTRACT

Please follow the instructions printed in the model manuscript with regard to the placement of the title, author’s name and affiliation, as well as the main text. Manuscripts should not normally exceed 15 pages and should contain at least 4,000 words.

1. INTRODUCTION

All manuscripts must be prepared clearly and accurately on one side of A4 sheet using an IBM computer (or compatible) and a good quality (preferably laser) printer. Use a Arial or similar font (typeface) with a 12 pt size. All text must be single-spaced. The preferred word processing is Microsoft Word for Windows.

2. FIRST PAGE OF MANUSCRIPT

The title of the graduation paper should be centered on the top line of the first page as shown in this model manuscript. The title should be 14 pt size in boldface in upper and lower case letters. Two line spaces separate the title from the author. The author’s name should consist of initials and last name. It should be 12 pt upper and lower case letters. Author affiliation should consist of name of company using 12 pt size. PROFESSIONAL TITLES AND QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED. The remainder of the manuscript from the abstract should be fully justified in single line spacing.

3. Main Text

3.1 Page Numbers

3.2 Headings

As shown in the model manuscript, first order headings should be boldfaced, in upper case letters and preceded by Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). Second order headings should be boldfaced with upper and lower case letters and preceded by 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc.

3.3 Paragraphs

3.4 Figures, Tables and Photographs

Figures and tables should be arranged throughout the text, preferably being included on the same page as they are first discussed. Alternatively, figures may be placed at the end of the manuscript. Leave two balk lines above and below figures or tables. Figures, table and photographs should be numbered consecutively and captioned. The caption consists of the number and a title that briefly describes the figure or table.

3.5 Mathematics

Equations (formulae) should be centered and set apart from the text. Use two or tree blank spaces to separate equations from the text. If they are numbered, use Arabic numerals enclosed in parentheses flush right along the final base line of the equation. Do not include dots from the equation to the equation number.

3.6 References

All references should appear together at the end of the paper as shown in the example below. [1]. References are number in the order in which they are quoted in the text. [2].

REFERENCES

[2] Tong, P. and Pian, A. (1969) Variational Principle and the Convergence of the Finite Element Method Based on Assumed Stress Distribution, International Journal of Solid Structures, Volume 5, pp. 436-472.