• Outline and reflect critically on a range of methodologies and theories of relevance to field research in a developing country setting related to the field of Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development.
• Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the empirical results in the light of the methodologies and theories.
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to intercultural team/group work in the light of the practical experiences from the field.
• Plan and execute social scientific research, including field research in a developing country context.

To enrol in the course, use the form to be found at my.cbs.dk under Choice of Electives - at the bottom of the linked page) and draft a motivated application (max. two pages!). Send this to the e-mail: (uganda-blc@cbs.dk ) no later than 31st of October 2023 at 23.59.

Also remember to sign up for the course through the online registration in the 1st registration round. You may find the registration deadlines on my.cbs.dk under Registration for electives.

This course provides students the opportunity of applying theoretical knowledge and research methods to a practical, empirical situation. The course focuses on key issues relating to sustainable development, growth, employment and poverty reduction, namely entrepreneurship and private sector development in a developing country context. The course elaborates on research methods with an emphasis on doing field work in developing countries. The purpose of the course is to sensitize students to the challenges of doing field work and data collection in a developing country setting, including expanding their intercultural communicative skills by doing group work with students from the local partner university in Uganda. The course includes six modules: 1) Introduction to the Ugandan context including its historical, political, economic and socio-cultural features, 2) Key theories concerning Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development, and their role in Sustainable Development. 3) Relevant research methodologies and methods for field work. 4) Introduction to and assessment of approaches to intercultural team/group work, 5) Field research in a developing country context (2 ½ weeks in Uganda), engaging with businesses and other institutions, 6) Assessment of experiences.

Further comments:

1. The course can only run if 24 students are enrolled. This will be assessed shortly after the deadline for enrolment 
2. Students are required to fill in the accompanying form when enrolling (note: max. 2 pages!).
3. Students need to cover the costs of flight and accommodation, food, transport etc. during the field trip. This is estimated to be around DKK 10.000 in total (6-7000 DKK for the air ticket, 3-5000 DKK for accommodation, food, insurance, vaccinations, visa and local transport).
4. The field trip takes place in Uganda, where the local partner university is Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in Kampala. MUBS is one of CBS’ partner universities in Africa
5. The students will work in groups of 4 – two CBS and two MUBS students – with a research topic jointly agreed to within the overall theme ‘Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development in Uganda’.

Field trip/Covid-19

The field trip takes place from end of week 10-week 13 (10th - 28 March). The CBS students will work with MUBS students in groups of 4 (2 CBS + 2 MUBS students) – undertaking self-selected projects using relevant methods for data collection. The students will receive substantial feedback and supervision provided by the CBS and MUBS staff. The students hand in a 10-pages report Tuesday 26th March 2024 and make an oral presentation Thursday 28th March to which they will receive feedback to from staff and student peers. The report will be assessed ‘passed or failed’. If the 3-weeks trip to Uganda is cancelled due to Covid-19, this part of the course will instead run as a 3-weeks intense online component during weeks 11-13.

Lectures & Student group work, 3 hours per session, 4 weeks (probably weeks 5, 6, 8 and 9) prior to the field study. Field study from 10/3 – 28/3. Follow-up lecture 3 hours (probably week 15 or 16), followed by supervision of CBS groups (of two students each).

Preliminary:
 

1. Desai, V. and Potter, R.B. (eds.): ‘Doing Development Research’ (selected chapters), Sage Publications, 2006.
2. Country info on Uganda
3. Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development literature
4. Literature on Intercultural teamwork, among others: Adler, Nancy C.: ’Cultural Synergy.’ & ’Multicultural teams.’ Pp. 76-122 (chapter 4 & 5), in: Adler, Nancy C.: ’International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior.’ The Kent International Business Series, Kent Publishing Company, Boston, 1986.