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2015/2016  KAN-CINTO1005U  Master's Thesis

English Title
Master's Thesis

Course information

Language English
Course ECTS 30 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc/MSc in Business Administration and Information Systems, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Jacob Nørbjerg - Department of IT Mangement (ITM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Information technology
Last updated on 21-04-2016
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors: After having completed the Master’s thesis, students should be able to:
  • Demonstrate ability to independently produce a qualified piece of research applying relevant methods and theories
  • Document in-depth knowledge of the subject of the thesis, including the corporate, societal and cultural conditions and circumstances in which it is embedded
  • Formulate a research question that steers and structures the research process
  • Explain and evaluate the choice of methodology used to answer the research question
  • Explain and evaluate the choice of theory used to answer the research question
  • Select and process primary and secondary sources used as documentation in the analysis
  • Discuss the quality of these sources, including their appropriateness in terms of providing answers to the research question
  • Explain and evaluate the overall correlations between: the research question, the selection and use of theory, the collection and character of empirical data, the analysis, the conclusion, and the generalizability of the findings
  • Discuss the findings of the thesis in the overall perspective of a theoretical science perspective.
Examination
Master's Thesis:
Exam ECTS 30
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group exam Group exam, max. 2 students in the group
The oral exam is individual
Size of written product Max. 80 pages
Students may write the thesis either on their own or in collaboration with another student.

The Master’s thesis may not be more than 80 standard pages (one standard page consists of 2275 characters including spaces) in length for one student and not more than 120 standard pages for a joint thesis submitted by two students
Assignment type Master's thesis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
60 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-step scale

The student’s spelling and writing skills are taken into consideration in the overall assessment of the examination performance, but the academic content is given the highest weight.
Regulations regarding the summary English.
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Summer
Aids allowed to bring to the exam Limited aids, see the list below:
Students are expected to bring their thesis to the exam. Also, they can bring notes to the exam.
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the student has submitted the thesis individually or together with another student but falls ill before the oral defence, a new oral exam based on the submitted thesis will be organised as soon as possible. If students do not pass the regular exam relating to the Master’s thesis individually or with another student, they have the option at the re-take of either resubmitting the thesis in a revised form or of submitting a new thesis on a new basis. This decision is taken in consultation with the supervisor/ examiner.
Description of the exam procedure

The examination time includes time for the examiner to inform the student about the grade.

 

 

Course content and structure

The subject of the thesis must be within the programme profile’s particular academic identity and theoretical field(s).

The grade awarded will reflect a holistic assessment of the thesis (including the abstract), the oral defence, and the student’s spelling and style – although more emphasis will be placed on the academic content.  
 
The grade 12 is awarded in cases where the Master’s thesis meets the following requirements to an excellent degree, i.e. with no or only few deficiencies:

  • the thesis is governed by a student-developed problem statement which is relevant to the particular programme profile;
  • the thesis is delimited to the effect that its analyses and discussions are relevant, necessary and adequate to answer the problem;
  • the problem statement, delimitation, outline, analysis and conclusion to the effect that the answer is logical in relation to the problem statement;
  • the thesis contains a discussion of and reason for the choice and omissions with respect to subject delimitation, theories, methodology and empirics (if empirics are included);
  • the thesis provides critical reflection on the selected theories, methodology and empirics (if empirics are included) and assesses their applicability in answering the problem statement;
  • the thesis is consistent to the effect that the choice and application of theories and empirics interact and complement the production of knowledge (applies to empirical theses);
  • allegations made in the analysis and conclusion are documented and/or argued;
  • the analysis includes deliberations on the degree to which the results of the thesis resemble and/or deviate from other similar surveys in the field;
  • the analysis focuses on a delimited problem, i.e. provides an in-depth analysis and creates a synthesis on the basis of theories and empirics, where relevant;
  • the thesis discusses the premises of the theories and the impact of those premises on the knowledge that can be created (applies “especially” or “only” for theoretical theses);
  • the thesis contributes to a new perspective, e.g. by applying a known theory on previously unexamined empirics or new (combinations of) theories applied on a known problem.
  • At the assessment, the student’s spelling and style will be taken into account.
  • The assessment will include an abstract containing the main points of the thesis.


 

Teaching methods
A introductory workshop will be held in November.
Further Information

Main Category of the Course:

  • Information Systems
  • Business economics
  • Organizational theory
  • Communication
  • Management of Information and Knowledge Management
Last updated on 21-04-2016