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2019/2020  BA-BASPO1005U  Second Year Project

English Title
Second Year Project

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
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 in Business, Asian Language and Culture
Course coordinator
  • Meng Zhang - Department of International Economics, Governance and Business (EGB)
mz.int@cbs.dk
Main academic disciplines
  • Globalisation and international business
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 25-06-2019

Relevant links
Learning objectives
The aim of the Second Year Project is to further develop the student’s ability to analyse real-world problems relating to East Asia and global societies. The project must be multidisciplinary, including the disciplines taught in 1st and 2nd year IBA, in as far as they are relevant to the subject chosen.

The Second Year Project must include both empirical data and appropriate theoretical and methodological tools for the analysis. Students are welcome to use Porter’s Diamond, Nolan’s Global Business Revolution, Dunning’s OLI model, functionalism, conflict theory or other theories to analyse the empirical question. They are encouraged to criticize, combine or compare theories. They are also welcome to put national industries or economies in the context of globalization. If the project builds on the topic of the students’ report in Intercultural Communication & Organisation, the project should present a definite development, in terms of theory and method, in relation to that report.

A good project is one that demonstrates, first, a general grasp of the readings presented during the 1st and 2nd year within the academic fields relevant to the research issue, and second, an ability to apply theoretical concepts in a comparative empirical analysis. In addition a good project is driven by a specific research interest (an idea), which arouses curiosity.

Students must demonstrate the following in terms of research method and particular Second Year Project features:
  • Overall grasp of relevant theories and research methods
  • Ability to select and apply theories and methodologies systematically and coherently when addressing the specific problem as well as describe and evaluate the grounds and consequences of the choice of theory and methodology
  • Ability to identify, define and analyze a research issue and question within the industrial sector
  • Ability to identify the variables (or issues) of interest and, when appropriate, correctly identify their type, scale, and role in the analysis. Ability to describe and evaluate the connections between the different elements of the project: research question, methods and theories, data, analysis and conclusion
  • Ability to structure a report and present an analysis in a clear readable form in terms of language, style and content
  • Ability to link the theoretical, analytical, or empirical perspectives (whichever are appropriate) used in the project to IBA course material studied - particularly Asian Economic Organization and Competitiveness and whenever appropriate utilize input from: Intercultural Organization and Chinese or Japanese language studies
  • Ability to specify the primary and/or secondary data sources used. (Depending on the research issue, Second Year Projects may involve both primary and secondary data sources. Be aware that the primary data is defined as exclusively the outcome of interviews and questionnaires you yourself conduct, whereas the secondary data amounts to almost any other kind of data.)
  • Ability to reflect on the project's achievements and limitations (as appropriate). These may include implications for the specified industrial sector, support for hypotheses, or theoretical confirmation / rejection
  • Ability to propose further steps for inquiry at the industrial sector level, given research opportunity
Examination
2nd Year Project on Globalization and International Business:
Exam ECTS 7,5
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 Oral group exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 2-5
Size of written product Max. 60 pages
Definition of number of pages:
Groups of
2 students max. 40 pages
3 students max. 50 pages
4 - 5 students max. 60 pages

Appendices carry no weight in the assessment of the project, and the project must be readable without them.

Together with the project, groups should furthermore hand in the declaration of confidentiality, when relevant.
Assignment type Project
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
The re-take exam shall be based on the original project as the ordinary exam:

*if some of the group members fail the original exam: the re-take exam will be held as a group exam with the failed group members and based on the original project, which must be resubmitted.

*if the whole group fails: a substantially revised and improved version of the original project must be handed in.

Make-up exam due to documented illness at the ordinary oral exam: an individual oral exam (20 minutes per student) based on the original project.

Make-up exam due to documented illness and unable to participate during the writing of the project: an individual project must be submitted followed by an individual oral exam.
Description of the exam procedure

The exam time for the oral group exam based on the group size, but max 1 hour in total, including deliberation and feedback.

 

At the  group  oral exam:

The group should prepare a brief presentation (2 minutes per student) of the project report's main points. The presentation must ínclude all group members with focus on the part s/he has done in the project.

The presentation (which may be interrupted if the examiners feel that it does not advance the exam) is followed by a discussion of selected issues related to methodological considerations, theory application, or specific questions relating to the content or the practical application of the results.

 

The examination may proceed as a structured question-answer session with questions to both the whole group and the individual group members. All students must show that they are able to master their project and topic. 

 

After the group oral exam:

Grading reflects the assessment of the written work and oral performance as a whole.

The grades are individual and can vary from student to student.

The examiners will give a brief oral feedback to the group when giving the grades.

 

Prior to the exams:  
The two examiners discuss the project report as a whole, considering the strengths and weaknesses and the general level of the work in relation to the evaluation criteria outlined here.

 
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The Second Year Project gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work in an integrative and interdisciplinary manner with the academic materials taught during the Second year. Starting from a concrete problem and empirical data, students are expected to conduct an independent methodological discussion and theoretical analysis. Compared to the First Year Project and the examinations in AEOC, Regional Economic Integration in Asia and Intercultural Organization, the Second Year Project is expected to demonstrate a deeper engagement with theoretical issues. 

 

The theme for the Second Year Project is “economic and cultural contexts of business enterprises and organizations”. Whereas the First Year Project concerned East Asian culture and society, the Second Year Project focuses on the level of industries or economic sectors, by analyzing the way in which societal conditions – economic, political and/or cultural – influence and are, in turn, influenced by, the competitive conditions of an industry. Students are free to decide which industry or trade sector will be the subject of study.  The Second Year Project also involves a comparative element. A trade or industry sector in China or Japan must be compared with an equivalent non-East Asian sector. Here East Asia refers to Northeast Asia (China, Japan, North and South Koreas, Mongolia, Taiwan) and Southeast Asia (the ten countries in ASEAN).

 
Description of the teaching methods
An Introductory Lecture on the Second Year Project will be held (See Schedule on my.cbs.dk).
The main purpose is to give an overview of the Project process and requirement, and to discuss Project topics and ideas.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback is a main part of the sessions between the project group and their supervisor through the project process.
Student workload
Lectures 2 hours
Supervision and meeting prep 20 hours
Project research and work 185 hours
Examination 1 hours
Further Information

Please see the project manual for Second Year Project on my.cbs for more details on the process.

 

Supervisor hours per group:

2 students - 8 hours

3 students - 10 hours

4-5 students - 12 hours

 

Supervision hours are offered in connection with the course during the semester and cannot be automatically transferred to the re-take period.  

 

Exemptions of any kind regarding the project and/or exam must be applied for by filling out a detailed exemption application - kindly see more information on my.cbs.

 

In exemption cases for an individual exam the following allowances apply: 

Max. 30 pages

6 supervisor hours

 

 

Please note that this course will be discontinued and will be offered for the last time in spring 2020. The last exam in the course will be offered in summer 2021.

 
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Last updated on 25-06-2019