MASTER S THESIS GUIDELINES

Transcription

1 Master s Degree Programme in International Management MASTER S THESIS GUIDELINES Professor Elisa Martinelli Head of the Master s Degree in IM, FEBRUARY 20 TH, 2019 elisa.martinelli@unimore.it

2 Agenda The Master Thesis: aims and contents Prerequisites for the supervisor s allocation The allocation process Deadlines How to apply Supervisor s allocation Company Internship s allocation

3 The Master Thesis A written and original work On an approved topic related to the Master s degree programme contents Which combines both theoretical and empirical aspects supported by a supervisor An appointed Committee will assign students to their supervisor

4 Applying for the supervisor s allocation: Prerequisites Students can apply for the allocation of a supervisor only: If they have completed all the exams included in their study programme or if they still have to take exams but the total number of credits to be earned does not exceed 15 ECTS. Exception: Students selected for the MORE Overseas programme and the Modena-Bochum Double Degree programme. The coordinators of these programs will be appointed as supervisors (no choices could be made by the students).

5 Allocation process: Deadlines Applications will be evaluated three times a year: at the end of the Winter term during the Summer term at the end of the Summer term The deadlines to submit your application are: 1 st March th June th September 2019

6 The Supervisor s allocation You must select 3 Professors of the IM Degree Programme (ranking them in order of preference). Before selecting, please read detailed description of their research topics in the Master s Thesis Guidelines, and specific thesis projects offered by the same Professors Note: If students preferences for some Professors concentrate on the same options, students with higher average grades will be assigned a supervisor first (therefore, the Professor appointed as your supervisor may not correspond to your first choices) The supervisor would be allocated within a month from the application deadline

7 Specific Thesis Projects (1) 1) Firm's resilience to natural Disasters (Supervisor: Prof. Elisa Martinelli) The thesis project is addressed to study resources and capabilities that companies might possess/acquire/integrate in order to survive and prosper after a natural disaster (2012 Emilia earthquake). The theoretical part of the thesis would deal with reviewing the literature on: resilience in the business and management literature; dynamic capabilities; crisis management. The empirical work consists in administering a structured questionnaire to a sample of manufacturing and retailing companies located in the Northern part of Modena province. 2) Determinants of successful migrant entrepreneurship (Supervisor: Prof. Elisa Martinelli) The thesis project is addressed to study resources and capabilities that migrant entrepreneurs might possess/acquire in order to successfully run a retail business. The theoretical part of the thesis would deal with reviewing the literature on: migrant entrepreneurship; dynamic capabilities; critical factors in managing small retail shops. The empirical work consists in administering a structured questionnaire to a sample of migrant retail entrepreneurs operating at a local level.

8 Specific Thesis Projects (2) 3) The adoption of a new technology in an international BtoB context (Supervisor: Prof. Marina Vignola) The thesis project aims to assess the attitude towards the adoption of an innovation by companies operating into an international BtoB context. In particular, the aim is to investigate a set of factors impacting on the intention to adopt a new technology at an organizational level based on an integrated model. The model integrates factors related both to the innovation attributes of the proposed technology and to the organizational characteristics of the potential adopter and the relational dimensions characterizing the relationship between the supplier of the new technology and the potential adopter. The study would be performed on the followings steps: 1. analysis of the literature on the adoption of a new technology and on the identification of factors that impact on the intention to adopt a new technology; 2. testing of the theoretical model through a qualitative analysis using the case study technique. The perspective of the company potential adopter of the new technology is taken. The collection of information about the model variables is done through interviews, by administering a semistructured questionnaire developed on the basis of step 1.

9 Specific Thesis Projects (3) 4) Knowledge transfer process between foreign firms (Supervisor: Prof. Marina Vignola) The aim of the thesis project is to understand, in a context of buyer-supplier relationship exchange, how customer acquires knowledge from its supplier. In particular, based on a theoretical model, the study analyses the role of formal and informal mechanisms to transfer knowledge and the role of some relational dimensions, such as organizational trust and organizational distance, on the efficacy of the knowledge transfer mechanisms. The study would be performed on the followings steps: 1. analysis of the literature on the field of inter and intra firms knowledge transfer process and on the identification of factors that impact on this process; 2. testing of the theoretical model through a qualitative analysis using the case study technique. Taking the perspective of the buyer firm, the collection of information about the model variables is done through interviews, by administering a semi-structured questionnaire developed on the basis of step 1.

10 The Company Internship allocation The thesis research project might stem from an internship experience You have to upload your CV (up-to-date and detailed) and indicate: Language proficiency Project(s) chosen Privacy statement Your choice of the Company Internship Projects will be considered as final and binding The allocation of the Company Internship Projects will be done by the IM Thesis Committee interview Internships abroad would be supported with a grant call The IM thesis Committee will appoint your supervisor on the basis of the activities performed during the internship (therefore, the Professor appointed as your supervisor may not correspond to your first choices)

11 Assignment of grants The grant for a four month period, all inclusive, is : 3.000,00 euros for outgoing mobility to Group 1 European Countries (Austria, Denmark, Finland,France, Ireland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom) (with a supplement of 300,00 euros per month from the fifth month and for a maximum of two months) ,00 euros for outgoing mobility to Group 2 and 3 European Countries (Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania) (with a supplement of 250,00 euros per month from the fifth month and for a maximum of two months) ,00 euros for outgoing mobility to non- EU countries (with a supplement of 250,00 euros per month from the fifth month and for a maximum of two months). 200 euros per month for an internship in Italy far from the provinces of Modena, Reggio Emilia and Bologna. The internship has to be full time. In the case of an internship partly in Italy and partly abroad the amount of the grant will be proportionally reduced. Grants will be assigned on the basis of the ranking list drawn up by the examining Board Grants will be assigned on the basis of the ranking list drawn up by the Board

12 FIRST CALL INTERNSHIPS MARAZZI GROUP 1 Period : March/April - May/ June Product Sector: Tile Sector Area: Marketing Location: Piechowice - Poland Activities:Rebranding policies and Corporate image on Polish market

13 MARAZZI GROUP 2 Period: March/April - May/ June Product Sector: Tile Sector Area: Marketing Location: Piechowice - Poland Activities: Improvement efficiency in Customer Service and Logistics workflow

14 MARAZZI GROUP 3 Period: March/April - May/ June Product Sector: Tile Sector Area: Marketing Location: Piechowice - Poland Activities: The sampling process: from order to market

15 PANARIAGROUP Period : April October 2019 Product sector : Production and marketing of tiles Area: Commercial Export Office Location: Fiorano Modenese (MO) Activities: Analysis of German markets in order to find out new market segments and improve company positioning in those geographical areas. Focus on potential customers and distribution channels will be a main goal. Abroad business trips are possible. Languages: C1/C2 level German language

16 INALCA FOOD & BEVERAGE PROJECT TITLE: THE ROLE OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SUPPLY CHAIN / LOGISTIC OPTIMIZATION IN A FOOD MULTINATIONAL COMPANY Period (months): April June 2019 Product sector : FOOD Area: SUPPLY CHAIN Location: Castelnuovo Rangone (MO) Activities (detail): understand all the critical steps of the forwarding and delivery of food products in a complex multinational food company / compose a detailed fact- book or manual of the critical steps Languages: ENGLISH AND SPANISH PREFERRED / CHINESE OR THAI IS A STRONG ADDITIONAL ASSET ADDITIONAL SKILLS: good at powerpoint and excel (very valuable required assets)

17 GA Operations Period (months):march May 2019 Product sector : CLOTHING/TEXTILES Area: LEGAL DEPARTMENT Location: BAGGIOVARA (MO) Activities (detail): The trainee will have to deal with CONTRACTS, in particular s/he will be responsible of back office activities such as : sending contracts to suppliers, monitoring reception, reminding of countersigned copies, checking possible financial penalties, uploading contracts in company s database, updating company s database. S/he will have to help in the area of insurance against theft or damages. Languages: Italian and English

18 DALLA VALLE 1 Period (months): 6 (April-September 2019) Product sector : Fashion and home Area: Sales Department textile (New distribution channels in the home textile sector) Location: Carpi (MO) Activities (detail): Home textile sector analysis; identification of new and non-traditional channels in the home textile Italian Market; potential customers definition and contact planning activities; general support to the sales back office Languages: Italian and English

19 DALLA VALLE 2 Period (months): 6 (April-September 2019) Product sector : Fashion and home Area: Sales Department textile (New distribution channels in the home textile sector) Location: Carpi (MO) Activities (detail): Home textile sector analysis; identification of new and non-traditional channels in the home textile Italian Market; potential customers definition and contact planning activities; general support to the sales back office Languages: Italian and English

20 DAINESE USA Inc. Period : 6 months Product sector : Motorcycle clothing, sportswear and protective gear Area: Administration and finance control Location: California Activities: to assist the Business Control Department Languages: English

21 Extracurricular Internships Students who have autonomously identified an extracurricular internship should report it (duly in advance) to the Head of the IM degree, Professor Elisa Martinelli, and get authorisation. In filling out the supervisor s allocation request, they must indicate: The company name Location Period Activities performed, assigned company department and tutor Proposed thesis project (2 pages) The Committee will assign these students to their supervisor only if the thesis project and activities performed during the internship are considered valuable and coherent with the degree aims. The Professor appointed as supervisor may not correspond to the student s first choices

22 How to apply Fill in and submit the thesis supervisor allocation form Mandatory questions are marked with an asterisk Press Send (INVIA) to submit the application

23 Thanks a lot for the attention Any questions?

24 For any further information Contact Professor Ylenia Curzi Room #65 (Marco Biagi Foundation, Largo Marco Biagi, 10) Tel:

25 In compliance with the GDPR and Italian Legislative Decree no. 196 dated 30/06/2003, I hereby authorize the recipient of this document to use and process my personal details for the purpose of recruiting and selecting staff and I confirm to be informed of my rights in accordance with art. 7 of the above mentioned Decree.