A note on historical studies for MBA dissertation project works

A note on historical studies for MBA dissertation project works (information from perplexity.ai)

 

My question 1: "In the context of doing MBA dissertation projects, what could be value of studying historical and past events, e.g. Asian Financial Crisis, a corporate merger failure of a company some years ago or, an IT project failure of a company a few years ago, in the design of an overall research methodology for the dissertation projects. It appears that MBA dissertation projects should focus on studying contemporary business issues, not historical events (which is study domain of history)."

The reply: "Studying historical events like the Asian Financial Crisis or corporate failures adds significant value to MBA dissertation methodologies by providing empirical depth and practical insights into contemporary business challenges. These analyses bridge past patterns with current issues, enhancing research rigor without confining it to pure history.

Key Methodological Benefits

Historical case studies enable qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, such as comparative analysis or event studies, to test theories against real-world data. For instance, dissertations have applied Minsky's Financial Instability Hypothesis to the 1997 Asian crisis, using secondary sources and interviews to inform regulatory reforms relevant today. This supports inductive theory-building, where patterns from failures (e.g., merger integration issues or IT project mismanagement) validate or refine frameworks like risk assessment or governance models.

Linking to Contemporary Issues

Past events illuminate recurring risks in modern contexts, like financial vulnerabilities or project execution flaws, allowing MBA research to draw actionable lessons for strategy and policy. Examples include theses analyzing Lehman Brothers' collapse or IT failures to highlight people-related predictors of success, directly informing current portfolio diversification or agile methodologies. Up to 40% of management master's dissertations employ case studies for this holistic view, blending archival data with stakeholder insights.

Pragmatic Research Fit

In pragmatic methodologies—aligning with your interests—these studies favor mixed methods over pure positivism, prioritizing practical outcomes like crisis prevention strategies. They counter the "contemporary-only" view by showing history as a repository for avoiding fads, as seen in business history integrations that evolve management research. This approach suits MBA projects by focusing on transferable lessons, not rote history, enhancing employability through evidence-based recommendations."

 

My question 2: "Suggest four advices on research method practices (e.g. in data gathering and data analysis methods) on studying historical events in the context of MBA dissertation projects."

The reply: "Studying historical events in MBA dissertations benefits from structured research practices that ensure data reliability and analytical depth. Here are four key pieces of advice on data gathering and analysis, drawn from established case study methodologies.

Use Triangulation for Data Gathering

Collect data from multiple secondary sources like archival records, financial reports, news articles, and academic papers to validate findings on events such as the Asian Financial Crisis. Supplement with semi-structured interviews from experts or survivors for contextual richness, ensuring comprehensive triangulation that enhances credibility in pragmatic MBA research.

Apply Thematic and Content Analysis

Employ qualitative methods like thematic coding to identify recurring patterns in historical documents, such as governance lapses in merger failures, using tools like NVivo for systematic organization. Combine with quantitative event study techniques to measure market impacts, providing robust evidence for theory testing.

Ensure Validity Through Rigorous Checks

Establish trustworthiness by cross-verifying data across sources, documenting biases (e.g., hindsight in failure analyses), and using peer debriefing or member checks where possible. Pilot your analysis plan on a subset of data to refine codes and address limitations inherent in retrospective studies.

Leverage Mixed Methods for Insights

Integrate qualitative narratives with statistical analysis of trends, such as regression on economic indicators from past IT project failures, to link history to contemporary applications. This pragmatic approach aligns with MBA goals, yielding actionable recommendations while maintaining methodological balance."

 

My question 3: "In general, what does the field of history study tell us the "valuable and holistic lessons learned" and "problem-solving insights offered from history study that can enrich research methodology design and practices in MBA dissertation project works?

The reply: "Historical studies offer MBA research profound lessons on contextual complexity, long-term patterns, and human factors in decision-making, enriching dissertation methodologies beyond ahistorical snapshots. These insights promote methodological pluralism, turning history into a tool for rigorous, forward-looking business analysis.

Contextual Nuance and Causal Depth

History teaches that events unfold in layered contexts—economic, social, cultural—demanding multi-source triangulation in MBA designs to avoid oversimplification. Holistic lessons emphasize narrative analysis alongside data, revealing non-linear causation (e.g., how overlooked human elements fueled past crises), fostering richer problem-solving via abductive reasoning.

Long-Term Patterns and Recurrence Risks

By identifying cycles and contingencies in business history, such as management fads or governance failures, studies provide predictive insights for scenario planning in dissertations. This counters positivist biases, advocating mixed methods that integrate archival data with contemporary metrics for robust risk modeling and strategy validation.

Human-Centric Problem-Solving

History underscores behavioral drivers like leadership biases or cultural inertia, offering MBA researchers tools for qualitative depth in quantitative-heavy fields. Insights from past experiments (e.g., Hawthorne) inspire ethnographic elements in designs, enhancing holistic evaluations of ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder dynamics.

Methodological Pluralism and Innovation

Business history promotes openness to diverse epistemologies—archival, oral, digital—enriching MBA practices with secondary data rigor and peer learning models. Valuable lessons include democratizing knowledge exchange, as in interwar management movements, to build adaptable, evidence-based frameworks that bridge theory and practice."

My question 4: "Provide one illustrative example of using a historical research method, together with 2 other primary research methods, to constitute an overall research methodology, based on critical realism, for a part-time 4-month MBA dissertation project."

The reply: "Critical realism (CR) suits short MBA dissertations by enabling layered analysis of underlying mechanisms behind observed business events, blending historical depth with primary data for practical insights within 4 months. A strong example is studying "Governance failures in corporate mergers," using one historical method (archival case study) alongside two primary methods (elite interviews and surveys).

Overall CR Methodology Design

Adopt a retroductive logic: start with empirical merger failure patterns (e.g., value destruction), interrogate real mechanisms (e.g., power asymmetries), and validate via actual experiences. Timeline: Month 1 for design/literature; Month 2 for historical data; Month 3 for primary collection/analysis; Month 4 for synthesis/write-up. Use stratified ontology—empirical (data), actual (events), real (causal powers like cultural clashes)—with triangulation for trustworthiness.

Historical Method: Archival Case Study

Analyze the 1999 AOL-Time Warner merger as a single in-depth case, drawing secondary data from SEC filings, earnings calls, and news archives to reconstruct events and identify mechanisms (e.g., over-optimism masking integration flaws). Code thematically with NVivo for patterns, spending 4-6 weeks; this grounds CR's "real" domain in verifiable history, avoiding present bias.​

Primary Method 1: Elite Interviews

Conduct 8-10 semi-structured interviews (30-45 mins each) with merger-experienced executives/managers from Hong Kong/Singapore firms, recruited via LinkedIn/alumni networks. Probe lived experiences of similar failures to surface demi-regularities (e.g., trust erosion), using CR-guided prompts for reflexivity; transcribe/analyze interpretively to refine historical mechanisms.​

Primary Method 2: Targeted Surveys

Distribute online surveys (e.g., Qualtrics) to 100+ MBA peers/professionals on merger risk perceptions, using Likert scales and open fields for quantitative trends (e.g., regression on governance factors) plus qualitative nuance. Analyze via SPSS for correlations, integrating with interviews to test generative mechanisms across CR domains.​

Integration and Outputs

Converge findings iteratively: historical case demystifies structures, interviews reveal agency, surveys quantify tendencies—yielding a CR-informed framework for merger success (e.g., adaptive governance model). This pragmatic, multi-method design fits part-time constraints, enhancing validity through explanatory critique."

My suggested videos to study: (1) What History Was, Is, and Will Be and (2) why study history?

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.

The contribution of western novels to the field of humanities study

The contribution of western novels to the field of humanities study (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1 is "How does the western literature, notably novels, contributes to the field of humanities study."

The reply: "Western literature, especially novels, forms a cornerstone of humanities by exploring human experiences, societal values, and ethical dilemmas through narrative depth.

Core Contributions

Novels like those by Dickens or Tolstoy illuminate social injustices and individual psyches, fostering empathy and critical analysis essential to humanistic inquiry. They preserve cultural histories and challenge readers to confront diverse worldviews, bridging personal emotion with broader philosophical questions.

Educational Impact

In academia, Western novels enhance interdisciplinary studies by providing vivid insights into history, politics, and psychology that abstract theories alone cannot match. For instance, works by Dostoevsky prompt ethical reflection, sharpening analytical skills transferable to philosophy and cultural studies.

Cultural and Social Role

These texts drive public discourse and identity formation, influencing movements from abolitionism to civil rights by humanizing complex issues. Their enduring study in humanities curricula cultivates cultural literacy and moral reasoning for global citizenship."

My question 2: "Does the study of western literature, notably novels, enrich the intellectual intelligence of MBA and Housing Studies students?"

The reply: "Yes, studying Western literature, particularly novels, enriches intellectual intelligence for MBA and Housing Studies students by sharpening critical thinking, empathy, and contextual awareness beyond quantitative models.

Critical Thinking Gains

Novels like Pride and Prejudice or The Great Gatsby train analysis of complex motivations and societal dynamics, skills vital for dissecting case studies in MBA programs or policy implications in Housing Studies. This fosters nuanced problem-solving, helping students navigate ambiguity in business ethics or urban development challenges.

Emotional Intelligence Boost

Through character-driven narratives in works by Austen or Woolf, students build empathy and interpersonal insight, essential for leadership roles in management or community housing initiatives. Such exposure counters the formulaic thinking of spreadsheets, promoting holistic decision-making with stakeholder perspectives.

​

Broader Contextual Skills

Literature expands worldview via historical and cultural lenses, aiding MBA students in global strategy and Housing Studies learners in grasping social inequities like those in Dickens' tales of industrial poverty. This interdisciplinary edge enhances adaptability in diverse professional environments."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.

Asking AI to produce an MBA research theme and proposal: on the HK catering industry and organizational adaptation

Asking AI to produce an MBA research theme and proposal: on the HK catering industry and organizational adaptation (information from perplexity.ai)

 

My question 1: "Suggest an MBA dissertation research theme, via the pragmatism lens, based on the following key words: Hong Kong Catering Industry, Hong Kong middle class as a market segment, organizational adaptation strategy option evaluation."

The reply: "A pragmatist MBA dissertation theme could focus on practical strategies for Hong Kong catering businesses to adapt to middle-class shifts amid economic pressures like labor shortages and rising costs. This lens prioritizes what "works" in real-world application over rigid theory.

Proposed Theme

Evaluating Organizational Adaptation Strategies for Hong Kong Catering Firms Targeting the Middle-Class Market: A Pragmatist Perspective

Pragmatism views knowledge as instruments for action, testing strategies by their outcomes rather than abstract ideals. This theme examines how catering firms practically evaluate options like digital transformation, labor optimization, and menu innovation to retain middle-class diners, who prioritize value, convenience, and health post-pandemic.​

Research Focus

·        Assess adaptation options: Tech integration (e.g., delivery apps, AI inventory), flexible staffing, and hybrid dine-in/takeout models.

·        Target middle-class segment: Defined by HK's squeezed demographics—dual-income households seeking affordable quality amid inflation and tourism flux.​

·        Pragmatist evaluation: Use mixed methods (surveys of managers/consumers, case studies) to measure "success" via metrics like revenue stability and customer retention.

Key Research Questions

·        What adaptation strategies do HK catering firms prioritize for middle-class appeal, and which yield measurable viability?​

·        How do external pressures (e.g., rent, regulations) shape strategy selection from a "what works" viewpoint?

·        What pragmatic criteria (e.g., cost-benefit, scalability) guide option evaluation in this volatile sector?

Methodology Fit

Adopt pragmatism's abductive approach: Start with real problems (e.g., 2025 industry closures), test strategies via pilots or simulations, and iterate based on evidence. Combine quantitative data (financial KPIs from firm samples) with qualitative insights (interviews on decision-making), aligning with your expertise in mixed methods and HK contexts. This ensures actionable insights for industry resilience."

 

My question 2: "Based on the proposed research theme , please offer a part-time MBA dissertation proposal with the following information: 

1. Dissertation report title 2. 3 research issues (including research gaps) and 3 Hong Kong public media reported issues. 3. 3 research objectives and 3 research questions 4. 2 primary research methods and 1 secondary research method. 5. 4 academic theories related to market positioning, organizational adaptation, the catering business model innovation (with a reference list in Harvard reference format) 6. A brief justification of the dissertation proposal in terms of academic, practical and originality value.".

The reply: "

1.    Dissertation Report Title
Evaluating Organizational Adaptation Strategies for Hong Kong Catering Firms Targeting the Middle-Class Market: A Pragmatist Perspective.​

Research Issues and Media-Reported Challenges

Research Issues (with Gaps):

·        Limited empirical studies on pragmatist evaluation of adaptation strategies in catering, overlooking mixed-method tests of "what works" for middle-class retention amid economic volatility.

·        Underexplored integration of market positioning with organizational adaptation in HK's post-2025 catering downturn, where middle-class spending has declined 15%.​

·        Scant research on business model innovation tailored to HK middle-class preferences (value, health, convenience), ignoring pragmatic metrics like scalability.​

HK Public Media-Reported Issues:

·        Large-scale closures (nearly 300 in H1 2025), driven by middle-class income squeeze and competition from mainland brands.​

·        Rising costs (labor, rent, food) eroding margins, with chains like Tao Heung closing 30% of outlets.​

·        Manpower shortages and shifting consumer demands for affordable, sustainable options amid 2026 recovery pessimism.

Research Objectives and Questions

Objectives:

·        To identify and evaluate adaptation strategy options for HK catering firms targeting middle-class segments.

·        To apply pragmatism to assess strategy effectiveness via real-world outcomes like revenue and retention.

·        To recommend innovative business models enhancing middle-class market positioning.

Questions:

·        What adaptation strategies (e.g., digital, staffing) do HK catering firms prioritize for middle-class viability?​

·        How does a pragmatist lens reveal gaps in current strategy evaluation amid external pressures?

·        Which model innovations best balance cost, value, and scalability for this segment?​

Research Methods

Primary Methods:

·        Mixed-methods surveys of 100+ catering managers and middle-class consumers in HK (Fanling/North District focus) to quantify strategy preferences and outcomes.

·        In-depth case studies of 5-7 firms (e.g., adapting via AI/delivery), using interviews for pragmatic insights.​

Secondary Method:

·        Analysis of industry reports, financial data, and media (e.g., 2025-2026 HK Restaurant Association stats) for contextual trends.

Relevant Academic Theories

·        Market Positioning (Porter's Generic Strategies): Firms choose cost leadership or differentiation to target segments like HK middle-class value-seekers.​

·        Organizational Adaptation (Dynamic Capabilities Framework): Teece et al. emphasize sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring resources for volatile environments like catering.​

·        Catering Business Model Innovation (Business Model Canvas - Osterwalder): Maps adaptations in key partners, activities, and revenue streams for middle-class appeal.​

·        Market Positioning (STP Model - Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning): Kotler’s framework refines middle-class focus via behavioral/demographic criteria.​

Harvard Reference List:
Osterwalder, A. and Pigneur, Y. (2010) Business Model Generation. Hoboken: Wiley.
Kotler, P. et al. (2019) Marketing Management. 16th edn. Harlow: Pearson.
Porter, M.E. (1985) Competitive Advantage. New York: Free Press.
Teece, D.J., Pisano, G. and Shuen, A. (1997) 'Dynamic capabilities and strategic management', Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), pp. 509-533.

Proposal Justification

Academically, it advances pragmatism in MBA research by bridging philosophy with empirical strategy evaluation, filling gaps in HK-specific studies. Practically, it offers actionable strategies for catering survival, aiding middle-class targeting amid 2026 challenges like closures and costs. Its originality lies in pragmatist-mixed methods applied to this niche, providing scalable insights for HK's squeezed industry."

 

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.