Master Thesis

F2023

Business Administration and Leadership

Master Thesis

English

Registration is through stads selvbetjeningwithin the announced registration period, as you can see on the Studyadministration homepage.

When registering for study activities, please be aware of the potential conflicts between study activities or exam dates. The planning of activities at Roskilde University is based on the recommended study programs which do not overlap. However, if you choose optional courses and/or study plans that goes beyond the recommended study programs, an overlap of lectures or exam dates may occur depending on which courses you choose.

Registration for projects: Please remember to confirm your registration by signing up for exam as a group when the group formation is final. The registration is through stads selvbetjening

30

Margit Neisig (neisig@ruc.dk)

Margit Neisig (neisig@ruc.dk)

ISE Registration & Exams (ise-exams@ruc.dk)

U60032GB

Overall objective In the Master thesis, the student must demonstrate knowledge and skills in applying scientific theories and methods in work on a defined, academic and relevant issue in business management. The Master thesis is a major, independent study project that is problem-oriented, exemplary and participant-managed. The Master thesis consists of a time-limited and targeted academic process in which a problem is formulated, analysed and processed.

Students are themselves responsible for securing an internship host and for the practical implementation of the internship, including ensuring that their tasks for the internship venue and their obligations to the university are met. The internship must be approved by the Study Board before it is commenced. The student will also be assigned a project supervisor.

Guidance on the use of quantitative methods in projects and theses

If you and your group find quantitative analyses relevant to answer your research question, and your supervisor cannot help, here is an offer of assistance. We offer a workshop where a group of researchers will talk about how to use quantitative data in projects and theses. We will present an overview of publicly available data sets, as well as the your possibilities, if you wish to collect your own data. We expect you to have taken a course in basic quantitative methods (BC 8 or equivalent).

The workshop is held on March 1, 12:15-02:00 pm, in theory room 25.3-005

After the workshop you/your group will have the opportunity to book an appointment with a skilled student, who will help with downloading and preparing data for analysis and interpretation. If you need extra guidance on any particular issue, you will be referred to a relevant researcher. Contact information to follow

Students develop their own relevant theoretical frameworks

For a 30 ECTS thesis, the total expected workload is 780-900 student working hours, corresponding to approximately 37 hours per week during the semester. The work may be expected to be divided into the following activities

The activity are evaluated regularly regarding the study board evaluation procedure. The activity responsible will be orientated about a potential evaluation of the activity at semesterstart. Se link to the study board evaluation praxis here https://intra.ruc.dk/nc/for-ansatte/organisering/raad-naevn-og-udvalg/oversigt-over-studienaevn/studienaevn-for-erhvervsoekonomi-og-virksomhedsstudier/arbejdet-med-kvalitet-i-uddannelserne/

• Group/project formation • Project work and report writing • Project supervision • Participation in the thesis seminar • Preparation of study portfolio • Examination

• The student learns to apply research-based knowledge and understanding in the field of business management (which encompasses business development, organisation, leadership, innovation, strategy and value creation). This includes reflection on the position of the student’s own thesis within the academic field

• The student identifies and presents an academic problem statement relating to business management, and selects, applies and evaluates relevant scientific literature as well as relevant scientific methods and theories in the context of business management and in relation to the self-selected problem statement

• The student must select, present and justify the choice of a research design based on relevant scientific theory and select, apply and justify qualitative and/or quantitative research methods relevant to the analysis

• On a scientific basis, the student analyses, categorises, discusses, reflects on and evaluates theories in the field of business management and thereby demonstrates theoretical overview, depth and conceptual clarity in the analysis of cases and/or issues related to management

• The student learns to independently initiate, manage and complete a project on the basis of a complex interdisciplinary problem statement in a reflective and critical manner, carry out a long-term academic research and writing process, and communicate research-based knowledge to peers and practitioners

• Finally, the student learns to critically evaluate and reflect on his or her own learning as a researcher and facilitator.

Master thesis exam based on the written product and the oral exam

The master thesis can be written individually or in a group. Permitted group size: 2-4 students.

The oral exam is individual for students that have written the thesis alone or students that have requested an individual exam. All other oral master thesis exams are conducted as group exams.

The assessment is individual and based on the student's individual performance.
The assessment is an assessment of the master thesis and the oral performance.

The character limits of the master thesis are:
For 1 student: 122,400-163,200 characters, including spaces.
For 2 students: 163,200-204,000 characters, including spaces.
For 3 students: 163,200-204,000 characters, including spaces.
For 4 students: 163,200-204,000 characters, including spaces.

The character limits include the cover, table of contents, summary, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

The master thesis must include a summary.
The summary can either be written in English or Danish.
The summary is included in the overall assessment with a weighting of 5 percent.

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment for:
1 student: 30 minutes.
2 students: 60 minutes.
3 students: 75 minutes.
4 students: 90 minutes.

Writing and spelling skills in the thesis are part of the assessment and will count for 10 percent.

Permitted support and preparation materials at the oral exam: All.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale
Moderation: External examiner

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam

• Written and oral demonstration of empirical and theoretical knowledge of business administration within the subject area of the thesis, and argumentation for the choice of a delimited, academically relevant, scientific problem statement. • Identify and critically argue for the choice of academic literature and methodology as well as a scientific-theoretical standpoint to illuminate the chosen issue, including demonstrating an understanding of the academic genre and the audience at which the thesis is aimed. • Independently combine and master academic insights (theories, methods, approaches) • Independently translate theories, methods and approaches into an academic study and analysis in accordance with academic text standards and for an academic audience.

Individual study portfolio The first draft of the individual study portfolio is submitted, possibly in the form of a bulleted summary, to the thesis supervisor (possibly together with the thesis contract). The thesis contract and the draft study portfolio help to justify the interests and the choice of thesis. The final study portfolio is completed in connection with the thesis seminar. The person responsible for the thesis seminar initiates exercises in which the students discuss the content of the study portfolio. The study portfolio is qualified through dialogue with fellow students, the person responsible for the thesis seminar, and the thesis supervisor. The final study portfolio, 2-4 pages in length, is submitted together with the thesis and forms part of a discussion in the thesis examination on the competencies acquired by the student.

Oral presentation The same criteria as for the project, plus:

The student can: · Present and communicate · Engage in dialogue and discussion on the basis of the written project report · Reflect on the course of study