Lecture note on research issues and gaps: for MBA students
Highlight 4 main ideas on the topic of research issues (and the associated research gap topic) in the academic literature in the context of doing MBA dissertation projects. My concern is that a MBA dissertation project should respond to a few research issues so as to more clearly establish its intended academic value.
Yes — for an MBA dissertation, it is usually stronger to show that the study responds to a specific research issue or gap, not just that it is “interesting.” In the literature, a dissertation’s academic value is often judged by how clearly it identifies what is missing, limited, or unresolved in prior studies.jabu+1
4 main ideas on research issues and gaps
1. The empirical issue: prior findings are incomplete or inconsistent.
A common research gap is that earlier studies have produced mixed results, weak evidence, or only partial understanding of a relationship. Your dissertation then contributes by testing whether the relationship holds in a new setting, sector, sample, or time period.wr-publishing+1
2. The contextual issue: research has not covered your setting.
Many topics are well studied in general, but not in a specific country, industry, institution, or market. For MBA projects, this is often a strong gap because a local context can change how a management issue works in practice.wr-publishing+1
3. The methodological issue: previous studies used limited methods.
Some literature gaps come from heavy reliance on one method, such as only quantitative surveys, only cross-sectional designs, or weak measurement approaches. A dissertation can add value by using a better design, richer data, or a more appropriate analytical approach.wr-publishing+1
4. The conceptual issue: prior work has not fully explained the phenomenon.
Sometimes the literature studies variables separately but does not explain the mechanism, interaction, or underlying theory well enough. In that case, your dissertation can build academic value by refining concepts, adding a mediator or moderator, or extending theory into a new management problem.emerald+1
How this helps your dissertation
A strong MBA dissertation usually does not just say “there is a gap”; it states what kind of gap it is and why it matters academically. A useful formula is:
- what has been studied,
- what is still unknown,
- why that unknown matters, and
- how your study will help close it.jabu+1
Practical writing tip
In your proposal, try to frame the research issue as one of these: inconsistent evidence, neglected context, weak method, or incomplete theory. That makes the academic contribution easier for examiners to see and helps you avoid a topic that is merely practical but not research-worthy.research-advances+1
Please suggest 2 research issue examples with regard to each of the following 3 crude MBA research themes: 1. on human resource management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the positivist lens 2. on marketing management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the positivist lens 3. on innovation management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the positivist lens.
Below are 2 research issue examples for each theme that fit a positivist MBA dissertation approach. I’ve phrased them as researchable issues rather than full questions, so you can adapt them into hypotheses and variable-based models.scholars.ln+2
1) Human resource management in Hong Kong banking
1. Employee retention and turnover intention in a high-pressure banking environment.
Research issue: It is still unclear which HR practices most strongly reduce turnover intention among bank employees in Hong Kong, especially under high workload, regulatory pressure, and digital transformation. A positivist study could test the relationship between HR practices such as training, performance appraisal, rewards, and retention outcomes.scholars.ln
2. The effect of HR practices on employee performance or engagement.
Research issue: Prior work suggests HRM matters in Hong Kong banking, but the strength of its effect across different employee groups or bank types is not fully established. A dissertation could examine whether specific HRM practices significantly predict employee engagement, job satisfaction, or performance indicators.scholars.ln
2) Marketing management in Hong Kong banking
1. Determinants of customer adoption of digital banking channels.
Research issue: Although digital banking adoption in Hong Kong has been studied, there is still room to examine which marketing-related factors most strongly drive adoption across customer segments. A positivist dissertation could test how perceived usefulness, trust, convenience, and demographic variables influence channel adoption.scholars.cityu.edu+1
2. Drivers of customer loyalty in banking services.
Research issue: It is not fully settled how service quality, relationship marketing, perceived value, and brand trust combine to affect loyalty in Hong Kong banking. A dissertation could use survey data to test which marketing variables best predict satisfaction and loyalty intentions.ros.hw.ac
3) Innovation management in Hong Kong banking
1. Organizational drivers of FinTech adoption in banks.
Research issue: Banks in Hong Kong differ in whether they treat FinTech as a complement or a threat, but the organizational conditions behind that difference are still not fully explained. A positivist study could test whether leadership support, digital capability, firm age, or network ties predict innovation adoption.papers.ssrn+1
2. The relationship between innovation capability and bank performance.
Research issue: It remains important to clarify whether innovation management in banks leads to measurable performance gains such as efficiency, customer acquisition, or competitiveness. A dissertation could test the effect of innovation capability, knowledge flows, or digital investment on performance outcomes.scholars.hkbu.edu+1
A useful framing
For a positivist MBA dissertation, each research issue should ideally be written in a way that can be translated into:
· one dependent variable,
· a few independent variables,
· and possibly one moderator or mediator.
That makes the study easier to defend academically because it shows a clear empirical gap and a testable model.
Please suggest 2 research issue examples with regard to each of the following 3 crude MBA research themes: 1. on human resource management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the interpretivist lens 2. on marketing management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the interpretivist lens 3. on innovation management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the interpretivist lens.
Certainly — for an interpretivist MBA dissertation, the “research issue” should focus less on measuring fixed relationships and more on understanding meanings, experiences, perceptions, and social processes inside Hong Kong banks. That means your gap is usually about limited understanding of how people interpret a phenomenon, rather than simply whether variable X causes Y.scholars.ln.edu+1
1) Human resource management in Hong Kong banking
1. How bank employees and HR managers experience talent retention in a competitive labour market.
Research issue: Existing work on Hong Kong banking has highlighted HRM importance, but it does not fully explain how different actors understand the causes of turnover, talent loss, and retention pressure in daily practice. An interpretivist study could explore the lived experiences and meaning-making of HR staff, line managers, and employees.scholars.ln+1
2. How HR practitioners interpret the strategic role of HR in bank decision-making.
Research issue: The literature suggests HR functions in banks have often been treated as short-term or operational, but there is limited understanding of how HR professionals themselves perceive their influence, legitimacy, and voice within top management. This can be examined through interviews and thematic analysis.scholars.ln.edu+1
2) Marketing management in Hong Kong banking
1. How bank customers interpret trust and value in digital banking relationships.
Research issue: While adoption studies show what factors may influence channel use, they often do not explain how customers personally define “trust,” “convenience,” or “good service” in a banking relationship. An interpretivist study could examine customer narratives about why they continue, switch, or resist digital banking.scholars.cityu.edu+1
2. How bank marketers understand personalized engagement in a highly regulated environment.
Research issue: Banking marketers increasingly use analytics and AI tools, but the literature does not sufficiently show how marketing staff interpret the tension between personalization, compliance, and brand authenticity. This is a useful interpretivist gap because it focuses on internal professional meaning rather than outcome measures.thedigitalbanker+1
3) Innovation management in Hong Kong banking
1. How managers make sense of innovation under regulatory and risk constraints.
Research issue: Innovation in banking is often discussed as a technical or strategic capability, but less is known about how managers interpret the practical meaning of “responsible innovation” in a tightly regulated sector like Hong Kong banking. This gap is suitable for interviews with innovation, compliance, and business leaders.hkma+1
2. How employees experience and adapt to digital transformation and FinTech change.
Research issue: Existing studies show that banks are adopting AI, analytics, and FinTech, but they do not always explain how employees experience these changes, whether they see them as opportunity or threat, and how they reshape everyday work identity. An interpretivist design could reveal these subjective responses in depth.research.polyu.edu+1
A simple rule for interpretivist gaps
For interpretivism, your research issue should usually be framed like this:
· What meanings do people attach to the phenomenon?
· How do different stakeholders experience it?
· Why do they interpret it differently?
· How is the phenomenon understood in its specific context?
That framing makes the dissertation more clearly interpretive and gives it academic value beyond simple description.
Please suggest 2 research issue examples with regard to each of the following 3 crude MBA research themes: 1. on human resource management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the pragmatist lens 2. on marketing management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the pragmatist lens 3. on innovation management for the Hong Kong Banking sector via the pragmatist lens.
Certainly — under a pragmatist lens, your MBA dissertation can focus on what works, for whom, and under what conditions in Hong Kong banking. The research issue is usually framed around a practical problem that still has an unresolved knowledge gap, often requiring mixed evidence or a context-sensitive explanation.thedigitalbanker+2
1) Human resource management in Hong Kong banking
1. Which HR practices actually improve retention and capability development in the current talent-shortage environment?
Research issue: Hong Kong banks face ongoing talent pressure, but it is not yet clear which combination of HR actions — such as flexible work, training, wellness, or career development — produces the most effective retention outcome. A pragmatist study can compare practices and assess which ones are most useful in real banking settings.hongkongbusiness+1
2. How can HR be redesigned as a strategic business partner while still meeting compliance and operational demands?
Research issue: The literature and banking training standards suggest HR is expected to move beyond administration into strategic support, but the practical pathway for making that transition remains underexplored. A pragmatist dissertation can examine what HR structures or interventions help banks balance people strategy, regulation, and performance.hkqf.gov+1
2) Marketing management in Hong Kong banking
1. What marketing approach best increases digital banking adoption and customer engagement across segments?
Research issue: Hong Kong banks are competing to deliver stronger digital value propositions, but the literature does not clearly show which marketing tactics work best for different customer groups. A pragmatist study can combine customer feedback and adoption patterns to identify the most effective engagement strategy.bain+1
2. How can banks market personalized services without damaging trust or perceived authenticity?
Research issue: Banks increasingly use analytics and AI to personalize communication, yet there is still uncertainty about how customers respond when marketing becomes highly data-driven. A pragmatist dissertation could investigate which forms of personalization improve response and which may trigger skepticism.thedigitalbanker+1
3) Innovation management in Hong Kong banking
1. Which innovation practices most effectively convert digital capability into business value?
Research issue: Hong Kong banks are investing in AI, analytics, and internal innovation programmes, but it is not fully clear which innovation mechanisms create the greatest operational or customer value. A pragmatist study can evaluate the practical impact of different innovation initiatives rather than treating innovation as a purely abstract concept.thedigitalbanker+1
2. How can banks adopt innovation while maintaining governance, compliance, and risk control?
Research issue: The core challenge in banking innovation is not simply whether to innovate, but how to do so responsibly under heavy regulation and reputational constraints. A pragmatist dissertation can explore the implementation conditions that make innovation workable in Hong Kong banks.hkma.gov+2
How to use these in a proposal
A pragmatist research issue is strongest when it is framed as:
· a real management problem,
· a need for evidence on what works,
· and a gap in practical implementation knowledge.
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