Guidelines and Recommendations for Writing Your Thesis

35E99901 Master’s Thesis 35E99902 Master’s Thesis Seminar35E99903 Maturity Test

Spring 2015ISS & LogisticsSaarinen & Vepsäläinen

Thesis Seminar

• Mandatory for major studies (6 study credit)• Grading: 0-5• Requirements:

– Introductory lecture “Guidelines and Instructions” – Lectures on Quamtitative and Qualitative methods– Two presentations given by you (Presentation I and II)– Active participation in at least 15 (13+2) presentations

• One presentation lasts approximately 30 min.– The presentation appr. 20 minutes– Discussion appr. 10 minutes

• Schedule presentations by email• Review regularly Noppa for current schedule

Handing in your thesis

• Agree with your supervisor on when to hand in your final thesis

• You need to hand in– 4 blue covered, stapled copies (HSE print)– PDF-version to HSE library and to assistant

• Instructions from Piazza graduation pages

• Optional– Hard cover version for yourself from HSE Print

• Remember maturity test!– Schedule test time individually or during seminar

• All courses, thesis, seminar and maturity test results need to be registered to weboodi before you can order your diploma

Agenda

• On Master’s Thesis in general– scale and objectives– research process

• Thesis report– structure and styling– examples

• Seminar work basics– presenting your own work– participation– maturity exam

• What now?

Thesis Requirements

• Quantitative measures– usually takes between 4-8 months– length varies; 70-120 pages– amount of high quality and relevant sources important, e.g.

• 5 basic books• 15-40 scientific articles• case company data

• Qualitative measures– research topic suitably defined

• clear research problem• challenging objectives, and making sure the thesis meets them

– good report• logical flow of text, technicalities and styles in order, easy to read and

understand

• Most important requirement– research must have a scientific contribution such as a conceptual

or mathematical model or an excellent application of theory

Searching for Thesis Topic

• Literature– course material, recent articles and books– media

• Research reports– master’s theses, licensiate theses, doctoral dissertations

• Bachelor’s thesis– own thesis, other students’ topics

• (Summer)job• Company thesis assignments• Own interest!

General criteria Own capabilities

Factors Affecting the Selection of Topic

– Focusing the topic• avoiding superficial and narrow

discussion• opportunity for versatile analysis

and evaluation of causalities– Doing the work

• data and material available• applicability of research methods

– Significance• applicability and potential usage

in business• theoretical contribution

– Skills and knowledge etc.• industry knowledge• knowledge of the topic• modeling skills and willingness

– Motivational level• goals• project duration

– Managing ”conflicts of interest“• negotation skills (?)• separate company report might

be needed

The Problem, Goals and Focus

What are the results expected? How to measure if the objectives are fulfilled?

• Determining the research objectives– Take it seriously – this defines the work to be done – Set realistic targets with the company at the beginning

• Bear in mind the recommended length of report and work load – Avoid very general research settings such as ”analysis of the

problems of delivery system” Preferably:

• What are the options for delivery systems in the literature and how these can be applied in the chosen industry?

• Analysis of the pertinent options from company viewpoint and calculation of connected costs

• Comparison of alternatives and proposal of detailed action plan

Research plan

• Background of research area• The problem• Goals• Research methods• Expected results• Estimation of application possibilities of results• Time table and work plan •

Research Proposal

• What is the company problem? – Reason and goals of the project – Background of project

• Is the problem general?– Theoretical research question and objectives

• What kind of solution and basis for it – Available data and methods– Depth and width of business case

• Contribution– The role of the case in the thesis– Theoretical contribution – Other areas of application?

• Time table • Preliminary list of most topical sources

– Why are these sources essential?

Getting Familiar with the Topic

Research Plan + Discussions with advisor(s)

• Literature Survey– Scientific publications (logistics, management, IS)– Dissertations, Master’s theses, other reports– Text books and course materials

• Studying the Company & Industry & Operations – Interviews for overall picture & details – Observations and data collection, data creation &

analyses

Scientific Publications

Research & Methods / Specialized Motivation / General

Strategic Management Journal Harvard Business Review (HBR)

Marketing Science Sloan Management Review

Organization Science California Management Review

Decision Sciences European Management Journal

Economica Long Range Planning

Academy of Management Journal Industrial Marketing Management

Academy of Management Review Journal of Marketing

Journal of Retailing

Management journals

Excellent / Specialist journal Good/ General journal

Management Science (MS) Supply Chain Management Review

Manufactring and Service Operations Management (MSOM) Int'l Journal of Logistics Mngmnt and Physical Distribution (IJLMPD)

European Journal of Operations Research (EJOR) Production and Inventory Management (PIM)

Journal of Business Logistics (JBL) Production Planning and Control (PPC)

Operations Research (OR) Purchasing

Transportation Science (TS) Omega

Production and Operations Management (POM) Interfaces

International Journal of Operations Research (IJOR) IIE Transactions

Naval Research Logistics (NRL) International Journal of Production Economics

Journal of Operations Management (JOM) Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management

International Journal of Operations and Production Management Journal of Operational Research Society

OM / OR / MS journals

Good Electronic Sources

• HSE Library data banks– Helecon International

• Scima: scientific articles • Bild: HSE library books • Thes: HSE Theses (pro gradu in Finnish)

– Access within the school: http://lib.hse.fi/FI/• Publisher sites

– Elsevier: Decision Sciences Web– MCB Press: Emerald Library– INFORMS: PubsOnline

• Databanks – ProQuest– EBSCO

• Home pages of professors, researchers and institutions

Using Theory in Your Thesis

• Relevance of theories and models you use– Use methods and theories that solve real problems

• Example: Fisher’s (1997) classification of functional and innovative products?

– Presenting models that you don’t use is waste of readers’ time– Comparison of models’ applicability is still justified– Discuss the theory instead of copy/paste

• Critical approach– Everything you do should be justified

• Definitions– Only the most critical ones– Not: ”Logistics is considered as the management of material…

Better: ”In this research, the term channel conflict means…”

• Balance of thesis structure– Each part of the thesis should have an appropriate weight

Empirical Research

• Quantitative / qualitative research• Information gathering

– Observation– (open question) interviews– Surveys– Statistics, historical data

• Analysis– Classifications, graphs, statistical analysis, simulation etc.

• First set your objectives; clear goals should guide your research

Literature on Research Methods

• Qualitative research– Alasuutari (1999), Hirsjärvi et al. (1998), Miles &

Huberman (1988), Silverman (2000) • Statistical analysis and data collection

– Hair et al. (1998), Malhotra ja Birks (1999)• Case study

– Yin (1989)• Optimization

– Hillier et al. (2000), Shapiro (2000), Williams (2006)• Simulation

– Evans & Olson (1998)– Law & Kelton (2000)

Thesis Structure

• Before Introduction Chapter– Abstract– (Preface or Foreword)– Table of contents– Lists of tables, figures and appendixes

• Introduction• Motivation

– “The Story”, literature research and research gap• Theory

– Discussion on relevant theories– Model or framework; “the contribution”

• Empirical part, the case• Conclusions• List of references and Appendixes

General Advice

• Formats first– Templates & Styles

• at least: text, list(s), headings, captures, table of contents, list of figures and tables

– Margins and spacing• Exact and informative titles• Clear subtitles and paragraph structure• Use of graphs, tables, and figures is recommended

Never forget these!

Abstracts

• In Finnish and English• Objectives

– Description of contribution– Relevance for the reader– Description of research– Usability in scientific research databases

• Short description without subtitles– Research question– Motivation and objectives of the research– Research method and hypotheses– Research data– Results and conclusions!

Table of Contents and Other Lists and Tables

• Formulation for clarity – overall picture & details– Styles, 3 or 4 levels, font size and bold (no italics or upper

case)– Max 2 pages

• List of Figures, Tables, Equations and Appendices– Automated by Word, but do define Proper Styles!– Indicate original source of Figures and Tables in the

caption (normal reference!)– The lists may fit on one page!

Introduction

• The Topic - Explain and motivate• The Research Problem and Objectives

– Indicate the difference between the general theoretical problem and the specific problem concerning case company

– Formulate three to four objectives, for example • Review the literature for previous concepts, theories & empirical results• Suggest a general solution – Theory, model frameworks etc.• Application of the general solution to the case, demonstration of results

• The Approach of the Research – Methodology/methods, scope and point of view

• the contents of research depends on the topic

• The Contents and Organization of the research or report• Main Concepts

– Formal definition or list not always needed

Background and the Theoretical Part

• The Background of the Thesis– Introduce the main theories and empirical results reported in the

literature• Avoid direct quotations!• Independent and creative analyses rewarded, own classifications etc. • Emåphasize critical approach – comparative studies

– Position your own research vis-a-vis previous studies and scientific knowledge

– Justify your approach and attempted solutions• Use References to Chart the Intellectual History of your topic

– Indicate temporal and topical evolution, and 2-5 main sources– Find over a dozen scientific references (books or articles)– Enough application data – interviews, company records, etc.

• Propose, motivate and describe the development of your own theoretical and empirical approach (a separate chapter!?)

Empirical part - Case

• Description of the Case Company– Empahsize the issues most relevant for your own

research– Limited length, recommended max 1 page!

• Define the empirical data material – if necessary– Methods of collection and compilation; analyses

performed– Often methodology should be discussed already in Intro

• Reporting of empirical tests and results– Use tables and comparisons to emphasize and

summarize the results• How valid and generalizable your results are?

– Honest and open discussion

Conclusions

• Summary– Briefly repeat the main thrust, contents and results of

your thesis • Theoretical Results and Managerial Implications

– illustrate and sell your results and conclusions – Demonstrate your suggestions and recommendations

• Future research – Directions and concrete topics• Other observations

– Clear and systematic account of your research– Do not introduce new issues and materials in

Conclusions

List of References, and Appendices

• List all reference materials you have used– Books, handbooks, proceedings, articles, reports,

interviews, web pages, etc. • Do not list sources not referred to in the report• When you need Appendices

– A convenient way to supplement text, helps cutting out text

– Place for complex calculations, charts, tables, blue prints, etc. that you have condensed or referred briefly in the main text

– Use descriptive titles and enumerate the appendices– Remember to refer to every Appendix in text!

• For example . “see Appendix 2”, or “(Appendix 2)”

• Use a well-articulated system of referencing and appendices from the very start!

Listing of References - Examples

• Books and reports– Author(s) name, printing year, title of the book, publisher, printing location, and number of pages – Koskinen, A., Kivistö, T., Lankinen, M., Sakki, J. & Vepsäläinen, A. (1995) Ostotoiminta yrityksen

kehittämisessä, Weilin & Göös, Espoo, 333 s.• Article

– Author(s), year of print, title of the article, name of the journal, volume and number of the journal, time (e.g. Summer, Fall), and page numbers

– Laine, J. & Vepsäläinen, A. (1994) "Economies of Speed in Sea Transportation", Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, Vol. 24, No. 8, pp. 33-41.

• A separate part of a collection, handbook, or conference proceedings – Author(s), year of print, title of the article/chapter/paper, ”in” author(s) name, printing year, title of

the collection, publisher, location, and page numbers – Iyer, A. V. (1999) "Modeling the Impact of Information on Inventories", in Tayur, S., Ganeshan, R. &

Magazine, M. (eds.) Quantitative Models for Supply Chain Management, Kluwer, USA, pp. 337-358.• Interview

– Name of the interviewee, job, company, place and time– Raivio Riku, Director, Company XYZ, Espoo, 12.10.2001.

• Internet-references– Posti (1999). Online. Available at: www.posti.fi, [15.2.2000].

Literature References

• Why do you use references?– So that the reader can verify the origin of your information– To give credit to the original authors– To point out your own contribution

• How to refer to your sources in the text?– Active references recommended– Denote author(s), publication year, and sometimes page(s)

• Mark page(s) especially for exact quotations, definitions or claims• Example: (Haapanen & Vepsäläinen, 1999) • Example with more than two authors: (Lee et al., 1995, 35)

• References to interviews and other sources– Name of person or other source (web page etc.), and date

• Example (Heikkinen 12.3.2002, interview), • Example (Google Wikipedia 3.9.2008)

• Never place the reference outside the sentence!

Presentation I

• Briefly explain the starting point and preliminaries of your thesis

– General research problem– Case company and the particular problem(s)

• Justify your plan for the thesis– Objectives– Research methods, models and data material– Your chosen research methodology and theoretical

setting– työn oletettu kontribuutio

• Outline a preliminary schedule and work plan

So the first presentation covers your research plan or an early version of the thesis

Presentation II

• Give before handing in your thesis – helps in finalizing text

• Repeat your:– research problem, objectives and methodology

• Report your findings– Emphasize theoretical contribution and results of practical

implementation!– Theoretical contributions

• explaining causal relationships• general framework• ”grounded theory”, etc.

– Empirical results• more efficient operating model• cost savings• better service levels etc.

Thesis supervision

• On the supervisor’s role– personal guidance sessions typically 3-6 times – usually supervisors also grade the thesis– may not attend any meetings with case company

• Before a meeting with your supervisor(s): – always submit the latest version of the thesis (or at early

stage, a description of the research problem and/or a plan for completion)

– email it at least 3 working days before meeting– always follow the formatting instructions – from the very

start! – make sure your name, date and the title of your thesis

appear in the file – and also in the name of the file

We comment only on work that follows these guidelines!

Grading of the Thesis

• The reviewers read and evaluate the Master’s thesis before the meeting of Business Technology Dept.

• The grading is based on:– Specification of research problem and objectives– Review and use of existing research and references– The use and development of theory/ framework– Use and justification of research methodology & data collection– Novelty and importance of results, discussion and conclusions– Integrity, thoroughness and insightfulness of the study – Independence of research, criticism exercised by the student – Consistency and readability, proper writing and layout

• The grading form (and a separate statement in case of grades 1 to 5) will be presented in the departmental meeting (or only to the department head)