Participating in the DevelopmentLAB, students pair up in semester 6 to conduct independent research. Research projects are based on submitted research topics and take place under the supervision of a TMO coach. During their research, students receive guidance from teachers on research methods, and are coached through workshops and advisory meetings with the relevant specialists.
Within five months, students will submit a final report and a knowledge valorization plan (a plan detailing how the knowledge gained can be applied in practice). We are looking for partnerships between clients and/or employers in the business sector, students, and TMO.
Support expected from clients and/or employers:
- Introducing students to the company (on the company’s premises or at TMO), providing background information about the research topic and clarification about the partnership (contact details, liaison, etc.)
- providing a liaison who is able to answer questions and offer additional information in the course of the semester (by telephone or email)
- providing feedback on the interim report that students must submit in the 9th week of their research project
- providing feedback on the final report that students must submit
- providing feedback on the knowledge valorization
- being present if/when students present or publish the research report
We do not expect these contributions to take up more than 16 hours (divided over 20 weeks, excluding travel time).
Support expected from experts:
- organizing two workshops on the company’s premises (or at TMO) that correspond to the theme.
- providing a liaison who is able to answer questions and offer additional information in the course of the semester (by telephone or email)
- being present if/when students present or publish the research report
We do not expect these contributions to take up more than 14 hours (divided over 20 weeks, excluding travel time).
We have chosen the following eight DevelopmentLAB themes on the basis of the professions TMO prepares students for.
- Omnichannel & BIG DATA
Content: Researching the opportunities, possibilities, prerequisites, and the limitations of a combined approach to online and offline business for fashion companies. Researching options to promote the efficient and effective use of online and offline data to strengthen the yield potential and/or growth potential of a company. - Retail performance optimization
Content: Research into improving retail performance by enhancing the external marketing (the attractiveness of a store), and internal marketing (a store’s transactional power). The focus is on the links between experience, stimulating the senses, and generating high conversion rates. The research project is primarily oriented toward translating the research results into tangible improvements. - Product development & clothing technology
Content: Research focused on making improvements in clothing design, sourcing, product entries, product sampling, fit and sizing. Students will also examine the consequences this has for other operational processes. - Category management, (visual) merchandise planning & replenishment
Content: Research into improving the (visual) display of the collection in the (online) store, and how products are supplied. Navigation (routing) and layout are linked to customer needs. Primarily focused on the potential applications and synergy of systems such as VR with checkout systems and ERP systems. - (Re)invigorating & attractiveness of shopping areas
Content: Researching the application and adaptation of traditional knowledge about shopping dynamics to shopping precincts. - Supply chain management & inner city distribution
Content: Research into enhancing the efficiency of the supply chain and distribution of fashion goods to effect economic and social gains. - CSR – corporate social responsibility
Content: Research into all possible ways to improve social responsibility throughout the entire chain of corporate processes. The primary focus is to make the effects concrete and measurable over the long term so that management can lead accordingly. About CSR, Triple P, and carbon footprint calculation. - Preparing for a Master degree based on longitudinal research on consumer behavior
Content: Training academic research and data analysis skills based on a database containing consumer behavior research data.