W RITING THE D OCTORAL D ISSERTATION By Gordon Davis & Clyde Parker PPT by Steven Pentland 1

O VERVIEW Systematic approach to writing Be Organized! 2

D ISSERTATION M ANAGEMENT C HECKLIST 3 #Tasks 1 Early selection of general area for dissertation research 2 Early selection of advisor and committee supportive of probable dissertation area 3 Course work designed to support probable dissertation area 4Setting up of dissertation ideas file 5 Familiarity with library research tools available at my school in my area of interest 6 Familiarity with computer search tools available for my area of interest 7Identification of several possible topics 8 Exploratory search of literature and prior research on possible topics 9Preparation of several topic analyses 10Evaluation of topic with advisor 11 Selection of topic and preparation of a proposal 12Refining of proposal until accepted 13 Proposal defense (or committee review) to arrive at understanding that if research defined proposal is done in a scholarly way and written up in suitable dissertation form, it will be accepted 14Preparation of time schedule 15Review of critical dates with advisor 16 Establishment of research log or journal and research document filing system 17 Establishment of backup file for all drafts of chapters 18 Use of communication/documentation methods 19 Use of aids to advisor/committee review of drafts 20Journal articles(s) planned and outlined 21Defense Complete

E ARLY SELECTION OF GENERAL AREA FOR DISSERTATION RESEARCH Pre-dissertation development Large and General E.g. Mgmt student could select planning Early Investigation of Topic Area Attention to Research Skills in Area E.g. methodology, experiment design, analysis type 4

S ELECTION OF ADVISOR AND COMMITTEE SUPPORTIVE OF DISSERTATION AREA Advisor Supervises work Mentors and guides student Competent to advise on topic Committee Can provide assistance planning and performing research Diverse areas of knowledge (Complement advisor) Minor Advisor 5

C OURSE WORK DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PROBABLE DISSERTATION AREA Select courses (minor) to support dissertation Use time in courses to support dissertation Build relationship with course instructors 6

S ETTING UP OF DISSERTATION IDEAS FILE Keep track of possible dissertation ideas Use journal or text document to note ideas Track publications that inspire ideas Organize journal periodically 7

L IBRARY AND C OMPUTER R ESEARCH TOOLS Publication Search (access to databases) (link UA account to Google) Publication Management EndNote Mendeley Zotero What other tools are useful? 8

I DENTIFICATION OF SEVERAL POSSIBLE TOPICS Characteristics of a Good Dissertation Topic Research needed and interesting Theory base for research Amendable to research methods Achievable in reasonable time Symmetry of potential outcomes Match student capabilities and interest Attractive for funding Area for professional development 9

I DENTIFICATION OF SEVERAL POSSIBLE TOPICS C ONT. Sources of Potential Topics Current Events Past Dissertations Authorities in the Field Practitioners in a Field Generally Accepted but Unproved Suppositions Weakly Proved Assertions Theories and concepts without supporting research Approaches to testing of important results 10

E XPLORATORY SEARCH OF LITERATURE AND PRIOR RESEARCH ON POSSIBLE TOPICS Elements in a Search Strategy List of key terms associated with research Reference databases Utilize Doctoral Dissertations Research is current Extensive bibliographies tions/ tions/ 11

U TILIZE MIS J OURNALS Information Systems Research Management Science Journal of Management Info. Systems Decision Sciences Communications of the ACM Decision Support Systems European Journal of Info. Systems ACM Transactions Journal of AIS Information Systems ACM Computing Surveys Journal of Information Systems Journal of Strategic Info. Systems Information and Management 12

T OPIC A NALYSIS Concise in order to analyze multiple idea Problem, Hypothesis, or Question Importance of Research Theory Base for Research Significant Prior Research Possible Research Approach or Methodology Potential Outcomes of Research and Importance of Each 13

D ISSERTATION P ROPOSAL Expansion of topic analysis Sections Summary Hypothesis, problems, or question Importance of topic Theory base for research Prior research on topic Research approach or research methodology Limitations and key assumptions Contributions to knowledge Description of proposed chapters in dissertation 14

E VALUATION OF TOPIC WITH ADVISOR Explore several ideas with advisor Select topic to pursue further Create initial proposal Review until scope and quality is suitable Iterative process to refine topic 15

P REPARATION OF TIME SCHEDULE Range StandardLowHigh Paper Length Work Months From Formulation to Acceptance Breakdown: (Work Months) Topic Refinement213 Search prior research in depth113 Research and analysis activity7512 Writing, editing, proofing538 16

P REPARATION OF TIME SCHEDULE Topic Refinement13% Search prior research in depth7% Research and analysis activity47% Writing, editing, proofing33% 17

P REPARING THE T IME E STIMATE Refining of Dissertation Structure Further Search of Literature Research Activities – 1k to 5k work-hours Preparing instrument for collecting data Obtaining subjects Testing data collection Collecting data Analyzing data Writing, Editing, Rewriting, Proofing – Up to 4 hours per page 18

E STABLISHMENT OF R ESEARCH L OG AND R ESEARCH D OCUMENT F ILING S YSTEM Record keeping is essential given the complexity and time period of a dissertation Keep diary or journal – work performed, decisions made, suggestions from advisor or committee Organize by subsections Citation Organization Backup documents 19

U SE OF C OMMUNICATION M ETHODS Managing Up! Provide outlines and summaries with each batch of materials the committee is asked to read Provide written notes of meetings Provide action agendas for meetings Provide written responses and progress reports 20

D ISSERTATION D EFENSE Panel – advisor, committee, & outside academics Prepare short presentation – problem, current research, methodology, results, contribution of dissertation Be prepared to discuss limitations Determine work needed for approval and work for future research 21

J OURNAL A RTICLE ( S ) P LANNED AND O UTLINED Good opportunity to bring attention to your work Plan for journals during the dissertation process Condense into publication suitable for journal 22

C ONGRATS D R. _________ ! 23

I NTERMISSION … /the-weakest-link---a-few-glitches 24