Bachelor and Master Theses Guideline

Transcription

1 Bachelor and Master Theses Guideline Chair of Strategic and International Management Philipps-Universität Marburg Marburg, April 2012 Prof. Dr. Torsten Wulf Philipps-Universität Marburg Lehrstuhl für Strategisches und Internationales Management

2 Agenda 1. How to get thesis supervision 2. Elements of a successful thesis 3. Formal criteria 2

3 The topics supervised by the chair need to fall into one of two dimensions Possible sources for master theses at the chair Application process Student sends Current CV and Up-to-date transcript of records Letter of motivation* to the chair uni-marburg.de) Topic follows research focus of the chair Topic contributes to the research focus of the chair Dimensions include Top Management Teams, Diversification, Family Business, Scenario Planning, etc. Topics are assigned to students by the chair Thesis is developed with strong practice support Student arranges additional strong support from a company to work on the thesis (not during an internship possible) And: company provides guidance and access to data/ interview contacts And/or: company engages in the development of the chair (guest lectures etc.) *Letter of motivation should answer the following questions: Why are you interested in writing with our Chair of Strategic Management? Which research area/topic are you interested in? 3

4 Fulfillment of prerequisite criteria ensures best preparation for students but topic assignment process is the only must-have Overview of ideal prerequisites Comment Student has participated at (at least one) of the chair s lectures Working knowledge of the strategic concepts and processes needed for successful thesis work Lectures/seminar focus on process, concepts and methods in management research as needed for successful research efforts Students taking the courses are better prepared to work scientifically on theses subjects Student has participated in the Education topic assignment process Topics are assigned through the chair students interested in supervision need to contact chair directly Discussion with potential thesis supervisor recommended to get background information on available topics 4

5 The assignment of topics follows a clear process Process for assignment of thesis topics (I) Topic can only be communicated at thesis start time State law regulation! Process step Application Student meets prerequisites Topics are communicated Student aligns on topics Comment Timing Student has send CV, motivation letter, transcript of records Check by Chair Student has fulfilled many of the prerequisites Continuously Discussion with chair about possible topics Additional topics only after prior alignment with chair supervisor possible ~ 4 weeks before start Student gathers information on topic (discussion with chair, own literature research) Student writes exposé 3 weeks before possible start 5

6 The assignment of topics follows a clear process Process for assignment of thesis topics (II) Topic can only be communicated at thesis start time State law regulation! Process step Topics are assigned Registration at examination office Communication and start Comment Chair decides on supervision for thesis within student choices Students get information that thesis is possible Final acceptance by Chair Fill in the application form Download on studium/pruefung samt/downloads/ antraegeformular e/master/ Topics are communicated to students Thesis time starts instantly (required by state law) Timing 1 day later General thesis start date 6

7 The processing time for each thesis depends on the study program timing starts the moment the topic assignment is communicated Thesis process Process steps Exposé preparation Research process Correction period Elaboration (optional) Comment Timing Student prepares 1-3 page exposé for discussion with the supervisor 2-3 weeks Student works on her thesis Regular alignment with supervisor (latest at important milestones, e.g. development of questionnaire) Student to participate at thesis workshop 6 months (M.Sc.) 9 weeks (Bachelor) Supervisor and cocorrector assess the thesis Supervisor and cocorrector write feedback and grade thesis 4-6 weeks Student and supervisor prepare publication of results in scientific journal (highquality theses only) 4-12 weeks Result Thesis outline Completed thesis Final grade Publication English compilation of thesis standard, however German sometimes accepted 7

8 An Exposé summarizes the research plan for a thesis Elements of an exposé Problem definition Goal Approach Preliminary structure Basic literature Definition of the research problem: why is it necessary to analyze this problem scientifically? Why is it interesting, innovative and important? (Situation-Complication-Solution Approach) What is the aim of the thesis? How does this contribute to solve the identified problem? What is the theoretical reference framework for solving the problem? Which theories, concepts and research methods are applied? How does this contribute to reach the outlined goal? What structure will the thesis have? Which sections does it cover in which order? What is the expected size of each section? What is the basic literature for the topic? Which literature is used as a starting point for each section of the thesis? 8

9 Agenda 1. How to get thesis supervision 2. Elements of a successful thesis 3. Formal criteria 9

10 Master theses are evaluated in three dimensions Dimensions of evaluation 1. Content Introduction Main Hauptteil part Conclusion Schluss Goal Zielerreichung achievement 2. Scientific quality 3. Form and language 10

11 Focus of any evaluation is the content of the thesis the introduction lays the foundation for any successful result Dimension 1: content Introduction How well has the problem to be assessed been described? - Has the problem been logically derived and is it explained? - Does this constitute the necessity for the thesis? Has the goal of the thesis been clearly outlined? - Is a goal to be achieved in the thesis formulated? - Does this goal refer to the problem and offer a solution to it? Is the structure of the thesis explained? Is the structure and the chosen approach suitable to solve the problem? Can the reader easily understand how the author intends to approach the problem and present the solution? Has the author developed intellectually during her work with the thesis, i.e. has she been able to evolve the first ideas from the exposé? 11

12 The main part serves for the elaboration of the approach as outlined in the introduction - the conclusion for reflection and outlook Dimension 1: content Main part Conclusion Goal achievement Does the main part consequently follow the structure as described in the introduction? Does it focus on solving the problem? Are all contents necessary and goal-oriented? Does the author always explain reason and application of every approach/ method used? Does the summary add any value to the goal besides rephrasing introduction and main part? Are the results reflected critically, i.e. are limitations highlighted and results compared with current status of research? Are implications for further research outlined? Does the thesis develop new research questions? Does the thesis present recommended action items for practice? Does the thesis achieve the goal as outlined in the introduction? Is the potential goal achievement discussed and critically reflected? 12

13 The requirements on scientific quality apply to all parts of the thesis Dimension 2: scientific quality Object of research Theoretical foundation Application of research methods Is the object of research carefully chosen? Is it explicitly named and explained? Is it clearly differentiated and circumscribed from other objects? Is a suitable theoretical reference framework chosen? Are all statements supported with the help of scientific sources? Is it highlighted when statements have not yet a scientific reference? Is the theoretical foundation based on a broad and deep literature analysis? Is the choice of methods and tools logically derived and scientifically discussed? Is the application clearly described and correctly performed? 13

14 Objectivity, reliability and validity are central criteria for evaluating master theses Dimension 2: scientific quality Objectivity Are all results and statements consistently explained, discussed and comprehensible? Would another author on this topic have had to derive the same conclusions and statements? Are the results independent of the author who did the research? Reliability Is it possible to reproduce the achieved results? Would another author get to the same results and conclusions if she had applied the same approach and criteria as outlined in the thesis? Validity Is the chosen method of measuring the observed phenomenon correct? Can the choice of the method be objectively justified as being the best method to measure the phenomenon? 14

15 The thesis needs to cover all relevant topics mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive and of course do it correctly Dimension 2: scientific quality Accuracy Are all statements comprehensible or do doubts remain? Does the work contain incorrect argumentations or other contents? Are concepts and tools applied correctly? MECEness Are all relevant aspects of the topic distinguishably covered? Are all relevant questions of the topic answered or at least addressed? 15

16 Proper form and language are the minimum criteria for a good result Dimension 3: form and language Language Structure of argumentation Does the author write grammatically correct, comprehensively and with a rich language? Does she use the correct scientific glossary? Are syntax and orthography correct? Is the thesis structured according to the MECEness criteria? Is the structure logical and suitable for that approach and consistently applied also in the single chapters and arguments? Can the reader follow the arguments and understand their logic? Form Are the formal criteria applied (citation, formats etc.)? Does the layout follow the chair guideline? Is the technical realization of the thesis acceptable? 16

17 Several criteria can help a thesis to become a hit Other evaluation criteria Degree of innovation Scientific rigor Is the thesis especially innovative in its approach, e.g. are models and theories elevated, are transfers to other fields of research developed Does the result of the thesis contribute significantly to research? Does the thesis present a well-founded discussion of other theories highlighting e.g. significant anomalies or contradictions? Does the thesis provide an outstanding literature overview? Additional criteria Does the thesis suggest exceptional efforts of the author ( going the extra mile ) Is the overall impression of the thesis exceptionally good? Did the author prepare a version of his work in a form that could be submitted for publications in high-profile scientific journals? 17

18 Agenda 1. How to get thesis supervision 2. Elements of a successful thesis 3. Formal criteria 18

19 A thesis at the chair must follow a certain style-guide Formal criteria for theses General Format Numbering Theses should have 40 (Bachelor) or 80 (Master) pages text (+/- max. 10%); table of contents, backups etc. and appendices are counted separately All theses need to be handed in as a printed version (3 copies); in addition all thesis related materials need to be handed in as nonprotected file formats (word documents, excel files, SPSS-files etc.) Paper size needs to be A4 Pages need to have borders (left: 4cm, right: 1.5cm, top: 3cm, bottom: 3.5cm Text font is Arial 12 with 1.5 line spacing (footnotes, tables, overviews: Arial 10, 1.0 line spacing) Arabic numbers for text pages, starting with #1 Latin numbers for all other pages, starting with the title page (counted but not displayed on title page); Latin numbers continue again after the text pages (for backups etc.) 19

20 A thesis consists of more parts than the actual text Elements of a thesis Before the text (Latin numb.) Main text (Arabic numb.) Title Page Abstract Table of contents Table of figures Table of abbreviations Introduction Main part Conclusion Appendix (Latin numb.) Table of annexes Annexes Bibliography 20

21 Diffferent sources require different formats in the bibliography Overview bibliography reference formats Books Journal articles Contribution in edited works Electronic publications Sources w/o author/ editor Scientific encyclopedia Hungenberg, H. (2002). Problemlösung und Kommunikation. 2. Edition, Munich: Oldenbourg. Buck, T., Bruce, A. (1991). Executive Share Options. Journal of General Management, 16(4), Hahn, D. (1995). Aufbau von Planungssystemen. In H. Corsten & M. Reiß (Eds.), Handbuch Unternehmensführung (pp ). Wiesbaden: Gabler. Haid, A. (2000): Verstärkte FuE-Anstrengungen in Deutschland erforderlich, N. A. (2007): Japanese movie market on the verge, Concept Consult, Munich Note: can be cited, but it is not advised to use open-source encyclopedia as Wikipedia. Such sources are not limited to scientific authors and the statements can be wrong or misleading 21

22 References can be included in the text or as footnotes Choice between two reference formats In-text references Footnotes References need to follow the APA standard (American Psychological Association) Important exception: alll references need to highlight the page-number within the source (e.g.: Wulf, 2009: 123) stands for a reference to page 123. Footnotes are used for references Need to follow the master thesis guideline of the chair Students can choose to use in-text references or classical footnotes for source information consistency within the thesis required 22

23 The source information in the footnotes need to follow certain formats Overview citation formats for footnotes General form Exceptions Each source reference needs to be directly linked to an entry in the bibliography (no references that is not in the bibliography) General form: Last Name (if more than one separated by / ) Publication year (in brackets): page of the citation (e.g.: Hungenberg/Wulf (2005): p. 15.) If several authors in the bibliography have the same last name, first name initials need to be included (e.g.: Miller, M. (1994): p. 33.) If the bibliography contains several publications from the same year of one author, a sorting with small characters needs to be added to the publication year (e.g.: Porter (1992b): pp ) If the source was published by more than 3 authors, only the first one is mentioned with an additional et al. (e.g. Hoskisson et al. (1993): p. 3.) To indicate that contents of subsequent pages are cited, the page abbreviation can be changed to pp. x - x (e.g. Kotler (2005): pp ) 23

24 Depending on the information in the footnote, several other aspects need to be considered Comments to the use of citations with footnotes Citations Comments in footnotes If the footnote refers to a direct statement in the source, the footnote starts directly with the source (e.g.: 1 Koza/Levin (1998), p. 251.) If the footnote refers to an indirect citation, the source information starts with a see (e.g.: 2 See Hahn (2005), pp ) If the footnote refers to numbers/ data given in the text, the source information needs to start with Source (e.g.: 3 Source: DAG-Statistik (1999), p. 32.) The footnote should also indicate if statements/ data in the text that are results of own interviews or surveys (e.g.: 4 Source: Interview with Mr. Schmidt on 3. Nov in Leipzig) The footnotes can also contain additional information to statements in the text or deliver extended explanations that are not necessarily needed for understanding the argumentation in the text. It can also contain references to further information or similar topics in other parts of the thesis 24

25 The position of a footnote is determined by the content it refers to (I) Types of reference and footnote position Refers to a word Footnote is placed right after the respective word a sentence part Footnote is placed before the punctuation mark that closes the sentence part a sentence Footnote is placed before the punctuation mark that closes the whole sentence a paragraph Footnote is placed directly before the punctuation mark of the first sentence in the respective paragraph and has the form See for this and the following 25

26 The position of a footnote is determined by the content it refers to (II) Types of reference and footnote position Refers to a word One of the generic strategies according to Michael Porter is differentiation 1, which aims on delivering a superior value to customers a sentence part Timing is of essential importance for almost all types of markets 2. Especially in dynamic environments.. a sentence Implementation is the third phase in the process of strategic management where a transformation of the chosen strategy into action is the focus 3. a paragraph The term strategy is widely used in the management literature 4. Definitions range from. 1 See for a definition of the term differentiation chapter See Stalk, G. (1988), p See Brehm, C. (2000), pp See for this and the following Hungenberg/Wulf (2005), pp