Master'sThesis in Business Administration (second year), 30 Credits

Contents

The objective of the Master’s thesis is to further develop the student’s ability to carry out and contribute to business research. The student should demonstrate, through his/her thesis and orally, an ability to plan, conduct, and present a solid scientific investigation in a business context of relevance to the subject of Business Administration. The thesis’ contribution should rest upon clearly evaluated and motivated standpoints. The student should demonstrate good knowledge of the research front within the field of study, and ability reflect upon and position oneself towards alternative approaches within the field.

Module 1. Work-in-progress seminars, 0 credits
Seminars develop the student's ability to examine and analyze academic investigations and reports in a critical and scientific manner. The module comprises three in-progress seminars. The seminars focus on the following areas:

• Oral and written critical examination of a prior Master’s Thesis. The written examination should follow the directives for side-oppositions.
• Development of research questions and choice of theoretical points of departure.
• Theory and method. (The seminar is based on a draft of introductory chapter, theory chapter and methodology chapter, as well as the tool for data collection and a plan for continued work). The seminar should be conducted before data collection commences.

At the two last mentioned seminars, the student is expected to present drafts on different parts of his/her Master’s thesis and to conduct a review and analysis of study comrades’ work. Seminars 2 and 3 thus imply oppositions of the participants’ work.

Module 2. Side-opposition, 0 credits
Secondly, the student should submit written critical analyses (side-oppositions), of two other 2nd year Master’s theses (30 credits) at the public thesis seminar. This is an individual assignment. The side-oppositions must clearly document the student’s critical abilities.

Module 3: Master’s Thesis, 30 credits
The work described in this section, which comprises the bulk of the course, should stimulate the student’s independent ability at an advanced level to investigate and develop an issue within the field of Business Administration and of relevance to the student’s chosen Master’s programme. The research issue chosen for the thesis work should reflect the identification, definition and justification of a gap in theory, including the application of theory or models to a new empirical area, or a methodological gap, to be addressed by the thesis. Thereby, the author should make a contribution to the literature in a chosen subject and problem area.

The thesis should comprise a thorough literature review that both positions the thesis, and focuses it theoretically, in the creation of a relevant theoretical frame of reference. An indication of the relevance of the theoretical frame of reference - and of identified theoretical gaps – is that it should show an in-depth knowledge on the subject. This literature review and construction of a relevant theoretical frame of reference should show the student’s ability to independently treat and work through the literature.

The thesis must also be based upon a critical choice of method, where the student’s methodological and theoretical choices should reflect a good awareness of the underlying assumptions related to the discipline’s ontological and epistemological points of departure as well as in the particular research issue’s underlying assumptions. The methodological discussions must thus be clearly connected to the problem area and provide stringency throughout the thesis.

The thesis should show an independent treatment of the empirical data, and a systematic analysis of the theoretical and empirical material – lifting the level of abstraction in the discussion of the analysis. There must be systematic evidence of stringency issues – making visible the interrelationships between different parts of the thesis / stages of the research process.

Thesis work should generally be conducted in groups of two. The length of the Master’s thesis should typically range from 70-100 pages, depending on discipline and methodological approach.

The written thesis is to be defended at a public seminar.

Module 4: Main Opposition, 0 credits
A major critical analysis of another Master’s Thesis is required. The designated thesis should be presented within the same program or, should particular circumstances dictate, a thesis from the student’s minor subject. This module comprises an individual written critical examination as well as an oral discussion at a public seminar. Generally, the oral critical analysis is conducted together with one’s thesis co-author.

Expected learning outcomes

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the chosen topic, the area of research, and related methodical issues
• identify a research topic and formulate a research question that furthers the knowledge within a specific field
• conduct a thorough literature review and present the results in an evaluative manner
• conduct a thorough study in accordance with the scientific practices pertaining to the methods chosen, including collecting, analysing and presenting the results in accordance with the ontological and epistemological foundations of the theoretical perspectives employed
• make a well-argued positioning of the research and its potential empirical, theoretical, societal and/or methodological contribution/s to the chosen research field
• demonstrate ability to consider social and ethical aspects of the research
• provide suggestions for future research based on the study conducted
• defend the research conducted at a scientific seminar
• evaluate and discuss other’s research, both orally and in writing, in a constructive and critical manner.

Required Knowledge

90 credits with a minimum of 75 credits in Business Administration. 82.5 credits within a two-year Master’s Program at Umeå School of Business and economics of which a minimum of 52.5 credits in Business Administration on advanced level of which 30 credits core courses. Previously completed courses must include studies of scientific methodology within business/social sciences corresponding to at least 7.5 credits, including both qualitative and quantitative methodology.

Form of instruction

The author’s independence and responsibility is emphasised in the conducting of thesis work. Thus the supervisor’s influence and control is reduced in order to create the necessary conditions for individual autonomy, creativity, and personal responsibility. The ongoing thesis work is to be presented to the supervisor on at least three occasions during the thesis process. Additionally, the student is required to participate in at least three work-in-progress seminars. At these seminars, the student can be assigned to discuss other students’ in-progress thesis work. Supervision is only guaranteed for the semester under which the student is firstly registered for the course.

Examination modes

Module 1. Work-in-progress seminars, 0 credits
This part of the course is examined through participation in three compulsory in-progress seminars. In-progress seminars are graded as pass or fail.

Module 2. Side-oppositions, 0 credits
This module consists of written side-oppositions on two other 30 credits Master’s Theses. Written side-oppositions are always individual assignments. Instructions are given in the thesis manual.In addition, the student is required to take part in the seminar for this particular Master’s Thesis. Side-oppositions are graded as pass or fail.
 
Module 3. Master's Thesis, 30 credits
The Master’s Thesis is examined through authoring and defending an independent work. The defence cannot take place until the work-in-progress seminars (module 1) have been approved.  The following grading system is used: Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, VG), Pass (Godkänd, G) and Fail (Underkänd, U). The Master’s Thesis is assessed and graded by a grading teacher and an examiner.

In case the Master’s Thesis is not accepted as is, it may be revised with instructions given by the supervisor (or the grader), or subject of a new effort. In cases of revision, the new version should be completed and delivered to the grading teacher within four weeks after the final seminar/or the date the revision was presented.

Module 4. Main opposition, 0 credits
A major critical analysis of another Master’s Thesis is required. This is carried out through an individual written as well as an oral evaluation and discussion of another’s research in a constructive and critical manner at a public seminar. Generally, the oral critical analysis is conducted together with one’s Master’s Thesis co-author. The main opposition is graded as pass or fail.

For the course as a whole, the following grading system is used: Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, VG), Pass (Godkänd, G) and Fail (Underkänd, U).

Grades on the course are awarded when students have passed all examinations and compulsory course elements.

Rules and regulations concerning the production of academic texts and correct referencing will be applicable to all written assignments.

Other regulations

Academic credit transfer
Academic credit transfers are according to the University credit transfer regulations.

Additional regulations
The thesis should normally be jointly written by two authors.

It is not possible for two students who jointly write a thesis, to be registered for different types of theses (e.g. one student writing a Degree Project and the other a 2nd year Master’s thesis).

Supervision is only guaranteed for the semester under which the student is firstly registered for the course, regardless of how much supervision that has been utilized.

The thesis course is a campus course, which implies personal presence for supervision, participation in seminars, and collaboration with a thesis partner.

For students following a master’s program, the subject for the thesis should be within the scope of the master’s program. For further information, see descriptions for awarding degrees (in Marketing, Management etc.)

The length of the Master’s thesis should typically range from 70-100 pages.

The empirical material that is utilized in the thesis should on request be available for supervisor, main opponents and the graders in its original form (raw-data).

It is recommended that students complete the two compulsory side-oppositions before defending their own Master’s thesis. The work-in-progress seminars must be completed before thesis defence.

The thesis seminar and the main opposition are normally carried out at the end of the course (usually the end of the semester). For students not completing their thesis on time, a seminar could be arranged during assigned thesis periods provided there are opponents available.

When the grade has been set, archive copies of the completed thesis shall as soon as possible, and within 4 weeks, be submitted in both paper and digital form. For details, see http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/dept/fek/for-our-students/theses/printing-and-archiving/