SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR’S REFERENCE  Program:Information Technologies and Innovation Management Student:Polina Zaytseva Title of thesis: DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL PERFORMANCE «PORTFOLIO»:  THE CASE LEADING RUSSIAN MOBILE OPERATORS  	 Justification of the topic choice. Accuracy in defining the aim and objectives of the thesis. Justification of the topic choice; accuracy in defining the aim and tasks of the thesis; originality of the topic and the extent to which it was covered; alignment of the thesis’ topic, aim and objectives. The topic of the thesis is important in theoretical and practical sense due to (1) international importance of the CSR development, (2) the growing debate about the creation of a properly balanced Corporate Social Performance “portfolios” in  general and in emerging markets in particular, (3) the role of mobile telecommunications in current socio-economic developments of 4th industrial revolution. The main research objective (to formulate the recommendations on the improvement of Corporate Social «portfolio» in strategic terms on the Russian market) and subordinated research questions are clear and directly related to the topic. The topic as such, taking into consideration the particular industrial and regional issues, is quite original.    Structure and logic of the text flow. Logic of research; full scope of the thesis; alignment of thesis’ structural parts, i.e. theoretical and empirical parts. The research is conducted in a logical manner. The results and conclusions are directly followed from the study. The theoretical and empirical parts are in good balance.                                                                                                          Quality of analytical approach and quality of offered solution to the research objectives. Adequacy of objectives coverage; ability to formulate and convey the research problem; ability to offer options for its solution; application of the latest trends in relevant research are for the set objectives. The coverage of objectives is quite adequate. The research problem is formulated clearly. The main trends in modern literature on strategic CSR and Corporate Social Performance “portfolio” development are carefully analysed and applied to research.   Quality of data gathering and description. Quality of selecting research tools and methods; data validity adequacy; adequacy of used data for chosen research tools and methods; completeness and relevance of the list of references. This study implies both desk and field research.The research tools and methods are selected properly. The international and Russian benchmarking used in an adequate manner. The data on the leading Russian communication companies – MTS, Beeline, Megafon, and Tele2 are collected and analyzed properly. The list of references is complete and directly connected with the topic and objectives.  Scientific aspect of the thesis. Independent scientific thinking in solving the set problem/objectives; the extent to which the student contributed to selecting and justifying the research model (conceptual  and/or quantitative), developing methodology/approach to set objectives. The way of scientific thinking is independent. The secondary and primary data analysis is in good balance with case studies. The proposed methodology looks quite understandable. The entire research is made on the mainstream level and the author demonstrated the ability to use the main typical approaches.  Practical/applied nature of research. Extent to which the theoretical background is related to the international or Russian managerial practice; development of applied recommendations; justification and interpretation of the empirical/applied results. The theoretical background is directly related to the international and Russian practices. The results of the research are just and can be shared for theoretical as well as practical purposes.  Quality of thesis layout. Layout fulfils the requirements of the Regulations for master thesis preparation and defence, correct layout of tables, figures, references. The main Regulations for the master thesis preparation are fulfilled. The tables, figures, and references are presented, in general, correctly. There are some mistakes in using fonts and in punctuation.  Originality of the text. All sources of match identified by the Safe Assign system follow the allowed cases, the paper does not contain any elements of plagiarism.  The thesis text is original and does not contain elements of plagiarism (the total share of 14% is mainly related to the same author materials).  The Master thesis of Polina Zaytseva meets the requirements for master thesis of Information Technologies and Innovation Management  program thus the author of the thesis can be awarded the required degree.   Date: June 07, 2017	  Scientific Advisor: Associate Professor Yury E.Blagov