LEARNING GOALS:

The Course mainly contributes to the following Programme Learning Goals:

• Ability of identifying, structuring, and solving meaningful research questions in the fields of economics, management, and industrial engineering (LG1)
• Ability of selecting, applying, and developing research methods in engineering and social sciences (LG2)

Ability of studying research problems in innovative and open-minded contexts, also by leveraging academic connections and relationships with firms and public bodies (LG4)

COURSE AIMS:

The course aims at developing the writing skills of PhD students researching in social science and engineering, encompassing different epistemological approaches. Starting from the conceptualization of papers, the course enters in the literature review and theorizing, then moving across the various stages of paper development, including qualitative and quantitative methodologies. It also discusses how to address the typical challenges of publishing a scientific paper, in particular the refereeing process, offering students useful tips taken from real experience on how to deal with these issues.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of the course, the students are expected to be able to:

LO1.1. Identifying meaningful research questions, also by defining them and differentiating them from similar problems

LO1.2. Structuring these research questions, also by critically assessing them and by linking them to extant knowledge for uncovering relevant gaps

LO1.3. Solving these research questions, by developing an appropriate theoretical framework and producing rigorous empirical evidence

LO2.1 Matching and relating theories and methods

LO2.2. Applying mainstream research methods 

LO4.1. Producing rigorous and relevant research, significantly advancing academic knowledge

LO4.4. Publishing research results in reputed academic and practitioner-oriented journals

FACULTY:

The course involves three scholars, Professor Brun, Professor Grilli Professor Roehrich, Prof. Bartholomew MacCarthy, Editors of the (imaginary) “POLIMI Journal of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering”, who can cover the range of topics and perspective DIG deals with. Besides joint frontal lectures, each student will be assigned to one of the Editors; and the Editors (eventually with the help of designated “Associate Editors”) will conduct with students the “one-to-one” meetings of Wednesday and will chair parallel sessions on the “POLIMI Conference on Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering” on Friday.

The assessment will be based on 4 different pillars: a submitted working paper, the soundness of the referee report delivered, and primarily, the presentations carried out on Friday at the (imaginary) “POLIMI Conference on Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering” based on the presentation of their paper to the class, and the written report on how they face/respond to criticisms/comments made by the referee, the professors, and the audience (to be submitted 7 days after).

Students must submit their working paper they will work on during the course by December 20th 2020. Enrolled students will receive an email with instructions on how to submit in due time. They will also be asked to deliver a brief referee report (max 1000 words) highlighting strong and weak points of the paper that Professors (the “Editors” of the imaginary “POLIMI Journal of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering”) will assign to them. The deadline for delivering the referee report is January 15th 2021.

Submitted working paper (10%)

Soundness of the referee report delivered (30%),

Presentations of a paper carried out on Friday at the “POLIMI Conference on Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering” and answers to editor and reviewer’s comments (60%).

Session 1 (Monday) - Paper conceptualization and writing:

Presentation of the course: spirit, aims, practicalities

focus on Quantitative methodologies; Qualitative methodologies; Industrial engineering area

Session 2 (Tuesday) - Refining your paper: theoretical and empirical challenges:

Qualitative; Quantitative; Industrial engineering

Session 3 (Wednesday) - “Meeting the Editors” 

Individual meetings with the teachers / associate editors based on the referee reports.

Session 4 (Thursday) - How to deal with paper’s review reports

general observations on the Review Process

an example of a review of a Qualitative paper

tips on the review

the perspective of an Editor in Chief: “marketing” your research; publication productivity measures; and other relevant issues

Session 5 (Friday)  “POLIMI Conference on Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering”

Presentation of the paper at a simulated scientific conference