The course will cover the basics of conducting research and writing a master's thesis / scientific paper on a topic in the field of Media and Technology Management. It will introduce research methods and approaches, emphasize the challenge and importance of properly outlining a scientific work, and get students accustomed to reading, writing, and reviewing research papers. The students will learn how to search and review relevant literature and write selected parts of a research paper. The thematic focus will be primarily on digital innovation and sustainability management in the media and technology industry.

Dates and Location (max. 6 dates)

Apr. 21 (kick-off), Apr. 28, May 05, May 12, May 19, Jun. 02, Jun. 23, Jun. 30 – all '22 (dates in bold are already fixed)

Due to Corona all 'digital – online and offline' (via ILIAS & ZOOM).

Mandatory Pre-Assignment – due Apr. 01, 2022, 11:00 am via sMail

Read the following two articles by Varadarajan (2017) and Nidumolu et al. (2009):

• Varadarajan, R. (2017). Innovating for sustainability: a framework for sustainable innovations and a model of sustainable innovations orientation. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 45(1), 14-36
• Nidumolu, R., Prahalad, C. K., & Rangaswami, M. R. (2009). Why sustainability is now the key driver of innovation. Harvard Business Review, 87(9), 56-64

1) Summarize their key messages in up to 250 words for each article (500 words in total). Please consider the following questions in your summaries:

• How do the authors define or describe sustainability?
• How do the authors define or describe innovation?

2) How do the articles bring the concepts of innovation and sustainability together? Describe the different approaches in up to 250 words.

Formal requirements

• State your name, Matr.-Number, sMail address, study program and the start date on top of the first page; then continue typing, no cover sheet!
• Max. 1 empty line before starting with the assignment text. Offer the task and then your answer.
• Times New Roman, 12 pt., single-spaced.
• Scientific writing style - no jokes, no slang, hardly any passive voice.
• References IN THE TEXT (no footnotes), no 'ibid.' - s. some Anglo-American academic management journals.
• No author first names, no repetition of reference titles in the assignment text.
• Format the references according to the guidelines on our website.
• Consistent format (including spacing).
• Page numbers of references only for word-by-word citations.
• Complete reference list formatted appropriately with all required information per file (see mtm.uni-koeln.de) - even if it is only one source.

Delivery
Please send an email from your sMail account to Prof. Dr. Kunz (reinhard.kunz@uni-koeln.de) AND Mrs. Kleer (nicola.kleer@uni-koeln.de) and attach a non-protected word file (.doc or .docx

• Subject line: MTM-RaP-Pre-Lastname (your last name only, no accent etc.)
• File name: MTM-RaP-Pre-Lastname.doc(x) (your last name only, no accent etc.)

Grading/ Credit Points

Grading will be based on:

• 20%: Pre-Assignment - due Apr. 01, '22, 11:00 am
• 30%: Active participation and intermediate assignments (individual)
• 30%: Final paper (individual/group)
• 20%: Final presentation (individual/group)

It is required to at least 'pass' (grade 4.0 or better) each grading element for passing the course.
'Alle Prüfungselemente müssen mindestens mit der Note 4,0 oder besser bestanden sein.'

(1) Hand in Pre-Assignment by Apr. 01, '22, 11:00 am via email (see above); minimum passing that grading element, AND

(2) Upon receiving an email from Prof. Kunz & Mrs. Kleer on Apr. 01, '22, register for the exam on KLIPS by Apr. 07, '22!

Plus, to make things easier for all involved: If you are interested in taking the course, please send an email from your sMail account to Prof. Dr. Kunz (reinhard.kunz@uni-koeln.de) AND Mrs. Kleer (nicola.kleer@uni-koeln.de). The email must list the course, your first name, your last name, your 'matr.-number', and your study program. Please use the following subject line: MTM-RaP-Interest-Lastname.

Important: The registration only becomes binding for you, once you have handed in the Pre-Assignment latest on Apr. 01, '22, 11:00 am via email (see above). Hence, on Apr. 01, '22, we will list you as course participant in KLIPS and by Apr. 07, '22 you will then have to register for the exam of the course ('Prüfungsanmeldung') via KLIPS. We will help and double check, if / after you have handed in the Pre-Assignment.

For any course related questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Kunz (reinhard.kunz@uni-koeln.de) AND Mrs. Kleer (nicola.kleer@uni-koeln.de) from your sMail account.