How to deal with a confusing dissertation proposal: a note

How to deal with a confusing MBA dissertation proposal: a note

Simplified mode vs systemic mode

What I learn from my MBA students is that, oftentime, when a dissertation proposal is considered confusing (notably viewed as too complicated), a common advice [from the dissertation supervisor] is to simplify the proposal, for example by mainly focused on studying a proposed solution, e.g. develop a more effective marketing strategy]. This represents the simplified mode to conduct research investigation, i.e. reduce research investigation confusion by simplifying the perceived problem definition(s), the respective research project scope and the intellectual response to the problem(s) to be addressed.

This can be an unhelpful way to formulate a dissertation proposal, as it can easily lead to more significant blind spots to investigate a  set of related major business concerns of an organization under review. Solving a complex business problem with a highly simplified intellectual response does not offer an effective way to study the chosen business problem(s). It is ineffective with reference to the Law of Requisite Variety. [On the other hand, solving a few simple problem problems do not adequately meet the academic requirements of the MBA programme].

In lieu of simplifying business problems to tackle, I recommend the following 7 guidelines based on the agile literature review approach (ALRA)  to study the MBA dissertation projects. This represents the systemic mode to conduct research investigation:

Guideline 1. To develop a complicated and holistic understanding of business problems to address

Guideline 2. To develop a complicated and holistic contextualization of the business problems to address

Guideline 3. To adopt core-focus in research investigation while endorsing holistic thinking.

Guideline 4. To adopt management-concerns research investigation

Guideline 5. To conduct research investigation in an agile way

Guideline 6. To endorse critical systems thinking in research investigation

Guideline 7. To study a set of related business concerns with the MBA programme design spirit.

The systemic mode represents an intellectually competent way to cope with the messiness (i.e. confusing nature) of the dissertation projects.

The recommendation made here is to reject the simplified mode and adopt systemic mode to conduct research investigation in MBA dissertation project works.