Masters Degree Course in International Management MASTERS THESIS

Master’s Degree Course in International Management MASTER’S THESIS GUIDELINES Pro fesso r Elisa Martinelli Hea d of the Mast er’s Degree in IM, FEB RUARY, 12 T H 2020 elisa. martinelli@unimore. it

Agenda ØThe Master Thesis: aims and contents ØPrerequisites for the supervisor’s allocation ØThe allocation process v. Deadlines v. How to apply üSupervisor’s allocation üCompany Internship’s allocation

The Master Thesis ØA written and original work v. On an approved topic related to the Master’s degree programme contents v. Which combines both theoretical and empirical aspects vsupported by a supervisor ØAn appointed Committee will assign each student to a specific supervisor

Applying for the supervisor’s allocation: Prerequisites Students can apply for the allocation of a supervisor only: v. If they have completed all the exams included in their study programme or vif they still have to take exams but the total number of credits to be earned does not exceed 15 ECTS. Exception: Students selected for the MORE Overseas programme and the Modena-Bochum Double Degree programme. The coordinators of these programs will be appointed as supervisors (no choices could be made by the students).

Allocation process: Deadlines Applications will be evaluated three times a year: vat the end of the Winter term vduring the Summer term vat the end of the Summer term The deadlines to submit your application are: v 19 TH FEBRUARY 2020 v 11 th JUNE 2020 v 27 th SEPTEMBER 2020

The Supervisor’s allocation In filling out the on-line application form, you must express your preferences for each Professor eligible as thesis supervisor within the IM Degree Programme, ranking each of them from the highest (1 st choice) to the lowest one (last choice). To this end, please read the detailed description of their research topics in the Master’s Thesis Guidelines, and the specific thesis projects offered by some Professors Note: the Committee will take students’ preferences into consideration as far as possible. However, in order to ensure a fair distribution of teaching commitments among the Professors, the Committee may decide to appoint as supervisor a Professor who does not correspond to the students’ first choices The supervisor would be allocated within a month from the application deadline

Specific Thesis Projects (1) 1) Open Innovation: technology transfer and innovation awareness. Supervisor: Prof. Bernardo Balboni Many large firms are experimenting with new forms of open innovation. Implementing open innovation approaches within corporations that traditionally have relied on a closed innovation model can be extremely challenging. Despite a lot of research regarding what companies are doing with open innovation, there is a noticeable absence of data on the effectiveness of these programs with an internal perspective (i. e. organizational perspective). This research project is an attempt to better understand internal open innovation proclivity within two divisions, oncological and multiple sclerosis, of a big corporation that has been involved in an open innovation program. Previous experience in an open-innovation program developed at Unimore is relevant to participating in this research project 2) The ceramic system and its sectors: structure, strategies and internationalization. Supervisor: Prof. Tiziano Bursi. The thesis will be based on the analysis of existing literature and empirical research. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques may be applied, such as case studies, field research to collect primary data through questionnaires, statistical analysis of data.

Specific Thesis Projects (2) 3) Determinants of women's performance in STEM. Supervisor: Prof. Marina Giovanna Murat In most countries, women are underrepresented in the fields of science, engineering, technology and mathematics. The research aims to identify its main determinants in a crosscountry perspective. The thesis will be based on empirical research. Starting from existing publications, the student will build a comprehensive database. It will be imported into the GRETL (or STATA) software. The main hypotheses will be tested using basic econometric techniques. 4) Determinants of women's participation in the field of Economics. Supervisor: Prof. Marina Giovanna Murat Women's participation in the field of economics is even lower than in engineering, where it is substantially low. The research aims to identify its main determinants, with a focus in Italy and other countries. The thesis will be based on empirical research. Starting from existing publications, the student will build a comprehensive database. It will be imported into the GRETL (or STATA) software. The main hypotheses will be tested using basic econometric techniques.

Specific Thesis Projects (3) 5) International migration. Supervisor: Prof. Marina Giovanna Murat Voluntary and forced international migration are highly debated topics. The thesis will focus on economic and non-economic determinants of these phenomena, such as institutions and climate change. The thesis will be based on empirical research. Starting from existing publications, the student will build a comprehensive database. It will be imported into the GRETL (or STATA) software. The main hypotheses will be tested using basic econometric techniques. 6) Institutions, trade and growth. Supervisor: Prof. Marina Giovanna Murat Institutions and politics can influence countries' development and growth rates. The thesis will study these relationships in developed and developing countries. The thesis will be based on empirical research. Starting from existing publications, the student will build a comprehensive database. It will be imported into the GRETL (or STATA) software. The main hypotheses will be tested using basic econometric techniques.

Specific Thesis Projects (4) 7) The adoption of a new technology in an international Bto. B context. Supervisor: Prof. Marina Vignola The research project aims to assess the attitude towards the adoption of an innovation by companies operating in an international Bto. B context. In particular, the aim is to investigate a set of factors impacting on the intention to adopt a new technology based on an integrated model. The study would be carried out in 2 steps: 1. analysis of the literature on the adoption of a new technology; 2. testing of theoretical model through a qualitative analysis using the case study technique. The perspective of the company potential adopter of the new technology is taken. The collection of information about the model variables is done through interviews, by administering a semi-structured questionnaire developed on the basis of the 1 st step. 8) Case study on a company of the ceramic tiles sector. Supervisor: Prof. Marina Vignola/Elisa Martinelli The research project aims at deeply analysing and prepare a case study on a FDI or strategic alliance involving a company of the ceramic tiles sector Methodology: qualitative analysis using the case study technique. Administration of semi-structured questionnaires to a number of key informants of the chosen company

The Company Internship allocation The thesis research project might stem from an internship experience You have to upload your CV (up-to-date and detailed) and indicate: Ø Language proficiency Ø Project(s) chosen Ø Privacy statement (INSIDE THE CV): In compliance with the GDPR and Italian Legislative Decree no. 196 dated 30/06/2003, I hereby CV authorize the recipient of this document to use and process my personal details for the purpose of recruiting and selecting staff and I confirm to be informed of my rights in accordance with art. 7 of the above mentioned Decree. Your choice of the Company Internship Projects will be considered as final and binding The allocation of the Company Internship Projects will be done by the IM Thesis Committee v interview with the company Internships abroad or in other Italian provinces apart from MO and RE would be supported with a grant ◦ call The IM thesis Committee will appoint your supervisor on the basis of the activities performed during the internship (therefore, the Professor appointed as your supervisor may not correspond to your first choices)

Assignment of grants The grant for a four month period (additional money for longer periods not longer than 6 months), all inclusive, is : v 3. 000, 00 euros for outgoing mobility to Group 1 European Countries (Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom) (with a supplement of 300, 00 euros per month from the fifth month and for a maximum of two months). v 2. 000, 00 euros for outgoing mobility to Group 2 and 3 European Countries (Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania) (with a supplement of 250, 00 euros per month from the fifth month and for a maximum of two months). v 4. 000, 00 euros for outgoing mobility to non- EU countries (with a supplement of 250, 00 euros per month from the fifth month and for a maximum of two months). v 400 euros per month for an internship in Italy far from the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The internship has to be full time. In the case of an internship partly in Italy and partly abroad the amount of the grant will be proportionally reduced. Grants will be assigned through a call for competition on the basis of the ranking list drawn up by the examining Board Grants will be assigned on the basis of the ranking list drawn up by the Board

1) PANARIAGROUP ØProduct sector: ceramic tiles manufacturing ØStarting period: April 2020 ØDuration: 5/6 months ØArea: Commercial/Export Office ØCompany Tutor: Stefano Cristoforetti ØLocation: Fiorano Modenese (MO) ØActivities: analysis of German markets in order to find out new market segments and improve company brands positioning and visibility in those geographical areas. The analysis of potential customers and distribution channels as well as of the best approaches to manage them will be the main goal of the internship. Abroad business trips are possible. ØRequired Skills: ØLanguages: Italian native speaker (or C 1/C 2 level Italian language), good command of English language (B 2 level) and at least B 2 level German language; German native speaker can be considered as an extra useful skill.

2) DANIELA DALLAVALLE ØProduct sector: female fashion line and home textiles ØStarting period: ASAP ØDuration: 6 months ØArea: marketing and communication ØCompany tutor: Giorgia Fiorito ØLocation: Baracca sul Mare, via Fleming 9, Carpi (MO) ØActivities: supporting activities to digital marketing, e. g. supporting activities to design and planning of marketing campaigns, including DEM (direct e-mail marketing) campaigns, and analysis of related data ØRequired Skills: Good knowledge of Excel. Knowledge of Adobe tools (Photoshop, Illustrator) and Hootsuite can be considered as extra useful skills. Languages: Italian native speakers or at least B 2 level of Italian language; good command of English language (B 2 level); French or Russian can be considered as extra useful skills.

3) DANIELA DALLAVALLE ØProduct sector: female fashion line and home textiles ØStarting period: ASAP ØDuration: 6 months ØArea: marketing and communication ØCompany tutor: Giorgia Fiorito ØLocation: Baracca sul Mare, via Fleming 9, Carpi (MO) ØActivities: support to the marketing strategy through research on both national and international markets: brand positioning, competitors, customers and distribution channels analysis. ØRequired Skills: Good knowledge of Excel. Knowledge of Adobe tools (Photoshop, Illustrator) and Mac can be considered as extra useful skills. Languages: Italian native speaker or at least C 1 level of Italian language; B 2 level of English language; French (B 1 level) or German (A 1 level) can be considered as extra useful skills.

4) GAO OPERATIONS ØProduct sector: Clothing/Textiles ØStarting period: 1 st of April 2020 ØDuration of the internship: 4 months ØArea: Legal Office ØCompany tutor: Franco Sonnino ØLocation: Baggiovara (MO) ØActivities: the student will be assigned to the legal office of GA Operations in support to the Modena branch and others company branches in Italy and Hong Kong regarding contracts, especially international contracts. Specific activities are: Monitoring contracts sent to suppliers and reception of countersigned copies; Updating company’s database; preparing reports to be sent to the HQ in Milan. ØRequired Skills: Knowledge of Excel ØLevels of languages required: Very good command of Italian and English (at least B 2 level)

5) GAO OPERATIONS ØProduct sector: Clothing/Textiles ØStarting period: 1 st of April 2020 ØDuration: 4 months ØArea: Test and Compliance Office ØCompany tutor: Pierluigi Figliola ØLocation: Baggiovara (MO) ØActivities: Support to the Modena and Hong Kong branches regarding international safety regulations for garments; Check and Database Upload of reports; Sample delivery to laboratories and data recording; Invoice check; Filing of tested samples; TRF creation. The student will have the opportunity to learn how to manage compliance tests related to the production cycle of the clothing industry and deepening his/her understanding of sustainability issues related to the production of garments with lower environmental footprints. ØRequired Skills: Knowledge of Excel ØLanguages: Very good command of Italian and English (at least B 2 level)

6) GAO OPERATIONS ØProduct sector: Clothing/Textiles ØStarting period: ASAP ØDuration: 4 months ØArea: Planning Production Office-Emporio Armani line ØCompany tutor: Marco Cigarini ØLocation: Baggiovara (MO) ØActivities: the student will have the opportunity to advance his/her understanding of a textile company’s production cycle. Specific activities include Launch of sample case orders, Pricing, Checking invoices and shipment monitoring, filing of documents, managing couriers (dhl-ups), managing contract archives, Checking production invoices, closing orders, Exporting Paxar data ØRequired Skills: Knowledge of Excel ØLanguages: Very good command of Italian and English (at least B 2 level)

7) GAO OPERATIONS ØProduct sector: Clothing/Textiles Ø Starting period: 1 st of March 2020 ØDuration: 4 months ØArea: Planning Production Office-Armani Exchange line ØCompany tutor: Paola Tamarozzi ØLocation of the internship: Baggiovara (MO) ØActivities: the student will have the opportunity to advance his/her understanding of a textile company’s production cycle. Specific activities include shipment management of the merchandise coming from GA Hong Kong hub and from GA international suppliers; sorting of shipment confirmation emails from Hong Kong hub and other foreign suppliers to forwarding agents, sending confirmation to GA office for reception procedures, preparation of the required documents for customs clearance. ØRequired Skills: Knowledge of Excel ØLanguages: Very good command of Italian and English (at least B 2 level)

8) CERDOMUS S. r. l. ØProduct sector: Ceramic tiles manufacturing ØStarting period: April 2020 ØDuration of the internship: 6 months ØArea: Commercial Department ØCompany tutor: Teresa Montanari ØLocation: Castel Bolognese (RA) ØActivities: Market analysis and mapping for the assigned areas. Relationships with customers and coordination with marketing and production departments. ØRequisites: aptitude for business trips in Italy and abroad Languages: Italian native speaker or at least B 2 level of Italian language. B 2 level of French OR German language can be considered as extra useful skills.

9) LB OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA ØProduct sector: Ceramic Tiles Technology/Dry Mortar technology/Powder treatment technology ØStarting period: ASAP ØDuration: 4 months ØArea: Commercial Office ØCompany tutor: tbd ØLocation: Fiorano Modenese (MO) ØActivities: Market research on the premixed sector/products/technology in the U. S. A. and Canada ØRequisites: North-American nationality or studying experiences in those areas will be particularly valued ØLanguages: Good command of Italian and English (B 1/B 2 level in both languages)

10) LB OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA ØProduct sector: Ceramic Tiles Technology/Dry Mortar technology/Powder treatment technology ØStarting period: ASAP ØDuration: 4 months ØArea: Commercial Office ØCompany tutor: tbd ØLocation: Fiorano Modenese, Modena (MO) ØActivities: Market research on the premixed sector/products/technology in Africa ØRequisites: African nationality (i. e. Sub-Saharan or North Africa countries) will be particularly valued ØLanguages: Good command of Italian and English (B 1/B 2 level in both languages). Good command of French (B 1/B 2 level) is an extra useful skill.

11) CONCORDE GROUP ØProduct sector: Ceramic tiles manufacturing ØStarting period: ASAP ØDuration: 6 months ØArea: Commercial Export Office ØCompany tutor: tbd ØLocation: Fiorano Modenese, Sassuolo, Pavullo or Casalgrande ØActivities: market analysis and mapping, approach to new customers and creation of new business opportunities. Customers’ relationships management (retailers, distributors, specialists). ØLanguages: English and Italian native speaker (at least C 1/C 2 level in both languages). Good command of German OR French OR Spanish (level B 1/B 2 or native speaker) can be considered as extra useful skills.

12) NOCOAT ØProduct sector: Production of chemicals and industrial equipment for the treatment of ceramic and stone surface and floor products ØStarting period: ASAP ØDuration: 4/6 months ØArea: Commercial and Marketing areas ØCompany tutor: Giuseppe Soli- CEO ØLocation of the internship: Corlo di Formigine (MO) ØActivities: corporate image/positioning analysis at the international level starting from the sales network and with respect to the market of different divisions such as: stone, glass, mechanics, setting marketing objectives. Additional activities: market analysis, strategic and operational marketing analysis. ØLanguages: Good command of English (B 2 level).

13) ACIMAC/UCIMA ØProduct sectors: ceramics/packaging ØStarting period: March 2020 ØDuration: 6 month ØArea: Credit and Financial Services Office which provides consultancy to companies in the field of corporate and innovative finance ØCompany tutor: Garbellotto Rossella ØLocation: Modena ØActivities: In the macro and microeconomics field: budget and balance sheet reading, Analysis of agreements with institutions and suppliers of product/services (regulations, prohibitions, embargoes and related updates); ØIn the commercial, sales and marketing field: Customer relationship management, analysis and evaluation of clients’ needs regarding products/services. The internship project will help the trainee to develop his/her basic professional skills, i. e. managing interpersonal relationships both inside the company and with external stakeholders; organizing one’s own work and time; planning activities. The trainee will support the head of the office, thus, having a full overview and opportunity to intervene in all the phases of the process concerning both new and already started practices. To this end, the trainee will receive a specific and accurate supervision and job training and will have the opportunity to attend conferences and training courses. High it is the possibility to continuing the employment relationship. ØRequired skills: Good command of Windows and Office suite, Internet, electronic mail and ability to reorganize information through IT tools ØLanguages: Good command of Italian and English (both written and spoken) (at least level B 1/B 2 in both languages

14) BOMPANI SPA ØProduct sector: Appliances Production ØStarting period: 23/03/2020 ØDuration: 6 months ØArea: International Management ØCompany tutor: ENRICO VENTO ØLocation: Bompani Spa di Renzo Bompani and C. Legal head office Modena via Pienza, 100 ØActivities: Under the company tutor’s supervision, the trainee will analyze the structure and dynamics of the company’s current and future potential international markets. The main goal will be to understand the dynamics associated with the management of global companies, with a special focus on finding out the most appropriate management and marketing strategies to enter still unexplored markets. The trainee will have the opportunity to apply knowledge on these issues in the context of the appliances supply chain. In order to find out the most appropriate strategy to enter new markets, the trainee will be mainly involved in the activities regarding the company's management control and namely analytical accounting, budgeting, variances analysis and preparation of regular economic reports for the Management. ØRequired Skills: Good knowledge of analytical accounting, very good command of the Office suite, Accuracy and reliability, aptitude for teamwork ØLanguages: Italian native speaker (or at least C 1/C 2 level), good command of English (level B 2)

15) BOMPANI SPA ØProduct sector: Appliances Production ØStarting period: 23/03/2020 ØDuration: 6 months ØArea: Marketing office ØCompany tutor: ENRICO VENTO ØLocation: Bompani Spa di Renzo Bompani and C. Legal head office Modena via Pienza, 100 ØActivities: In collaboration with the office head, the trainee will be involved in the Planning of the marketing office activities, in the Proactive support to the commercial office, in the coordination processes taking place between the company and its suppliers (i. e. agency, press office, web agency, photographers, printers…). Project management will be another area of work: monitoring of all work phases, in permanent contact with internal and external stakeholders to achieve the goals set by the Management; Management of estimation activity; preliminary evaluation of economic offers and ongoing dialogue with the Management. ØRequired Skills: Good command of Office suite and familiarity with management software ØLanguages: Italian native speaker (C 1/C 2 level) and good command of English (level B 1/B 2)

16) ACMA spa (Coesia Group) ØProduct sector: mechanical- automated machines/equipment for packaging ØStarting period: ASAP ØDuration: 6 months ØArea: Sales/Sales operations ØCompany tutor: Filippo Huller (provisional) ØLocation: ACMA, via C. Colombo 1 Bologna ØActivities: Support to the Sales department, actively working on specific sales projects or on processes aimed at improving internal procedures oriented to the sales activity. ØRequired Skills: marketing or engineering/technical background ØLanguages: Good command of English (level B 2) and Italian language (Level B 2). Good command of French language (level A 2) can be considered as extra useful skills.

17) ACMA spa (Coesia Group) ØProduct sector: Packaging ØStarting period: March 2020 ØDuration: 6 months ØArea: Customer service ØCompany tutor: ing. Daniela Quarta ØLocation: ACMA, via C. Colombo 1 Bologna ØActivities: The thesis will explore a very important topic in the Customer Service field and of relevance not only in ACMA but also in the industries of the sector and related to it, that is the ability to generate greater service sales at machinery sales quotas. The reference indicator by which this sales effectiveness is measured is defined as Turnover ratio = Customer Service Turnover / Value of the installed base. The purpose of thesis will be to analyze the Turnover ratio according to various dimensions (Geography, Technology, Customer. . . ) and understand what are the factors that influence the TR. In order to understand the dynamics that influence the TR it will be necessary to identify a product and market development strategy that allows the whole company to improve the TR in the medium term (18 -24 months) ØRequired Skills: Good command of excel (Pivot tables, complex data sheets (100. 000 rows); motivation, autonomy and capacity to group work ØLanguages: Good command of English (level B 2) and Italian language (Level B 2).

Extracurricular Internships Students who have autonomously identified an extracurricular internship should follow the same rules and timetables and get authorisation from the Head of the IM degree, Professor Elisa Martinelli. In filling out the supervisor’s allocation request, they must indicate: ØThe company name and Location ØPeriod ØJob description, Activities to be performed, assigned company department and tutor ØProposed thesis project (2 pages: context, aim, methodology, expected theoretical and managerial contribution) The Committee will assign these students to their supervisor only if thesis project and activities performed during the internship are considered valuable and coherent with the degree aims. The Professor appointed as supervisor may not correspond to the student’s first choices

How to apply Fill in and submit thesis supervisor allocation form ØMandatory questions are marked with an asterisk ØPress Send (INVIA) to submit the application

Thanks a lot for the attention Any questions?

For any further information Contact Professor Ylenia Curzi Room #65 (Marco Biagi Foundation, Largo Marco Biagi, 10) ylenia. curzi@unimore. it Tel: +39 059 2056030

In compliance with the GDPR and Italian Legislative Decree no. 196 dated 30/06/2003, I hereby authorize the recipient of this document to use and process my personal details for the purpose of recruiting and selecting staff and I confirm to be informed of my rights in accordance with art. 7 of the above mentioned Decree.