Thesis Guidelines

1. Your topic should be clear and if possible catchy

2. Introduction should explain the problem and why it is important and/or relevant.

3. You should give some background information on your topic including what you've done so far and what research have you done.

4. You should include an analysis and results.

5. There should be a clear conclusion to conclude the work you've done, possible suggest a solution an/or suggestions for further work.

6. Remember that the thesis can be no more than 60 pages, it should be between 50 ?60. and can include relevant pictures and/or graphs. 50-60 PAGES EXCLUDING APPENDICES

7. Be sure to have the full title on the first page with an optional picture.

8. It is good to include appendices and a bibliography. You may also include a glossary if needed.

THESIS GUIDELINES
Thesis procedure after you received the green light from HES to enter into your Thesis phase and after you passed all your MBA Courses.
Step 1: Formulate a thesis proposal and email it to me first
Step 2: After my approval of your proposal, you have to email the proposal to HES
Step 3: Approval thesis proposal by the Exam Board
Step 4: Writing process of your thesis conforming the time schedule
Step 5: Approval by me of your thesis document (draft)
Step 6: Approval by your 2nd supervisor (who will be appointed by HES)
Step 7: Hand-in of final thesis document
Step 8: Thesis presentation and defense
The research has to meet the following conditions:
?
Carried out individually by the student
?br> Innovative / original in nature
?br> Integral application of knowledge from the various master classes
?br> Related to a concrete real- life case
First step is to define your thesis proposal. A thesis proposal should meet up the following requirements:
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Significance of topic
4. Methodology
5. Timeline
6. Resource materials, literature review
The thesis takes time to write so should be started about the same time you start your research.
You already know what the chapters will contain;
1. Introduction -what the problem is and why it is important and relevant,
2. Background - what other people have done, your literature research on the topic
3. Work - what you did, your own research (empirical work)
4. Analysis - what were the results of what you did, and
5. Conclusions - your conclusions and suggestions for further work.

Theses are to be printed single-sided and single-column, with 1.5 spacing, in 12-point typeface, on white, A4 paper, with margins of 2cm all round. Variations may be arranged in consultation with your supervisor. For instance, single-spacing is occasionally preferred to conserve paper and storage space. The thesis must be bound. Cloth binding is not mandatory, but you might prefer it after the hard work you have put in. The criterion is that it holds together when dropped from waist-height. A thesis typically consists of 30--60 pages of words and diagrams, not including appendices, with the recommended formatting.

The thesis should have a title/first page stating the full title of the thesis, your name, my name as supervisor, the calendar year in which the work was done, the name of the School, Faculty and the degree sought.
An abstract / executive summary of 2-3 A4 pages , follows the title page. The abstract should clearly state the subject area, and what was achieved. If in doubt about what an abstract is, you are directed to a suitable recent journal for examples of abstracts.
A table of contents (TOC) is required. Each of these starts on a new page. If the thesis includes an acknowledgment, and/or a preface, these usually precede the table of contents.

A List of Figures, List of Tables and a Glossary of frequently used acronyms are optional and depend on your particular thesis. Each of these starts on a new page. Pages prior to and including the table of contents need not be numbered. (It is common to number the pages before and including the TOC in Roman numerals, and to number the thesis pages in Arabic numerals.) Page numbering is usually lineal in the body of the thesis, that is, the chapters have their pages numbered in a single sequence, not in the form of ``C.P'', where C is the chapter number and P the number of the page within that chapter, starting again at 1 in each new chapter. However, both forms are acceptable.

Readers will look to the bibliography as an indication of how widely and deeply you have researched your topic. A mere couple of web references generally indicate very poor research. Content is hard to prescribe or proscribe, but some advice is offered. Put simply, a thesis should cover;
1. an identification of the problem, and why is it important, relevant
2. the theory, background and what others have done, your literature research on the topic
3. what you, the student, have done, your research
4. what results were obtained, and
5. your conclusions and your suggestions for further work.

The structure of your thesis:
Title page
Statement of Achievements
Statement of Compliance
Abstract
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Background
Chapter 3 Design
Chapter 4 Analysis
Chapter 5 Conclusion
Appendices
Bibliography
..
Example of the intended working method
A thesis research project is usually a once- in-a-lifetime experience. In order to get an impression in advance of what such a research consists, an example working method is given below. The words printed in italics relate to the most common parts of such a research project.

1. Start with a brief outline. What is the organization structure like? How does the topic fit in with the rest of the course?
2. Describe the purpose of the research.
3. Design a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an important question and therefore needs to be phrased as a question. A good hypothesis is phrased in a brief, clear and concise way. An important consideration while phrasing a hypothesis is its feasibility. Important tools are a
planning and a risk analysis of the thesis project concerned.
4. Elaborate on the different aspects of the hypothesis in a number of independent research questions, each of which requires its own research method. Be careful that during this phase, the hypothesis is not extended.
5. Make research questions operational. Explain for each research question what method will be used, what will be researched, in what way and under what assumptions.
6. Implement the research. This phase consists of collecting, organizing and interpreting data and putting it in a theoretical framework.
7. Make an analysis of the results. This is meant to relate to literature, course materials and discussions and during the course.
8. State a well-founded opinion. This must be based on your own research and interviews or on comparisons made between, for example, theory and your organization (real- life). Draw well-founded conclusions and subsequently state your findings under a separate heading. By stating your own views you can give evidence of an active and critical management attitude. In other words, not only are weak points registered, but possible improvements are also expressed. You can for example create your own management team or department, so that
you know who the findings can be presented to.
9. Make recommendations. The recommendations must be based on well-founded conclusions and need to be reasonably feasible within the confines of the organization. A recommendation like: Send the management home may be very useful but lacks a sense of reality.
10. Write the report. In the final report you describe your hypothesis, the research findings, your analysis and your conclusions.
11. Bibliography. State your source materials in a consistent way, for example: name of author(s), initial(s), title, edition, publisher, year of publication: (page numbers if you included a quotation).
12. Include as a required appendix a brief process report describing the working method and personal experiences. This is also where a paragraph can be dedicated to reflections on what has been learned during the course. This process report includes, apart from a personal note, also a methodological account of the thesis. Other possible appendices may include for example an annual report, tables, graphs etc.

Assessment criteria

During the assessment of the thesis the examination committee will take the following aspects into consideration:

1. The added value the thesis gives to the company.
a. Concrete recommendations
b. Applicability
2. The innovative nature for the professional field.
3. The theoretical and real- life situations that have been examined, which give evidence of the analytical qualities of the participant.
a. Bibliography
b. Complementary research
c. Knowledge acquired during the master classes
4. The method that was used to implement the project a. Hypothesis, definition and project statement b. Logical and consistent approach and implementation of the project.
5. Legibility and layout of the report
6. Quality of reasoning and communicative skills during the presentation and defense.

The assessment by the examination committee of the written presentation accounts for 80% of the final result, 20% being defined by the oral presentation and defense.

Examination session

The thesis will be assessed during the examination session, which will last 75 minutes and is set up as follows:
1. Preparation of the examination committee (without candidate), lasting 15 minutes. The chairman asks the other members about their opinions/assessment (no marks) and the strategy for the final discussion is previewed.
2. The presentation of the thesis, lasting 20 minutes (in auditorium). Pay attention to the fact that all members of the examination committee will have read the thesis in detail. The presentation should therefore be a supplement to the thesis.
3.. Final discussion with the student, lasting 30 minutes. All members of the examination committee are entitled to ask questions.
4. Review, lasting 10 minutes. Immediately afterwards the examination committee will give its assessment of the thesis (report, presentation and defense). The result is final and cannot be discussed.
The representatives of the examination committee include a chairman and the supervisor. The company supervisor is also welcome to attend the examination session. The chairman, the first and second supervisor decide the final marks, which will be between 1 and 10 and will be expressed in whole or half points.

Good luck with your thesis project!