1.1 -Writes an expert introduction to a clear topic proposal grounded in a busin
1.1 -Writes an expert introduction to a clear topic proposal grounded in a business
problem within the specialization. Presents cited facts, statistics, and statements that are relevant
to the project and topic. Includes a thesis statement that clearly orients the reader.
1.2 –
Note you must have both a general and specific problem in this section.
General business problem – what is happening throughout an industry or larger fields of
participants. How is the problem manifesting? What adversity is being experienced? In other
words, what harm does the general business problem create for the business practitioner? The
general business problem is an umbrella problem under which the specific business problem fits.
Use a current source (past 1-5 years) to cite the general problem and follow with at least two
cited supporting sentences.
Specific business problem – what narrowed group of participants are experiencing the
problem (i.e., a specific organization, a specific type of businessperson, or department). How is
the problem manifesting? What adversity is being experienced?
The specific business problem
is a subproblem of the general business problem. Use a current source (past 1-3 years) to cite
the specific problem and follow with at least two cited supporting sentences.
First sentence: Provide a wow, with information about a significant problem (cite your source).
(For example, In 2020, a global pandemic resulted in a nearly overnight change in business
practices throughout the world (Barney, 2021).
Follow with: The general business problem is ________________________________resulting in
_____________________(the adversity, the harm created by the general problem) (CITE A
CURRENT SOURCE). Follow with a several cited facts about the general problem.
Then, The specific business problem is ____________________________(who, what, where)
resulting in ___________________________(the adversity, the harm created by the specific
problem) (CITE A CURRENT SOURCE). Follow with a few supporting cited statements
regarding the specific problem; including statistics is always good to expose the degree of the
problem; how bad and big the problem is (%, ratio, $ in cost).
Describes a general and specific business problem that is clearly defined and
aligned with the specialization, including what the problem is, who is experiencing the
problem, where the problem exists, the industry context, and the adversity associated with the
specific problem. Includes cited facts and statistics to expose the degree and significance of the
general and specific problem.
1.3 – Describe how this problem within your specialization came to be. First, describe current state of the
specific problem and how the problem got to that state. What is the desired state? (What should be
happening to mitigate or eliminate the problem within the company or industry). Describe the difference
between the current state of the problem and the desired state as the “gap in practice” as it relates to the
problem. Cite any sources which state this gap as part of the problem. Be explicit in your statements to
clearly denote what the gap in practice is and include your gap analysis. Ensure that the gap in practice
aligns with the problem of practice. Here are some examples of when, how, and where gaps appear. (2-3 Paragraphs)
Comprehensively situates a project into an industry or company in expert alignment with the specialization.
1.4 – The project’s purpose is a statement about what you intend to study, based on the specific business
problem you identified and the gap in practice you seek to address. By fulfilling the purpose, you
may create new knowledge to inform or shrink the gap in practice. This section will include two
parts: purpose and the project question.
Presents the purpose of the project in expert alignment with the problem, topic,
and project question in the field of the specialization. Includes the project technique, population, concepts or phenomenon (qualitative) to be studied, along with the geographic location written in a de-identified method (Census regions).
1.5 – Define any essential terms related to the industry or company context within your specialization to allow
your reader to understand the specific use of those terms throughout the project. Cite the definitions
using practitioner or scholarly literature; avoid using dictionary or .pedia (i.e., Wikipedia, Investopedia,
etc.) sources (for any reason in your project). Place the terms in alphabetical order. Doctoral Publications
recommends a bold, italics font using title case.
Presents a list of relevant terms and refined definitions that relate the industry or
company context of the project within the specialization. Provides cited high-quality
practitioner and scholarly sources to support the definitions
1.6 – The project justification is your argument, defense, and rationalization for the need to conduct the
project. The basis for the need for the project is the gap(s) in practice, followed with how the outcome of
your project could inform or reduce the gap in practice.
Describe the reason for the project, its need, and evidence to support the need for the project. Describe
the rationale and justification for conducting this project. Support the reason you are going to
potentially spend time, energy, and money to research this topic. Ensure your project justification aligns
with the problem, purpose, PQ, and gap in practice within your specialization.
: Justifies in detail the need for the project within the specialization and describes the
rationale for conducting the project in expert alignment with the problem, purpose, and gap in
practice. Describes who the project outcome is potentially significant and important to and why.
1.7 – A project framework describes, but does not explain concepts believed to influence an outcome. An
applied framework provides a big picture overview of various descriiptive categories or concepts and
how they might relate to one another. The choice of your applied framework will place your project on a
trajectory to contribute towards building an integrated body of knowledge within the specialization
domain.
Using an established framework, model, process, theory, or set of constructs, explain how the project will
be organized and framed. The project framework is an applied, business practitioner framework that is or
could be used to help the business person overcome the problem and shrink the gap in practice. An
applied framework is not a theoretical or conceptual framework based solely on theory or abstract
theoretical concepts. A theory might inform the framework.
Explain in detail how a project framework in expert alignment with the topic,
problem, and purpose will be used to frame and organize the project and guide the data
collection process within the field of the specialization. The framework is an applied, practitioner
framework supported by the practitioner and scholarly literature.
1.8 – The preliminary project plan is your proposed processes, steps, and timeline for your project. This
plan will assist you in determining whether your project is manageable and feasible within your
program timeline.
Use your course sequence map to provide a set of dates and deliverables you hope to meet. REPLACE INTO that
map your preliminary plan for investigating, exploring (qualitative), examining (quantitative), or
explaining the gap in practice. Include your timeline for data collection, analysis, report preparation, edits
and iterations, and presentation. Identify key resources and supporting stakeholders. Include anticipated
barriers or challenges.
Describe in detail a preliminary project plan within the field of the
specialization, including the project method and technique, industry or company context,
geographic location, population and sampling, data collection, data analysis, and the means to
collect reliable, valid information to examine or explore the gap in practice.
1.9 – The summary is a recap of Section 1 to remind your reader of the key aspects and foundational elements
of your proposed project and lead the reader into Section 2.
Provide a conclusion which sets the stage for the next section. Summarize the key points from Section 1,
reminding the reader of your specialization, topic, problem, purpose, gap in practice, justification,
framework, company or industry context, and project plan without using copy/paste of previous
statements.
Provide a detailed summary of the critical points of Section 1 and a thorough yet concise descriiption of Section 2 supported by current practitioner and scholarly literature without
using repetitive content. Self-reflects on how the project completion will enhance professional standing, effectiveness, and socialization into the professional community of leaders.