Competitiveness and economic strategies of territorial entities 2400-PLSM115A
The course is intended for students of all majors and specializations of the second-cycle studies at the Faculty of Economic Sciences who want to write a master's thesis related to issues of competitiveness and development strategy, in relation to both companies and territorial units (local governments, regions, countries, international groups, etc. ). The thematic scope of the MA theses is wide, these are sometimes works from the borderline of economic sciences and management sciences as well as interdisciplinary issues. The key criteria for the selection of research problems that will become the subject of the student's thesis are: 1) compatibility of the subject with the student's interests and competencies; 2) matching the topic of research to the current state of knowledge and existing research challenges; 3) availability of data and research methods with the use of which research objectives can be implemented.
Master's theses are based on student's own research, which can be implemented using a variety of research methods and techniques, both quantitative (statistical, econometric) and qualitative (including qualitative marketing research methods and others), based on existing and induced data (eg collected by surveying respondents).
Examples of issues that may become a field for research are:
• Sources and determinants of the competitiveness of cities, regions, countries and enterprises,
• Public policy (local governments, countries, supranational groups) for competitiveness and development,
• Strategies for the development of commercial and public entities,
• Marketing strategies of commercial and public entities,
• Internationalization of enterprises,
• Place marketing: creation of territorial brands, tourist and economic promotion of local governments,
• The country of origin and consumer ethnocentrism,
• Effectiveness and effectiveness of marketing strategies and marketing tools,
• Methods of market analysis and research.
During the first seminar meetings, students become familiar with the requirements for master's theses and the methodology of economic research. Subsequent meetings are devoted to the query (collection and methodical analysis of literature) and gradual creation of a work outline, i.e. in particular to define a research problem, research questions, hypothesis, method and work plan. The next stages of the seminar cooperation include consultation of the fragments of the work.
The diploma thesis may take the form of a developed work consisting of several chapters with the volume of several dozen pages or (according to the resolution of the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Warsaw University) it may take the form of a scientific article with a supplement.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE
After completing the seminar, the student knows the factors determining the competitiveness of companies and territorial areas. He knows the principles of creating general strategies and marketing strategies. The student has knowledge about the methods of conducting economic research. The student knows how to search for reliable sources of knowledge and use them in scientific thesis.
SKILLS
After completing the seminar, the student is able to formulate questions and research hypotheses, interpret the obtained results and draw conclusions from the conducted research. Has in-depth ability to prepare written work, perform their own analysis of scientific texts, data collection and selection. Is able to explain the significance of the obtained results of the conducted research and subject them to critical analysis in the light of the available state of knowledge.
COMPETENCIES
After completing the course, the student can make a critical analysis of the sources, positions of various authors, premises and arguments, interpret and formulate independent conclusions. Students acquire independence in the analysis of problems, the ability to speak publicly, communicate presentations, discussions, criticism and defend their own views.
KW01, KW02, KW03, KU01, KU02, KU03, KK01, KK02, KK03
Assessment criteria
Students are assessed for their activity in creating their own master's thesis and for active participation in the seminar work. The basis for passing the following semesters of the seminar is the implementation of the master's thesis plan established at the beginning.
The condition for passing the master's seminar is active participation in classes and systematic progress in writing the master's thesis. The basis for passing the first semester is to prepare a concept of work supported by a literature query - the concept of work consists of identifying a research problem, formulating research questions, choosing a method, building a work hypothesis, and creating a work plan. The second semester of the course ends with the preparation of at least one chapter of the master's thesis and a detailed plan of own research. The third semester is counted on the basis of the master's thesis accepted by the supervisor.
Bibliography
Literature is adapted to the needs arising from the students' research interests and the plan of the BA thesis. Students should become familiar with the basic literature on the methodology of economic and social research, i.e. Mark Blaug, Metodologia ekonomii, PWN, Warszawa, 1995; Earl Babbie, Podstawy badań społecznych, PWN, Warszawa, 2013; Jadwiga Majchrzak, Tadeusz Mendel, Metodyka pisania prac magisterskich i dyplomowych, UE w Poznaniu, 1999.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: