Joseph KK Ho e-resources

Session	Lecture Date (All from 7-9.30pm)	Topics	Resources
1	28-Oct-2022	1) A briefing on the module guide I
1		2) review proposal and report samples
2	4-Nov-2022	1) A briefing on the module guide 2
2		2) review proposal and report samples
3	11-Nov-2022	1) To learn how to prepare for the dissertation projects
3		2) To learn the basic ideas of dissertation report writing and the underlying research skills
4	18-Nov-2022	1) formulating project background and project theme with diagramming techniques I
4
5	25-Nov-2022	1) formulating project background and project theme with diagramming techniques 2
5
6	2-Dec-2022	1) Skills to do literature review 1
6
7	9-Dec-2022	1) Skills to do literature review 2
7
8	16-Dec-2022	1) Research methods skills - the onion model 1
8
9	3-Jan-2023	1) Research methods skills - the onion model 2
9
10	10-Jan-2023	1) Research methods skills - qualitative : 1
10
11	17-Jan-2023	1) Research methods skills - qualitative : 2
11
12	31-Jan-2023	1) Research methods skills - qualitative : 3
12
13	7-Feb-2023	1) Research methods skills - quatitative : 1
13
14	21-Feb-2023	1) Research methods skills - quantitative : 2
14
15	28-Feb-2023	1) Dissertation writing skills 1
15		2) on harvard referencing and plagiarism
16	7-Mar-2023	1) Dissertation writing skills 2
16		2) on academic writing style and reasoning skills

Online sessions

Session	Lecture Date (All from 7-9.30pm)	Topic	Resources
1	28-Oct-2022	1) a review on module guide requirements I
1		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
2	4-Nov-2022	1) a review on module guide requirements 2
2		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
3	11-Nov-2022	1) Review project background exploration skills
3		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
4	18-Nov-2022	1) Review literature review skills and steps required 1
4		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
5	25-Nov-2022	Review literature review skills and steps required 2
5		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
6	2-Dec-2022	1) Review research methods skills 1: qualitative
6		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
7	9-Dec-2022	1) Review research methods skills 2: qualitative
7		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
8	16-Dec-2022	1) Review research methods skills 1: quantitative
8		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
9	4-Jan-2023	1) Review research methods skills 2: quantitative
9		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
10	11-Jan-2023	1) Review dissertation report writing skills 1
10		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
11	18-Jan-2023	1) Review dissertation report writing skills 2
11		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
12	1-Feb-2023	1) Skills to assess research ethics 1
12		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
13	8-Feb-2023	1) Skills to assess research methods quality
13		2) class discussion on specific students' concerns
14	15-Feb-2023	1) Reviewing students' proposal ideas
14
15	22-Feb-2023	1) Reviewing students' proposal ideas
15
16	1-Mar-2023	1) Overall review and class discussion on specific students' concerns
16

e-resources:

1. Google Drive (on course materials)

2. FB ALRA academic literature materials.

Wednesday, 7 September 2022

To work out the preliminary diagrams from a synopsis form: an illustration

To work out the preliminary diagrams from a synopsis form: an illustration:

By using the information from an MBA student's synopsis form and some logical reasoning, I derive the following preliminary management-concerns diagram and theoretical framework level-0 as follows:

Management-concerns diagram:

Theoretical framework level-0:

Based on some crude logical reasoning, if the student's main research objective is "to find out how to refine the marketing strategy of ABC Ltd, in response to the external environmental challenges" [a zone 3b item], then, it makes sense to have the following research objectives:

1. "to evaluate the marketing competence of ABC Ltd" [a zone 2 item]

2. "to evaluate the marketing performance of ABC Ltd" [a zone 3a item].

Since it is important to include one Zone 2 item in the project investigation, it is quite logical to identify the following two items as belonging to the core-focus domain:

1. "to evaluate the marketing competence of ABC Ltd" [a zone 2 item]

2. "to find out how to refine the marketing strategy of ABC Ltd, in response to the external environmental challenges" [a zone 3b item].

In other words, these two items are the main research objectives of the dissertation project.

Now, we can also formulate the project title as follows:

An investigation to evaluate the marketing competence and to refine the marketing strategy of ABC Ltd: a case study research.

Once students become familiar with the agile literature review approach, it is "not too complicated" to work out the dissertation project idea. Ultimately, the management-concerns diagram should be co-created by the researcher and a few of the stakeholders of the client organization under investigation.

Finally, it should be reminded that the theoretical framework level-0 also serves as the agenda to do literature review (so as to produce theoretical framework level-1a).

Sunday, 4 September 2022

Two critical information frequently missing in dissertation report Chapter 1

Two critical information frequently missing in dissertation report Chapter 1. This is a reminder to my MBA dissertation students that employ the agile literature review approach:

1. What is your relationship with the client organization you are studying. Try to say something such as:

The CEO of ABC Ltd is a close friend of mine. She consents to let me conduct my dissertation project at her company, which could involve some primary research and secondary research exercises.

2. How is your management-concerns diagram co-created by you and a few of the stakeholders of the client organization? Try to say something such as:

Based on my initial discussion with the CEO, the HR manager and the Marketing manager in early July, the following management-concerns diagram has been co-created by us as follows:

XXXX

Wednesday, 31 August 2022

How to formulate specific research method for dissertation project: a note

How to formulate specific research method for dissertation project: a note

Take for example, on observational research. To formulate a specific observational research method design to respond to a specific research objective, one needs to study the topic of observational research, to start with. A useful resource is my blog note on the video resources on this topic.

However, just studying observational research per se is not enough to help you to formulate a specific observational research design, say "to evaluate the conservative corporate culture of ABC Ltd". To pick up more research skill to do so, you need to do literature review to gain additional intellectual knowledge on corporate culture. To be specific, the relevant academic literature will give you some ideas , in the forms of theories and approaches, what information is needed for corporate culture evaluation. The academic literature also presents to you knowledge of how other researchers use specific research methods to approach research tasks related to corporate culture study.

Finally, you need to firm up your research design decision, e.g. on observational research design, and incorporate it into your theoretical framework level-1c. (of the Agile Literature Review Approach).