APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015

ENT 3670 Bachelor Thesis - Entrepreneurship

Responsible for the course
Heidi Wiig Aslesen

Department
Department of Innovation and Economic Organisation

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
15

Language of instruction
Norwegian

Introduction
The bachelor’s thesis is a major independent piece of work where the students are to show that they are able to work on a research question and take the whole responsibility to solve this in a satisfactory manner. The bachelor’s thesis is a mandatory part of the study programme. The thesis can be written in groups of up to three persons.

Learning outcome
Acquired Knowledge
The students will learn how to practise independent research work within a given time frame. The student will understand the relationship between theory and commercial considerations, the range of solutions and expected consequences. The students will understand the requirements of scientific work in form and content

Acquired Skills
The students will be able to deal with specific research questions within the field of entrepreneurship. The students will be able to analyse and reflect upon their selected research question. Furthermore, the student will use acquired knowledge in a critical and analytical way. The students will draw conclusions based on both theoretical and collected empirical data.

Reflection
During the process writing their bachelor's thesis the students will develop attitudes and skills related to carrying out independent research work.

Prerequisites
The dissertation is based on the academic content of the degree course.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Gripsrud, Geir, Ulf Henning Olsson og Ragnhild Silkoset. 2010. Metode og dataanalyse : beslutningsstøtte for bedrifter ved bruk av JMP. 2. utg. Høyskoleforlaget
Troye, Sigurd Villads og Kjell Grønhaug. 1993. Utredningsmetodikk : hvordan skrive en utredning til glede for både deg selv og andre. 3. utg. TANO

Recommended reading

Course outline
The dissertation may be written within all academic fields and lines of business related to the degree course. The following requirements must be met with respect to choice of dissertation subject: The dissertation is to be based on a company or organisation and the research question must fall within the field of entrepreneurship. A specific problem must be formulated. Solutions are to be found as part of a comprehensive process ranging from problem understanding, collection of data and analysis to strategy, plan or measures. The use of material from several specialist fields will be required in all cases. Provided the dissertation is not written as a theoretical dissertation, it is to include a set of collected primary data with analysis.

Computer-based tools
Use of SPSS or other relevant programs is expected for dissertations containing quantitative primary data. Database searches and use of the Internet will be of central importance in all dissertations.

Learning process and workload
It is expected that the students take responsibility for working on the bachelor’s thesis. It is therefore expected that the students come well prepared to supervision and seminars in order to be able to take an active part.

The student must fill in a registration form where the chosen topic is defined. After this a supervisor is appointed. The course is carried out in one semester and includes both seminars and supervision. Students are encouraged to check guidelines for writing a bachelor thesis.

The lectures include 4 seminars. The students are to prepare and present for every seminar, and/or deliver material in advance.

Three hours of supervision are offered during the semester for each thesis group. The seminars are mandatory. The students that do not take part in the seminars and/or have not taken part in the seminars and/or have not submitted documentation can expect to be called in for an oral examination.

• Problem definition and problem understanding
• Integration of academic subjects
• Structure and outline
• Selection and application of theory
• Choice and application of method
• Presentation, interpretation and discussion of results
• Originality, creativity and independence of measures proposed
• Use of sources and references