Friday, 31 January 2025

Asking poe.com to come up with a dissertation proposal about strategic decision making, managerial economics and interpretivism

Asking poe.com to come up with a dissertation proposal about strategic decision making and managerial economics (with the adoption of interpretivism)


My question 1: "I am a part-time MBA student, currently working on my dissertation proposal. My main ideas are: (1) to adopt the research theme of examining strategic decision-making via the lens of managerial economics, (2) to adopt the research philosophy of interpretivism for the dissertation project, (3) study three bookstores in Mongkok, of Hong Kong, (4) conduct (i) narrative interviews with 3 of my friends working in the bookstores in Mongkok, (ii) a focus group with 5 participants, two of whom work in the Mongkok bookstores, two of whom are regular customers of the Mongkok bookstores, and one of the participants being a regular customer to buy books from online bookstore, and (iii) a desk research to learn information related to my research theme. It is my intention to be able to produce some original knowledge to respond to about 2 main research issues as related to my research theme as well as some practical knowledge inform the strategic decision-making of my friends who work in the Mongkok bookstores. Could you come up with a dissertation proposal for me based on the information I provided? Tks a lot."

The reply: "Certainly! Below is a structured dissertation proposal based on the ideas you've shared.

Dissertation Proposal

Title

Strategic Decision-Making in Retail: An Interpretivist Study of Bookstores in Mongkok, Hong Kong

Introduction

This dissertation aims to explore strategic decision-making processes within the context of three bookstores located in Mongkok, Hong Kong. The research will adopt a managerial economics perspective, framed by an interpretivist philosophy, to examine how decision-making is influenced by both internal and external factors.

Research Objectives

  1. To investigate how strategic decisions are made in the context of managerial economics within the selected bookstores.
  2. To understand the perspectives of bookstore employees, customers, and the broader market influences on these strategic decisions.

Research Questions

  1. How do bookstore employees perceive the factors influencing strategic decision-making in their retail environment?
  2. What are the differences in decision-making strategies between traditional bookstores and online retailers from a customer perspective?

Literature Review

The literature review will delve into theories of managerial economics and their application to strategic decision-making in retail. It will also cover interpretivism as a research philosophy, emphasizing the subjective understanding of social phenomena.

Methodology

  • Research Philosophy: Interpretivism will guide the study, focusing on the meaning and context of strategic decision-making from the perspectives of participants.
  • Research Design: A qualitative research design will be employed, utilizing narrative interviews, focus groups, and desk research.

Data Collection

  1. Narrative Interviews: Conduct interviews with three friends employed at the selected bookstores to gather personal insights on their experiences and decision-making processes.
  2. Focus Group: Organize a focus group with five participants, including:
    • Two employees from the bookstores
    • Two regular customers of the bookstores
    • One customer who primarily purchases from online bookstores
  3. Desk Research: Collect data from existing literature, market reports, and case studies relevant to the strategic decision-making in retail and the specific challenges faced by bookstores.

Data Analysis

Thematic analysis will be employed to identify patterns and themes in the qualitative data collected from interviews and focus groups.

Expected Contributions

This research aims to contribute original knowledge to the field of managerial economics by:

  • Providing insights into the decision-making processes of retail bookstores.
  • Offering practical recommendations for bookstore managers to enhance their strategic planning and decision-making.
  • Highlighting the comparative perspectives of traditional versus online retailing.

Conclusion

This dissertation will generate both theoretical and practical knowledge regarding strategic decision-making in the retail sector, particularly focusing on the unique context of bookstores in Mongkok, Hong Kong. The findings will not only serve academic purposes but also guide strategic initiatives for bookstore management.

References

(A preliminary list of references will be compiled in the final proposal, focusing on relevant literature in managerial economics, interpretivism, and retail decision-making.)"



My question 2: "Could you suggest what questions to ask for the narrative interviews as well as for the focus group in this case? Tks."

The reply: "Here are some suggested questions for both the narrative interviews and the focus group:

Narrative Interviews (with bookstore employees)

  1. Background and Experience

    • Can you tell me about your background and how you started working in a bookstore?
    • What roles and responsibilities do you have in your current position?

  2. Decision-Making

    • Can you describe a recent strategic decision made at your bookstore? What factors influenced this decision?
    • How do you gather and analyze information when making decisions regarding inventory or promotions?

  3. Challenges and Opportunities

    • What are some challenges you face in the current retail environment, particularly in Mongkok?
    • How do you identify opportunities for growth or improvement in your bookstore?

  4. Customer Interaction

    • How do you perceive the relationship between customer preferences and your bookstore’s strategic decisions?
    • Can you share an example of customer feedback that influenced a decision at your bookstore?

  5. Future Outlook

    • What do you foresee as the future of bookstores in Mongkok? How do you plan to adapt to changes in consumer behavior?

Focus Group (with bookstore employees and customers)

  1. General Impressions

    • What do you believe are the main strengths and weaknesses of bookstores in Mongkok?
    • How do you compare your in-store experience with online shopping?

  2. Decision-Making Insights

    • For the bookstore employees: What factors do you consider when making decisions about inventory and sales strategies?
    • For the customers: What influences your decision to shop at a physical bookstore versus online?

  3. Customer Preferences

    • What types of books or genres do you think are most popular among customers in Mongkok?
    • How important is the physical layout and ambiance of a bookstore in your decision to visit?

  4. Impact of Online Retail

    • How has the rise of online bookstores affected your shopping habits or business decisions?
    • What strategies could bookstores employ to compete with online retailers?

  5. Suggestions for Improvement

    • What changes would you suggest to improve the bookstore experience, either from an employee or customer perspective?
    • How can bookstores better engage with their community and attract more customers?"


My question 3: "Lastly, what are the relevant research gaps and research issues that I can respond to via my dissertation project, based on interpretivism, so as to create some original academic value on my research theme of "examining strategic decision-making via the lens of managerial economics"?"

The reply: "Here are some relevant research gaps and issues you might consider addressing in your dissertation:

Research Gaps

  1. Lack of Contextual Understanding in Managerial Economics

    • Existing literature often emphasizes quantitative data without exploring the qualitative aspects of strategic decision-making. Your research can fill this gap by examining how personal experiences and narratives shape decisions in the context of bookstores.

  2. Limited Focus on Small Retailers

    • Much of managerial economics research focuses on larger corporations. Your study of small bookstores in Mongkok can provide insights into how strategic decisions are made in smaller retail environments, which are often overlooked.

  3. Consumer Behavior Insights

    • Research on the relationship between consumer behavior and managerial decision-making is often limited. Your focus on regular customers and their influence on store strategies can reveal valuable insights.

  4. Dynamic Market Environments

    • The retail landscape is rapidly changing due to digitalization. There is a need for studies that investigate how traditional retailers adapt their strategies in response to these changes, particularly in specific cultural contexts like Hong Kong.

Research Issues

  1. Impact of Local Culture on Decision-Making

    • How do local cultural factors in Mongkok influence the strategic decisions made by bookstore managers?

  2. Narrative Influence on Strategic Choices

    • How do personal narratives and experiences of employees shape the strategic decisions within these bookstores?

  3. Customer-Centric Decision-Making

    • To what extent do customer preferences and feedback directly influence strategic decisions in the bookstores?

  4. Adaptation to Competition from Online Retailers

    • How do traditional bookstores navigate competition from online retailers, and what strategies do they employ to maintain relevance?

  5. Sustainability and Strategic Decisions

    • How do considerations of sustainability factor into the strategic decision-making processes of bookstores in a competitive retail environment?

By addressing these gaps and issues, your dissertation can contribute original knowledge to the fields of managerial economics, strategic decision-making, and consumer behavior in retail."





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