Lecture note on research philosophies and the practical value of MBA dissertation projects

Lecture note on research philosophies and the practical value of MBA dissertation projects

 

In the context of doing part-time MBA dissertation projects, which primarily is pragmatic and managerial in orientation, I am told that an MBA dissertation project is expected to create some practical value (e.g. knowledge with actionable and managerial value). Thus, I can easily understand why the research philosophy of pragmatism is relevant for this kind of project. Kindly suggest to me 2 ways on treating dissertation research findings based on (1) positivism and (2) interpretivism so as to gain some practical value. To clarify the discussion, consider to use the example of the crude MBA research theme of "understanding and enhancing visitors' tour experience in Ocean Park of Hong Kong during the public holidays".

For a pragmatic, managerial MBA project, you can treat findings in two different but complementary ways: as measurable patterns and causal relationships (positivism), and as situated meanings and narratives (interpretivism). Both can be turned into practical value for Ocean Park’s management if you are explicit about how each type of finding translates into concrete decisions and interventions.^[1][2]

Below are two clear ways of “treating” your findings to gain practical value, using your theme of “understanding and enhancing visitors’ tour experience in Ocean Park of Hong Kong during public holidays.”

1. Positivist treatment: patterns → rules → interventions

Under positivism, you treat your findings as objective, generalizable relationships between variables that can guide managerial rules, KPIs, and operational decisions.^[1]

Step A: Frame findings as measurable relationships

Example types of findings in a positivist Ocean Park study:

·       Crowding and satisfaction
“Perceived crowding score” is negatively associated with overall satisfaction and intention to revisit, especially during 2–4pm peak hours on public holidays.

·       Queue time and spending
Average queue time for headline attractions (e.g. major rides) shows a threshold effect: beyond 45 minutes, reported intention to purchase F&B and souvenirs drops significantly.

·       Staff interaction quality and Net Promoter Score (NPS)
A 1‑point increase in “staff helpfulness” rating corresponds to a measurable increase in NPS and likelihood to recommend Ocean Park to friends.

You present these as statistical patterns (correlations, regressions, differences between groups) with statements like “Higher perceived crowding is associated with lower satisfaction” rather than rich stories.^[3][1]

Step B: Translate relationships into actionable management rules

You then treat the findings as design rules and control levers:

1.    Set operational thresholds and KPIs

o   Use findings on crowding and queue time to set KPIs such as:
“During public holidays, 80% of visitors should experience queues under 40 minutes for headline attractions.”

o   Monitor these via real‑time operations dashboards and adjust staffing or ride scheduling when thresholds are exceeded.

2.    Optimize resource allocation and scheduling

o   If data show specific zones (e.g. marine exhibits) are under‑utilized while ride areas are congested, re‑allocate entertainment shows and characters to congested zones to distribute flows.

o   Use time‑of‑day patterns to schedule more staff at guest‑services points and popular rides during peak hours, based on empirical relationships between staffing, crowding, and satisfaction.^[4][5][6]

3.    Design experiments for continuous improvement

o   Treat your findings as hypotheses for A/B tests:
For instance, “Implementing a virtual queue system for two rides should increase overall satisfaction scores by X and increase secondary spending by Y.”

o   Run controlled trials over several public holidays; measure the change in key metrics (satisfaction, NPS, per‑capita spending) to confirm or refine the rules.

4.    Prioritize investments and justify business cases

o   If your data show that reducing queue time at Ride A has a much larger effect on satisfaction than at Ride B, you can argue for capex investment (e.g. new loading platform, virtual queue tech) at Ride A first.

o   Put numbers into a simple business case: “A projected 0.3‑point increase in average satisfaction yields Z% increase in revisit intention; with an average ticket price of HKD…, this supports an expected revenue uplift of ….”

In short: Under positivism, you treat findings as evidence‑based rules about “what works” in a generalizable way, and convert them into KPIs, process changes, and structured experiments that operational managers can implement.

2. Interpretivist treatment: meanings → narratives → design principles

Under interpretivism, you treat findings as context‑dependent meanings and lived experiences that help managers understand “what it feels like” to be a visitor and how different segments construct their holiday experience.^[2][7][1]

Step A: Frame findings as themes and stories

You would typically collect qualitative data (e.g. semi‑structured interviews, on‑site ethnographic observation, visitor diaries) and code them into themes:

Example interpretivist findings at Ocean Park:

·       Theme: “Holiday family ritual”
Visitors describe Ocean Park as part of a recurring family ritual (“We come here every Lunar New Year”), emphasizing togetherness, photo‑taking, and shared memories more than rides per se.

·       Theme: “Being trapped in queues”
Some visitors narrate feeling “trapped” or “wasting my holiday” when queueing, describing frustration, boredom, and guilt about children getting tired.

·       Theme: “Hong Kong identity and pride”
Local visitors talk about Ocean Park as “our park,” contrasting it with overseas parks; they describe pride in local marine conservation and local food options.

·       Theme: “Micro‑moments of magic”
Especially for first‑time visitors, small interactions (a staff member helping with photos, a surprise character encounter) are described as “the most memorable part” of the day.

These are not just variables but interpretations of what the experience means to different segments.^[7][3]

Step B: Translate meanings into design and communication principles

You then treat the findings as design principles and narrative guidelines for managers:

1.    Experience design principles

o   From “holiday family ritual” and “micro‑moments of magic,” derive principles such as:
“Design the park day as a sequence of memorable family micro‑moments, not just rides.”

o   Concrete actions: more photo spots with good backdrops; staff trained to offer proactive family assistance (e.g. volunteer to take family photos, give small souvenirs to children during peak queuing times).

2.    Queue experience re‑framing

o   Instead of only reducing queue length (positivist focus), interpretivist insights suggest re‑framing the meaning of queuing:

§  Introduce interactive queue entertainment (mini‑shows, AR games, educational marine content).

§  Provide “parent‑friendly” features (seating, fans, shade, child play corners) so parents do not feel guilty or stressed.

o   The aim is to shift the narrative from “wasting time” to “part of the shared adventure.”

3.    Segment‑specific storytelling and communication

o   For local Hong Kong families, emphasize “our park,” conservation stories, and local culture in communication materials and on‑site signage.

o   For Mainland or overseas visitors, highlight discovery, novelty, and “must‑do” experiences, connecting their own holiday motives and expectations.

o   These narrative strategies are grounded in how different segments interpret their visit (“family ritual,” “status trip,” “children’s reward,” etc.).

4.    Staff training and scripts based on visitor meanings

o   Use typical visitor stories in staff training:

§  Show how a small act (e.g. helping a lost guest) becomes the highlight of someone’s day.

§  Discuss how certain phrases or attitudes can either affirm visitors’ holiday narratives (“You’ve picked the perfect day for your family adventure!”) or undermine them (“It’s always crowded, what do you expect?”).

o   Develop interaction scripts that reinforce positive narratives (family bonding, pride, discovery) and de‑escalate negative ones (feeling trapped, disrespected).

5.    Reflexive policy and inclusion

o   Interpretivist work also encourages managers to reflect on whose experience is being privileged.

o   For example, stories from visitors with disabilities or elderly grandparents may reveal that the park design implicitly centers able‑bodied younger adults; this can guide inclusive design changes (wheelchair‑friendly routes, resting points, clearer signage).

In short: Under interpretivism, you treat findings as rich accounts of how visitors make sense of their day, and convert these into experience design principles, narrative strategies, training content, and inclusion policies.

Putting both approaches to practical use

For a pragmatic MBA dissertation, you can explicitly show how both treatments create value:

·       In your positivist chapters, emphasize:

o   Clear variables (crowding, queue time, satisfaction, spending).

o   Statistical relationships.

o   KPIs, resource allocation decisions, and experiment plans derived from those relationships.

·       In your interpretivist or qualitative chapters, emphasize:

o   Visitor meanings and narratives (how different segments experience and interpret Ocean Park).

o   Design and communication principles.

o   Staff training, inclusive policies, and experience re‑framing grounded in those narratives.

A very nice, pragmatic position for your dissertation is to say:

“Positivist analysis tells Ocean Park management where and when experiences are weak and which operational levers matter most; interpretivist analysis tells them why visitors feel as they do and how interventions can be designed to align with visitors’ own meanings and holiday narratives.”

** a collection of lecture notes on research methods

Lecture note on research issues and gaps: for MBA students

 Lecture note on research issues and gaps: for MBA students

 

Highlight 4 main ideas on the topic of research issues (and the associated research gap topic) in the academic literature in the context of doing MBA dissertation projects. My concern is that a MBA dissertation project should respond to a few research issues so as to more clearly establish its intended academic value.

Yes — for an MBA dissertation, it is usually stronger to show that the study responds to a specific research issue or gap, not just that it is “interesting.” In the literature, a dissertation’s academic value is often judged by how clearly it identifies what is missing, limited, or unresolved in prior studies.jabu+1

4 main ideas on research issues and gaps

1.    The empirical issue: prior findings are incomplete or inconsistent.
A common research gap is that earlier studies have produced mixed results, weak evidence, or only partial understanding of a relationship. Your dissertation then contributes by testing whether the relationship holds in a new setting, sector, sample, or time period.wr-publishing+1

2.    The contextual issue: research has not covered your setting.
Many topics are well studied in general, but not in a specific country, industry, institution, or market. For MBA projects, this is often a strong gap because a local context can change how a management issue works in practice.wr-publishing+1

3.    The methodological issue: previous studies used limited methods.
Some literature gaps come from heavy reliance on one method, such as only quantitative surveys, only cross-sectional designs, or weak measurement approaches. A dissertation can add value by using a better design, richer data, or a more appropriate analytical approach.wr-publishing+1

4.    The conceptual issue: prior work has not fully explained the phenomenon.
Sometimes the literature studies variables separately but does not explain the mechanism, interaction, or underlying theory well enough. In that case, your dissertation can build academic value by refining concepts, adding a mediator or moderator, or extending theory into a new management problem.emerald+1

How this helps your dissertation

A strong MBA dissertation usually does not just say “there is a gap”; it states what kind of gap it is and why it matters academically. A useful formula is:

• what has been studied,
• what is still unknown,
• why that unknown matters, and
• how your study will help close it.jabu+1

Practical writing tip

In your proposal, try to frame the research issue as one of these: inconsistent evidence, neglected context, weak method, or incomplete theory. That makes the academic contribution easier for examiners to see and helps you avoid a topic that is merely practical but not research-worthy.research-advances+1

 

Please suggest 2 research issue examples with regard to each of the following 3 crude MBA research themes: 1. on human resource management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the positivist lens 2. on marketing management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the positivist lens 3. on innovation management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the positivist lens.

Below are 2 research issue examples for each theme that fit a positivist MBA dissertation approach. I’ve phrased them as researchable issues rather than full questions, so you can adapt them into hypotheses and variable-based models.scholars.ln+2

1) Human resource management in Hong Kong banking

1.    Employee retention and turnover intention in a high-pressure banking environment.
Research issue: It is still unclear which HR practices most strongly reduce turnover intention among bank employees in Hong Kong, especially under high workload, regulatory pressure, and digital transformation. A positivist study could test the relationship between HR practices such as training, performance appraisal, rewards, and retention outcomes.scholars.ln

2.    The effect of HR practices on employee performance or engagement.
Research issue: Prior work suggests HRM matters in Hong Kong banking, but the strength of its effect across different employee groups or bank types is not fully established. A dissertation could examine whether specific HRM practices significantly predict employee engagement, job satisfaction, or performance indicators.scholars.ln

2) Marketing management in Hong Kong banking

1.    Determinants of customer adoption of digital banking channels.
Research issue: Although digital banking adoption in Hong Kong has been studied, there is still room to examine which marketing-related factors most strongly drive adoption across customer segments. A positivist dissertation could test how perceived usefulness, trust, convenience, and demographic variables influence channel adoption.scholars.cityu.edu+1

2.    Drivers of customer loyalty in banking services.
Research issue: It is not fully settled how service quality, relationship marketing, perceived value, and brand trust combine to affect loyalty in Hong Kong banking. A dissertation could use survey data to test which marketing variables best predict satisfaction and loyalty intentions.ros.hw.ac

3) Innovation management in Hong Kong banking

1.    Organizational drivers of FinTech adoption in banks.
Research issue: Banks in Hong Kong differ in whether they treat FinTech as a complement or a threat, but the organizational conditions behind that difference are still not fully explained. A positivist study could test whether leadership support, digital capability, firm age, or network ties predict innovation adoption.papers.ssrn+1

2.    The relationship between innovation capability and bank performance.
Research issue: It remains important to clarify whether innovation management in banks leads to measurable performance gains such as efficiency, customer acquisition, or competitiveness. A dissertation could test the effect of innovation capability, knowledge flows, or digital investment on performance outcomes.scholars.hkbu.edu+1

A useful framing

For a positivist MBA dissertation, each research issue should ideally be written in a way that can be translated into:

·        one dependent variable,

·        a few independent variables,

·        and possibly one moderator or mediator.

That makes the study easier to defend academically because it shows a clear empirical gap and a testable model.

 

Please suggest 2 research issue examples with regard to each of the following 3 crude MBA research themes: 1. on human resource management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the interpretivist lens 2. on marketing management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the interpretivist lens 3. on innovation management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the interpretivist lens.

Certainly — for an interpretivist MBA dissertation, the “research issue” should focus less on measuring fixed relationships and more on understanding meanings, experiences, perceptions, and social processes inside Hong Kong banks. That means your gap is usually about limited understanding of how people interpret a phenomenon, rather than simply whether variable X causes Y.scholars.ln.edu+1

1) Human resource management in Hong Kong banking

1.    How bank employees and HR managers experience talent retention in a competitive labour market.
Research issue: Existing work on Hong Kong banking has highlighted HRM importance, but it does not fully explain how different actors understand the causes of turnover, talent loss, and retention pressure in daily practice. An interpretivist study could explore the lived experiences and meaning-making of HR staff, line managers, and employees.scholars.ln+1

2.    How HR practitioners interpret the strategic role of HR in bank decision-making.
Research issue: The literature suggests HR functions in banks have often been treated as short-term or operational, but there is limited understanding of how HR professionals themselves perceive their influence, legitimacy, and voice within top management. This can be examined through interviews and thematic analysis.scholars.ln.edu+1

2) Marketing management in Hong Kong banking

1.    How bank customers interpret trust and value in digital banking relationships.
Research issue: While adoption studies show what factors may influence channel use, they often do not explain how customers personally define “trust,” “convenience,” or “good service” in a banking relationship. An interpretivist study could examine customer narratives about why they continue, switch, or resist digital banking.scholars.cityu.edu+1

2.    How bank marketers understand personalized engagement in a highly regulated environment.
Research issue: Banking marketers increasingly use analytics and AI tools, but the literature does not sufficiently show how marketing staff interpret the tension between personalization, compliance, and brand authenticity. This is a useful interpretivist gap because it focuses on internal professional meaning rather than outcome measures.thedigitalbanker+1

3) Innovation management in Hong Kong banking

1.    How managers make sense of innovation under regulatory and risk constraints.
Research issue: Innovation in banking is often discussed as a technical or strategic capability, but less is known about how managers interpret the practical meaning of “responsible innovation” in a tightly regulated sector like Hong Kong banking. This gap is suitable for interviews with innovation, compliance, and business leaders.hkma+1

2.    How employees experience and adapt to digital transformation and FinTech change.
Research issue: Existing studies show that banks are adopting AI, analytics, and FinTech, but they do not always explain how employees experience these changes, whether they see them as opportunity or threat, and how they reshape everyday work identity. An interpretivist design could reveal these subjective responses in depth.research.polyu.edu+1

A simple rule for interpretivist gaps

For interpretivism, your research issue should usually be framed like this:

·        What meanings do people attach to the phenomenon?

·        How do different stakeholders experience it?

·        Why do they interpret it differently?

·        How is the phenomenon understood in its specific context?

That framing makes the dissertation more clearly interpretive and gives it academic value beyond simple description.

 

Please suggest 2 research issue examples with regard to each of the following 3 crude MBA research themes: 1. on human resource management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the pragmatist lens 2. on marketing management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the pragmatist lens 3. on innovation management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the pragmatist lens.

Certainly — under a pragmatist lens, your MBA dissertation can focus on what works, for whom, and under what conditions in Hong Kong banking. The research issue is usually framed around a practical problem that still has an unresolved knowledge gap, often requiring mixed evidence or a context-sensitive explanation.thedigitalbanker+2

1) Human resource management in Hong Kong banking

1.    Which HR practices actually improve retention and capability development in the current talent-shortage environment?
Research issue: Hong Kong banks face ongoing talent pressure, but it is not yet clear which combination of HR actions — such as flexible work, training, wellness, or career development — produces the most effective retention outcome. A pragmatist study can compare practices and assess which ones are most useful in real banking settings.hongkongbusiness+1

2.    How can HR be redesigned as a strategic business partner while still meeting compliance and operational demands?
Research issue: The literature and banking training standards suggest HR is expected to move beyond administration into strategic support, but the practical pathway for making that transition remains underexplored. A pragmatist dissertation can examine what HR structures or interventions help banks balance people strategy, regulation, and performance.hkqf.gov+1

2) Marketing management in Hong Kong banking

1.    What marketing approach best increases digital banking adoption and customer engagement across segments?
Research issue: Hong Kong banks are competing to deliver stronger digital value propositions, but the literature does not clearly show which marketing tactics work best for different customer groups. A pragmatist study can combine customer feedback and adoption patterns to identify the most effective engagement strategy.bain+1

2.    How can banks market personalized services without damaging trust or perceived authenticity?
Research issue: Banks increasingly use analytics and AI to personalize communication, yet there is still uncertainty about how customers respond when marketing becomes highly data-driven. A pragmatist dissertation could investigate which forms of personalization improve response and which may trigger skepticism.thedigitalbanker+1

3) Innovation management in Hong Kong banking

1.    Which innovation practices most effectively convert digital capability into business value?
Research issue: Hong Kong banks are investing in AI, analytics, and internal innovation programmes, but it is not fully clear which innovation mechanisms create the greatest operational or customer value. A pragmatist study can evaluate the practical impact of different innovation initiatives rather than treating innovation as a purely abstract concept.thedigitalbanker+1

2.    How can banks adopt innovation while maintaining governance, compliance, and risk control?
Research issue: The core challenge in banking innovation is not simply whether to innovate, but how to do so responsibly under heavy regulation and reputational constraints. A pragmatist dissertation can explore the implementation conditions that make innovation workable in Hong Kong banks.hkma.gov+2

How to use these in a proposal

A pragmatist research issue is strongest when it is framed as:

·        a real management problem,

·        a need for evidence on what works,

·        and a gap in practical implementation knowledge.

** a collection of lecture notes on research methods