How to Finish How to Finish Your Your

Thesis/DissertatiThesis/Dissertation?on?台灣科技大學資管系台灣科技大學資管系洪政煌洪政煌

Deciding to Go to Graduate SchDeciding to Go to Graduate Schoolool

Without a powerful drive, the full-Without a powerful drive, the full-time effort and unflagging time effort and unflagging perseverance required, combined perseverance required, combined with the gloomy employment with the gloomy employment situation, will make you miserable.situation, will make you miserable.

You will be expected to do more than You will be expected to do more than you have time for, and unless a Ph.D. you have time for, and unless a Ph.D. is something you REALLY want, you is something you REALLY want, you probably will not succeed.probably will not succeed.

Outline of Writing Outline of Writing DissertationDissertation

The need for a different approach to the dissertationThe need for a different approach to the dissertation An overview of the dissertation management approachAn overview of the dissertation management approach The dissertation is a knowledge workThe dissertation is a knowledge work The selection of an advisor and a dissertation The selection of an advisor and a dissertation

committeecommittee The selection of a dissertation topicThe selection of a dissertation topic Investigation existing knowledge on a topicInvestigation existing knowledge on a topic The dissertation proposalThe dissertation proposal The dissertation time schedule and budgetThe dissertation time schedule and budget Working with an advisor and a dissertation committeeWorking with an advisor and a dissertation committee Management of dissertation activityManagement of dissertation activity The defense and publishing the resultThe defense and publishing the result

The Philosophy of the The Philosophy of the Systematic ApproachSystematic Approach

Structuring of the dissertation Structuring of the dissertation project can significantly improve project can significantly improve performance.performance.

The student has primary The student has primary responsibility for the management of responsibility for the management of the doctoral dissertation project.the doctoral dissertation project.

Faculty (advisor and committee) are Faculty (advisor and committee) are a scare resource.a scare resource.

Student’s responsibilityStudent’s responsibility Do what you say will be done when promised.Do what you say will be done when promised. Have integrity in research and writing.Have integrity in research and writing. Keep in communication.Keep in communication. Prepare document for comment.Prepare document for comment. Follow a method of presentation tat Follow a method of presentation tat

effectively uses the advisor’s and committee’s effectively uses the advisor’s and committee’s time.time.

Be reasonable in making demands on the Be reasonable in making demands on the time of the advisor and committee.time of the advisor and committee.

Be open to suggestions and to advice, but Be open to suggestions and to advice, but also show initiative.also show initiative.

The Objective of a Doctoral The Objective of a Doctoral DissertationDissertation

Do independent researchDo independent research Make a contribution to knowledge Make a contribution to knowledge

with the researchwith the research Document the research and make it Document the research and make it

available to the scholarly community available to the scholarly community (write the dissertation)(write the dissertation)

The Life Cycle of a The Life Cycle of a Dissertation ProjectDissertation Project

Selection of general area of researchSelection of general area of research Selection of several topics for evaluationSelection of several topics for evaluation Selection and exploration of one topic and Selection and exploration of one topic and

completion of dissertation proposalcompletion of dissertation proposal Completion of detailed chapter outlinesCompletion of detailed chapter outlines Completion of literature researchCompletion of literature research Completion of research and analysisCompletion of research and analysis Completion of text of dissertationCompletion of text of dissertation Acceptance by committeeAcceptance by committee

Overall Management Overall Management Approach Approach

Pre-dissertation stage activityPre-dissertation stage activity Selection of the dissertation topicSelection of the dissertation topic Management of research and writingManagement of research and writing

The Dissertation as The Dissertation as Knowledge WorkKnowledge Work

The type of work: human mental work.The type of work: human mental work. The objective: to generate useful The objective: to generate useful

information.information. Four dominant process characteristics:Four dominant process characteristics:

Access dataAccess data Access knowledgeAccess knowledge Employ mental modelEmploy mental model Require significant concentration and Require significant concentration and

attentionattention

The Selection of an Advisor The Selection of an Advisor and a Dissertation and a Dissertation

CommitteeCommittee The advisor is interested in the topic.The advisor is interested in the topic. The advisor is competent to advise on the topic.The advisor is competent to advise on the topic. The advisor has a reasonable level of expectations The advisor has a reasonable level of expectations

regarding what a student can and should accomplish regarding what a student can and should accomplish in a doctoral dissertation.in a doctoral dissertation.

The advisor reads and comments on dissertation The advisor reads and comments on dissertation document within a reasonable time period.document within a reasonable time period.

The advisor is consistent regarding requirements The advisor is consistent regarding requirements and advices. and advices.

The advisor has personal integrity and important The advisor has personal integrity and important responsibility.responsibility.

The advisor is interested in the candidate as a The advisor is interested in the candidate as a person and is interested in the candidate’s welfare.person and is interested in the candidate’s welfare.

Select Dissertation TopicSelect Dissertation Topic

Research needed and interestingResearch needed and interesting Theory base for researchTheory base for research Amenable to research methodsAmenable to research methods Achieve in reasonable timeAchieve in reasonable time Symmetry of potential outcomesSymmetry of potential outcomes Matches student capability and Matches student capability and

interestinterest Attractive for fundingAttractive for funding Area for professional developmentArea for professional development

Investigating Existing Investigating Existing Knowledge on a TopicKnowledge on a Topic

Exploratory investigations, as part of Exploratory investigations, as part of the development and evaluation of the development and evaluation of possible topics in this area.possible topics in this area.

Investigation in some depth, Investigation in some depth, sufficient to support a formal sufficient to support a formal research and dissertation proposal.research and dissertation proposal.

Complete research that is described Complete research that is described in the “literature/research” section in the “literature/research” section of the dissertation. of the dissertation.

The Dissertation The Dissertation ProposalProposal

Topic analysis formTopic analysis form Problem, hypothesis, or questionProblem, hypothesis, or question Importance of researchImportance of research Theory base of researchTheory base of research Significant prior researchSignificant prior research Possible research approach or methodologyPossible research approach or methodology Potential outcomes or research and Potential outcomes or research and

importance of eachimportance of each Refine the proposal Refine the proposal Proposal is like a contractProposal is like a contract

The Section of ProposalThe Section of Proposal SummarySummary Hypothesis, problem, or questionHypothesis, problem, or question Importance of topicImportance of topic Theory base for the researchTheory base for the research Prior research on topicPrior research on topic Research approach or research methodologyResearch approach or research methodology Limitations and key assumptionsLimitations and key assumptions Contributions to knowledgeContributions to knowledge Description of proposed chapters in Description of proposed chapters in

dissertation dissertation

The Dissertation Time The Dissertation Time Schedule and Budget Schedule and Budget

Make Make reasonablereasonable dissertation time dissertation time schedule schedule

Try your best to do what you planed Try your best to do what you planed beforebefore

Modify the time schedule every time Modify the time schedule every time periodperiod

Working with an Advisor Working with an Advisor and a Dissertation and a Dissertation

CommitteeCommittee Aids to effective interaction with an advisor Aids to effective interaction with an advisor

and a committeeand a committee Provide written notes of meeting.Provide written notes of meeting. Provide outlines and issue summaries with each Provide outlines and issue summaries with each

batch of materials the committee is asked to batch of materials the committee is asked to read.read.

A transmittal noteA transmittal note Issue summaryIssue summary Outline of each chapterOutline of each chapter The material to be readThe material to be read

Schedule meetings.Schedule meetings. Provide action agendas for meeting.Provide action agendas for meeting. Provide written responses and periodic Provide written responses and periodic

progress report. progress report.

ExamplesExamples

summarysummary

Advisor is a guider to help you. Do not be Advisor is a guider to help you. Do not be afraid to meet with your advisor.afraid to meet with your advisor.

There is no advisor who wants to treat his There is no advisor who wants to treat his student badly. He is just a mentor in your student badly. He is just a mentor in your graduate study.graduate study.

Keep regular meeting and having progress (if Keep regular meeting and having progress (if possible). Let your advisor know what you possible). Let your advisor know what you have done between two consecutive meetings.have done between two consecutive meetings.

Graduate study is just a training process. Graduate study is just a training process. Enjoy yourself in this lonely tourney.Enjoy yourself in this lonely tourney.

Thanks! Thanks!

Question?Question?