MST-31306 Advanced Business Research (ABR)

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

MST-24306 Management and Marketing; MST-21306 Advanced Management and Marketing.

Contents:

Advanced Business Research (ABR) aims at learning how to carry out a business research project. Such a project, solving a management issue or question, is often carried out for a specific organization (commercial or non-commercial). The management issue can be on strategy, operations, supply chains, human resources, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The project will be systematic as a result of applying management theory and scientific methods. The project will be carried out in a team of maximum four students. ABR is a perfect preparation for an MSc thesis.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- understand the unique complexity of business research projects;
- formulate an adequate research proposal tailored to a managerial issue;
- select from the variety of possible sources the relevant management literature;
- apply various management theories to a specific management issue;
- design the methodology for the empirical research and execute the empirical research;
- report on the basis of the evidence and the literature.
- reflect on the empirical outcomes with the use of academic literature.

Activities:

Before ABR starts, you are advised to look around for a team, a case study organisation, and a management issue. ABR starts with introductory lectures on how to do business research: designing a research project, using management theory, using appropriate research methods, and developing reporting skills. Next, there are meetings with a supervisor, presentations, discussions and additional lectures. A progress report has to be handed in. You are encouraged to participate in the open exchange of comments, suggestions and ideas. Each team will present twice and assess the presentations of others. You will have to submit a final team-report. During the exam week mixed-teams will discuss the output of each other's work.

Examination:

- individual attendance to lectures and presentations (5%); Students’ attendance to the six main lectures and presentation sessions will be registered;
- individual contribution to team work and final exam (35%); Students’ active participation in the consultation sessions with the supervisors will be assessed to avoid free riding. Each student is expected to be involved in every step of the research project and to actively work with others in the team. At least seven consultation sessions will be scheduled. Consultation sessions will be scheduled by team and supervisor together;
In the final exam each student has to defend his/her report in a cross-examination with another student:
- individual mid-term exam (20%); The exam will cover the topics of the first five lectures. The exam contains both multiple choice and open questions;
- team Presentations (10%); Each team will make two presentations to present their research to the whole class. Students’ capability to make a clear and convincing presentation will be assessed. A tutorial about how to present a research will be provided via Blackboard;
- team Final Report (30%); The final report with maximum 50 pages (excluding appendices) will be evaluated by the team supervisor and the coordinator.

Literature:

To be announced in the course guide.