Course aim

The aim of the thesis is to provide an opportunity for Master degree candidates to refine, in some cases acquire, a range of skills at an appropriate level to do a competent research. A successful thesis is evidence that the candidate has acquired the minimum level of research skills and can therefore be accredited a Master degree.

Learning outcomes

• Knowledge and its application. Graduate is able to define the research problem and the main goals of a Thesis in a concise way and integrate the theoretical knowledge obtained in the master studies.
• Researhc skills. Graduate is able to analyze critically, synthesize and assess research data necessary for the thesis development. He/she is also able to collect quantitative and/ or qualitative data and perform appropriate empirical analysis to solve the research problem.
• Special abilities. Graduate has the ability to develop a clear explanation and justification of the selected methodological approach and refer to published research on methodology to support the statement on its appropriateness, present a testable hypothesis, consistent with assumptions derived from literature review, and conduct (on an individual basis) an empirical research.
• Social ability. Graduate has the ability to develop the elaborated discussion to reveal the study findings in the light of prior research in the field, compare the results with those reported by other investigators considering the questions that remain unanswered and suggest the additional further research perspectives by demonstrating proficiency in academic writing, proper literature citation and compilation of a reference list.
• Personal abilities. Graduate has the ability to plan the process of thesis writing in an autonomous manner, choose the direction of improvement and study in an autonomous manner. Graduate has the ability to use scientific research data, has experience in research work, and skills of systemic and strategic thinking necessary for autonomous professional activity and scientific research work.

Course Description

The ability to formulate the right questions and choose the most efficient tools for seeking answers, as well as to intelligently interpret the information gathered and presented by others, is indispensable for those who want to succeed in today’s highly complex business environment. This course will equip students with both the understanding of principles that guide quality research and the tools of innovation and technology management needed to implement those principles in formulating a research project, selecting appropriate methods, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting their findings. We will focus on the practical application of the concepts and methods discussed in the course by conducting students’ own research projects and critically analyzing the research of others.

Course Aim

The main goal of this course is to impart knowledge and skills necessary for conducting and evaluating research in innovation and technology management field. The course will begin with the introduction to the fundamental principles that underlie approaches to research and the practical implications of these principles, including formulation of research questions, concepts of validity and reliability, and issues of research ethics. We will then proceed to unpack the main qualitative and quantitative methods used in business research. Conducting their own research projects will help develop students’ practical research skills, and analysis of published research and other students’ research projects will sharpen their ability to critically evaluate the information coming from research conducted by others. Presentation of their own research findings and discussion of others’ research will also serve to refine the students’ presentation and communication skills. Students who have successfully completed the course and all its assignments will be able to define the research question, formulate the research design, choose the appropriate methods for data collection and analysis, present and apply their findings, and critically evaluate other researchers’ output. Finally, the skills and knowledge gained in this course will also be employable during the preparation of their final theses.

Learning Outcomes

• Critically evaluate the relevance of business research in managerial decision-making.
• Have a critical awareness of research issues, methodologies, and methods used in business and management as well as understanding of potential ethical problems of the research.
• Obtain skills and analytical competences to identify a business problem/ need, translate it into a research question, and design an appropriate way to answer it.
• Be able to use the main qualitative and quantitative strategies of business research. Evaluate their advantages and disadvantages and appropriate application areas.
• Develop skills and analytical competences to design a research project and collect data.
• Obtain skills to analyze data and draw reasonable interpretations as well as communicate research findings in a clear and well organized way.
• Develop skills to critically evaluate the quality of other researchers‘ findings and the process used to obtain them.