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2024/2025  BA-BIBAO2022U  Research Project - International Business in Asia

English Title
Research Project - International Business in Asia

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
  • Faith Hatani - Department of International Economics, Goverment and Business (EGB)
Main academic disciplines
  • Globalisation and international business
  • Methodology and philosophy of science
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 21-11-2024

Relevant links
Learning objectives
Each student in a group must demonstrate the ability to:
  • Formulate an academically-relevant research question about international business concerning the Asian context.
  • Apply a suitable theoretical framework to your project and conduct a well-focused literature review of relevant sources to the chosen topic.
  • Use qualitative methods in data collection and provide empirical analysis systematically and consistently. (Using a quantitative method instead of a qualitative one is permitted only if the supervisor agrees.)
  • Elaborate on key findings and provide academically sound justifications.
  • Develop logical discussion and coherent arguments by clearly addressing the research question set.
  • Present a written product in a relevant academic style thoroughly, including the writing style, the referencing style, and the appropriate use of academic sources.
Course prerequisites
In this course, students should continue with the same groups that they formed in the 1st-year course "Research Methods I: Introduction to Qualitative Methods" ("RM-1") in the IBA Programme.
In the rare case that your group in RM-1 had five students or more, the group must be split into two smaller groups.
Examination
Research Project - International Business in Asia:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Group exam
Please note the rules in the Programme Regulations about identification of individual contributions.
Number of people in the group 2-4
Size of written product Please see text below
2 students: maximum 30 pages
3 students: maximum 35 pages
4 students: maximum 40 pages
(A group with 5 students or more is not allowed in any case.)

Regarding how the pages are counted, see "Standard page" in the section "Formal requirements" on My.cbs.dk. For more details and specific rules of this course, please comply with the "2yr-project Guide", which is provided on the Canvas page of this course.
Assignment type Project
Release of assignment Subject chosen by students themselves, see guidelines if any
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
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
Please note that no supervision is given to retakes. Supervision is offered only for the project period of this course during the given semester (until the submission deadline for the ordinary exam) and supervision hours cannot be transferred or extended to a retake.
Description of the exam procedure
  • The 2nd-year project is a group-based work and the final output must be submitted by the group as a whole (i.e., one submission per group). Please note, however, that individual performance will be assessed so that members in the same group may receive different grades. Hence, individual contributions (= who wrote which parts/sections) must be indicated clearly in the final written product.
  • The written product of your project must be significantly improved from the research proposal that you submitted in the Qualitative Method course in your first year. This means that the contents and analysis are developed substantially and written presentations should be refined well. Using a large amount of a mere verbatim copy of the proposal in the final written product of the project is unacceptable.
  • Each project is assessed by two examiners, i.e., an internal examiner (normally the supervisor) and an external examiner. There is no oral examination.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The 2nd-year Research Project offers students the opportunity to carry out a research project in groups. Each group should develop the project based on the research proposal (which was submitted in the RM-1 course in the 1st year) as the point of departure. 

 

To ensure the consistent and meaningful development of research activities, the groups formed in RM-1 should continue. Accordingly, each group should register the same members as a group in the Digital Exam (DE) for the assessment of the 2nd-year Research Project.

 

The 2nd-year research project is an important learning process towards the bachelor thesis in their final year (although students should set a different topic for the bachelor thesis). It is therefore essential for each student to enhance their knowledge of relevant theories and methods, and improve academic and practical skills in planning and coordinating research activities.

 

(*If students have difficulty working with the same group as formed in RM-1, please contact the Course Coordinator immediately. The issue needs to be solved before the allocation of supervisors in January/February.)

 
Description of the teaching methods
【December (of the preceding semester)】: Introductory lecture.
The lecture will provide general guidance including the requirements, an overview of the project period, and a brief recap of the research design.

【Beginning of January】: Submission of the project outline.
Each group must submit the updated outline of the research project. More details and the exact deadline will be explained during the abovementioned introductory lecture in December.

【End of January to February】: Allocation of supervisors.
Each group will be allocated a supervisor. Once a supervisor is allocated, each group should contact the supervisor to arrange the first meeting with her/him. It is the student's responsibility to initiate the conversation with the allocated supervisor.

For the first meeting with the supervisor, you should provide your supervisor with;
(i) a summary of your group's point-by-point response to feedback that you received from examiners on the original research proposal that your group submitted in the course "Research Methods-1" in the 1st year, and
(ii) an updated full research proposal.

(If you are on the fast-track (a 3-year) programme of IBA, you are required to undertake both the "Research Methods-1 (Qualitative Methods)" and the "2nd-year Research Project" concurrently. If you do not receive the information about this arrangement by mid-December, please contact the Programme Manager.)
Feedback during the teaching period
Throughout the project period, each group will receive feedback and guidance from their supervisor.

Please note that you, as students/supervisees, are responsible for planning your work schedule and making appointments with your supervisor. Please also note that all supervisors have very busy schedules. Please discuss with your supervisor how and how often supervision will be provided.

If you have general questions about the course organisation, please contact the Course Coordinator.
Student workload
Introductory lecture 3 hours
Preparation for meetings with superviosor & reflection 30 hours
Research activities and writng-up 173 hours
Further Information

Maximum supervisor hours allocated per group:

  • 2 students - max. 8 hours
  • 3 students - max. 10 hours
  • 4 students - max. 12 hours


- Requests for any kinds of exemptions (e.g., an extension of the project period, postponing of the exam, or changing the group) must go through a formal decision-making process at the Study Board. Students must provide detailed reasoning and justification for the request to the Study Board for consideration. See My.cbs.dk for more information.

- For an exceptional case of doing a project individually (if approved), the size of a written product should be a maximum of 25 pages, and the supervisor hours are up to 6 hours.

 

Please note that this course will be discontinued after the academic year 2025-2026. The last run of this course is Spring 2026 (Thus, the final possible retake to be held is in Summer 2027). See the programme regulations for transition notes.

 
Expected literature

Background readings:

Before starting your project, it will be useful to revisit the following textbooks suggested for the 1st year courses;

  • Saunders, M. et al (2023). Research Methods for Business Students.
  • Hill, C.W.L. (2023). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace.
  • Witt, M.A. & Redding, S.G. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Asian Business Systems.
Last updated on 21-11-2024