What are internal sources?

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Using internal sources in a thesis, especially when it is written in collaboration with a practice partner, can be particularly challenging. It is important to cite transparently and accurately in order to maintain the integrity of the work and respect the rights of the practice partner. In this article, we will explain step by step how to cite internal sources correctly. Practice partner is to be seen as a gender-neutral word in this article.


Internal sources are materials that were created within the company or organization office 365 email list of the practice partner. These can be, for example, internal reports, minutes, presentations, emails or other documents that are not publicly accessible. Such sources are particularly common in case studies and topics that are specific to the practice partner and are also essential for the work.

in-text citation
In-text citation should be clear and precise. Use the author's name or the name of the organization followed by the year, if applicable. For example: (author, year) or (organization, year).

If the document has no author, use the title or organization name: (Title, Year) or (Organization, Year). Examples are: Daimler (2023) - if there are more sources in the same year, use Daimler (2023a) and Daimler (2023b).