MSc International

Business
Research Methods
Session 2
The dissertation and the
dissertation proposal

Suzana Rodrigues
 Agenda
Part 1:
l What is a dissertation
l What is a dissertation proposal

Part 2
l The dissertation topic

Characteristics of a good dissertation topic

Part 3
l The research questions and aims
Learning objectives
At the end of this session you should be
able to:
l Write research questions
l Write the objectives and aims of a research
 What is a dissertation?

An analytical work which derives from an

approved project or research which makes a
contribution to the current body of knowledge
in a scholarly field and to practice
Dissertation
Why do Masters Courses require a
dissertation for the degree?

l To demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge

and skills acquired on the course
l To demonstrate deeper knowledge regarding a
problem/issue/topic in International Business
l To demonstrate critical understanding of the relevant
theory and literature
l To develop and demonstrate skills of critical
reflection, logical thinking and clear expression
l To use the appropriate research methodologies in a
rigorous fashion
All dissertations must....
l Involve the analysis of a situation by applying
the relevant theories and concepts
l Collect the relevant data in an rigorous
manner
l Formulation of conclusions on the basis of
that analysis/data
l Demonstrate capacity of reflection upon what
you have learned by doing the project
l Show an appropriate structure and layout in a
clear and incisive manner
The content of the dissertation

1. Introduction
Significance of the topic
Research questions and aims
The dissertation content (what goes in each chapter)

2. Literature review
Insights from previous research and discussion
Defining concepts, drawing out hypotheses, defining a
framework

3. The research methodology

Research approach (qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods)
Sample and sampling methods
Research procedures
Research techniques
The field work
Ethical issues
The content of the dissertation
4. Findings
Presentations and analysis of results

5. Conclusions
Contribution to knowledge
Implications for practice
Research limitations
Suggestions for future research

6. References

7. Annexes
 All dissertations must be formulated
around a research, which is based on
empirical data or material already
published by credible source
The Purpose of research is:

l To review and synthesize existing knowledge

l To investigate some existing situation or problem
l To provide solutions to a problem
l To explore and analyse more general issues
l To construct or create a new procedure or system
l To explain a new phenomenon
l To generate new knowledge
l A combination of any of the above
Collis and Hussey,2003, p.2
Content of a Research
Proposal

l Title
l Abstract or summary
l Background/ introduction
l Statement of purpose or aim: Research questions and objectives
l Review of the relevant literature
l Methodology (including paradigm)
l Ethical issues
l Plan of work/Timescale
l Resources
l References

Silverman, D (Doing qualitative research, 2000:116)

Refining your research
proposal
l Narrowing the scope

l Defining the expected structure of the

dissertation

l Definethe tasks and the estimated time for

each task
Characteristics of a good
dissertation topic
l Need for research
l Achievable in reasonable time
l Fit between the student capabilities and
interest
l Offer an opportunity for professional
development
l Availability of research facilities and data
Part 2: The dissertation topic
Sources for the selection of a
topic
l Current events

l Suggestions from the literature

l Suggestions by an authority on the subject

l Suggestions by practitioners in the field

Ten ways to think of a research topic
A checklist
l From topics you liked most from the different modules
you attended
l In your previous jobs, which kind of topic would you
have liked to have understood better
l Ask your supervisor, friends, colleagues, customers,
parents
l Look at previous research work
l Relate it to your other interests
l Think of a title
l Start from a question or a quote that engages you
l Follow your hunches
l Draw yourself a picture or a diagram
l But be prepared to change direction
Part 3: Research questions and aims
Research questions

l Research questions evolve from your topic

l The research questions provide guidance to

your research, and lead to the aims of the
project

l Itis important of a MSc dissertation not to be

over ambitious
Checklist for research questions

Keep in mind that research questions

l Should not be ‘too big’ (e.g. impossible for
you to manage)
l Should not be ‘too small’ (e.g. irrelevant or
too trivial)
3. ‘Too hot’ (e.g. could be politically sensitive)
4. ‘Just right’ (adequate in terms of time and
resources)
(Clough and Nutbrown 2002: 34)
Examples of research questions in
International Business
l ‘Why are British companies offshoring into India?
l ‘What are the differences in management systems of
subsidiaries in France and India? (too broad)
l What are the entry modes of Brazilian MNCs in the
US?
l What are the challenges facing European SMEs
when they seek to enter an emerging economy (a
broad topic)
l What are the accountancy practices of British firms?
(broad and inappropriate for IB)
Research objectives

Research objectives should originate from

questions or from the research problem in its
context
 How to transform questions into objectives
Questions

3. Which kind of markets do SMEs prefer to enter?

4. Why do SMEs avoid entering geographically distant
markets?

Objectives

8. To study the kind of markets SMEs prefer to enter

9. To identify the reasons why SMEs avoid entering
geographically distant markets
Questions and objectives

Question:
l Do exporting SMEs with higher intensity of
internationalization report superior levels of
business performance?

Objective

l This study aims to understand the levels of

internationalization of SMEs and corresponding
performance
Transform the following
question into an objective

What motivates expatriate adaptation in

foreign locations?
Objective:

To understand the conditions (factors) that

foster expatriate managers to adapt to
foreign countries
Transform the following
objective into a question
l First, this study examines the relationship between
the nationality of the MNC and the performance
metrics utilized by the parent to evaluate subsidiary
performance

l Second, this study investigatesthe relationship

between the MNC nationality and the mechanisms
of control it adopts for its subsidiaries
Questions:
l Does the nationality of the multinational
influences the kind of metrics used by the
parent to evaluate subsidiary performance

l Is the nationality of the multinational related

to the mechanisms of control it adopts for its
subsidiaries?
Identifying a research question
 Context

Organization

Issues

Focusing
Identifying the research question
Identifying the context and the gap in knowledge:

“Perhaps the most profound business phenomenon of the 20th century was
the internationalization of large, small, established, and new venture
firms (Sapienza, Autio, George, & Zahra, 2006). Accordingly, the
development of multinational enterprises (MNEs) eventually led to a global
economy with an increasingly interrelated set of national economies and
financial markets. As prominent businesses expanded their operations
overseas
to satisfy investors’ desires for growth and higher performance, the demand for
support services in these operations increased. Therefore, professional
services
firms followed their clients into international markets to service their growing
needs (Greenwood & Empson, 2003). In this way, professional service firms
facilitated the expansion of the MNEs. Yet although there is considerable
research on the international strategies of large industrial firms, little
research has explored the internationalization of service firms (Cooper,
Greenwood, Hinings, & Brown, 1998), particularly the bases for their
internationalization. One goal of the present research was to fill this gap.

From: Hitt Michael, Bierman L. , Uhlenbruck and Shimizu K. 2006. The importance of resources in the internationalization of
professional service firms: the good, the bad and the ugly. Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 49, No. 6, 1137–1157.
Detailing the topic

Identifying gaps

Research
question

Contribution to
knowledge

Re-focusing
 “We address the resources needed to internationalize
successfully.
(The focus)

A significant amount of research on international strategy

has produced mixed findings regarding its outcomes (e.g.,
Lu & Beamish, 2004). An assumption in most prior
research is that firms go abroad to exploit strategic assets
and take advantage of market imperfections,
(What has already been done)

yet little is known about the specific assets firms need to

successfully enter international markets. (Re-focusing)
Cont. Re-focusing

Given the extent to which many firms have internationalized and the
desire of others to expand their international scope, researchers need
to better understand the requirements for expanding internationally and
how firms can do so successfully. Prior research suggests the
motivations for internationalization include economies of scale and
scope, increasing market power, gaining knowledge enhancements
leading to stronger capabilities and innovation, and exploiting
entrepreneurial opportunities (Barkema & Vermeulen, 1998; Hitt,
Hoskisson, & Kim, 1997; Lu & Beamish, 2001; Vermeulen & Barkema,
2001).

Despite these arguments and the underlying research, little is known

about the specific resources on which international expansion is based
and how they facilitate expansion to achieve the aforementioned
outcomes (Tallman, 2001)”. (Research question)
Re-focusing: contribution to
knowledge
“In this paper, we contribute to the international management
literature
by theoretically arguing and empirically showing a direct link between
specific and important firm resources and a firm’s international
strategy.
Moreover, we show that the holistic effects of these resources and
their interaction increase internationalization”…

“Furthermore, we argue that these intangible resources moderate the

relationship between internationalization strategy and firm performance,
thereby extending knowledge of he resource-based view of the firm”

From: Hitt Michael, Bierman L. , Uhlenbruck and Shimizu K. 2006. The

importance of resources in the internationalization of professional service firms:
the good, the bad and the ugly. Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 49,
No. 6, 1137–1157
Criteria for definition of the research
question/problem
l Was your question/problem clearly stated and
defined?
l Was the question/problem important?
l Would the responses to this question make
important contribution to knowledge or practice?
l Was the question/problem properly delimited?
l Were the limitations of the research recognised?
l Were all the special terms used in special way
defined?
l If the research made any assumptions were these
clarified?