Course Topics
The course is divided into 3 modules: A. Conducting research and writing a thesis; B. Writing a literature review; C. Choosing among alternative research methodologies. In Module C, quantitative (survey data collection, use of databases, and data analysis) and qualitative research methods are presented.

Teaching format
Frontal lectures and project work.

Educational objectives
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILO) ILO 3: AUTONOMY OF JUDGEMENT ILO 3.a Autonomy of judgement is developed in the training activities carried out for the preparation of the thesis, as well as in the exercises that accompany the lectures and that involve group discussions and the comparison of individual analyses carried out by students in preparation for the lecture. ILO 4: COMMUNICATION SKILLS ILO 4.a Acquire the ability to describe and communicate in an intercultural context, in a clear and precise manner, problematic situations typical of the management of a new enterprise and the development of innovation, such as, for example, the conditions for the validation of a problem or solution, the prospects and risks associated with a business model or an innovation project. The development of communication competences assumes heterogeneous situations such as, for example, the presence of internal stakeholders (e.g. colleagues, managers, owners), or external stakeholders (e.g. potential investors, suppliers and other business partners) and the ability to sustain an adversarial process; ILO 4.b The achievement of these objectives is assessed in the course of the training activities already mentioned, as well as in the discussion of the final thesis. ILO 5: LEARNING SKILLS ILO 5.a Acquire the ability to study independently, to prepare summaries; ILO 5.b Acquire the ability to identify thematic connections and to establish relationships between different cases and contexts of analysis; ILO 5.c Acquire the ability to frame a new problem systematically and to generate appropriate taxonomie; ILO 5.d Acquire the ability to develop general models from the phenomena studied.

Assessment
100% Project work The project work consists of the design of a (small) research project on a topic of interest for the student. The student has to design the research project individually according to the concepts and best practices presented during the course. The student has time to work on the project during the course (in-class activity). On the day of the exam, the student has to deliver a written report on the project work. (ILOs: 3, 4, 5). Students attending less than 75% of the lectures will automatically fail the course.

Evaluation criteria
It is relevant that the student demonstrates to be able to correctly apply the concepts and best practices presented during the course, especially with respect to structuring the research project, defining the boundaries of a literature review, and identifying the most appropriate quantitative or qualitative research method.