A note on the usefulness of learning “academic” research project skills: for MBA students

A note on the usefulness of learning “academic” research project skills: for MBA students

 

I am a part-time MBA student, currently learning the subject of Research Project. I have a query about doing dissertation project. It is obvious to me the usefulness of doing a dissertation project that could gain some practical knowledge (i.e. actionable value, especially from a managerial standpoint). However, I am not sure why I need to work on a dissertation project that also creates some academic value. Why not just learn how to conduct a management consulting project, as it seems to be more relevant to an MBA student who aspires to become a more competent practicing manager?

The core reason MBA programs require academic value in a dissertation (beyond just practical/consulting value) is that a master’s degree is by definition an academic credential that must demonstrate research competence, not just professional problem-solving skill. A management consulting project alone does not fulfill this requirement.

Key distinctions between an MBA dissertation and a consulting project

Aspect	MBA dissertation	Management consulting project
Main purpose	Generate academic knowledge + show master’s-level research competence	Solve a specific business problem for a client
Core logic	Theory-driven: literature review, research question, methodology are central	Problem-driven: diagnosis → options → recommendation → implementation
Evidence base	Systematic literature review + defensible research design + analysis	Evidence mainly to support practical recommendations
Writing style	Formal, critical, analytical; findings linked to theory	Concise, executive, action-oriented for managers
Assessment	Originality, rigour, coherence, academic presentation	Business usefulness, feasibility, implementation value

In short: If your final document mainly asks “What should this company do next?”, it’s leaning toward consulting. If it mainly asks “What does this tell us, conceptually and empirically, about a business problem?”, it’s leaning toward dissertation research.

Why academic value matters for you as an MBA student

1.    It’s what makes it a master’s degree
A master’s in business administration must demonstrate that you can conduct rigorous, theory-informed research, not just apply tools to a single case. Without academic contribution, it’s indistinguishable from a professional report.

2.    It develops transferable research thinking, not just case-specific solutions

·        Learning to identify research gaps in the literature

·        Justifying a methodology (quantitative, qualitative, mixed)

·        Engaging critically with theory (e.g., strategic management, organizational behavior, finance)
These skills make you a more disciplined, evidence-based manager who can evaluate claims, design studies, and avoid superficial “gut-feeling” decisions.

3.    It creates knowledge that generalizes beyond one firm
A consulting project optimizes for one client’s context. A dissertation asks:

“What does this case reveal about a broader phenomenon that other managers/researchers can learn from?”
This generalizable insight is the academic contribution.

4.    It aligns with many MBA career paths, including those you mentioned
As a part-time MBA student with interests in investment analysis, REITs, and corporate governance, you’ll benefit from:

·        Being able to critically evaluate academic and industry research (e.g., on dividend policy, REIT performance, governance mechanisms)

·        Designing your own data-driven analyses rather than relying on others’ reports

·        Potentially publishing or presenting your work, which can strengthen your professional profile.

5.    You can still make it highly practical
Many MBA dissertations are dual-purpose: they solve a real business problem and contribute to academic knowledge. For example:

·        Topic: “Knowledge transfer from retiring senior managers in Hong Kong NGOs”

·        Practical: actionable mentorship protocols for the organization

·        Academic: tests/refines knowledge management theory (e.g., Nonaka’s SECI model) in a specific context.

A practical way to think about it

Think of the dissertation as a “consulting project with an academic backbone”:

·        You can (and often should) work on a real organizational problem you care about.

·        But you must also:

·        Situate it in a literature review and identify a research gap

·        Use a justified methodology and discuss limitations

·        Discuss how your findings extend, challenge, or refine existing theory

This hybrid approach is considered strong because it bridges theory and practice, which aligns well with pragmatic research philosophies common in MBA programs.

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