ØAADM3600 Sustainable Business Course description

The master’s thesis written by one or two students. Large, interdisciplinary innovation projects can be written in groups of up to four students on application. Individual oral examination where the grade can be adjusted.

The content and scope of different forms of master's theses:

• Monograph: Recommended scope of a monographic assignment is 22,000 words +/- 10%

• Scientific article: The thesis must include a manuscript in the form of at least one article that is in accordance with the author guidelines for a relevant scientific journal, and a supplementary memo/introductory chapter to the article-based thesis ('kappe') that elaborates on the theoretical and methodological considerations underlying the article. The layout, structure and scope of the article must comply with the guidelines of the journal in question, and the introductory chapter to the article-based thesis can be a maximum of 10,000 words.

The thesis can be written in English or a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish or Danish).

The written thesis must be awarded a grade of A-E (preliminary grade) in order for a student to take the oral examination. The final grade is set after the oral examination. The whole grade scale can be used when setting the final grade.

An individual oral examination lasting up to 40 minutes based on the master’s thesis. The candidate gives a 10 - 15 minutes presentation of their master’s thesis at the start of the oral examination.

Students can appeal against the grade set for the written part of the examination in accordance with the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with. There is an opportunity to reuse self-produced text from MAVIT4070 in the master's thesis without self-citation.

Grade scale A-F.

All examinations are assessed by an internal and an external examiner. The student's supervisor cannot be an examiner for the master's thesis.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved for the student to take the exam:

• Peer review: Provide written feedback on another student’s written individual project (1-2 pages). The aim of this coursework requirement is to ensure that the student reflects on the central learning outcomes in the course when working with the individual project, and to make sure each student group has satisfactory progress in their individual project

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by a given deadline.

The exam in the course consists of two parts:

1. Written group project - counts 40% of the final grade

In the group project you will assess the sustainability performance of a business and make suggestions for improvements, based on frameworks and theories from the course.

The group project will be carried out in groups of 2-5 students. The group members will be randomly selected.

The group project should have a scope of 8-10 pages, excluding front page, table of contents, appendices. Font and font size: Arial / Calibri / Verdana 12 points. Line spacing: 1,5

2. Written individual project - counts 60% of the final grade

In the individual project you will research and write a report about one or more of the topics covered in the course.

The individual project should have a scope of 8-10 pages, excluding front page, table of contents, appendices. Font and font size: Arial / Calibri / Verdana 12 points. Line spacing: 1,5

The students can write their exams in Norwegian or in English.

The student receives two separate grades, one for the group project and one for the individual project.

Both parts of the exam must be passed in order to pass the course. Each exam component may be retaken separately.

All aids are permitted, as long as the student complies with the rules for source referencing.

Grade scale A - F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

At least 25 % of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Jakob Utgård