An example of asking poe.com to come up with a dissertation proposal (hotel business related): for MBA students

An example of asking poe.com to come up with a dissertation proposal (hotel business related): for MBA students [information from poe.com] {related to the agile literature review approach [the academic-oriented project type]}

My question 1: "I am a part-time MBA student, currently trying to formulate my dissertation proposal. My research theme is on "how can the 5-Star Hotels in Hong Kong can effectively cope with the challenging business environment?" I intend to use the business ecosystem model as well as 3 strategic management theories for my dissertation project. My dissertation proposal should specify 4 research objectives that explicitly respond to 2 research gaps and 3 public media reported issues. I will conduct narrative interview with 2 of my friends who are senior managers of 5-star hotels in Hong Kong. I will also conduct a focus group with 5 of my friends, 2 of whom having been 5-star hotel customers, 2 of whom being senior managers of 5-star hotels in Hong Kong, and the last one being a senior manager of a four-star hotel in Singapore. My last research method is a desk research to study my research theme. My overall research philosophy is pragmatism. With these ideas from me, could you offer a dissertation proposal to me? Tks in advance."

The reply: "Certainly! Below is a structured dissertation proposal based on your research theme and approach:

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Dissertation Proposal

Title

Strategies for Adaptation: Coping with Business Challenges in 5-Star Hotels in Hong Kong

Introduction

The hospitality industry, particularly in high-end segments like 5-star hotels, faces significant challenges due to economic fluctuations, changing consumer preferences, and increased competition. This dissertation aims to explore how 5-star hotels in Hong Kong can effectively navigate these challenges by applying the business ecosystem model alongside strategic management theories.

Research Gaps

1. Lack of Empirical Studies: There is limited empirical research focusing on the adaptive strategies of 5-star hotels in a highly competitive market like Hong Kong.
2. Integration of Strategic Theories: Existing literature often overlooks the integration of strategic management theories with practical insights from hotel management.

Public Media Reported Issues

1. Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism: The pandemic has dramatically affected the hospitality sector, leading to a need for new strategies.
2. Sustainability and Environmental Concerns: Increasing consumer awareness regarding sustainability practices in hotels.
3. Technological Advancements: The necessity for hotels to adapt to rapid technological changes to enhance customer experience.

Research Objectives

1. To identify and analyze the adaptive strategies employed by 5-star hotels in Hong Kong in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. To examine the role of sustainability practices in the operational strategies of 5-star hotels, assessing their impact on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.
3. To explore the influence of technological advancements on service delivery in 5-star hotels, and how these hotels can leverage technology to improve customer experience.
4. To evaluate the effectiveness of the business ecosystem model in understanding the strategic responses of 5-star hotels to external challenges.

Research Methodology

1. Narrative Interviews

Conduct narrative interviews with two senior managers of 5-star hotels in Hong Kong to gain insights into their strategic approaches and experiences.

2. Focus Group

Organize a focus group with five participants:

• Two senior managers from 5-star hotels in Hong Kong.
• Two customers who have experienced 5-star hotel services.
• One senior manager from a 4-star hotel in Singapore to compare strategies.

3. Desk Research

Perform desk research to review existing literature, case studies, and media reports to gather secondary data relevant to the research theme.

Research Philosophy

This research will adopt a pragmatic philosophy, recognizing that the best strategies are those that work in practice. This approach will allow for a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, providing a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Conclusion

This dissertation aims to contribute to the academic literature on strategic management in the hospitality industry, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by 5-star hotels in Hong Kong. By addressing the identified gaps and issues, the research will provide valuable insights for practitioners in the industry.

References

(To be populated during the research process)"

My question 2: "Tks for the proposal made. Could you provide me with a more concrete research method design for each of the three research methods chosen, i.e. focus group, narrative interview and desk research? Tks a lot."

The reply: "Certainly! Here’s a more concrete research method design for each of the three chosen methods:

1. Focus Group

Objective: To gather diverse perspectives on the challenges faced by 5-star hotels and potential strategies for coping.

Participants:

• Total: 5 participants
  • 2 senior managers from 5-star hotels in Hong Kong
  • 2 customers who have stayed in 5-star hotels
  • 1 senior manager from a 4-star hotel in Singapore

Procedure:

• Preparation: Develop a semi-structured discussion guide with open-ended questions related to:

  • Perceptions of the current business environment for 5-star hotels.
  • Challenges faced by these hotels.
  • Effective strategies that can be adopted.

• Setting: Conduct the focus group in a quiet, comfortable environment conducive to discussion, or use a virtual platform if needed.

• Duration: 60–90 minutes.

• Facilitation: You (or a trained moderator) will lead the discussion, ensuring that all voices are heard, and guiding the conversation based on the discussion guide.

• Data Collection: Audio-record the session (with consent) and take notes to capture key themes and insights.

2. Narrative Interview

Objective: To explore personal experiences and insights from senior managers regarding the operational challenges and strategies in luxury hospitality.

Participants:

• Total: 2 senior managers from 5-star hotels in Hong Kong.

Procedure:

• Preparation: Develop an interview guide with open-ended questions that encourage storytelling, such as:

  • Can you describe a significant challenge you faced in your role?
  • How did your hotel adapt to changes in the business environment?
  • What strategies do you believe are most effective in maintaining service excellence?

• Setting: Conduct the interviews in a relaxed setting, either in-person or via video call to ensure comfort.

• Duration: 30–60 minutes per interview.

• Data Collection: Audio-record the interviews (with consent) and take notes. Focus on capturing rich, detailed narratives that reflect the managers’ experiences and insights.

3. Desk Research

Objective: To gather existing literature and data on the business environment of 5-star hotels, strategic management theories, and case studies.

Procedure:

• Sources: Use a variety of sources including:

  • Academic journals, articles, and books related to hospitality management and strategic management theories.
  • Industry reports from organizations such as the Hong Kong Tourism Board and hospitality associations.
  • Public media articles discussing challenges faced by 5-star hotels in Hong Kong.

• Data Collection:

  • Create a systematic approach to gather relevant information, categorizing it by themes such as:
    • Economic challenges (e.g., COVID-19 impact).
    • Changes in customer preferences and behaviors.
    • Innovations and adaptations in service delivery.

• Analysis: Summarize findings, identifying key trends and gaps in the literature that relate to your research objectives. This will help inform your primary data collection.

Overall Considerations

• Ethical Considerations: Ensure confidentiality and obtain consent from all participants for interviews and focus groups.
• Data Analysis: Use thematic analysis for qualitative data from the focus groups and interviews, identifying common themes and insights that emerge.
• Integration: Synthesize findings from all three methods to develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and strategies for 5-star hotels in Hong Kong.

This design should provide a clear and effective approach to your research methods, ensuring robust data collection and analysis."

My question 3: "Could you indicate which research objective is related to which research gaps and which public-media reported issues? Tks."

The reply: "Certainly! Below is the mapping of each research objective to the corresponding research gaps and public media-reported issues.

Research Objectives and Corresponding Gaps and Issues

Research Objectives

1. Evaluate the impact of the current economic climate on the operations of 5-star hotels in Hong Kong.

   • Related Research Gap: Limited understanding of how economic fluctuations specifically affect luxury hospitality operations.
   • Related Public-Media Reported Issue: Reports on the economic downturn and its effects on the tourism and hospitality sector.

2. Identify effective strategic management practices that enable 5-star hotels to adapt to changing customer preferences.

   • Related Research Gap: Insufficient exploration of strategic management theories in the context of luxury hotel adaptation.
   • Related Public-Media Reported Issue: Articles discussing shifts in consumer behavior post-pandemic and expectations from luxury service providers.

3. Examine the role of technology and innovation in enhancing customer experience in 5-star hotels.

   • Related Research Gap: Lack of detailed studies on the integration of technology in luxury hotel services.
   • Related Public-Media Reported Issue: Coverage of technological advancements in hospitality and the necessity for hotels to innovate to stay competitive.

4. Explore the collaborative practices within the business ecosystem that support the sustainability of 5-star hotels in Hong Kong.

   • Related Research Gap: Underexplored dynamics of business ecosystems in the hospitality industry.
   • Related Public-Media Reported Issue: Discussions on partnerships and collaborations among hospitality businesses to navigate challenges and enhance resilience.

Summary Table

Research Objective	Related Research Gap	Related Public-Domain Reported Issue
1. Evaluate the impact of the current economic climate on operations.	Limited understanding of economic impacts on luxury hospitality.	Economic downturn effects on tourism and hospitality.
2. Identify effective strategic management practices for adapting to preferences.	Insufficient exploration of strategic management in luxury hotels.	Shifts in consumer behavior and expectations post-pandemic.
3. Examine the role of technology and innovation in enhancing customer experience.	Lack of studies on technology integration in luxury hotels.	Technological advancements in hospitality and competitiveness.
4. Explore collaborative practices within the business ecosystem for sustainability.	Underexplored dynamics of business ecosystems in hospitality.	Partnerships and collaborations to navigate challenges.

This mapping aligns your research objectives with the identified gaps and issues, providing a clear framework for your dissertation proposal."

My question 4: "Tks. Could you indicate which academic concepts and academic theories are employed to (1) investigate which research objectives and (2) inform which research methods chosen? Tks."

The reply: "Sure! Below is an outline of the academic concepts and theories that can be employed to investigate each research objective and inform the chosen research methods.

1. Investigation of Research Objectives

Research Objective	Academic Concepts/Theories
1. Evaluate the impact of the current economic climate on operations.	PEST Analysis: Analyzes political, economic, social, and technological factors affecting the hospitality industry.  Porter’s Five Forces: Assesses industry competitiveness and market dynamics.
2. Identify effective strategic management practices for adapting to preferences.	Strategic Management Theories: Includes Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities theory to understand how hotels leverage resources and adapt to changes.
3. Examine the role of technology and innovation in enhancing customer experience.	Technology Acceptance Model (TAM): Explores factors influencing technology acceptance in the hospitality sector.  Service Innovation Theory: Examines how innovations can enhance service delivery and customer satisfaction.
4. Explore collaborative practices within the business ecosystem for sustainability.	Business Ecosystem Theory: Investigates the interdependencies among various stakeholders in the hospitality ecosystem.  Stakeholder Theory: Focuses on the relationships and responsibilities hotels have towards various stakeholders (customers, employees, suppliers, etc.).

2. Informing Research Methods

Research Method	Academic Concepts/Theories
1. Focus Group	Qualitative Research Methods: Emphasizes the importance of understanding participants' perspectives.  Grounded Theory: Can be used to develop new theories based on the data gathered during group discussions.
2. Narrative Interview	Narrative Inquiry: Focuses on understanding individuals' experiences through their stories and how they make sense of them.  Constructivist Theory: Emphasizes the co-construction of knowledge through personal narratives.
3. Desk Research	Literature Review Methods: Systematic approaches to gather existing knowledge and identify gaps. Meta-Analysis: May inform the synthesis of findings from existing studies relevant to 5-star hotels.
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 Summary Table

Research Objective	Academic Concepts/Theories	Research Method	Relevant Concepts/Theories
1. Evaluate the impact of the current economic climate on operations.	PEST Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces	Focus Group	Qualitative Research Methods, Grounded Theory
2. Identify effective strategic management practices for adapting to preferences.	Strategic Management Theories (RBV, Dynamic Capabilities)	Narrative Interview	Narrative Inquiry, Constructivist Theory
3. Examine the role of technology and innovation in enhancing customer experience. Literature	Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Service Innovation Theory	Desk Research	Review Methods, Meta-Analysis
4. Explore collaborative practices within the business ecosystem for sustainability.	Business Ecosystem Theory, Stakeholder Theory	Focus Group	Qualitative Research Methods, Grounded Theory

This framework connects your research objectives to relevant academic concepts and theories while informing the choice of research methods effectively."

My question 5: "Could you tell me what are the strengths and weaknesses of the research philosophy and research methods chosen for this dissertation project?"

The reply: "Certainly! Below are the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen research philosophy (pragmatism) and the research methods (focus group, narrative interview, and desk research) for your dissertation project.

Research Philosophy: Pragmatism

Strengths:

1. Flexibility: Pragmatism allows for the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods, enabling a comprehensive approach to understanding complex issues in the hospitality industry.
2. Real-World Relevance: Focuses on practical implications and real-world applications of research findings, making the results more applicable to industry practices.
3. Contextual Understanding: Emphasizes the importance of context in understanding phenomena, which is particularly relevant in the dynamic environment of 5-star hotels.

Weaknesses:

1. Ambiguity: The broad nature of pragmatism can lead to ambiguity in methodology and data interpretation, potentially complicating the research process.
2. Potential Bias: The flexibility in methods may lead to subjective interpretations, especially if not carefully managed.
3. Integration Challenges: Combining qualitative and quantitative data can be challenging, requiring careful planning to ensure coherence and validity.

Research Methods

1. Focus Group

Strengths:

• Diverse Perspectives: Captures a range of viewpoints, providing a richer understanding of the challenges and strategies in the hotel industry.
• Interactive Discussion: Encourages dialogue among participants, which can generate insights that individual interviews might not reveal.
• Cost-Effective: Can gather data from multiple participants in a single session, saving time and resources.

Weaknesses:

• Group Dynamics: Dominant personalities may skew discussions, leading to less input from quieter participants.
• Data Complexity: Analyzing data can be challenging due to the richness and potential variability of responses.
• Logistical Issues: Coordinating schedules and ensuring all participants are available can be difficult.

2. Narrative Interview

Strengths:

• In-Depth Insights: Allows for detailed exploration of individual experiences, providing rich qualitative data.
• Personal Context: Captures the nuances of personal stories, which can reveal underlying motivations and attitudes.
• Flexible Format: Can adapt to the flow of conversation, allowing for deeper probing of relevant topics.

Weaknesses:

• Time-Consuming: Conducting and transcribing interviews can require significant time and effort.
• Interviewer Bias: Researcher’s presence and questioning style may influence responses, potentially affecting data validity.
• Limited Generalizability: Findings may not be generalizable due to the small sample size and subjective nature of the data.

3. Desk Research

Strengths:

• Cost-Effective: Utilizes existing literature and data, which can save time and resources compared to primary data collection.
• Comprehensive Overview: Provides a broad understanding of existing knowledge, identifying gaps and informing primary research.
• Accessibility: A wide range of resources are often available online, making it easier to gather information.

Weaknesses:

• Potential Outdated Information: Existing studies may be outdated or not fully applicable to the current context of the hospitality industry.
• Lack of Specificity: Data may be too general or not focused enough on the specific issues faced by 5-star hotels in Hong Kong.
• Limited Control: Researchers have no control over the quality or reliability of the data sourced from existing literature."

*** My suggestions: 

Research Objectives

1. To identify and analyze the adaptive strategies employed by 5-star hotels in Hong Kong in response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. [minor research objective]
2. To examine the role of sustainability practices in the operational strategies of 5-star hotels, assessing their impact on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. [minor research objective]
3. To explore the influence of technological advancements on service delivery in 5-star hotels, and how these hotels can leverage technology to improve customer experience. [minor research objective]
4. To evaluate the effectiveness of the business ecosystem model in understanding the strategic responses of 5-star hotels to external challenges. [main research objective]

Title revised:  Strategies for Adaptation: Coping with Business Challenges in 5-Star Hotels in Hong Kong from the business ecosystem model perspective

*** try to conduct a preliminary exploratory exercise with perplexity.ai before formulating the dissertation proposal with poe.com.

Reference: a collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.