How to write a thesis

   

   Petr Suchánek

   

   The aim of this report is to help especially to young researchers and young post-graduate
   students with writing their thesis. Although it is not, and can not be, a detailet quidebook,
   it summarizes skills and observations. I am sure it can help these people to make a picture
   about the basis and the structure of a thesis.

   The thesis is defined by two basic elements: the assignment and the aim. The assignment
   narrows the area and indicates the research´s direction. The aim specifies problems present in
   the research ang gives the thesis a sense. It is obvious that the aim has to correspond with
   the assignment has to correspond with the branch the reseacher works in.

   

   For example: If I am interested in the area of economy and also my research is oriented toward
   this field, than my assignment can be: Economic efficiency of a company. The aim than can be:
   Detect economic efficiency of a conrete company.

   

   When we have the setting and the aim, so that we know what wea are to study, we must decide
   how we are going to proceed to complete the thesis, that is, to implement the research.
   According to the specification of the research we can derive a hypothesis. Depending on this,
   we chose the research concept or research method. It is obvious that the hypothesis has to
   serve the purposes of the aim and has to be consistent with the aim and assignment of the
   thesis.

   

   For example: Let me go on with the previous example -- the main hypothesis can be: The economic
   efficiency of a concrete company can be detected due to a method of financial analysis.

   

   Now we know what we will study and how are we going to do it. Next step is how to build a
   structure of the thesis. Generally, the structure can be based on this schema:

    1. Introduction
    2. Theoretical Analysis
    3. Practical Analysis
    4. Synthesis of Theoretical and Practical Knowledge
    5. Conclusion.

   In introduction it is necessary to specify the reason, why the author chose these particular
   research problems, than the aim (or aims), the hypothesis (or hypothesises) and selected
   research method (or research concept). In the second step, it is necessary to analyse the
   theoretical information (acquired from stated literature), particularly its relation to the
   assignment and the aim of the thesis. The method of research than would than would appear as
   the resurt of this analysis. It is possible to construct a theoretical model that will be
   verified in practice using chosen method of research. In the fourth step we must put the
   theoretical and practical information or knowledge together. The result of fhis synthesis will
   be either acceptance of refusal of the hypothesis. It should also contribute to the knowledge
   of the specific research area. In the conlusion it is necessary to evaluate the fulfilling of
   the aim, to evaluate the research approach, used methods and the asset to the branch.

   I hope that I managed to draft a concept of writing a thesis and that I helped with the
   building of the structure of a thesis. I know that this article is not exhaustive, but I thing
   it is enough for a brief imagine and it gives basic information about writing a thesis.

   

   Bibliography:

   1.      SUCHÁNEK, P.: Ekonomická efektivnost obchodní firmy. disertační práce, MU ESF: Brno,
   2001, 134 s.

   2.      Strecková, Y.: Metodologie vědecké práce: teze z vybraných kapitol: zpracováno pro
   potřeby postgraduálního studia na ESF MU Brno. MU ESF: Brno, 1995, 29 s.

   

   Ing. Petr Suchánek, Ph.D.

   Katedra Podnikového hospodářství

   ESF MU Brno

   Lipová 41a

   659 79 Brno

   e-mail: suchy@econ.muni.cz