GMBA

Thesis Workshop

Professor Chan-Jane Lin

Director, GMBA Program

November 25, 2015

Find Your Advisor Your advisor must be a full-time professor at the

College of Management; if you choose an adjunct professor, then you must find a co-advisor who is a full-time professor

It is highly recommended that students find their advisors by as early as July 31st following their first year (The Advisor Agreement Form may be found on the GMBA website)

You can find full-time faculty research fields from department website

Your thesis choice

Business Plan Case Formal or Empirical-based

Thesis

Business Plan-1 Ideal for students interested in forming a plan

towards a set of business goals Objective is to convince potential investors that

these business goals are attainable A full business plan is not expected (refer to the

Thesis Guidebook for more details)

Business Plan-2 Executive summary Background of

enterprise Products and service Market analysis Marketing plan Operating procedure Organization

management

Operating plan Financial plan Accounting and budget Information

management Project management

team Exit strategy Risk management

Case Address business issues using a real company as an

example. Usually include

Motivation and purposeLiterature review (optional)Company background and issues faced Case analysis based on theories and data or

evidence gatheredRecommendations

Empirical-based Thesis

Ideal for students interested in research topics that aren’t necessarily commercially viable.

Usually include Introduction (motivations and purposes)Literature review and hypothesis developmentResearch design – data and empirical models

(need statistical background)Results and AnalysisConclusion

Thesis Preparation For how long? Meet and discuss with your advisor

on a regular basis. Follow standard formatting (refer to the Thesis

Guidebook ) Resources are available at the library

Database (TEJ, CSMAR, COMPUSTAT, CRSP, DataStream…)

Electronic journalsprior thesis

Key successful factors Keep close contact with your advisor and follow

his/her advice Find topic that motives and benefits you most Focus on a specific topic or issue. Small is beautiful. Find good thesis examples as your benchmark Apply management knowledge and skills Take advantage of resources at NTU Be patient and persistent. No pain no gain.

Graduation Application All credit requirements must be met (completed core courses

& elective courses) You must submit hard copies of the following to the GMBA

Office: Graduation Application Form Online Transcript Course Selection Results of the Current Semester (only if

enrolled in classes during graduation semester) Credit Approval Form

Refer to the GMBA website for all the forms

Oral Defense – Time & Venue The venue shall be at the NTU College of

Management. Once a time is verified with your advisor, the

conference room reservation may be made with the office (room bookings are based on availability).

Oral Defense Please prepare the following documents (typed):

1) The Thesis Oral Defense Pay-List

2) Thesis Oral Defense Grade Form

3) Master Thesis Certification

4) Master Thesis Oral Defense Committee Member List

5) NTU College of Management Master Thesis Post-Evaluation Form

6) Payment Information Form for the Committee Member from OUTSIDE NTU (if necessary)

Please submit all documents to the GMBA office prior to the oral defense for verification

Thesis oral defense payments are covered by the university

Deadlines

Important Reminders Please read the Thesis Guidebook carefully from

beginning to end All forms may be found on the Global MBA website:

http://exp.management.ntu.edu.tw/en/GMBA

Detailed StepsDecided Thesis or Business Plan

Find your AdvisorSpring semester: January 31st

Fall semester: July 31st

Thesis/Business Plan preparation

Graduation ApplicationSpring semester: April 30th

Fall semester: December 1st

Oral DefenseSpring semester: July 31st

Fall semester: February 2nd

Submission and Departure ProceduresSpring semester: July 31st

Fall semester: February 2nd

Graduation Application WithdrawSpring semester: July 31st

Fall semester: February 2nd