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2019/2020  KAN-CBUSO2000U  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, Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
BUS Study Board for BSc/MSc in Business Administration and Information Systems, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Michael Wessel - Department of Digitalisation
Main academic disciplines
  • Information technology
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 12-06-2019

Relevant links
Learning objectives
  • Demonstrate the ability to independently produce a qualified piece of research that applies relevant methods and theories and fulfills standards of academic writing
  • Document in-depth knowledge of the subject of the thesis, including the conditions and circumstances in which it is embedded
  • Formulate a research question that has relevance to the programme and steers the research process
  • Motivate the choice of theory and/or other prior literature used to address answer the research question
  • Motivate the choice of methodology used to address the research question
  • Document the analysis through the selection and processing of primary and secondary sources and/or the development of instantiations of a problem solution
  • Discuss the quality of the analyzed sources or solutions, including their appropriateness in terms of providing answers to the research question
  • Explain and evaluate the overall coherence between: the research question, the selection and use of theory, the applied method, the analysis, the conclusion, and the generalizability of the findings
  • Discuss the findings of the thesis in the overall perspective of the study programme.
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 Oral group exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 2-3
Size of written product Max. 120 pages
The Master's Thesis should be written in groups of two or three students.
The Master's thesis may also be written individually without the need for a dispensation (individual contract).
- If the thesis is written by one student, the length is max. 80 pages.
- If the thesis is written by two students, the length is max. 120 pages.
- If the thesis is written by three students, the length is max. 160 pages.
The abstract is always max. 1 page.
Assignment type Master's thesis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
75 min. per group, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading 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 The summary is in English and is a part of the assessment.

For rules regarding individual exams, see your programme regulations and my.cbs.dk.
.
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Summer and Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the student has submitted the thesis 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 exam form is an oral group exam.

Students may request to defend their thesis individually, even if they have written in a group, by writing to the master thesis office no later than 6 weeks before the submission deadline. 

The examination time includes time for the examiner to discuss and inform the student about their grades and it depends on the number of students:

- If the thesis is written by one student, the oral exam is 45 minutes.
- If the thesis is written by two students, the oral exam is 75 minutes. 
- If the thesis is written by three students, the oral exam is 90 minutes. 
Students are expected to bring their thesis to the exam. Also, they are allowed to bring notes and presentation material to the exam.

The exam begins with a presentation by the students (max. 10 minutes for one student, 15 minutes for two students, 20 minutes for three students) followed by a discussion between the students and the examiners.

The grade awarded will reflect a holistic assessment of the academic content of the thesis, formal aspects (e.g., correct spelling and referencing), and the oral performance. Emphasis will be placed on the academic content of the thesis (see learning objectives).
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The master’s thesis is the final assignment required to complete the E-Business study programme. The subject of the thesis must be within the programme profile’s particular academic identity and theoretical field(s).

 

The thesis is to be motivated by a problem in business, information technology and/or policy/law that is relevant to the E-business study program. The problem is to be addressed through acknowledged research methods including, but not limited to, the use of empirical research methods and/or design-oriented methods.

 

Students identify a potential topic and develop their research approach under the guidance of a supervisor. Finding a supervisor is in the responsibility of the students (see my.cbs.dk).  Students embark on independent research activities over multiple months in which they also successively write up their work. 

 

The supervisor can be used to give feedback at multiple stages of this process, for example, on the topic delimitation, planned methodology, thesis structure, as well as on drafts of individual chapters of the thesis. Supervisors are not supposed to review drafts of results and conclusion sections of the thesis before the final hand-in deadline.   

 
Description of the teaching methods
An introductory event (the "Master's thesis bazaar") will be held in September - October.

The supervision process is described in the supervision plan, which is agreed between the student(s) and the supervisor prior to the commencement of the thesis project.
Feedback during the teaching period
The students receive feedback from the supervisor at the supervisor meetings. The frequency of meetings and their content are agreed upon between the students and the supervisor.
Student workload
Supervision, literature review, data collection, report writing 800 hours
Exam preparation and exam 24 hours
Total 824 hours
Further Information

Main Category of the Course:

  • Information Systems
  • Business economics
  • Organizational theory
  • Communication
  • Management of Information and Knowledge Management
Last updated on 12-06-2019