Assessment of Master Thesis – Opponent
Study programme:International Economic Relations
Field of study:International Business – Central European Business Realities Academic year:2020/2021
Master Thesis Topic:Business Plan for an Import-Export Startup from Ecuador to the Czech Republic Author’s name:Carlos Andrés Gómez Coronel
Ac. Consultant’s Name:Ing. Jaroslav Halík, MBA, Ph.D.
Opponent:doc. Ing. Ludmila Štěrbová, CSc.
Criterion Mark
(1–4)
1. Overall objective achievement 2
2. Logical structure 2
3. Using of literature, citations 3
4. Adequacy of methods used 2
5. Depth of analysis 3
6. Self-reliance of author 2
7. Formal requirements: text, graphs, tables 3
8. Language and stylistics 3
Comments and Questions:
The aim of the thesis is to elaborate a business plan of a start-up company on export/import management services that would support exportation/importation between the Czech Republic and Ecuador. The thesis fulfills the basic requirements given on this type of work. The thesis is divided into two main parts – one is dealing with theoretical approaches within a business plan of a company, the second is providing
application of the theory on a concrete example that can be used in practice. The author stated a clear goal and methodology how to achieve it. Among the methods, the author mentions interviews, but even if he provides the results of them, he did not specify what questions were interviewed. The Porter´s Forces analysis is not supported by any data. The PESTL analysis is quite poor and even if it is supported by data, those are just listed in the text and the trends in development are not clear. It is strange that for the program of the president elected in 2021, the source from 2019 has been used. It surprises me that the SWOT analysis is not commented at all and the marketing mix is argued very shortly. The financial plan is more detailed and it seems that the author devoted himself namely to this part. Unfortunately, the
anti-plagiarism system returned some copying from various sources. Tho whole paragraphs have been copied and the author did not provide correctly the sources of them. Those paragraphs are located in the theoretical part of the thesis, so it could have happen that the author reproduces what he learned from his teacher without referring this knowledge to a course or teacher. Discussion at the defence: 1. To establish a start-up company offering services is very challenging. How will you find your clients? How do you plan to address them? 2. How will your services be in compliance with export promotion that the Czech
Republic provides for its exporters? How will your company´s services differentiate from those provided by the state (for free)?
Conclusion: The Master Thesis is recommended for the defence.
Suggested Grade: 3
Date: 21/05/2021 doc. Ing. Ludmila Štěrbová, CSc.
Opponent
