Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Thesis Thursdays
How to Make the Very Most of Your MIT Sloan Masters Thesis Opportunity
v 1.5
Example Theses I
Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Amir Hasson w/ Pentland & Thurow
Example Theses II
Singapores Urban Dynamics
Bernard Nee w/ Sterman
HPs IT Outsourcing
Carl Beckett & Waqas Khan w/ Bitran
Mass Customization
Joe Pine w/ Utterback
Brainstorming Topics
Start with end in mind, e.g.
Seeking a job in X industry Deep understanding of some sector Working with a particular Professor
Time is Short
Summer & Early Fall Investigate Potential Topics & Advisors October / November Proposal & Advisor Winter & Early Spring Data, Literature Review, Interviews Spring Progress Reports, Drafts May Finale!
Types of Theses
Independent Project (w/ Advisor)
Industry / Strategic / Competitive Analysis Company Business Plan Case or Historical Study Model Development & Testing Product Roll-out Analysis Problem Analysis Hypothesis Testing Technology Assessment Policy Study
Structured Thesis
Structured Theses
Faculty provides framework for project & contacts / sponsors Aligns personal goals with larger faculty research agenda Professors
Bitran eBusiness & Supply Chains Burton Tech Venture Observatory, Talent Dynamics Fine Technology Roadmapping, Value Chain Dynamics
Potential publications
e.g. Fabozzi, Fine & Cusumano
Entrepreneurial Policy
Tech-Biz Ventures
Leadership
Innovation
Global
Geography
Market/Tech Organization
Business Dynamics
Sector
Firm
Technology Roadmapping Technology & Entrepreneurial Strategy Venture Capital Emerging Technology Creative Ventures Communities, Virtual Customer Initiative
Group
Theme
Idea
Social Networks
Individual
Decision Psychology
Geography
Technology Roadmap
Sector
Firm Group
Market/Tech Organization
OpenSource Initiative
Individual
Theme
Idea
International Development
Amir Hasson, MOT 2002 MediaLab Asia connection via Developmental Entrepreneurship Class Global E-Lab Case MIT $50K entry Thesis Employment!
Geography
Market/Tech Organization
Sector
Firm Group
Individual
Technology Roadmap Venture Capital Observatory Technology Venture OpenSource Observatory Initiative Creative Communities Observatory Virtual Customer Initiative Social Network Observatory Emerging Tech-Biz Live Cases Decision Neuropsychology Lab
Theme
Idea
Marketing
Operatns Prod Dev
Org/HR
Finance Marketing
Operatns
Prod Dev
Ideation Invention Incorporation Investments Sales Profitability Escalation
Big Themes
Tech Roadmapping Developmental Innovation Disruptive Technologies Cross-National Comparisons Corporate Venturing
Practical Tips
Write thesis over time, incremental escalation Recruit or hire some editor Think carefully about readers Write a one-pager and a one-paragraph version ASAP, iterate Beware of confidentiality & data access time constraints
Best Practices
Network Building -- Be in touch with people important to your future Career Connection -Intimately relevant to career Access -- Research gives you access to people you wouldnt otherwise get to Prototyping repeat question testing, on classmates, faculty, friends Tangible Deliverable build your portfolio Get Access by seeking answers to really interesting questions, to you and them! Broad Links go beyond those you already know, beyond your company, for example Know your Interests but be flexible in your approach Faculty as Method Experts not necessarily industry experts
Potential Advisors
Burton Fine Weill Bitran Murray Locke Johnson Shoar De Figueiredo Cusumano Utterback Hauser Urban Thurow Sterman Hunter Olive Short Pentland Von Hippel Allen
http://sloancf.mit.edu/vpf/facstaff.cfm?sortorder=name
T Individuals
I .
Innovation
Transformative Innovations, Emerging Hard & Soft Technologies, Disruptive Challenges
Global