Department of Management Studies

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS

COMPREHENSIVE VIVA VOCE

Ph D Programme

Guidelines to Research Scholars

November, 2005.

A. Why do we need a Comprehensive Viva Voce (CVV)?

Ph D programme Research Scholars pursue courses to acquire knowledge
in their area of research and/or allied areas. They are required to
complete 6 credits of core courses and another 6 credits of elective
courses (usually from a choice offering 9 to 12 credits).
Also, they pursue a compulsory course in Research Methodology
which has two components a general Institute-wide common
curriculum and a Department-based specialized curriculum.

It is in the larger interests of good academic practice and intellectual

strengthening of our young Research Scholars that we hold the
Comprehensive Viva Voce (CVV).

Integrated Understanding: It is important for Research Scholars and

for the cause of good academic practice that they develop an integrated
understanding of the courses they would have completed separately. The
research area they aspire to work on should provide the binder for the
integrated understanding of the courses. This is why we use the term
Comprehensive.

Preparation for Careers: It is held as a Viva Voce because our Research

Scholars must develop the inner confidence and strength to display their
integrated understanding of the courses as well as their own research areas.
It is likely that many Research Scholars will pursue academic careers or
consulting careers. In both cases, they will face audiences directly and will
have to explain terminologies, definitions, concepts, principles, theories,
hypotheses, models, methodologies, etc., in a most effective manner. The
CVV is designed and conducted to prepare our Research Scholars for such
situations.

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B. What will the Research Scholar be tested for during the CVV?
Research scholars will be tested for their ability to explain, clarify or make
statements about:
a) Common Terminologies and Definitions used in the courses they earned
credits for.
b) Basic Concepts that they learnt. Concepts arise from Terminologies and
Definitions.
c) Fundamental Principles or Axioms used in developing various Concepts.
d) Theories proposed by different authors/thinkers. Theories use Concepts
and Principles (and Observations too!).
e) Hypotheses proposed in the research literature.
f) Models and Methodologies used in their research area and general
research methodologies, which are often founded on Concepts and
Principles.
g) The relationships among Terminologies, Definitions, Concepts,
Principles, Theories, Hypotheses, Models, Methodologies, etc., in their
research area, particularly those that are present in different subjects.
h) Important papers in their research areas.
i) Important debates in their research areas.
j) Important models in their research areas.
k) Simple applications of the Concepts, Principles, Theories, Models and
Methodologies.

C. What is the process involved in the CVV?

a) Submit a brief report (approx. four A4 sides) containing an overview of
your proposed research work. Also, present the slides you plan to present
during the CVV, in printed form (2 slides per side on A4 paper), as an
annex to your brief report. Submit these to the members of your CVV
Committee at least one week before the scheduled date.
b) You may make a presentation for a maximum of 15 minutes to the CVV
Committee.
c) The members will then ask questions that are in line with the contents of
B. above. The order of questioning would ordinarily be: External
members followed by Department members followed by DC members
and Chairperson followed by Guide (if necessary).

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 Suggestions:
i. If necessary, please do not hesitate to use the board to present
detailed explanations/clarifications in response to any of the
questions.
ii. LISTEN carefully to the examiners questions, and avoid jumping
to conclusions or predicting the examiners question.
iii. Speaking a little slower than you normally do would be of help.
iv. If necessary, please take some time (say, a minute or two) to think
before you respond to the questions.
v. If you do not understand any question, please request the member
to repeat the same and please do not do this too often!
vi. Watch for clues given by members of the committee to enable you
to respond to questions.

d) After the CVV is completed, please leave the room to enable the CVV
Committee to discuss and make its recommendations.
e) Ordinarily, the Research Scholar will be informed about the results of the
CVV immediately after the Committees discussions. Detailed feedback
can be had later from the Chairperson in confidence.

D. What criteria are used for evaluation of a Research Scholars

performance in the CVV?
a) Clarity of oral communication.
b) Clarity in understanding Terminologies, Definitions, Concepts,
Principles, Theories, Hypotheses, Models, Methodologies, etc.
c) Clarity of thought and thought flow take care of this in your
presentation.
d) Ability to think on ones feet.
e) Promptness in responding to questions.
f) Listening skills.

Obviously, the clarity and fluency/smoothness of delivery of the presentation

and responses to viva questions should involve explicit or revealed
confidence displayed through language and body language. This
confidence can be built through solid preparation and rehearsals. In short, if
your fundas are good, you will definitely be confident, and it will show.
This is what the CVV is about.

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E. When is the CVV likely to be held?
The CVV is likely to held in the months of March, July and December every
year. Thus for candidates who join the Doctoral programme in the month of
July, the first attempt of the CVV should be completed before July of the
following calendar year. Likewise, for candidates who join in January, the
first attempt of the CVV should be completed before December of the same
year.

This is according to our Institutes requirement that the CVV should be

completed within the first twelve months after the candidate joins the
programme. Hence, the candidate should take the first option of completing
the CVV before the completion of the first twelve months after joining the
programme.

F. What arrangements are made to hold the CVV?

The CVV is held following extensive coordination with the external experts
who belong to other Departments and Institutes. Their convenience is also
borne in mind. Research Scholars should appreciate the efforts that are
made to hold the CVV. We should also bear in mind that we have about
fifteen to twenty Research Scholars for whom the CVV needs to be held
every year (including the repeat cases); and the CVV Committee is almost
constant!!! In short, the members of the Committee sit through all the
CVVs. Research Scholars ought to understand and appreciate the efforts and
difficulties involved in organizing one round of the CVV. They should also
appreciate the intellectual and staying abilities of the members of the CVV
board.

Lets all continue to work towards sustained excellence and positive

excitement in our CVVs. Remember our guiding principle QED!

*****

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