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Retailers Association of India (rai) Announces

A Paper Presentation Contest in RETAIL MANAGEMENT
At “Talking Shop” -The RAI-GSB Retail Conclave

Retailers Association of India (rai) announces a Paper Presentation Contest for the
management students of B-Schools in Retailing Excellence in India on the
occasion of ‘Talking Shop 2010’ to be held from September 29th – 30th, 2010 at
Gnanam School of Business,Thanjavur. We invite papers on the following
guidelines:

Defined Areas in Retail Management For The Contest :

1. Customer Experience / Loyalty Management in Retailing in India

2. Retail Formats and Their Evolution in India (Malls, Dept. Stores,
Supermarkets, Hypermarkets, etc.) or The Role of Retail Formats in
Creating Consumer Experience
3. Role of IT in Retailing
4. Creating Retail Store Brands
5. Power Shift From Suppliers To Retailers in India
6. Challenges in Managing People in Modern Retailing in India
7. Merchandising, Buying Practices, Supply Chain Management, Etc. in
Retailing in India
8. The Role of Modern Retailing In Increasing Consumption That Impact
The Growth of The Economy of India
9. Private Labels in Modern Retailing
10. The Future of E-Tailing or Internet Retailing / Non-store Formats in
India

The papers written for the contest have to be within the above areas specified in
Retail Management in India.
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Written Presentation Rules

1. General Format: Papers must be submitted as Word Document / Portable

Document Format (PDF), single- spaced and formatted for A4 paper. The body
must be 2,500 to 3,000 words — over/under results in penalty (with the
Introduction, Body, Conclusion, Tables, and Figures, this is about 7 pages). The
optional Appendices must not exceed 5 pages.

2. Style: While third person is preferable, first person is acceptable if it enhances

clarity or readability (e.g., “our team” or “I” vs. “the author”). Active voice and a
tight writing style enhance paper quality.

3. Structure: Include the following, in the order listed.

Title page: The title is concise, but conveys the subject. List on separate lines:
title, author name(s), principal author’s Student status, B- school name, and topic
of the paper.

Table of Contents: Use formal format, with page numbers.

Abstract: In 100 words or less, briefly state the problem or objective and
summarize the results or conclusion, touching upon details only if they are
particularly significant.

Introduction: Explain the significance of the paper; summarize what the paper will
deliver.

One-way: Briefly explain the problem and then how the paper will address it.

Body: Provide the subject arguments in logical sequence, with supporting data.

Conclusions: Summarize the major points of the paper.

Originality statement: Briefly explain the originality of the paper and project.

Acknowledgments: Briefly list specific contributions of each author and of

supportive parties.

References: List the literature used to develop the paper. Number references
consecutively and follow this form:
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Periodical: Bhishma C. Kukreti (name of author), The Significance of Modern

Formats in Retailing (the topic), “Advertising Express” (name of periodical), pp,
19 – 21 (particular page numbers), October 2005 (issue date).

Book: Thomas A. Edison (name of author), Retail Management (title of the book),
John Wiley and Sons, Inc.(name of publication), New York (place of publication),
pp. 170-171 (particular page numbers), 1998 (year of publication).

Article: B. Lawrence, B.H. Krishnan, and M.Hariraman (names of authors),

“Malls: A Study of The Success Factors of Destination Retailing in India” (title of
the article), Journal of Indian Retailing (Journal’s name), pp. 64-69 (particular
page numbers), Nov.-Dec. 2004 (journal’s date).

4. Graphics:
Enhance presentation with supporting figures or tables.
Layout option: Place graphics in the text or place at the end.
Provide explanatory caption for each graphic.
Tables may be images (or files) embedded in the document.
Number tables consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Table 2).
Number figures consecutively (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2).

5. Submission deadlines: The Contest deadline for submission of the paper is 15th
September 2010 to reach the following address. The contestants must follow the
deadline.
Tip: submit 3 days early.
All papers must be addressed to:

Mr. S.P.S Arul Doss

Convener – Talking Shop 2010
Gnanam School of Business
Mary’s Nagar, Trichy-Thanjavur Expressway
Sengipatti, Thanjavur 613402
Tamil Nadu, South India

Preliminary Selection
There will be a preliminary selection of papers based on the judges’ decision and
four such selected papers will be chosen for oral presentation on the 30th of
September 2010 at GSB, Thanjavur
The selected contestants will be intimated separately before the 20th of September
2010.
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Oral Presentation Rules (Applicable only to short-listed contestants)

1. General format: The selected contestants will present their paper in a oral form
for exactly 20 minutes. In addition there will be a Question & Answer session for
exactly 10 minutes. The contestants will give preference to responding to the
judges’ questions and answer them on priority.

2. Visual aids Permissible: Power Point, films on VCD or DVD format only,
Charts and Transparencies.

Success tip: If doing PowerPoint, limit your text to only a few words per line and
no more than 6 bulleted items per page. Use graphics liberally. For best results,
add a photo that ties the project to a larger social or economic theme.

Guidelines and Criteria for Judging

1. Judging Criteria: The judging criteria are the following:

20 percent of the criteria relate to communication skills
50 percent of the criteria relate to the relevance and quality of content
20 percent relate to originality and innovation in the subject matter
10 percent relate to timeliness and punctuality.
The judging criteria are on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest rating

Logical development of major points, Flow and balance of subject material,

Originality of analysis and interpretation, Quality and level of content, Adequacy
of conclusion (delivers on the promise of the introduction), Compliance with
format rules, Clarity and directness, Grammar, spelling, and style, Subject Matter,
Originality of ideas, procedures, processes, or conclusions are the factors
impacting judgement criteria.

2. Winner selection: The ranking of the cumulative scores determines the ranking
of the winners. Judges’ decision will be final.
The winners will be ranked as the FIRST prizewinner and the SECOND
prizewinner. So, in all there will be two final prizes from the four short listed ones.

Prizes : FIRST Prize – An award of Rs.10,000 (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) and
a certificate
SECOND Prize – An award of Rs.5000 (Rupees Five Thousand only) and
a certificate
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Other Instructions:
1. Papers not selected for oral presentation will not be returned.
2. The papers can have a maximum of four authors but the group will be
considered one for the prize.
3. Sleeper class to and fro train fare only will be reimbursed for those who
have been selected for oral presentations to the destination of the
presentation from the station where the author’s B-School is located.
4. The contest is open only to two-year full-time MBA / Post graduate
Diploma students of B-Schools in India.
5. The papers have to be duly forwarded under the signature and seal of the
Head of the Management institute / B-School or such authorized signatory.
6. Any effort or attempt to unduly influence judgement will disqualify the
contestant.

For further details contact:

Ms. Smitha Nair / Mr. Lawrence Fernandes,

Retailers Association of India (rai)
111 / 112, Ascot Center, Sahar Road, Sahar
Andheri East, Mumbai – 400 099
Tel: 022 28269527-29 Fax: 022 28269536
Email: smitha@rai.net.in
www.rai.net.in

Mr. S.P.S Arul Doss

Convener – Talking Shop 2010
Gnanam School of Business
Mary’s Nagar, Trichy-Thanjavur Expressway
Sengipatti, Thanjavur
Ph: 9600070087, 9443274600
Email: talkingshop10@gmail.com
Website: www.gsb.co.in