Asking AI to produce a preliminary MBA dissertation proposal: premade dishes, the HK catering sector, product competition, value for money (information from perplexity.ai)
My question 1: "Please suggest an MBA research theme, via the lens of pragmatism, based on the following key words: premade dishes, small business catering sector in Hong Kong, product competition, value for money."
The reply: "A strong pragmatist‑lens theme for your MBA could be:
Core research focus
Key practical questions might include:
- How do catering SMEs weigh convenience, consistency, and menu flexibility of premade dishes against cost and perceived value to their own customers?
- How do they experiment with different premade products (brands, formats, price points) and adjust decisions based on feedback and financial outcomes?
- How does local Hong Kong market context (dense competition, corporate events, institutional contracts) shape what “value for money” means in this niche?
Pragmatism as lens
From a pragmatist paradigm, you can:
- Treat “value for money” as something constructed and revised through experience, customer reactions, and financial results, rather than a fixed abstract metric.
- Emphasize decision‑making as an ongoing cycle of trial, feedback, and adjustment in menu design and supplier choice.
- Focus on “what works” for small catering businesses in Hong Kong in terms of profit, customer satisfaction, and operational feasibility, using mixed or multi‑method data if you wish (e.g., interviews plus basic financial/operational indicators).
Possible working title variants
You could refine the theme into one of these titles:
- “What Works on the Buffet Table: A Pragmatist Study of Premade Dish Competition and Perceived Value for Money in Hong Kong’s Small Catering Businesses.”
- “Experimenting with Premade Dishes: A Pragmatist Analysis of Product Competition and Value‑for‑Money Decisions in Hong Kong SME Caterers.”
- “From Kitchen to Contract: How Small Caterers in Hong Kong Pragmatically Define and Test ‘Value for Money’ in Premade Dish Selection under Product Competition.”
Any of these keeps your four keywords central (premade dishes, small business catering, product competition, value for money) and clearly signals a pragmatist, practice‑oriented research stance."
My question 2: "Based on the research theme of "Evaluating ‘Value for Money’ in Premade Dishes for Hong Kong’s Small Business Catering Sector: A Pragmatist Inquiry into How Product Competition Shapes Purchasing Decisions and Business Outcomes.", pleas suggest a dissertation proposal with: a dissertation project title, 3 research objectives, 3 research questions, 2 primary research methods, 1 secondary research method, 3 research issues (including research gaps); also suggest 3 academic theories to use (please provide references for them in Harvard reference format). Also briefly comment on the academic, practical and originality values of this study."
The reply: "Dissertation Project Title
Evaluating ‘Value for Money’ in Premade Dishes for Hong Kong’s Small Business Catering Sector: A Pragmatist Inquiry into How Product Competition Shapes Purchasing Decisions and Business Outcomes.
Research Objectives
To explore how small catering businesses in Hong Kong pragmatically define and assess 'value for money' when selecting premade dishes amid product competition.
To examine the influence of competitive dynamics in the premade dish market on purchasing decisions and operational outcomes for these businesses.
To identify practical strategies that enhance business performance through effective premade dish sourcing, grounded in experiential learning and adaptation.
Research Questions
How do small catering businesses in Hong Kong construct and test 'value for money' criteria for premade dishes in response to product competition?
In what ways does product competition in premade dishes shape purchasing decisions and subsequent business outcomes for Hong Kong caterers?
What pragmatic interventions can small catering firms adopt to optimize value from premade dishes in a competitive market?
Research Methods
Primary Methods
Semi-structured interviews with 15-20 owners/managers of small catering businesses in Hong Kong to capture lived experiences of premade dish decisions.
Case studies of 5-7 selected firms, involving observational data on supplier trials and financial tracking of dish performance.
Secondary Method
Thematic analysis of industry reports, trade publications, and market data on Hong Kong's catering and premade food sectors to contextualize primary findings.
Research Issues
Limited empirical studies on pragmatism applied to SME food sourcing decisions, creating a gap in understanding experiential value assessment over abstract metrics.
Insufficient research on premade dishes' role in Hong Kong's niche catering market, overlooking how local competition affects micro-business viability amid rising costs.
Lack of integrated analyses linking product competition to tangible outcomes like profit margins, leaving a gap in actionable insights for pragmatic business adaptation.
Academic Theories
Dewey, J. (1938) Logic: The Theory of Inquiry. New York: Henry Holt and Company. (Supports inquiry as problem-solving through experimentation in business contexts.)
Rorty, R. (1979) Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature. Princeton: Princeton University Press. (Frames value as contingent on practical consequences rather than fixed ideals.)
Peirce, C.S. (1878) 'How to make our ideas clear', Popular Science Monthly, 12, pp. 286-302. (Provides pragmatic maxim for clarifying 'value for money' via testable effects.)
Study Values
My question 3: "Could you also recommend 3 marketing and business strategy-related academic theories and a few related academic references in Harvard reference format?"
The reply: "Three marketing and business strategy theories complement the pragmatist lens by addressing value perception, competitive positioning, and strategic frameworks in the premade dishes context for Hong Kong catering SMEs.
Recommended Theories
A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.
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