Some suggestions on the kinds of study efforts involved in an academic-oriented MBA dissertation project

Some suggestions on the kinds of study efforts involved in an academic-oriented MBA dissertation project

The basic dissertation report structure is presented below. Some specific study efforts are indicated also.

Dissertation project title

Statement of originality and authenticity

Executive summary

Acknowledgement

Table of contents

List of figures and tables

Chapter 1: Introduction

Study topics to include are:

1a. Personal background as related to specific management topics of personal interest, especially on the topic to be examined in the dissertation project.

1b. Contextualization of the study and research gap analysis on a specific management topic

1c. Research problems and questions

1d. A brief overview of the report structure

1e. Insert research gap table in chapter 1.

Chapter 2: Literature review

2a. Adopt a more mainstream literature review approach, describing literature search and literature review efforts involved.

2b. Specific literature review findings that inform the research design of the dissertation project, e.g. specific hypotheses to test. Such findings should clarify the concept(s) to be investigated and how it is to be operationalized (which is to be further explained in Chapter 3).

2c. Study the video on "how to write a literature review".

2d. Insert theoretical frame-A in Chapter 2.

Chapter 3: Research Methods

3a. Present the overall research methodology and research design, as well as the specific research methods to be used.

3b. Evaluate and justify the research methods, e.g. on research methods quality, to be used.

3c. The chapter structure is depicted in this Youtube video.

Briefly (re: the Video):

    1. Introduction section

    2. Research design

    3. Limitations

    4. Concluding summary

3d. Also consider the good practice of research protocol.

3e. Insert theoretical framework-B in chapter 3.

Chapter 4: Presentation of research findings

Chapter 5: Discussion of findings

** study the video on "how to write a discussion section".

Chapter 6: Conclusions and recommendations

** study the video on "how to write a conclusion".

Chapter 7: Reflection on personal development

Current version: Chapter 7: Reflection on personal development (content same as portfolio report) [no separate mark for personal development]: the guideline is :

"Chapter 7 Reflections on developing your personal competence. This chapter provides the opportunity for you to reflect on your programme experience and the learning which has impacted on the development of your professional identity. Drawing on evidence you have collated throughout the module you are to write a reflective commentary which addresses the following: what were your initial motivations for undertaking an MBA and what were the central components of your professional identity during semester 1? What did you learn about yourself as a developing business professional and how that learning will shape your future professional self? (Approximately 2000 words)".

< word count figure: XXX>

References

Appendix

Useful reading: 3 deliverables for academic-oriented dissertation projects (with ALRA).

Notice: about Facebook ac: Joseph KK Ho

e-resources on discourse analysis (videos)

 e-resources on discourse analysis (videos)

1a. Introduction to discourse analysis.

1b. Introduction to discourse analysis.

2. What is a discourse.

3. Lecture on discourse analysis: part 1; part 2.

4. Laclau and Mouffe - Discourse Theory

Notice: about Facebook ac: Joseph KK Ho

e-resources on content analysis in research methods study

 e-resources on content analysis in research methods study

1. Using content analysis in qualitative research.

2a. How to conduct content analysis.

2b. Conducting a content analysis.

3. Qualitative content analysis.

4. A briefing on content analysis.

5. Content analysis in sociology.

6. Content analysis (in psychology)

Discussion topic: is there such a thing called primary research using secondary data? Is content analysis a reasonable example in this case?

Notice: about Facebook ac: Joseph KK Ho

e-learning materials on theories in research methods study

 e-learning materials on theories in research methods study:

1a. What is theory?

1b. What is a theory: a brief clarification.

1c. Macro, meso, micro theories.
2a. What is Theory Building?

2b. Building blocks of theory.

2c. Theory through research.

3. What is theory testing?

4. What is a theory? Using a theoretical framework.

5. Theory: What it is, How to Search and Where to Write about the Theory?

Also study the notes on how academic theories inform research method design

E-resource on construct, conceptualization, operationalization and unit of analysis (videos)

 E-resource on construct, conceptualization, operationalization and unit of analysis (videos)

1a. on conceptual definitions and operational definitions.

1b. Concepts, Operationalizations, & Measurement

1c: On construct and construct clarity.

2. Conceptualization and operationalization

3. Operationalization and measurement.

4. Unit of analysis.

5a. Unit of analysis and levels of measurement.

5b. Scales of measurement.

6. Concepts and indicators in social research.

Study materials on desk research: a collection

 Study materials on desk research: a collection

I. Readings

1. Desk research: what it is and usage tips

2. What is desk research and how to do it?

II. Videos

1. What is desk research?

2. Desk based methodologies.

3. Desk research : a brief lecture.

A table on research type (primary and secondary), written by me.

Research method and type		Data analysis type	Data capture type
Interview research conducted by the researcher (primary research)	Data analysed by the researcher (primary)		Interview conducted by the researcher (primary)
Interview research conducted by another researcher [A] (secondary research)	Raw data analysed by the researcher (primary)		Interview conducted by the researcher (secondary)
Interview research conducted by another researcher [B] (secondary research)	Analysis content [from another researcher] analysed by the researcher (secondary)		Interview research conducted by another researcher [A] (secondary)
Desk research conducted by the researcher [A] (secondary research)	Statistical analysis conducted by the researcher (primary)		Economic statistics provided by official institutions (secondary)
Desk research conducted by the researcher [B] (secondary research)	Analysis report by a magazine writer analysed by the researcher (secondary)		Magazine analysis report content (secondary)

** regarding the table, primary means first-hand from the researcher; secondary means second-hand from another researcher.

My research interest is a particular type of desk research, which is newspaper-based desk research or what I also call newspaper article study (re: Ho, 2019).

An additional reading: usage of desk research in housing dissertation project works.  [mainly for my housing studies students doing dissertation projects]

Discussion topic: is there such a thing called primary research using secondary data? Is content analysis a reasonable example in this case?

References

1. A collection of video resources on secondary research.
2. e-resources (videos) on content analysis.

How to formulate and evaluate zone 3a items in theoretical framework level-0 of ALRA: a note

How to formulate and evaluate zone 3a items in theoretical framework level-0 of ALRA: a note

The theoretical framework level-0 of the agile literature review approach (ALRA) comprises a set of related high-level research objectives that explicitly respond to the management-concerns items in the management-concerns diagram. Regarding zone 3a (outcomes), the evaluation efforts are on the business outcomes (both financial and non-financial) of an organization. Typical examples of zone 3a items are:

Example 1: to evaluate the high staff turnover of at the retail stores of ABC Ltd.

Example 2: to evaluate the competitive advantage status of ABC Ltd.

Example 3: to evaluate the financial performance of ABC Ltd.

Example 4: to evaluate the customer satisfaction of ABC Ltd.

Example 5: to evaluate the innovation performance of ABC Ltd.

Usually, the theoretical framework items at zone 3a (outcomes-related) are closely associated with the items at zone 2 (organizational capabilities). Thus, for a zone 2 item of "to evaluate the supply chain management competence of ABC Ltd", a logical corresponding zone 3a item would be "to evaluate the supply chain management performance of ABC Ltd". 

Now, on the question of "how to evaluate" zone 3a items? Two advices from me are as follows:

1. It depends on what analytical academic ideas you have chosen via your literature review to be employed to inform the zone 3a item evaluation. [And your literature search is based on the key words, e.g. supply chain management competence, leadership competence, etc., used in your zone 3a item statements.]

2. The evaluation effort could ultimately be based on a comprehensive and high-level perspective which  endorses the balanced scorecard (BSC) and the vision-mission-objectives (VMO) rationale. To be specific, the evaluation question is: to what extent the outcomes (e.g. marketing performance, the operational performance, the financial performance, and status of employee morale of ABC Ltd, etc.) meet the expectations and goals as indicated in the organizational balanced scorecard and the organizational vision-mission-objectives statement of ABC Ltd..

A revision on ALRA diagrams zoning:

Zone 1: environmental drivers

Zone 2: organizational capabilities

Zone 3a: outcomes-related

Zone 3b: solutions-related

A relevant reading: on ALRA zoning: a collection of notes.