MBA 2409 Thesis

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2012/2013

MBA 2409 Thesis


Responsible for the course
Erling S Andersen

Department
Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
30

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The students shall, as part of the exam’s requirement, write a thesis. The students are allowed to work on the thesis in groups of a maximum of three students. A student is allowed to write the thesis by him/herself, but experience indicates that group work creates better results and students are encouraged to create intercultural 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. Many of the issues taught should be discussed in the thesis, and the students should demonstrate their ability to apply the theory they have studied to a real situation.


Learning outcome
The objective is two-fold. The students should learn how to conduct a research investigation and write a scientific paper. 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.


Prerequisites
Bachelor degree or equivalent, 4 years work experience, managerial experience and good written and oral knowledge of the English language. Please confirm our Student regulations.

Compulsory reading

Recommended reading

Course outline
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 Norwegian professors. The Norwegian professors will supervise in person as well as electronically.

Thesis work schedule
A topic hand-in is requested at an early stage (e.g. module 5), and the thesis will be presented orally at late in the program (e.g. in connection with the last or one of the last modules).
Deadline for handing in the thesis will be two months after the last module.

Student presentation
The students have to present their theses verbally to the graders and fellow students after hand-in.


Computer-based tools
None

Learning process and workload
The thesis work is continuous throughout the whole program



Examination
The students are evaluated through an individual thesis and an oral presentation of the thesis.

Examination code(s)
MBA 24091 – Thesis; accounts for 60% to pass the program MBA 2409; 30 credits
MBA 24092 – Oral presentation; accounts for 40% to pass the program MBA 2409; 30 credits

Both evaluations must be passed in order to get credit for the course MBA xxxx.
The course is part of a full MBA and all evaluations must be passed in order to obtain a certificate for the degree.


Examination support materials


Re-sit examination
Re-takes are only possible at the next time a course will be held. When course evaluation consists of class participation or process elements, the whole course must me re-evaluated when a student wants to retake a exam. Retake examinations entail an extra examination fee.

Additional information
For administrative reasons the students are registered at the program code MBA xxxx in the first semester. In the second semester they are registered at the program code MBA xxxx.