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2023/2024  KAN-CPHIO1084U  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 Philosophy, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Christian Garmann Johnsen - Department of Business Humanities and Law (BHL)
Main academic disciplines
  • Philosophy and ethics
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 13-06-2023

Relevant links

Learning objectives
The master thesis should revolve around a theme that is explored by combining business administration and philosophy. To attain the top grade, the master thesis should contain:
  • A problem statement that specifically relates to business administration and philosophy.
  • A qualified and independent engagement with relevant theoretical perspectives within the field of business administration and philosophy.
  • A methodological reflection on how knowledge is produced as well as the strength and limitations of the approach adopted.
  • An analysis that addresses and explores the chosen problem with the use of relevant theoretical perspectives and/or relevant empirical material.
  • A discussion and conclusion of the main results as well as the theoretical and practical implications of the thesis.
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, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group exam Oral group exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 2
Size of written product Max. 120 pages
If you wish to write the thesis individually you must seek a permission from the study board.
Assignment type Master's thesis
Release of assignment Subject chosen by students themselves, see guidelines if any
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 English, Danish or another Scandinavian language. The summary counts towards the overall assessment.

The Master’s thesis can be written individually or by two students together.
.
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Summer
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
In the event a student has not passed the regular examination in his or her master’s thesis, he or she should hand in a renewal of the contract with a reformulation of the research question. If a student does not hand in the master's thesis within the deadline, he or she also will have to hand in a renewal of the contract. In both cases, the student will use an exam attempt.
In the case of a failed exam attempt additional supervision will be granted, this is not the case, when a student fails to hand in the thesis within the deadline.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The purpose of the master thesis is for students to show their ability to combine business administration and philosophy in order to produce relevant academic knowledge. The thesis should take point of departure in a business administration theme, such as, for example, finance, strategy, economic decision-making, governance, work-life, marketing, corporate social responsibility, leadership, entrepreneurship or management. The master thesis should formulate a problem within the chosen topic that calls for an analysis informed by relevant theoretical perspectives derived from the field of business administration and philosophy. It is possible to write a primarily theoretical thesis. It is also possible to write a theoretically informed and empirically grounded thesis. Hence, it is possible to write a theoretical thesis that engages with relevant philosophical and business administration literature. But it is also possible to write a thesis based upon quantitative and/or qualitative empirical material, which is analysed with the help of relevant business administration and philosophy perspectives.

 

The thesis should engage with a topic that can be discussed within the research fields of business administration (e.g. organizational theory, management, strategy, micro- or macro-economics). Equally, it should engage with philosophical literature representing a philosophical discussion (e.g. rationality, CSR, alienation), or a philosophical position (e.g. utilitarianism, skepticism, deconstruction), or a philosophical author (e.g. Deleuze, Gadamer, Nozick), or equivalent (as agreed upon with the supervisor). It is important that the thesis contains a methodological reflection on how knowledge is produced as well as a reflection on the strengths and limitations of the approach adopted. The main conclusions of the thesis should be discussed by emphasizing both their theoretical and practical implications.

 

The master thesis should demonstrate logical coherence between the problem statement, theoretical perspective, methodological reflection, analysis and discussion. The basis of assessment includes the students spelling and formulation skills. By writing the master thesis, the student cultivates the competence of thinking critically and constructively about business. Thus, students should show how they can work systematically with philosophy and business administration in order to place business in a broad social context.

Description of the teaching methods
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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
Preparation 820 hours
Exam 8 hours
Last updated on 13-06-2023