A first rigorous piece of work, based on a clear research question and well-handled sources. At BBA level, a strong professional grounding is expected, such as an internship dissertation or a realistic, costed business plan; at Bachelor level, the quality of the literature review and of the approach comes first.

Work that tests a sound conceptual framework against fieldwork, on a social or societal audit issue. An MBA is judged first on the managerial reach of its recommendations or the soundness of its business plan, including social and societal impact; a Master’s, on its contribution to knowledge and the rigour of its method.

A defended thesis that makes an original contribution to the field. A PhD is assessed on its theoretical contribution and methodological robustness; a DBA, on its ability to turn a question of managerial practice into actionable knowledge, and on the demonstrated impact of its results for organisations.

A file that demonstrates a coherent research path in social and societal audit and the ability to supervise young researchers. The jury values the unity of the research programme, the quality of the synthesis and the perspectives it opens.

A case built on a real situation in a company or organisation, documented in the field. It is judged on the quality of its data, the relevance of the questions it raises and its ability to inform decision-making, in teaching as in practice.