Master Thesis

TOPICS

MASTER THESES

(I) NEW TOPICS in WS 2024/25: I will only accept further master thesis topics by the end of January,

(1) if the requests are forwarded by SSC, or

(2) if they refer to the FRANCHISE project which will be announced soon (I will take 6 additional students). Please contact me if you are interested in joining this project team by Nov. 6!!!

I will organize a meeting on Nov. 6, 12.45, in my room; for all who cannot come you can join via zoom:

https://univienna.zoom.us/j/96409994131?pwd=UVpSMCt6d21jUEJ6N0hXK3U5MC9GQT09

 (3) I will offer the following two master thesis topics:

Allocation of Decision Rights in Digital Platform Firms: A Multiple Case Study Analysis (3 Persons)

Impact of Blockchain on Decision Making in Organizations: A Multiple Case Study Analysis (3 Persons)

(please come to my office hours if you are interested in these topics)

(II) The topic chosen for the master thesis must be from the field of International Business/Management, Networks (alliances, joint ventures, franchising, licensing) or Digital Platforms.

DEADLINES

1. Proposal:When you register for the master thesis seminar, you have to submit a signed proposal at the first meeting of the master conversatorium.

2. All candidates under my supervision have to attend my master thesis seminar in WS or SS.

3. Deadline for the master thesis:
I want to inform all master thesis candidates that all accepted topics have to be completed within 12 months after registration! If you need more time due to important reasons, please inform me in advance.

4. Length: Minimum 50 pages

SUBMISSION Rules

1. Please submit a preliminary final version in electronic and PRINTED FORM!

2. Within two weeks after the submission, I will provide comments for improvements!

3. After you have revised the thesis according to my comments, please send it to me via email for final approval. All changes of the revised version of the thesis have to be highlighted in RED!

Rules for Scientific Writing
When you are in the process of submitting the final version of the master thesis, I want to remind you of submitting a final version that consistently applies the formal rules of writing a research paper.  Here are two references for preparing the thesis:

• Karmasin, M., R. Rainer, Die Gestaltung wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten, , 2015, UTB Facultas
• Skern, T., Writing Scientific English, 2015, UTB Facultas

Defense of Master Thesis (IM and Organisation & Personnel)

(I) INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS/MANAGEMENT

For the DEFENSE, the presentation of the thesis should not take longer than 20 minutes and the examination will consist of 5 questions; 3 questions from the thesis and 2 questions from the "Theory of International Firm" or "International Market Entry".

BOOKS:

M. Forsgren, 2024, Theories of the Multinational Firm: A Multidimensional Creature in the Global Economy., Edward Elgar Publishing; AND the additional papers on the different theories of the multinational firm uploaded on ucloud in the folder "MASTER EXAM"! (please choose 6 theories and inform me two days before the exam via email which topics you have prepared!)

OR

Welch, L. S., Benito, G. R., & Petersen, B., 2018, Foreign operation methods: Theory, analysis, strategy, Edward Elgar Publishing (Chapter: 1 - 10)

Examination in the Specialization "International Management" and "Organisation & Personnel"

This examination part will consist of 4-5 questions and take about 20-30 minutes.

Examination Literature

For the MINOR in INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT, you have to learn (A) Theory of International Firm;

In addition, (B) or (C). Please inform me in advance which topic and book of (B) and (C) you will choose (see below)!

                                                 (II) MINOR - Organisation & Personnel

Students in Organisation & Personnel have to prepare the following literature for the master exam:

R.L. Daft, J. Murphy, H. Willmot, (2020) Organization Theory and Design, Chap. 1 - 7, Cengage
and
Picot, A., Dietl, H., Franck, Fiedler, M., Royer S. (2020) Organisation: Theorie und Praxis aus ökonomischer Sicht. Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag, Kapitel 1, 2, 5, 6.