POLITECNICO DI MILANO
DIPARTIMENTO DI INGEGNERIA GESTIONALE
PhD in Management Engineering
Dottorato di Ricerca in Ingegneria Gestionale
Proposal Submission Forms for the Doctoral Thesis Research Project
Schema del Programma di Ricerca per la Tesi di Dottorato1
Ph.D. Student:
Ph.D. Cycle:
Thesis Advisor:
Thesis title:
Abstract (max. 500 words)
Il programma di ricerca può essere steso in inglese (preferibilmente) o in italiano. Per “Advisor” della tesi si intende il
relatore. Il relatore può anche differire dal tutor, può anche non essere membro del Collegio dei Docenti e può anche
non essere un docente del Politecnico di Milano.
1
1. Area of Investigation (max 750 words)
Briefly describe the research problem addressed by the Ph.D. thesis. In particular, highlight the issues you are going to
investigate in terms of “real” problems. Clearly specifies the external stakeholders who are expected to benefit from the
outcomes of this research (top managers, functional managers, public institutions, etc.) and the problems / threats /
opportunities currently faced by these stakeholders.
2. International State-of-the-art (max 1500 words)
Outline the current advancements in theory, with reference to existing literature. Describe the limitations of existing
theories and models to address the above research problem.
3. Research Objectives (max 500 words)
Briefly and clearly specify the research objectives.
4. Research Framework (max 1500 words)
Describe the theoretical framework of the research project, in terms of main variables and phenomena investigated and
their mutual relationships. End this section with a clear definition of the research hypotheses. In order to better specify
the hypotheses, a format using “propositions” to be empirically investigated and validated is preferred (e.g.:
“Proposition 1: companies using a team approach in product development are expected to have a shorter lead time than
companies using a functional approach”).
5. Research Methodology (max 2000 words)
Describe the methodology of the research project, in terms of phases and intermediate outputs. In particular, when
describing the empirical investigation, clearly specify in depth:
- the research sample (industry or area of empirical investigation, type of unit of analysis, average size of the sample,
…);
- the method for data collection (survey, case-study, simulation, etc…);
- the method for data analysis (regression, factor analysis, qualitative analysis, etc…).
6 References
Annex
A.1. Link with the Research Program of the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Gestionale
Indicate how this research project fits into the “Piano triennale delle ricerche del Dipartimento di Ingegneria
Gestionale”. In particular, specify whether this project fits into an existing project of the Department or it starts a new
research stream that will lead to a new Departmental research project.
A.2. Research Partners
Indicate partners of the research project. Partners may be: other Departments within Politecnico di Milano, other Italian
Universities, other foreign Universities, national and international companies and institutions. Please, indicate only
partners with a significant role in the development of the theoretical framework or in the empirical analysis. Also
specify if the partners provides funds or other physical resources to this research project.
Institution
Referring person
Satus of
Involvement
Type of activity performed
Already
involved
To be
involved
Theoretical
Research
Empirical
Research
Provide funds or
instruments
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Already
involved
To be
involved
Theoretical
Research
Empirical
Research
Provide funds or
instruments
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Already
involved
To be
involved
Theoretical
Research
Empirical
Research
Provide funds or
instruments
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Already
involved
To be
involved
Theoretical
Research
Empirical
Research
Provide funds or
instruments
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A.3. Research Period in Foreign Institutions
The Ph.D. Program in Management Engineering welcomes students who partially deploy their research project in a
foreign country or that spend 4-8 months in a foreign institution, possibly an excellent University.
Name of the Foreign Institution:
Location:
Local Advisor:
Time spent abroad (in months):
Period scheduled for visiting the foreign institution:
Status of the agreement with the foreign institution: Under discussion 
Type of activity performed abroad (max 100 words):
Agreement already achieved 
A.4. Research Plan
Include a one-page bar-chart indicating the project activities and the project timeline.
A.5. Research Funding
OUTCOMES
Type of cost
Costs for attending conferences related to the thesis
Costs for data collection and analysis
Costs for accommodation and travelling related to the research period in a Foreign Institution
Euro
Costs for publications and for seminars presenting the research results
Other costs (please specify: … )
Total
INCOMES
Institution*:
Funds already
available (Euro)
Funds to be
achieved (Euro)
Total:
*
Indicate the Institution providing funds or the source of incomes. Possible sources of funds are: CNR, cofinanziamento MURST, Research Contracts with the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Gestionale, Funds of Politecnico di
Milano, Projects funded by the EU, Institutions providing grants (for visiting periods abroad), etc…