Asking poe.com to come up with a proposal on the community engagement program of theme parks via the CSR lens: for MBA students [information from poe.com]
** Remember to conduct a preliminary exploratory study.
My question 1: "I am a part-time MBA student, currently learning to do my dissertation project. My research theme is on "the Hong Kong theme parks' community engagement programs via the corporate social responsibility (CSR) lens". I intend to use the research philosophy of interpretivism; also, the project should employ 1 corporate social responsibility theory, 1 community engagement theory and 1 theory about theme park's corporate vision. As to research methods, I will use a focus group with 4 members: 1 being a senior marketing manager working in a Hong Kong theme park, 1 Hong Kong theme park manager involved in a community engagement program, 2 having some experience participating in a community engagement program managed by a Hong Kong theme park. I will also conduct 4 narrative interviews with my friends (2 males and 2 females) who have experience in participating in a community engagement program organized by a Hong Kong theme park. My third research method is a desk research that is related to my research theme. Based on these information, could you produce a dissertation proposal to me? Tks in advance."
The reply: "Certainly! Below is a structured dissertation proposal based on your research theme regarding Hong Kong theme parks' community engagement programs through the lens of corporate social responsibility.
Dissertation Proposal
1. Introduction
- Background: The growing importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the business landscape necessitates an exploration of its impact on community engagement, particularly in the context of theme parks in Hong Kong. This research investigates how theme parks engage with local communities and the implications of these engagements on corporate image, community welfare, and sustainability.
- Purpose of the Study: To analyze the community engagement programs of Hong Kong theme parks, evaluating them through CSR theory and understanding their alignment with corporate visions.
2. Research Objectives
- To assess the effectiveness of community engagement programs implemented by theme parks in Hong Kong.
- To explore the perceptions of various stakeholders involved in or affected by these programs.
- To draw connections between community engagement initiatives and the overarching corporate social responsibility strategies of theme parks.
3. Research Philosophy
- This study will adopt an interpretivist research philosophy, focusing on understanding the subjective interpretations and social constructs of stakeholders involved in community engagement programs.
4. Theoretical Framework
- Corporate Social Responsibility Theory: This study will employ Carroll’s Pyramid of CSR, which emphasizes the importance of economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities of businesses.
- Community Engagement Theory: The study will utilize Moffatt's Community Engagement Spectrum, which outlines the levels of participation from information dissemination to community control.
- Theme Park Corporate Vision Theory: The Service-Dominant Logic Theory will frame the analysis of how theme parks develop value propositions through community engagement initiatives.
5. Research Methodology
- Focus Groups: Conduct a focus group discussion with 4 participants:
- A senior marketing manager from a Hong Kong theme park.
- A manager involved in a community engagement program at a theme park.
- Two participants with experience in engaging with community programs organized by the parks.
- Narrative Interviews: Conduct narrative interviews with 4 friends (2 males and 2 females) who have participated in community engagement programs run by Hong Kong theme parks to gather diverse perspectives and experiences.
- Desk Research: Conduct an extensive desk research to collect secondary data from relevant publications, reports, and existing studies on community engagement and CSR in the context of theme parks.
6. Data Analysis
- Qualitative data collected from focus groups and interviews will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify common themes, patterns, and insights related to the research objectives.
7. Ethical Considerations
- Ensure informed consent from all participants, maintain confidentiality, and adhere to ethical standards throughout the research process.
8. Timeline
- Outline a timeline for each phase of the research, including literature review, data collection, data analysis, and writing.
9. Expected Contributions
- This research aims to contribute to the academic understanding of CSR and community engagement in the theme park context, offering practical insights for practitioners and policymakers.
10. Conclusion
- The proposed study aligns with contemporary business practices focused on CSR and community engagement. It will provide valuable insights into the role of theme parks in enhancing community relations and the social fabric of Hong Kong.
References
- Include a list of foundational texts and recent studies related to CSR, community engagement, and theme park operations.
This proposal lays out a clear structure for your dissertation, aligning with your research objectives while adhering to academic standards. Modify any sections as necessary to better fit your vision and the specific requirements of your program."
My question 2: "Could you also provide 3 related research questions for me; and then also provide a more concrete research method design for the three research methods identified in the proposal? Tks a lot."
The reply: "Here are three related research questions followed by a more concrete research method design for the three identified methods in your dissertation proposal.
Research Questions
- How do Hong Kong theme parks perceive and implement their community engagement programs within the framework of corporate social responsibility?
- What are the experiences and perceptions of participants involved in community engagement programs organized by Hong Kong theme parks?
- In what ways do community engagement initiatives contribute to the corporate vision and overall brand identity of Hong Kong theme parks?
Research Method Design
1. Focus Groups
Objective: To gather insights from key stakeholders directly involved in community engagement programs at theme parks.
Participants:
- 1 Senior Marketing Manager from a Hong Kong theme park.
- 1 Manager involved in community engagement programs.
- 2 Participants with experience in community engagement programs.
Procedure:
- Recruitment: Participants will be approached through professional networks and direct invitations to ensure a mix of perspectives.
- Location: Conduct the focus group in a quiet, neutral venue or via a video conferencing platform if on-site meetings are not feasible.
- Duration: The focus group will last approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Discussion Guide: Develop a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions, allowing participants to share their experiences, perceptions, and recommendations related to community engagement initiatives.
- Example questions:
- What role do you believe community engagement plays in the theme park's overall mission?
- How are community engagement programs evaluated for effectiveness?
- Can you share any successes or challenges faced in implementing these programs?
- Data Recording: Audio or video record the session (with consent) for accurate transcription and analysis.
Data Analysis:
- Transcribe discussions and conduct thematic analysis to identify key themes and insights relevant to the research questions.
2. Narrative Interviews
Objective: To capture personal stories and experiences from individuals who participated in community engagement programs at theme parks.
Participants:
- 4 friends (2 males and 2 females) who have previously engaged in programs offered by Hong Kong theme parks.
Procedure:
- Recruitment: Use personal networks and social media to invite participants who have participated in theme park community engagement activities.
- Format: Conduct semi-structured interviews, allowing for flexibility in exploring personal narratives while guiding participants with key questions.
- Duration: Each interview will last approximately 30-45 minutes.
- Interview Guide: Prepare questions to probe into their experiences, motivations, and perceived impacts of the community programs.
- Example questions:
- What motivated you to participate in the community engagement program?
- How did the program affect your perception of the theme park?
- What suggestions do you have for improving future initiatives?
- Data Recording: Audio-record (with consent) the interviews for transcription and analysis.
Data Analysis:
- Transcribe interviews and analyze them using narrative analysis to identify individual stories and themes that emerge related to community engagement.
3. Desk Research
Objective: To gather secondary data regarding community engagement strategies and CSR practices in Hong Kong theme parks.
Procedure:
- Scope of Research: Identify relevant academic papers, industry reports, media articles, and case studies regarding community engagement and CSR in theme parks.
- Sources: Utilize academic databases (like JSTOR, Google Scholar), government reports, industry publications, and theme park websites.
- Data Collection: Summarize findings, focusing on existing CSR frameworks, community engagement practices, and the role of theme parks in community welfare.
- Organize the gathered information chronologically and thematically to align with the research questions.
Data Analysis:
- Synthesize the findings into a coherent narrative that contextualizes the primary data collected through focus groups and interviews, drawing connections to the theoretical frameworks established earlier in the proposal.
Conclusion
This concrete research design provides a structured approach to investigating the community engagement practices of Hong Kong theme parks through the lens of corporate social responsibility. Adapt these methods as necessary based on feasibility and participant availability, ensuring that each method effectively captures the nuances of your research questions."
My question 3: "Could you comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the research philosophy and the research methods of this study?"
The reply: "Here’s a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the interpretivism research philosophy and the specific research methods you plan to use.
Research Philosophy: Interpretivism
Strengths:
- Depth of Understanding: Interpretivism allows for a deeper exploration of subjective experiences and meanings, which is crucial for understanding the complexity of community engagement programs and their implications for stakeholders.
- Flexibility: The approach accommodates a range of qualitative methods, enabling researchers to adapt to the context and dynamics of the study as they unfold.
- Rich Data Insights: It provides rich, contextual data that can uncover the nuances of social interactions and perceptions, offering a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
Weaknesses:
- Subjectivity: The interpretivist approach may result in subjective interpretations, which can influence the findings and conclusions drawn. This may challenge the objectivity expected in some academic research contexts.
- Limited Generalizability: Findings from interpretivist studies are often context-specific, making it difficult to generalize results to broader populations or settings.
- Time-Intensive: Collecting qualitative data through interviews and focus groups can be time-consuming and logistically challenging, potentially leading to issues with managing the research process.
Research Methods
1. Focus Groups
Strengths:
- Interactive Discussion: Focus groups create a dynamic discussion environment where participants can build on each other's ideas, leading to richer data and diverse perspectives.
- Immediate Feedback: The facilitator can probe deeper into responses in real-time, clarifying meanings and ensuring issues are fully explored.
- Group Synergy: Participants may feel more comfortable sharing experiences in a group setting, potentially revealing insights that might not emerge in one-on-one interviews.
Weaknesses:
- Dominant Voices: The presence of dominant participants can overshadow quieter members, potentially skewing the results and limiting the diversity of views collected.
- Logistical Challenges: Coordinating schedules and locations for multiple participants can be difficult, requiring more effort in planning and execution.
- Limited Depth: While focus groups capture collective views, they may not provide as deep an understanding of individual experiences compared to one-on-one interviews.
2. Narrative Interviews
Strengths:
- Personal Insight: Narrative interviews allow for detailed personal accounts, providing a richer understanding of individual perspectives and lived experiences.
- Flexibility: The semi-structured format enables the exploration of unexpected topics or themes that may arise during the conversation, offering new angles of exploration.
- Emotional Engagement: Personal stories can reveal emotional connections to community engagement programs, enriching the analysis with human experiences.
Weaknesses:
- Time and Resource Intensive: Conducting narrative interviews can require significant time for both scheduling and analysis, potentially resulting in limited sample sizes.
- Interviewer Bias: The interviewer's presence and framing of questions can inadvertently influence participant responses. Maintaining neutrality is essential but often challenging.
- Data Interpretation: Analyzing narrative data can be complex, as stories are subjective and open to various interpretations, which may complicate drawing clear conclusions.
3. Desk Research
Strengths:
- Cost-Effective: Utilizing existing data sources significantly reduces costs and resource allocation compared to primary data collection methods.
- Foundation for Understanding: Desk research can provide a solid foundational understanding of the existing landscape, contexts, and frameworks relevant to your research topic.
- Broader Context: It allows you to gain insights from a wide range of sources, creating a comprehensive view of the topic.
Weaknesses:
- Data Quality Concerns: The reliability and validity of secondary data can vary, and there may be biases in the original source, which could affect the overall analysis.
- Detachment from Current Issues: Secondary data may become outdated quickly, particularly in dynamic sectors like community engagement and CSR, where practices may evolve rapidly.
- Limited Specificity: Desk research may not address the specific nuances of the local context in Hong Kong theme parks, potentially missing unique aspects of community engagement in this setting.
Conclusion
Overall, your chosen interpretivism philosophy and research methods provide a robust framework for exploring community engagement in Hong Kong theme parks. While each method has its strengths, such as depth of insight and flexibility, there are also weaknesses, including subjectivity and logistical challenges. It's essential to be aware of these factors throughout your research process to strengthen the credibility and quality of your findings. Balancing these strengths and weaknesses will allow you to craft a thoughtful and nuanced dissertation."
My question 4: "Could you indicate a bit more how the three theoretical frameworks mentioned in the proposal inform the three research methods design in the proposal? Tks."
The reply: "The three theoretical frameworks mentioned in your proposal—Carroll’s Pyramid of CSR, Moffatt's Community Engagement Spectrum, and Service-Dominant Logic—can significantly inform your research methods design by guiding the formulation of questions, shaping the discussion topics, and providing a lens for analysis. Here's how each of these theories can be integrated into the research methods:
1. Carroll’s Pyramid of CSR
Informing Focus Groups:
- Questions Design: The focus group discussion guide can include questions structured around the four levels of Carroll's Pyramid (economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities). You could ask participants how they view the theme park's responsibilities across these dimensions in their community engagement efforts.
- Example Question: "How do you think the theme park balances its economic responsibilities with its philanthropic engagements in the community?"
- Discussion Themes: Encourage discussions about how community engagement programs reflect different aspects of CSR, prompting participants to share how they believe these programs align with both corporate objectives and community welfare.
- Analysis Framework: Use Carroll’s Pyramid as a lens to assess the stakeholders’ perspectives on CSR's role in community engagement, analyzing responses based on how they reflect the different levels of responsibility.
2. Moffatt's Community Engagement Spectrum
Informing Narrative Interviews:
- Interview Guide Structure: The narrative interviews can be aligned with Moffatt's spectrum, prompting participants to reflect on their experiences concerning different levels of engagement (e.g., informing, consulting, involving, collaborating).
- Example Question: "Can you describe how the theme park engaged with you during the community program? Do you feel that the engagement was more informational, consultative, or collaborative?"
- Reflection on Experiences: Participants’ narratives can be analyzed to see how community engagement programs varied in their approaches—whether they primarily informed the community, consulted participants, or actively involved them in decision-making.
- Thematic Analysis: In the analysis phase, categorize responses based on where they fall on the engagement spectrum, allowing for insights into the effectiveness of different levels of engagement in enhancing community relationships.
3. Service-Dominant Logic
Informing Desk Research:
- Research Focus: The desk research can incorporate a Service-Dominant Logic perspective by focusing on how value is co-created through community engagement initiatives. Analyze existing literature to understand how theme parks leverage partnerships within the community to enhance mutual value.
- Example Focus: Investigate case studies or existing research that document collaborative initiatives where theme parks and community members co-create value.
- Theoretical Context: Use the principles of Service-Dominant Logic to evaluate the findings from the focus groups and narrative interviews. The emphasis on relationships, collaboration, and mutual benefit can help in assessing community attitudes toward theme park initiatives.
- Framework for Analysis: When synthesizing secondary data, apply Service-Dominant Logic to examine how engagement initiatives not only serve corporate interests but also empower community stakeholders, leading to a richer understanding of the value proposition from both perspectives.
Conclusion
By integrating these theoretical frameworks into your research methods design, you create a comprehensive investigative approach that not only gathers rich qualitative data but also systematically analyzes and interprets the findings in the context of established theoretical perspectives. This will enhance your study's depth and its contributions to understanding community engagement in Hong Kong theme parks through the lens of corporate social responsibility."
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