Part III -- Writing Chapters 1, 2 and 3 in preparation for the Protocol Defense

Once you know your objectives for your dissertation, you can start writing Chapters 1, 2 and 3 in preparation for your Protocol Defense.  Chapter 1 presents an Introduction, Background, Statement of the Objectives, and Significance of the Study including its limitations;   Chapter 2 is a presentation of your conceptual/theoretical framework as well as a review of all literature and studies related to your dissertation;  Chapter 3 is the methodology which you will utilize during the implementation process.

In preparation for the writing of the manuscript for the protocol defense, you must be aware of the suggested format as prescribed by the Dean of the Graduate School of Management.

You also need to present your draft (Chapters 1, 2 and 3) to your adviser before you will be given an approval to undergo the protocol defense.

In my experience,  I underwent a total of six revisions before my adviser allowed me for the Protocol Defense.  My first draft was not satisfactory and almost everything I wrote was discarded.  However, succeeding drafts improved.  Advice are given through the notes/comments as written in the drafts every time they are returned to me by my adviser via email.  Feedback is given by my adviser 48 hours after I submit my improved draft via email.  The process of review was less costly and definitely worked for me effectively.

What have I learned from the experience?  Allow me to share some tips while writing your dissertation in preparation for the protocol defense. 

Do

• Listen to every instruction your adviser tells.   Every advise given to you, whether done personally or through email, is very important.  There are instances that you will be chasing the time of your adviser, that is why it is important that you take all advise and instructions seriously and promptly.  If you do not understand the instructions given, you are advised to communicate with your adviser at the soonest so as not to waste time.
• Use the Harvard Referencing Style in making references and citations.  In making citations for your review of related literature and related studies, you are required to use the Harvard referencing style.  This is also known as the Author-date referencing style.  This is the style recommended by international journals whenever they recommend articles for publication.  The Harvard Referencing Style is also used when writing all your bibliography and references.
• Follow strictly the format and pagination prescribed by the Office of the Graduate School of Management.  The office has a collection of dissertation manuscripts which you may use as samples.  You do not need to follow the writing style of the author, what is important is to know the format when writing the dissertation.
• Allow free flow of ideas when writing.  Whenever you write, allow the free flow of  ideas without regard to grammar in the meantime.  Once you have finished writing, that is the time you check for grammar errors before submitting your manuscript to your adviser for review.
  

 Don't

• Make your adviser write your dissertation.  This attitude will not be allowed or tolerated by the adviser himself.  However, if you make him feel that he is already writing the dissertation, including the conceptualization of your dissertation, you will have a hard time finishing.  As a DBA candidate, you are responsible in writing your dissertation and setting the course of the write-up;  Do not allow your adviser to spoon feed you regarding the manner on how you will write your manuscript.
• Allow a third person write your dissertation.  Paying a third person write your dissertation has its disadvantages.  First, the manuscript is written so nicely that you would not understand the concept which would probably lead you to a failing mark if the panel of evaluators would find out, or the manuscript is written so badly that it has wasted a lot of your time revising it rather than doing it yourself.    
• Use a validated questionnaire which has already been presented as a thesis or dissertation or published in peer reviewed journals.  It is a possibility that you might do shortcuts by crafting your Statement of the Problem to coincide with existing validated questionnaires which have been previously presented as a thesis/dissertation or published in any peer reviewed journals.  This is not recommended as you are advised to craft your own questionnaire.  Being "too original" is not bad as you only need the proper recommendations of the panel of evaluators and your adviser.   

The tips above are iron clad and guaranteed as far as my experience is concerned.  Of course, you need to exercise the values of patience, persistence, responsibility and integrity while writing your manuscript.   There is no time for self-pity .... as your focus is to finish your studies for advanced opportunities.

Other Topics:

Protocol Defense

My Data Gathering Experience

Final Defense and Writing the Final Manuscript 

Choosing a Dissertation Title

Conceptualizing the Objectives of the Dissertation