A note (for MBA students) of analyzing differences of descriptions between academic concepts and perceived concepts in world of professional and business practices: on work-life balance policy

A note (for MBA students) of analyzing differences of descriptions between (a) academic concepts and (b) perceived concepts in world of professional and business practices: on work-life balance policy

 

Regarding doing an MBA dissertation project, it often happens that the student researcher has to examine the differences of descriptions between (a) some academic concepts and theories and (b) concepts and theories in the professional and real-world practices. This is because an MBA project has to address both academic issues and practical real-world perceptions of related issues. Please offer 4 advices that the student researcher should pay attention to in their analysis. Try to clarify your ideas a bit more with reference to the MBA research theme of "an examination of corporate work-life balance policy practice in the Hong Kong law firm sector from a pragmatic perspective".

Direct answer: Focus on (1) clearly mapping academic constructs to practice, (2) choosing methods that let you compare meanings, (3) handling stakeholder language and power, and (4) making recommendations that respect both theory and firm realities.

Map theory to practice precisely

Explicitly define each academic concept (e.g., “work–life balance,” “flexible working,” “organizational culture”) and then record how practitioners in Hong Kong law firms use those same labels in interviews, policy documents, and HR literature; this highlights mismatches and prevents you from comparing apples to oranges. Use a short codebook or table so every quoted practitioner term is linked to the academic definition you used in your literature review.

Use methods that expose differences in meaning

Adopt a pragmatic mixed-methods approach: combine document analysis (policies, handbooks, intranet posts) with semi-structured interviews and short surveys of lawyers/HR managers so you can both quantify uptake and unpack meanings. Document analysis shows what firms say; interviews reveal what people mean and do; a small survey can check how widespread particular interpretations are.

Attend to language, context and power dynamics

Legal workplaces have hierarchy and face‑saving norms that shape how staff describe policies (e.g., “flexible” may mean different practices for partners vs. juniors). Capture role, seniority, billable‑hour pressures and firm size when analysing responses, and triangulate statements with observable practices (meeting times, leave approvals) to reduce social desirability bias. Obtain gatekeeper buy‑in early but preserve participant anonymity so interviewees can speak candidly.

Translate findings into dual-purpose outputs

When you write your discussion and recommendations, make two clear strands: (A) academic contribution—how findings extend, refine, or challenge theory from a pragmatic stance; (B) practitioner guidance—concrete, feasible changes tailored to Hong Kong law firms (e.g., pilot a time-limited reduced‑hours scheme for juniors with measurable KPIs). For each recommendation show why it follows from your data and what trade-offs or constraints (billable hours, client expectations) the firm must consider.

Example applied to your theme: when “work–life balance” appears in the literature as a multidimensional construct (time, flexibility, boundary control), check whether Hong Kong lawyers mean the same things or whether they emphasize only “time off” while ignoring boundary control; compare policy text, interview descriptions from partners and associates, and simple metrics (average weekly billed hours) to demonstrate the gap and recommend targeted, implementable measures that respect firm constraints.

 

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A note on Housing Studies dissertation literature review using academic and non-academic references: on the HK Housing Policy theme

A note on Housing Studies dissertation literature review using academic and non-academic references: on the HK Housing Policy theme

 

When writing the Housing Studies dissertation report chapter 2 [literature review], I am told to focus more on ideas from the academic source, but also note some other relevant ideas from the professional field and the relevant communities in the society. In this regard, please highlight 2 main ideas from the academic source and 2 main ideas from the Hong Kong housing policy theme on the following 4 key terms for illustration purpose: 1. housing need 2. housing affordability 3. poverty line 4. supportive housing Try to examine these 4 terms with citations and some references in Harvard reference format.

Below is a dissertation-friendly way to frame the four terms for Chapter 2. I have separated each term into 2 academic ideas and 2 Hong Kong housing policy ideas, so you can use them as illustration points in your literature review.

1. Housing need

Academic ideas

·        Housing need is usually treated as a mismatch between what households currently have and what they require for adequate living, especially when housing conditions are overcrowded, insecure, or physically inadequate.

·        In housing studies, need is not only about shortage of units; it also reflects distributional issues, because some households cannot access suitable housing even when supply exists.

Hong Kong policy ideas

·        The Hong Kong policy discussion links housing need to long PRH waiting times, the persistence of subdivided units, and limited access to decent housing for lower-income families.

·        Policy responses frame housing need through supply expansion and transitional/social housing, especially for people waiting for PRH or living in inadequate accommodation.

2. Housing affordability

Academic ideas

·        Housing affordability is commonly discussed as the relationship between housing costs and household income, with severe affordability stress occurring when housing payments take up too large a share of income.

·        Academic work on Hong Kong shows that affordability has deteriorated over time because of high prices, high rents, and limited public housing alternatives for many households.

Hong Kong policy ideas

·        The Legislative Council report shows that private housing became unaffordable for the public in general, with the home purchase affordability index reaching 74% in Q4 2021.

·        Policy measures have focused on easing affordability pressure through cash allowances for PRH waiters, tenancy control for subdivided units, and subsidised or transitional housing supply.

3. Poverty line

Academic ideas

·        The poverty line in Hong Kong is commonly defined using a relative poverty approach, set at 50% of median monthly household income before policy intervention.

·        Academic and policy discussions use the poverty line to show that poverty is not only about income shortage, but also about the cost of living, especially housing costs that push low-income households into hardship.

Hong Kong policy ideas

·        Hong Kong’s poverty framework is tied to social policy measurement, so housing hardship is often discussed together with income support, rent burden, and inadequate accommodation.

·        In public discussion, poverty is frequently linked to living in subdivided units or unstable rental arrangements, showing that housing conditions are part of the poverty problem, not just a consequence of it.

4. Supportive housing

Academic ideas

·        Supportive housing is usually understood as housing combined with services, aimed at helping vulnerable households maintain stable living and improve self-reliance.

·        The key academic idea is that housing alone may not be enough for highly vulnerable groups; support services, community integration, and tenancy stability are also necessary.

Hong Kong policy ideas

·        In Hong Kong, supportive housing is closely linked to social housing and transitional housing schemes run by NGOs with government support, especially for people waiting for PRH and living in indecent subdivided units.

·        The HKCSS describes social housing as including community-based services and capacity-building so residents can move toward more independent living after the service period.

How to use in Chapter 2

A strong literature review structure would be:

1.    Start with the academic definition of each term.

2.    Then add the Hong Kong policy interpretation.

3.    Finally, show the tension or gap between the ideal concept and the local policy reality.

For example, you can write that housing need in the academic literature is a multidimensional concept, while in Hong Kong policy it is often operationalised through waiting lists, subdivided-unit living, and transitional housing supply.

Harvard-style references

Below are some references you can adapt in your dissertation:

·        Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) (2025) Social Housing. Available at: https://www.hkcss.org.hk/core-businesses/social-development/social-housing/?lang=en (Accessed: 1 June 2026).

·        Legislative Council Secretariat (2022) Housing situation and housing supply in Hong Kong. FS06/2022. Available at: https://www.legco.gov.hk/research-publications/english/2022fs06-housing-situation-and-housing-supply-in-hong-kong-20221011-e.pdf (Accessed: 1 June 2026).

·        Commission on Poverty (2017) Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report. Available at: https://www.commissiononpoverty.gov.hk/eng/pdf/Hong_Kong_Poverty_Situation_Report_2016(2017.11.17).pdf (Accessed: 1 June 2026).

·        Public Health / housing affordability article on Hong Kong (2025) Public Housing and Household Savings—A Three-Decade .... Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12386136/ (Accessed: 1 June 2026).

·        University of Hong Kong housing affordability study (2026) Housing Affordability and Homeownership in Hong Kong 1985–2023. Available at: https://impact.hkubs.hku.hk/housing-affordability-and-homeownership-in-hong-kong-1985-2023/ (Accessed: 1 June 2026).

·        Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) (2025) Social Housing. Available at: https://www.hkcss.org.hk/core-businesses/social-development/social-housing/?lang=en (Accessed: 1 June 2026).

A useful dissertation move is to define each term in one sentence, then discuss how Hong Kong’s policy tools interpret that term in practice. 

 

Here are 4 key academic references in Harvard reference format that cover the four key terms (housing need, housing affordability, poverty line, and supportive housing). These are suitable to cite in your Housing Studies dissertation Chapter 2 (literature review):

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1. Housing need and housing affordability (combines both concepts)

Bramley, G. (2012) 'Affordability, poverty and housing need: triangulating measures and standards', Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 27(1), pp. 133–151.

Why it's useful: Discusses how housing need, affordability, and poverty standards are interrelated and how they should be measured together.

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2. Housing affordability (conceptual and measurement perspective)

Hulchanski, J.D. (1995) 'The concept of housing affordability: six contemporary uses of the housing expenditure-to-income ratio', Housing Studies, 10(4), pp. 471–492.

Why it's useful: A classic article reviewing how housing affordability is defined and measured in different ways, important for clarifying your conceptual framework.

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3. Housing affordability and residual income approach

Stone, M.E. (2006) 'What is housing affordability? The case for the residual income approach', Housing Policy Debate, 17(1), pp. 151–184.

Why it's useful: Argues for the residual income approach to affordability, which is more appropriate than simple income-to-rent ratios, especially for low-income households.

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4. Supportive housing (supported and supportive housing models)

Rosenak, D.A., Glickman, M.E., Gelb, J., Perry, D.F., Shetterly, F., and Kasprow, W. (2010) 'Studies of "supported" and "supportive" housing: a comprehensive review of model descriptions and measurement', Evaluation and Program Planning, 33(3), pp. 303–311.

Why it's useful: Provides a comprehensive review of supportive and supported housing models, definitions, and measurement, which is useful for conceptualising supportive housing in your literature review.

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Optional: Hong Kong–specific poverty line reference

Commission on Poverty (2017) Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2016. Hong Kong: Government of the Hong Kong SAR. Available at: https://www.commissiononpoverty.gov.hk/eng/pdf/Hong_Kong_Poverty_Situation_Report_2016(2017.11.17).pdf (Accessed: 1 June 2026).

Why it's useful: Explains Hong Kong's official poverty line (50% of median household income) and how it's used in policy, which is directly relevant to your dissertation.

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