Blekinge Institute of Technology School of Management
COURSE DESCRIPTOR Master thesis, MBA Magisteruppsats, MBA 15 ECTS credit points (15 högskolepoäng) Course code: FE2413 Educational level: Advanced level Course level: D Field of education: Social sciences (50%) och technology (50%) Subject area: Business administration
Version: 1 Applies from: 2007-09-03 Approved: 2007-03-26 Replaces course descriptor approved: 2005-01-03
1 Course title and credit points The course is titled Master thesis, MBA/Magisteruppsats, MBA and awards 15 credit points. One credit point (högskolepoäng) corresponds to one credit point in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
- Feedback on drafts. To make general comments on drafted chapters in order to assist the student to identify, where relevant, deficiencies in the analysis and presentation. - Critique of other students’ work. - Presentation
2 Decision and approval This course is established by The Education Committee of the School of Management 2007-03-26. The course descriptor is approved by The Education Committee of the School of Management and applies from 2007-09-03.
5 Aims and learning outcomes On completion of the course the student will get an opportunity initiate their own research belief, write a critical extended essay or collect and analyze qualitative and/or quantitative information and present their findings in a written report. Such an in-depth investigation enables students to produce a piece of work which has been instigated, developed and produced as a result of their own initiative. In addition it allows to develop and demonstrate power of: - Rigorous analysis - Critical enquiry - Independent judgment - Clear expression The goal of the course is that the student should define a management problem or issue, setting out appropriate aims and research questions - Structuring a logical and coherent argument and critically evaluate the relevant literature - Understanding methodological approaches to management research - Methods to collect primary or secondary data - Planning and writing an academic thesis and express oneself clearly in writing. Draw conclusions from evidence and make appropriate recommendations Furthermore, it is expected that the student: - shall have knowledge on how a thesis is managed in theory. - Shall develop an ability to transfer and relate the formal knowledge of theory to practice. - Independently shall be able to initiate and execute various types of project, many of which are
3 Objectives The purpose of the course is to provide the student with an opportunity to initiate own research belief, write a critical extended essay or collect and analyze qualitative and/or quantitative information and present the findings in a written report. Such an in-depth investigation enables the student to produce a piece of work which has been instigated, developed and produced as a result of his/her own initiative. In addition it should allow developing and demonstrating power of rigorous analysis, critical enquiry, independent judgment and clear expression. 4 Content The Master thesis course is managed from different aspects and under different themes. These themes are: - Developing research topic. To help the student to further refine his/her research topic. - Discussions. To advise the student, where appropriate, of relevant data and literature, and to discuss approaches to the literature review. - Research design/operationalization. To discuss research design and choice of appropriate research methods. - Research findings. To discuss research findings.
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IT-related. - Shall gain understanding of thesis production as learning in action. - Shall gain understanding of modern information technology and its business opportunities. In the course, you should learn how to give critique and also defend your thesis. Therefore, you are required to give critique on two other thesis projects (only those delivered in time of course). As discussant, you should read the others’ half-way-thesis and the final thesis and document your critique in written form on Luvit or similar IT system.
on the web. Once the area of investigation has been decided, the student will begin to produce a proposal and plan of work for the thesis. The table below gives a seven-point guide on how to produce a thesis proposal plan. Point one has already been discussed; point two provides the context of the research in relation to other work in this field and how the proposed research will add to knowledge in this area. Through the literature review the problem can be framed, relevant concepts, methods and facts can be identified and the study can be positioned On request grades according to ECTS will be given.
6 Generic skills The following generic skills are trained in the course: The student will learn to communicate his or her ideas for himself herself and for others in English. More generally the course trains the students in the ability to think critically, analytically and pedagogically in business endeavors. The course should also give the student the social skills requested in the industry.
9 Course evaluation The course coordinator is responsible for systematically gathering feedback from the students in course evaluations and making sure that the results of these feed back into the development of the course. 10 Prerequisites Admitted to the program ''MBA on Internet'' and successfully passed at least four of the courses in the program (or the equivalent).
7 Learning and teaching The course is given over the internet.
11 Field of education and subject area The course is part of the field of education Social sciences (50%) och Technology (50%) and is included in the subject area business administration.
8 Assessment and grading Examination of the course ------------------------------------------------Code Module Credit Grade ------------------------------------------------0805 Thesis 15 hp U/G/VG 0815 Critique 0 hp U/G 0825 Comprehensive Exam on Campus 0 hp U/G -------------------------------------------------
12 Restrictions regarding degree The course cannot form part of a degree with another course, the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.
The course will be graded Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).Assessment of the students´ performance is based on the performance in the projects and the quality of the critique on other projects. The following grades are awarded: Fail, Pass or Pass with Distinction. A final version should be submitted to the supervisor who, together with a second marker, grades the work. The main criteria to be applied in the assessment of thesis have been alluded to throughout this module guide. These include: - clarity of aims and objectives - originality of the topic - quality of literature review - content, especially the structure of the work - application of appropriate methodologies - quality of data analysis – where relevant - relevance of conclusions drawn - overall presentation, including referencing. The assessment will be carried out by two internal markers, including the supervisor. The marking profile follows the criteria listed above. An overall grade is allocated to the thesis by the individual markers. The thesis work can be conducted individually or in teams of no more than three students. Teaching comprises individual and group advising on the web. Discussions and presentations are carried out
13 Course literature and other teaching material Ghauri, P and Grönhaug, K (latest version) “Research Methods in Business Studies”, latest edition. Pearson Education, London. Reference - “Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association” (ed.) (one of the latest versions), Washington: APA, Further course literature may be presented in a separate reading list. The student is asked to read the primary literature, articles assigned for each lecture, notes and PowerPoint presentations before each lecture. ■
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