10 pages
At least 20 sources
Times New Roman 12, 1.5 line spacing
1, You have to prove that you know the topic well by selecting and analyzing and putting together different literature of the topic.
2, You have to prove that you can choose relevant sources. The sources that are of good quality and that are really about your problem and that help understanding the problem that you want to analyze.
3, You prove that you can process these sources systematically according to the logic of your thesis work, and you can use them for your purposes.
4, Then you can prove that you can do it in 10 pages. – Select the most important literature and statements to include in the theoretical part.
5, You prove that you know the proper use of sources. It means that you can use them honestly and your referencing is correct.
In a good thesis work we should have a good question and a good answer in the proper form.
A good answer has 4 characteristics : 1. It’s theoretically confirmed. 2. It is methodologically valid. 3. Logically organized. 4. It has an added value.
For the theoretical part the first one is important, because the theoretical chapter provides that your solution, your conclusion is theoretically confirmed. This is the role of the theoretical chapter bur it has a double function. First, you introduce and explain all the important concepts and models here to help sour reader to understand what is your problem about and to understand the problem itself and your solution. Secondly you summarize the knowledge, collected by scholars up to know. This can be as a starting point for your research.
What to include: All the definitions, concepts and models that you’ll use or refer to in the practical section.
Then include ideas taken from scholarly literature. It is important to build up the theoretical part from academic sources.
You can add you own ideas, your own opinion on the literature (not on the practical problem). For example compare the different sources and different statements found in the literature, summarize, draw some conclusions.
Exclude: description of the industry/sector and company – it’ll go to the practical part.
Don’t include your own ideas about the practical problem.
Do not use not scientific sources. – use scholarly literature
Don’t use company sources
5 criteria of a good theoretical chapter
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Cover all the topics of the practical part but only those – the research question will help you in selecting the necessary subtopics.
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Proper language and style – easy to overview – easy to read and understand – used proper terminology. Try to avoid passice voice, use first person, use present or past tense when you write about your research. Use the terminology of the topic, but don’t overuse it and explain where it is necessary.
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Add value – you can create a comparison table. You can compare the different ideas of different researchers about the topic. You can compare definitions or different models. You can carefully add some critical remarks, for example in theory it can work, but real life examples prove that it’s not always true – you have to provide proof if you have critical remarks. Summary, aggregation- researcher 1 and 2 say something so you can conclude it’s true. Limitations, gaps of existing literature – it can be a possibility to fill the gap
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Use good sources
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Proper referencing – PLAGIARISM, use APA-7 style
Chapters and subchapters
Try to avoid too short or too long chapters
Theoretical chapter is 10 pages, if it’s 5 or more pages long then it’s considered long chapter is short when it is less than 1 page
Subchapters are at least half page long – if it’s shorter, merge it with other chapters
Make at least 2 sub-chapters in a chapter or choose 0
Numbering – use Arabic numbers to number the chapters
Hierarchical numbering: Main chapter, sub chapter, sub sub chapter – like 1.4.2
Don’t use roman numbers and letters for chapter numbering
First Chapter
Introduction is the first number chapter
It introduces the topic and gives an insight on what will happen in the thesis work
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put different parts and different paragraphs to make a complex and good introduction
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First it has to raise interest towards the topic- attention grabber paragraph, why is my topic actual, why is it new, why is it relevant
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We have to put the topic into content – write a paragraph about the “big picture” – how is your topic, your problem related to other problems in business and management and economics
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write something about your motivations, why did you choose this topic, why is it interesting for you, and what motivates you to write about this topic
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You can give professional motivations and personal motivations, but because this is a scholarly paper, please make the emphasis on the professional part
Then give the aim of the thesis and the research questions
Then present the structure of your thesis work – make the reader know what will happen later and what different chapters will be about
Main Chapter – Theoretical background – 10 pages
it can be one main chapter – recommended for better understanding
if it includes background theory from very different areas then we can make separate chapters for that
10 pages – gives background to our research, presents all the background theories for the problem and research method,
it is based on literature, so basically it’s a complex study about existing research results related to our topic
this gives the context and the background to our research
it is recommended to use at least 20 sources
Potential outline and sources:
Importance of the topic:
Businesses must adapt significantly to meet the EU Green Deal’s objectives for a circular economy and carbon neutrality. Resilience, competitiveness, and social responsibility all depend on recognizing and reducing these risks. Ignoring them might result in problems, losses, and legal troubles. Global sustainability laws are expanding, and firms need to adjust to maintain robust supply networks. Exploring the relationship between supply chain resilience and sustainability regulations is vital for shaping responsible management practices.
Aim of the thesis work:
This thesis aims to assess the impact of sustainability regulations, specifically those outlined in the EU Green Deal, on supply chain risks, and to propose effective strategies for risk mitigation.
Research Questions:
1. What are the key sustainability regulations outlined in the EU Green Deal affecting supply chains?
2. How do these regulations contribute to risks within supply chain operations?
3. What strategies can businesses adopt to effectively mitigate the risks posed by sustainability regulations in their supply chains?
Outline of the thesis:
1. Introduction
– Establishing the Context: Brief overview of the significance of supply chain resilience and the growing influence of sustainability regulations like the EU Green Deal.
– Statement of the Problem: Introduction to the research topic, emphasizing the need to understand and mitigate risks in supply chains resulting from sustainability regulations.
– Objectives of the Study: Defining the aim and research questions of the thesis.
– Motivation and Relevance: Exploring the importance and timeliness of the topic.
– Structure of the Thesis: Overview of the chapters and their contents.
2. Theoretical Background
– Introduction to Supply Chain Resilience: Defining supply chain resilience and its importance in contemporary business environments.
– Overview of Sustainability Regulations: Examination of key sustainability regulations, with a focus on the EU Green Deal, and their implications for supply chains.
– Supply Chain Risks: Exploration of various types of risks within supply chains, including those arising from regulatory changes.
3. Problem Definition
– Identifying Key Actors: Overview of the stakeholders involved in supply chains affected by sustainability regulations.
– Description of the Regulatory Environment: Analysis of the specific provisions of the EU Green Deal and their potential impact on supply chain operations.
– Restatement of Research Questions
4. Methodology
– Research Design: Explanation of the qualitative research approach, detailing the use of an interview for data collection.
– Data Collection Methods: Discussion of the process of conducting interviews with supply chain managers and experts.
– Justification: Rationale behind the selection of interview-based research methods and their suitability for addressing the research questions.
5. Problem Analysis
– Presentation of Research Results: Summary of findings from the interviews, highlighting key insights into the risks posed by sustainability regulations in the supply chain.
– Interpretation of Findings: Analysis of the implications of the research results for supply chain management and regulatory compliance.
– Recommendations for Risk Mitigation: Proposal of strategies and best practices for mitigating the identified risks and enhancing supply chain resilience.
6. Conclusions
– Summary of Findings: A summary of the key research findings and their implications.
– Implications for Practice: Examining the research’s usefulness for companies participating in the EU Green Deal.
– Limitations and Future Research Directions: Identification of limitations in the study and suggestions for future researchers.
7. Summary
– Overview of Key Points: Brief summary of the main findings and contributions of the thesis.
– Synthesis of Main Messages: Summary of the most significant ideas and suggestions made throughout the thesis.
8. References
References: Please use the BCI Supply Chain Resilience Report 2023 !! and at least some of the mentioned sources, try to use newer sources
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Al-Banna, A., Rana, Z. A., Yaqot, M., & Menezes, B. C. (2023). Supply Chain Resilience, industry 4.0, and Investment Interplays: A Review. Production & Manufacturing Research, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21693277.2023.2227881
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Bier, T., Lange, A., & Glock, C. H. (2019). Methods for mitigating disruptions in complex supply chain structures: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Production Research, 58(6), 1835–1856. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1687954
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Han, N., & Um, J. (2024). Risk management strategy for supply chain sustainability and Resilience Capability. Risk Management, 26(2). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41283-023-00138-w
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Han, Y., Chong, W. K., & Li, D. (2020). A systematic literature review of the capabilities and Performance Metrics of Supply Chain Resilience. International Journal of Production Research, 58(15), 4541–4566. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1785034
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Kim, S., Foerstl, K., Schmidt, C. G., & Wagner, S. M. (2021). Adoption of green supply chain management practices in multi-tier supply chains: Examining the differences between higher and lower tier firms. International Journal of Production Research, 60(21), 6451–6468. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2021.1992032
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Kougias, I., Taylor, N., Kakoulaki, G., & Jäger-Waldau, A. (2021). The role of photovoltaics for the European Green Deal and the recovery plan. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 144, 111017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111017
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Siems, E., Seuring, S., & Schilling, L. (2022). Stakeholder roles in Sustainable Supply Chain Management: A literature review. Journal of Business Economics, 93(4), 747–775. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-022-01117-5
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Stone, J., & Rahimifard, S. (2018). Resilience in agri-food supply chains: A critical analysis of the literature and synthesis of a novel framework. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 23(3), 207–238. https://doi.org/10.1108/scm-06-2017-0201
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Villena, V. H., & Gioia, D. A. (2020). A more sustainable supply chain. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/03/a-more-sustainable-supply-chain
10. Xu, S., Zhang, X., Feng, L., & Yang, W. (2020). Disruption risks in Supply Chain Management: A literature review based on Bibliometric Analysis. International Journal of Production Research, 58(11), 3508–3526. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1717011