Master's ThesisLaajuus (30 ECTS)

Objective

The student demonstrates sound methodological and analytical skills in completing a development task in a real business environment. He/she shows good leadership and management skills having initiated, designed and implemented a development/change project in his/her partner organisation.
He/she reports well of his/her R&D work both orally and in writing, observing the instructions of academic writing.

Content

Action Research as the pre-chosen research strategy for the Master's Thesis has the following key elements (I-V):
I Definition of the Research and Development Task
- choice of partner organisation, goal-setting for the R&D task;
- research problem defined; research questions; choice of key performance indicators / metrics;
- topic analysis, current state analysis, R&D plan for the tripartite agreement

II Choice of Theoretical Framework; Choice of R&D Methods; Documentation
- choice of the relevant theoretical background to support the development task;
- data collection, analysis, use of data

III Planning and Implementation of Development Activities in the Partner Organisation; Action Research approach. Continuous documentation.
- project management: definition of project group, goals, timetable, budget, risks;
- participatory methods
- actions and activities

IV Evidence of Results; Evaluation; Documentation
- measuring of change and its implications; showing the results; conclusions.
- evaluation of the success criteria of the development task;
- realibility, validity, levaraging; one's own learning.

V Presenting and Publishing the Master's Thesis
- a seminar presentation
- a written Master's Thesis report and its publishing as instructed by the UAS
- Maturity Test (a separate mark)

Individual supervision, academic writing support, seminar participation in the roles of a presenter, an opponent and a notetaker.

Qualifications

At least one of the following:
Research Skills and Methods 5 ECTS and/or
Organisational Development, Process and Project Management 5 ECTS.
Sufficient know-how of the subject area of the R&D project.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

20 % for Topic definition, Goal setting and the achievement o goals:
A work-related topic, sufficient (2) or satisfactory (1) mastery and structuring of the topic area.
The current state, its problems and key terms have been defined and introduced (2) / have been poorly defined and introduced (1).
The research and development process has been implemented quite independently (2)/has required a lot of support (1).
The R&D process has been completed (2)/has not been completed (1).

20 % for Data collection and analysis; Choice of development methods and their use:
The methods for collecting and analysing data vs problem setting lack consistency and have deficiencies (2). The methods for collecting and analysing data have not been grounded and/or have been used in an inproper manner in relation to the problem setting. (1)
The student has used a narrow scope of sources and did not argument their use(2). Sources have been used in a narrow scope, one-sidedly and inconsistently in relation to the problem setting (1).
The choice of development methods is partly successful; the use of methods has some failures (2). The choice of development methods is no more than satisfactory; the use of methods is uncertain or incompetent.(1)

20 % for the Evidence of Results and Conclusions:

The stages of the development process, decisions made during the process as well as the results have been reported in a partly incomplete manner (2).
The stages of the development process, decisions made during the process as well as the results have been reported in an incomplete and unclear manner (1).
Some conclusions have been drawn from the data and results (2). Conclusions have not been drawn from the data nor results, or they are inconsistent (1).
Application of results in different circumstances and situations have not been discussed but superficially (2). There is no discussion on the application of results in different circumstances and situations (1).

30 % for Utility & Implications:
There is evidence of a change / change potential in some part of the organisation, thanks to the development task (2). No evidence can be measured in the organisation, but there is some change potential (1).
The organisation is aware of the lack in the targeted competence area, and a systematic use of tools to remove it has been started (2).
The organisation is aware of the lack in the targeted competence area, and some tools to remove it have been adopted (1).

10 % for the Written Master's Thesis Report:
The UAS instructions have been marginally observed (1). The structure of the report is partly consistent (2)/lacks in consistency (1).

Assessment criteria, good (3)

20 % for Topic definition, Goal setting and the achievement o goals:
A work-related topic, good (4) or quite good (3) mastery and structuring of the topic area.
The current state, its problems and key terms have been defined and introduced well (4) / quite well (3).
The research and development process has been implemented independently and logically (4)showing good (4) or quite good (3) mastery of the topic area.
The R&D process has been completed very well (4)/quite well (3).

20 % for Data collection and analysis; Choice of development methods and their use:
The methods for collecting and analysing data vs problem setting have been used in a purposeful manner (4).
Various sources have been used but without deeper criticism nor argumentation(3).
The methods for collecting and analysing data have been used quite widely and with criticism in relation to the problem setting (4).
There is some inconsistency or deficiencies in the use of data collection and analysing methods vs problem setting (3).

The choice of development methods is successful and the student knows how to use them (4). The choice of development methods supports the goal setting, and the student knows well enough how to use them (3).

20 % for the Evidence of Results and Conclusions:

The stages of the development process, decisions made during the process as well as the results have been carefully reported (4) / have been reported to the main part (3).

Argumented conclusions (4)( Conclusions (3) have been drawn from the data and results.

Application of results in different circumstances and situations have been discussed (4/3).

30 % for Utility & Implications:
There is remarkable (4) / significant (3) evidence of a change / change potential in the organisation, thanks to the development task.

Learning has taken place in the organisation and its ways of action have changed (4) / some changes have taken place (3).

10 % for the Written Master's Thesis Report:
The UAS instructions have been observed for the main part (3). The structure of the report is clear and consistent (4)/clear and fairly consistent (3).
The text is fluent and has no (4) or only a few (3) mistakes. Referencing is according to the rules (4/3). Figures, tables, and other visual materials have been constructed with appropriate tools (3) and their quality is high (4).
The Master's Thesis is complete for the archives (4/3).

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

20 % for Topic definition, Goal setting and the achievement o goals:
A work-related topic, excellent mastery and structuring of the topic area.
The current state, its problems. as well as the key terms and the relations of those have been very well defined and argumented.
The research and development process has been independently and logically implemented, showing excellent mastery of the topic area.
The R&D process has been completed extremely well.

20 % for Data collection and analysis; Choice of development methods and their use:
The methods for collecting and analysing data vs problem setting have been used in a creative and skillful manner.
The student has used various sources widely, with criticism, and in an innovative way in relation to the R&D problem.

The choice of development methods has been very successful in the light of the given R&D problem and the student demonstrates having the chosen methods skillfully.

20 % for the Evidence of Results and Conclusions:

The stages of the development process, decisions made during the process, as well as the results have been abundantly and analytically reported.

Argumented conclusions have been drawn from the data and results.

Application of results in different circumstances and situations have been discussed creatively and with consideration.

30 % for Utility & Implications:
A significant change / change potential in terms of business economics has resulted from the R&D task in the organisation, and it can be transferred to wider platforms.
Learning has taken place in the organisation, and a new way of action has been established.

10 % for the Written Master's Thesis Report:
The UAS instructions have been observed throughout the Master's Thesis report. The structure of the report is clear, consistent and harmonious.
The text is very fluent, it has no mistakes, and it abides by the convention of academic writing. Referencing is according to the rules. The results have been presented in an informative way. Figures, tables, and other visual materials have been constructed with appropriate tools and their quality is high.
The Master's Thesis is complete for the archives and quite ready for publishing.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The Master's Thesis cannot be accepted, if one or more of the following circumstances exist:
* The Master's Thesis process has severe deficiencies in, for example, defining the business problem; current state analysis; use of theory; data collection; drawing conclusions; or, implementing the suggested solution into practice.
* Plagiarism or similar unethical use of material or data, or a severe incompetence in referencing. Violation of copyrights.
* The UAS instructions for reporting a Master's Thesis have not been observed, or the text is not grammatically or otherwise acceptable.