MBA 2420 Thesis

MBA 2420 Thesis

Course code: 
MBA 2420
Department: 
Marketing
Credits: 
30
Course coordinator: 
Peter Jarnebrant
Course name in Norwegian: 
Thesis
Product category: 
Executive
Portfolio: 
MBA China
Semester: 
2019 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
Two semesters
Introduction

The students shall, as part of the exam’s requirement, write a thesis. Students are expected to work on the thesis in groups of two to four students. Exceptions are possible (with explicit prior approval), but experience indicates that group work creates better results and students are encouraged to create diverse working groups.

The topic should be an analysis and evaluation of a real life challenge facing a company. The students should choose the topic from their own company or a company that they have close connection to. The students should be able to observe and discuss the topic with people dealing with the challenge in the company. Issues encountered in the coursework should be discussed in the thesis, and the students should demonstrate their ability to apply the models, theories and methods that they have studied to a real situation.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

The objective is two-fold. The students should learn how to conduct a research investigation into a business topic, and how to write a paper reporting their process, findings and conclusions, both according to scientific, evidence-based principles. They shall also get a better knowledge of how strategic issues and problem solving is conducted in a Chinese company or a multi-national company doing business in China.

Course content

Teaching
There will be a one-day lecture on thesis work and methodology at an early stage of the program. The lecture will cover the following topics:

  • How to write a thesis
  • Phases in thesis work
  • Critical evaluation of published article
  • Introduction and problem formulation
  • Theory, research model, and hypotheses
  • Methods considerations and documentation
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, implications for practice and theory

Supervision
Supervision will be given to the students, by BI faculty, in person as well as electronically.

Thesis work schedule
A topic hand-in is requested at an early stage (e.g. module 5), a preliminary report will be submitted at the time of the second in-person supervision, and the thesis will be presented orally late in the program (in connection with the one of the last modules).
The deadline for handing in the thesis will be two months after the last module.

Student presentation
Students will present their theses orally to the graders and fellow students before the final hand-in.

Learning process and requirements to students

The thesis work is continuous throughout the whole program.

The students are evaluated through a preliminary thesis report, an oral presentation of the thesis, and the final thesis.

MBA 24201 – Preliminary thesis report; accounts for 10%
MBA 24202 – Oral presentation; accounts for 35% to pass the program MBA 2420; 30 credits
MBA 24203 – Thesis; accounts for 55% to pass the program MBA 2420; 30 credits

All three evaluations must be passed in order to get credit for the course MBA2420.

The course is a part of a full MBA and examination in all courses in the MBA programme must be passed in order to obtain a certificate for the MBA degree.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Qualifications

Granted admission to the BI-Fudan MBA programme. Please consult our student regulations.

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
MBA 24201
Grading scale:
China
Grading rules:
-
Resit:
Examination when next scheduled course
10No 2 Semester(s)Group Preliminary thesis report, counts for 10% of the final grade.
Exam category:
Activity
Form of assessment:
Presentation
Exam code:
MBA 24202
Grading scale:
China
Grading rules:
-
Resit:
Examination when next scheduled course
35No -Group Oral presentation, counts for 35% of the final grade.
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
MBA 24203
Grading scale:
China
Grading rules:
-
Resit:
Examination when next scheduled course
55No 4 Semester(s)Group Thesis, counts 55% of the final grade
Exams:
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:10
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group
Duration: 2 Semester(s)
Comment:Preliminary thesis report, counts for 10% of the final grade.
Exam code:MBA 24201
Grading scale:China
Resit:Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category:Activity
Form of assessment:Presentation
Weight:35
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group
Duration: -
Comment:Oral presentation, counts for 35% of the final grade.
Exam code:MBA 24202
Grading scale:China
Resit:Examination when next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:55
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group
Duration: 4 Semester(s)
Comment:Thesis, counts 55% of the final grade
Exam code:MBA 24203
Grading scale:China
Resit:Examination when next scheduled course
Exam organisation: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Sum workload: 
0

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 30 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 800 hours.