The Degree Programme in Business, Media and Organizational Communication identifies a series of indications for the preparation of the Graduate Programme dissertation.

The following criteria represent guidelines and will be used by each teacher according to the specificities of the subject.

There will be a dissertation and Dissertation Workshop (1 ECTS), with compulsory attendance. The Workshop provides support for the correct drafting and setting up of the final dissertation, in line with what is stated in the Dissertation Regulations.

1. Types of dissertations

The dissertation is an empirical and applicative research path.

It must include an adequate survey of the literature on the subject, with particular attention to the most recent developments in the debate; the focus of a research question; the identification of the most appropriate research methodologies for the identified problem and their application to a sample constructed according to scientific, quantitative or qualitative representativeness criteria. The dissertation should conclude with an interpretation of the empirical results in the light of the state of knowledge on the subject.

The Graduate Programme dissertation, which includes only the descriptive empirical case, does not represent an adequate content. The empirical case must be placed within a theoretical debate; its salience in the reference scenario must be demonstrated, through an appropriate preliminary analysis that highlights its exemplary nature with respect to a cluster or a trend; The results of the analysis must be commensurate with the exemplary nature of the case.

It is possible to carry out theoretical dissertation if they are carried out on topics that are little explored or for which the reference literature is particularly fragmented and dispersed. Such work must include an appropriate use of the sources of scientific literature and of the philological and methodological tools of research. The candidate must show adequate knowledge selection skills; selective use of sources and original and insightful definition of the state of the art on the topics covered by the dissertation; also highlighting any search gaps.

The Graduate Programme dissertation can usefully be carried out in synergy with internship and curricular internship activities or with study abroad programs carried out during the course of the Graduate Degree Programme.

2. Evaluation of the contribution

The Graduate Programme dissertation is evaluated on the basis of

• clear formulation of research questions and their relevance to the debate;
• ability to autonomously develop the research path;
• an articulation of the paper that highlights a) correct use of sources b) adequate methodological approach to research c) solidity of arguments d) ability to read the results obtained in order to produce a scientifically valid and useful cognitive contribution to the progression of knowledge;
• Effective presentation of the results of the dissertation during the final examination.

3. Dissertation evaluation

The Graduate Programme dissertation work gives the student 14 ECTS and will be evaluated on a scale from 0 to 7+1 points, as follows:

• From 0 to 2 points: descriptive and summary dissertation of a theme, which does not show appreciable aspects of originality and personal interpretation;
• From 3 to 4 points: dissertation that has partially achieved the set objectives, but where the descriptive and summary dimension is still prevalent;
• 5 to 6 points: a good dissertation that has achieved the set objectives, and that has led to the prevalence of interpretative efforts and well-founded and original commentary;
• 7 points: excellent research dissertation, which presents all the characteristics of scientific work: originality, mastery of the literature, adequacy of the methodology used, significance of the results and interpretation of the same.
• 7+1: excellent research dissertation that, in addition to having all the characteristics of scientific work, stands out for having excelled in one or more of the above aspects.

In the case of 7+1 score proposals, the Graduation Committee may unanimously decide on the awarding of honours. Therefore, the awarding of honours cannot depend solely on the curriculum of studies and the relative average obtained.

4. Dissertation Defense

The debate normally lasts 15 minutes. The effectiveness of the presentation of the dissertation and the candidate's ability to justify the research path contribute to the final evaluation (see point 2)

5. Language of the dissertation

The dissertation can also be written in a language other than Italian. As far as the discussion is concerned, it is necessary for the supervisor to verify with the chairman of the commission that it is possible to proceed with the use of the language in which the dissertation was written.

6. Filing of the dissertation topic

The submission of the dissertation topic takes place, indicatively, 6 months before the presumed date of the final examination. The candidate must agree on the topic with a professor in charge of one of the courses of the Degree Programme, who will become the supervisor of the dissertation. It is possible to co-tutor with professors from other universities and with the professors in charge of the seminars of the Degree Programme: they will appear as co-supervisors of the dissertation. In the case of co-tutoring, the supervisor must notify the coordinator of the Degree Programme, who will apply for authorisation from the Faculty Dean.

The deadlines for the submission of the dissertation topic are defined by the Student Centre and published on the University website on the Faculty page.

7. Graduation application

The graduation application must be submitted approximately 45 days from the scheduled date of the degree examination; The candidate is required to contact his/her supervisor to have the degree application signed. The degree application can only be submitted in the face of research and drafting work that is already at an advanced stage. The deadlines  for submitting the degree application are decided by the Student Services Centre and published on the University website on the Faculty page.

8. Failure to complete the dissertation

Students who are unable to complete their dissertation on time must immediately notify the supervisor and the Student Services Centre. The graduation application is specific to a single session, in case of cancellation the student is required to resubmit another one within the deadlines provided and published on the University website on the Faculty page.

How do you deal with the theoretical chapter?

The theoretical chapter(s) of the Graduate Programme dissertation are based on the "classical" literature (manuals, fundamental reference texts), which the student is presumed to possess (and if this is not the case, he must consolidate in advance), but in it must primarily find space for the recent debate, with particular reference to the last five to ten years.

Where are the sources to construct the theoretical chapter(s)?
The Library and its electronic resources are the first and fundamental point of reference. A good search starts from an exhaustive reconnaissance of bibliographic sources, through the use of the Encore metasearch engine or through the use of more specific search engines indicated by the supervisor.

Which sources are eligible for the drafting of the theoretical chapter?
The student's ability to discern sources is an element of evaluation of the dissertation work. Scientific sources are essays or texts published in journals recognized by the relevant scientific community; Wikipedia is not a scientific source, but it is a useful source if the goal is to give an account of the widespread opinion or the 'vulgate' on a certain theme or topic.

How do I manage the bibliographic materials once I have collected them?
The best way to proceed is to list the documents (in electronic or paper format). For database searches (see point 2), it is advisable to note in a table the search engines used, the keywords entered, the number of results obtained and the number of essays/texts relevant to the topic of the dissertation and selected. This table (which proves the breadth of the theoretical research work carried out by the student) can be appropriately placed in the appendix of the dissertation.

How do I manage the bibliographic materials once I have told them / 2?
Once the bibliographic material has been collected, it is useful to proceed with the drafting of short sheets, noting the most relevant themes and aspects for the purposes of the research being conducted and removing the exemplary citations, which can then be recalled in the dissertation.
Warning: copying portions of text without declaring it is plagiarism. Plagiarizing is an offense that invalidates the dissertation.

I have a lot of sources, how do I deal with them in the theoretical chapter?
The theoretical chapter must restore the state of the debate on the topic of the dissertation and show the student's ability to master it. The theoretical chapter must include: the themes/aspects of the topic that are most covered; those who are less treated or absent from the scientific debate; For each topic (except for the absentees), the debate must be reconstructed: what the different authors say, with attention to bringing out both the points of contact and the diversity of perspectives. The theoretical chapter also serves to provide the "dimensions" (read also the aspects and criteria) currently used in the analysis and interpretation of the object/field of research and which can be appropriately taken up in the empirical-applicative part of the dissertation.

How do you construct the sample for empirical research?
The sample is not constructed by pretextually (i.e., as it suits us best!) the case studies, but by setting selection criteria and collecting all the cases that meet these criteria. For example, I want to analyze how much and how social media are used by Italian companies. First of all, they have to narrow it down! I can focus on companies that operate in a specific sector, for example, "coffee". If the number is too high, I can introduce an additional filter: for example, the size of the company, which can be estimated through the market shares it occupies or other indicators. And so on. The criteria I use to size the sample must be verifiable, i.e. they must refer to certified sources and verifiable data.

Once I have defined the sample, how do I proceed?
It depends on the objectives of the dissertation and the methods. One option is to proceed in two steps.

• The first step is the clustering of the sample. Let's go back to the example in point 7.

I have identified 24 brands of coffee companies and, considering the objectives of the dissertation, I can collect these realities into groups/families by referring to their presence on the web: how many social spaces they occupy; how active they are (how much content companies post on average); how vital the environments are (how many followers there are, how active they are in responding)... By cross-referencing the data (also in this case observable and verifiable) I can proceed to unite brands that adopt similar strategies into groups.

• The second step is the qualitative analysis. For each group I build, I identify a case or several cases, which I can submit to a more in-depth analysis, using different methods and tools (the speaker will help you!), to investigate the phenomenon more deeply.

• The three most frequently asked (and least important) questions?

  • How long should the Graduate Programme dissertation be? The problem is not the length, but the appropriateness of the research question. If you set up your dissertation as illustrated above, you will need at least 140 pages to develop the research question, define the sample and conduct the analysis.
  • How many chapters should the Graduate Programme dissertation include? It is recommended to imagine at least 4 chapters, or even more. Short chapters are easier to manage and reduce the risk of losing thread, introducing unnecessary topics, etc.
  • How do you write notes? How do you cite sources? Ask your supervisor. If you don't have a preference, take any volume and stick to the editorial rules it uses. The important thing is to report the sources in a complete way and to use a single system of citation and indication of sources throughout the dissertation.

  Why do I have to commit to the writing of the dissertation?
  The dissertation is an important business card with which one presents oneself in the world of work. An experimental dissertation, which deals with strategic and new themes, is an important driver of promotion and personal branding. The dissertation should therefore be thought of not as the end of the course of study, but as the start of one's career path.

  Is it useful to prepare a Power Point presentation of the dissertation?
  Presenting and presenting yourself at your best is a fundamental skill for CIMO graduates. In general, the ppt presentation is useful if you have something to show (graphs, images,..). Otherwise, it is preferable to choose other media (e.g. brochures to be distributed to the members of the Graduation Committee). Discuss with your supervisor the most effective and appropriate tool and remember: the discussion is not an exam, but an opportunity to give an account of a work you have done and to discuss it with an attentive and interested audience.

  Where can I find the exam calendar?
  The calendar with the graduation exams and some general information on administrative procedures can be consulted at the FOLLOWING LINK.
  Please note that, for theses, CIMO follows the calendar of the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy.

The dissertation and dissertation workshop aims to provide support for the correct drafting and setting up of the final dissertation, in line with what is stated in the Dissertation Regulations and functionally with the educational objectives of the Degree Programme.

Students are invited to accrue the ECTS required for participation in the dissertation and dissertation workshop BEFORE the start of the dissertation programme.

Before taking part in the workshop, it is the student's responsibility to read the Regulations, the InTesi material (booklet and video by the Business, Media and Organizational Communication faculty), and the FAQ.

The dissertation and dissertation workshop will explore the following topics:

• how to set up and carry out systematic review and scenario analysis ;
• how to properly evaluate and use the sources found;
• how to set up the research methodology correctly; the difference between quantitative empirical research and qualitative empirical research;
• how to structure introduction and conclusions;
• how to prepare a presentation for discussion purposes and how to effectively set up the final speech.

The workshop will be repeated in several editions during the academic year. Students will be informed in good time by the contact person of the same.

During the workshop, bureaucratic aspects (application delivery, title, dissertation delivery...) will not be dealt with as the management is the responsibility of the student, who must refer to the information available online and at the relevant offices.

Attendance of the dissertation and dissertation workshop is MANDATORY and requires the achievement of 1 ECTS upon registration for the appropriate session.