I have entered the final stages of the Master Thesis process. That means case company interviews are nearly finished, with the final one scheduled this week. Transcriptions are almost done, which means for each 30 minutes of interview the result has been 3-4 hours of reiterating verbatim what was said via a word summary. I have done this six times, and have two final summaries to write.Transcriptions are written so the research can be dissected and analyzed and compared with theory, ultimately providing the direction and conclusion of the thesis.
Three sections of the thesis have been written, leaving two major sections and two summary sections left before I hand it in on June 1st, completing my business school education. If my calculations are correct, that would involve writing approximately one section per week in May, leaving the last week for final edits and review of the paper. The findings, analysis, conclusion, perspectives and an executive summary are all that remain. This is where things start to get interesting and my personal favorite part of the process. Where you start to make sense of everything you have gathered. Categorizing the data, matching theory with practice, noticing the gaps, identifying the patterns, or creating new theory or recommendations for further research.
Anyone that knows me well, knows that I am the type of person who has always tried to make sense of my environment, or experiences, comparing reality with expectations, and coming up with recommendations for the future. How to cope, how to create the reality you want, how to be a better person, how to get in shape, whatever it may be. This has been done mostly through discussions with friends or by writing ideas down. Although, I have always been a writer at heart. Writing allows you to take the time to think, reflect, communicate what you are really trying to say, in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Too many people just talk without thinking and for those who are able to think and talk strategically on their feet, I salute. That is a gift in its own right.
Inspiration for ideas comes in many forms. Sometimes it is enabled through discussion, other times it is facilitated through quiet reflection, and most times it is a combination of both. Working in projects, like is the norm at Copenhagen Business School and the Danish education system in general, has allowed me to put my idea generation and professional project management experience to use. No all-nighters were necessary and each project was delivered on time, or ahead of schedule. My education has enabled me to utilize my writing skills and strengthen my presentation skills as each project, including the master thesis, needs to be orally defended. Something I will take with me into my professional career for years to come. The home stretch is here. Where it will lead, is anyone's guess - but the future is certainly looking bright.
