A note on MBA dissertation literature review using academic and non-academic references: on the HK financial service sector

A note on MBA dissertation literature review using academic and non-academic references: on the HK financial service sector

 

When writing the MBA dissertation report chapter 2 [literature review], I am told to focus more on ideas from the academic source, but also note some other relevant ideas from the professional field and world of business practice. In this regard, please highlight 2 main ideas from the academic source and 2 main ideas from the Hong Kong financial service sector on the following 4 key terms for illustration purpose:

1. employee burnout

2. managerial competence

3. consumer trust

4. product quality.

Try to examine these 4 terms with citations and some references in Harvard reference format.

 

Below is a dissertation-friendly way to frame Chapter 2 so it balances academic literature with Hong Kong financial-sector practice. For each term, I highlight 2 academic ideas and 2 Hong Kong sector ideas, then give a short synthesis you can adapt into your literature review.

1) Employee burnout

Academic ideas

·        Burnout is commonly linked to excessive workload, low control, weak support, and unfair or toxic work environments; it affects not just well-being but also productivity and service quality.

·        Burnout is also associated with cognitive impairment and broader organizational costs, making it a management and performance issue rather than only an individual health issue.

Hong Kong financial-sector ideas

·        In Hong Kong banking, the HKMA’s emphasis on the Enhanced Competency Framework suggests that skills development and continuous professional development are seen as part of maintaining workforce capability in a demanding sector.

·        Hong Kong’s financial sector is large, highly competitive, and important to the economy, which means performance pressure and workload are likely to be structurally significant concerns for staff in the industry.

How to use in Chapter 2

·        You can argue that burnout in Hong Kong financial services should be understood as both a psychological outcome and a service-quality risk, because pressured employees can affect customer experience and operational reliability.

2) Managerial competence

Academic ideas

·        Managerial competence generally refers to the manager’s ability to combine knowledge, judgment, leadership, and execution to achieve organizational goals effectively.

·        In management scholarship, competence is often tied to the capability to implement systems, develop staff, and align behavior with strategy, not just to technical expertise.

Hong Kong financial-sector ideas

·        The HKMA’s Enhanced Competency Framework shows that the Hong Kong banking industry treats competence as something that can be standardized, benchmarked, and improved through professional development.

·        The HKMA also stresses that fair treatment of customers must be embedded in corporate culture and accepted by all levels, including senior management, which implies competence includes ethical leadership and governance capability.

How to use in Chapter 2

·        This lets you define managerial competence in your dissertation as both operational competence and governance competence, especially relevant in regulated financial services.

3) Consumer trust

Academic ideas

·        Trust in financial services is usually built through perceived reliability, transparency, fairness, and the belief that the provider will act in the customer’s interest.

·        Consumer trust is strongly related to satisfaction and long-term loyalty, especially when customers feel informed and protected.

Hong Kong financial-sector ideas

·        The HKMA has explicitly stated that trust between banks and customers is central to banking and financial stability, not merely a marketing concern.

·        Hong Kong consumer-focused research and policy emphasis point to fair treatment, clear information, and data protection as key practical drivers of trust in financial services.

How to use in Chapter 2

·        You can present consumer trust as a bridge between regulation and market behavior: regulatory fairness and transparency help create customer confidence, which then supports loyalty and sector stability.

4) Product quality

Academic ideas

·        In the service literature, product quality is usually tied to consistency, suitability, reliability, and the extent to which the offering meets user expectations.

·        For financial services, quality is often judged not only by features or pricing but also by clarity, appropriateness, and the absence of hidden risk or misleading presentation.

Hong Kong financial-sector ideas

·        HKMA consumer-protection messaging emphasizes clear product and service information, fair treatment, and helping customers understand risks, costs, and suitability before purchase.

·        Hong Kong’s financial system is described as operating under effective and transparent regulation, which supports the view that product quality in this sector is inseparable from compliance and disclosure standards.

How to use in Chapter 2

·        In your dissertation, product quality can be framed as both a technical issue and a consumer-protection issue: a “good” financial product is not only well-designed, but also understandable, suitable, and responsibly sold.

Sample literature-review synthesis

You could write something like this:

Academic literature suggests that employee burnout, managerial competence, consumer trust, and product quality are closely linked to organizational performance and stakeholder well-being, especially in service industries where human interaction and judgment matter. In Hong Kong’s financial services sector, these ideas are reinforced by policy and industry practice that stress competency frameworks, fair treatment, customer protection, transparency, and continuous professional development. Together, the literature shows that managerial capability and product quality are not just internal efficiency concerns; they are also central to consumer trust and sustainable service delivery.

Harvard-style references

Here is a simple Harvard-style reference list based on the sources used above:

·        Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) (2013) ‘Treat Customers Fairly Charter Launching Ceremony’. Available at: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/news-and-media/speeches/2013/10/20131028-1/ (Accessed: 30 May 2026).

·        Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) (2025) ‘Enhanced Competency Framework’. Available at: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/key-functions/international-financial-centre/enhanced-competency-framework/ (Accessed: 30 May 2026).

·        Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) (2025) ‘Hong Kong as an International Financial Centre’. Available at: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/eng/key-functions/international-financial-centre/hong-kong-as-an-international-financial-centre/ (Accessed: 30 May 2026).

·        Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) (2024) Banking Stability. Available at: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/publication-and-research/annual-report/2024/15_Banking_Stability.pdf (Accessed: 30 May 2026).

·        Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) (n.d.) Treat Customers Fairly Charter. Available at: https://www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/doc/key-functions/banking-stability/consumer-corner/TCF_Charter.pdf (Accessed: 30 May 2026).

·        The Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) (n.d.) ‘Overview’. Available at: https://www.hkib.org/page/81 (Accessed: 30 May 2026).

·        APA (2023) ‘Employers need to focus on workplace burnout: Here’s why’. Available at: https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/workplace-burnout (Accessed: 30 May 2026).

·        HSUHK (2025) ‘HSUHK study shows consumer protection helps build bank customer trust and loyalty’. Available at: https://sts.hsu.edu.hk/en/hsuhk-study-shows-consumer-protection-helps-build-bank-customer-trust-and-loyalty/ (Accessed: 30 May 2026).

**** My estimate is that when writing an MBA dissertation report chapter 2 [literature review], the total number of ideas from the academic source constitutes 60 to 80% of the total ideas considered while the total number of ideas from the non-academic source makes up 20 to 40% of the total ideas considered. If the MBA dissertation report is predominantly academic oriented, more ideas from the academic source are to be considered; if the MBA dissertation report is more consulting-oriented, fewer ideas from the academic source are to be discussed in chapter 2 [literature review].

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