PHD PROCESS AND ITS CHALLENGES

Dr. Alaa Garad

CEO | Investors in People UAE

Chair | Advisory Board | University of Salford UAE

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Agenda1. What is PhD

2. Why do you want to do a PhD?

3. PhD Process from A to Z

1. Research Approach and Strategy

2. Data Collection

3. Thesis writing

4. Key Challenges

5. Selecting the appropriate research methodology

6. Summary of Learnt Lessons. 2

Dr. Alaa Garadعالء جراد. د

• Chair | Advisory Board University of Salford Abu-Dhabi

• CEO | Investors in People UAE

• Assessor and Juror | Excellence Awards UAE and KSA.

• Columnist | Emarat Al Youm

اإلماراتجامعة سالفورد | رئيس المجلس االستشاري •

مؤسسة المستثمرين في الموارد البشرية| الرئيس التنفيذي •

مقيم ومحكم في جوائز الجودة باإلمارات والسعودية•

جريدة اإلمارات اليوم| كاتب عمود •

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What Keeps You Busy?

You

Money

Work

Problems

Family

Ambition

(Goals)

Process

Results

People

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What is the one thing we all equally possess?

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Value your Time

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The more you value your time,The more value it will bring!

A man who dares to waste one hourof time, has not discovered the value of life. Charles Darwin

A Must Read

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http://www.emaratalyoum.com/opinion/2014-04-21-1.668958

So let’s start …

• You want to do PhD ..

• First step is …

•Research topic

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How to choose the topic?

1. Relevant to your work/experience.

2. Something you like and can live with for 3-5 years.

3. Consider your employability after getting the PhD.

4. Something adds value

5. Balance complexity with simplicity (Not 10 PhD and not a consultancy project).

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Research Proposal

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1. Title page: - your research proposal title and your name etc.

2. Abstract: - 300 words summarising What? Why? and How? you are proposing to undertake this research.

3. Research Context: - setting out the “research problem” area and what others have done about it thus far.

4. Research problem statement

5. Research questions.

6. Research aim and SMART objectives:

7. Research Method

8. Research Plan

9. References

http://www.salford.ac.uk/business-school/business-services/centre-for-digital-business/study-at-our-centre/how-to-write-a-research-proposal#structure

The Two-minutes Test

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Dealing with your supervisory team

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You

Main Supervisor

Local Advisor

Co-Supervisor

How to irritate your supervisor:

1. Start the first meeting with taking about data collection methods.

2. Ask how many references you should put in your thesis.

3. Expect him to take decision on your behalf or answer all your questions.

4. Send him a piece of work and ask him after two days if had a chance to go through it.

5. Call him and if he does not answer keep calling.

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alaagarad.com 18Developed by © Alaa Garad

Lessons Learnt 1-2

1. Have a dream – a grand vision of your future and work towards your vision.

2. PhD is a massive undertaking and it can often be painful; in order to overcome these challenges and enjoy the journey, be a ‘reflective practitioner’ open to learning and let go of your ego and bias.

3. When you choose a topic for your PhD, select one that adds to your knowledge and practice.

4. Think of your PhD thesis this way: will you be proud of it and keen to show your work to everyone or would you rather hide it and avoid discussions related to your research?

5. Be brave and a trailblazer – explore areas that no one has explored before.

alaagarad.com 19Extracted from http://blogs.salford.ac.uk/business-school/how-to-get-a-phd/

Lessons Learnt 2-26. You cannot love your research journey if you do not have passion for

research and learning.

7. The research journey is the ‘process’ and the ‘product’ at the same time; so enjoy every station in this journey.

8. Consider it a driver for change in your life, adopt the principles of scientific approach in your actions and embrace systems thinking.

9. Remember that the only sustainable competitive advantage an organization or individual can have is learning. So, be calm and continue to learn.

10. Always be positive and never lose faith.

alaagarad.com 20Extracted from http://blogs.salford.ac.uk/business-school/how-to-get-a-phd/

A small body of determined spirits fired by

an unquenchable faith in their mission can

alter the course of the history.

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Conclusion1. learn how to learn!

2. separate noise from signals

3. Have your own learning log.

4. Learning can make the “good” …. great!

5. Learning is the only sustainable competitive advantage an organisation or an

individual can have!

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Thank You!

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@Alaa_Garad

لقراءة مقاالتي في جريدة اإلمارات اليوم

http://www.emaratalyoum.com/1.664619

Garad@alaagarad.com