Richard de Neufville's TPP SM Thesis Manual - Title Page - MIT

This thesis evaluates the experiences of the successful British Airports Authorityplc (BAA) of the United Kingdom; evaluates privatisation and corporatisationpolicy for Kenyan Airports; and makes recommendations for the administration ofthe Kenyan Airports using BAA as the reference case and experienceselsewhere, where the question of airport ownership and management isundergoing a metamorphosis.The main lesson is that BAA’s success seems more rooted in the changedoperating environment after its corporatisation. In other words, my analysisconcludes that privatisation of BAA did not lead to appreciable improvements inits performance. Value based pricing, investment projects, commercially alignedmanagement and clear customer service concerns are striking similaritiesbetween the corporatised and the privatised BAA.Thus for Kenya, corporatisation of airports is recommended considering thedifficulties of implementing privatisation in Kenya. This has already been done.However, in addition, the introduction of commercialism in the airports body,strengthening of the manpower base with trained and capable staff, betterplanning and investment strategies, customer service concerns and freedom onpricing are recommended.Conversely, Exhibit 2.2 provides an example of a less successful abstract. Tosee this, ask yourself: what does it really tell you? In this case that someone dida case study about switches that raised issues. Do you now know what the pointof the thesis was? Is it, for example to list the issues? To show some generalityacross areas of high tech trade? That this case is on the contrary different in thatit broke new ground? And what method or evidence was used? Is this aneconometric study? A case of technology transfer? A political description? Theabstract as written leaves too much unclear or unspecified.Exhibit 2.2: Example of a Less Successful AbstractThe Case of Telecommunications in US Technology Transfer to ChinaThe US and the People’s Republic of China have been brought into a closerrelationship by a convergence of economic and political forces. Technologytransfer from the US to China is an important part of this relationship, serving USeconomic needs and aiding China’s modernization effort.While both sides benefit from the transfer, domestic and international exportcontrols prevent China’s access to the highest levels of our technology.Domestic division exists over whether to increase trade with China or to embargoThesis Definition and Preparation -- Richard de Neufville 14