Doctoral Dissertation

Doctor of Philosophy in International Business

BUS 995

Breyer State University
Instructor: Kathleen Hargiss Ph.D., MBA, MA, BS

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to BUS 995, a Doctoral Level course in the curriculum for the Doctor of Philosophy in International Business. I am pleased to offer you this course, which will be a capstone course in your studies for your doctoral program.

The emphasis in this course will be on the following areas:

1). Statement of problem, purpose of study, objectives of the study, and research questions.
2). Review of related literature.
3). Methods: research design, data collection, reliability, and data analysis.
4). Results: summary, conclusions, and implications.
5). Study limitations, recommendations, and further research.

This is a research course that offers you the knowledge and skills needed to problem solve and meet the challenges of a fast paced global business environment. During this course you will have the opportunities to conduct a systematic inquiry in order to address (your selection of topic) international managerial challenges.

Research is critical in that global competition appears more vigorous each day as seen with many companies downsizing in order to refocus on basic competencies for cost reductions. The explosive growth of the Internet, World Wide Web, e-commerce have brought new venues of information, although the quality of information is increasingly suspect. In this course you will have the chance to use quantitative and qualitative techniques by using powerful computing capabilities to investigate information and search for the levels of reliability of information required.

These research techniques are critical in today's international environment. In order to survive it is imperative that you understand how to identify quality and timely information. You must also be able to recognize solid research on which you will base your high-risk managerial decisions.

I know you will enjoy this comprehensively, thorough research course. This is your chance to select a topic and investigate all pertinent aspects. At the end you will feel confident that you can conduct international research and understand the data specific results.

TIME FRAME: This is a ten-hour course. The course is allotted ten weeks of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the ten-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, of the day which you notify me that your text book(s) have arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be aware of the time frame. It is unusual that extensions of time are permitted, unless you have good justification. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be awarded ten semester hours of credit.

TEXTBOOK: There is one text for this course.

Book 1: Critical Thinking About Research. Meltzoff, J. Washington DC American Psychological Association. (2003). ISBN # 1-55798-455-7.

NOTE: This book will help you attain a solid grasp of the scientific method of research. The information in this book will help you think through all aspects of your research project.

Depending on your selected topic for research, other books will be needed. Information found on the Internet and the World Wide Web will prove to be invaluable for you.

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EXAMINATION: Due to the extensive time and work that will be going into your project, there will not be a required examination for this course.

GRADING SCALE:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%     = C
Below 70% = Fail

COMMUNICATION: You are encouraged to communicate with me. I am available as a teacher, coach, and mentor to assist you in achieving your goals for this course. Primarily, communication is through e-mail. However, I am also available for conversation by telephone. Our classroom for this course has a "chat" room. I am also very willing to meet with you one-on-one in the chat room at your request. From time to time, depending on how many students are enrolled in this course at a particular time, we will have some scheduled group chats. You will receive more detailed information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled. Please keep my e-mail address in a convenient place so that you can contact me at any time. If during your time in this course you change your e-mail address, please be sure to notify me immediately.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT: Doctoral Dissertation (requirements will be provided by me).

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Kathleen M. Hargiss, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.A. Dr. Kathleen Hargiss is the former Associate Dean and Chair for the Graduate School of Business at Florida Metropolitan University in Florida . She was awarded the FMU Graduate Research Grant in 2003. Dr. Hargiss is affiliated with Strategic Resource Consulting (SRC). SRC is a Tampa, Florida-based enterprise that provides consulting services to start-up, emerging and established firms in a variety of sectors with a concentration in biotechnology, medical device, information technology, and e-business. The firm also engages in providing business and organizational assessments to venture capital firms and accredited investors as a basis for investment consideration. Prior to her affiliation with SRC, Dr. Hargiss was a professor at both the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa . At USF she taught several health and wellness related courses through the University's department of Physical Education, Wellness, Sport Studies and the department of Adult Education and Human Resource Development. She also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Tampa , teaching a course in wellness industry dynamics. Her instructional expertise includes the design and implementation of courses for Wellness, Exercise Science, and Management degree programs encompassing communications, personality identifiers, learning styles, programming, and adult education principles.

Dr. Hargiss was the former director of an exclusive health spa in Houston , Texas . Responsibilities included management of a staff of twenty fitness and facility employees, advertising and public relations, accounting, budgets, marketing plans and forecasts, supervision of housekeeping and food preparation, and the design of fitness programs which included aerobic, weight training, stretching, and aquatics. She designed and conducted one-day spa programs, generating a new source of revenues while maximizing utilization of the physical plant.

Dr. Hargiss received a Ph.D. from the University of South Florida , an M.B.A. from the University of Miami (FL) with a specialization in International Business, an M.A. from Northwestern University (where she instructed for several years), a B.A. from the University of Illinois-Chicago, and has completed Post Graduate studies in Stockholm , Sweden . She also earned a private pilot license, EMT license, and a 2nd degree Black belt with national weapon awards in the martial arts.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1). Understand a broad range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
2). Develop appropriate research questions applicable to the selected topic.
3). Develop problem statements.
4). Conduct a literature review.
5). Evaluate existing research.
6). Apply research methods for data analysis.
7). Summarize collected data.

REVIEW: Remember, this is a self-paced, independent study course, with one-on-one faculty mentoring, as well as occasional group chat sessions.

First, expedite the process by ordering or obtaining your textbook for this course.

Second, after the text arrives, please start reading immediately.

NOTE: The class will proceed smoothly if you start right at the beginning to communicate with me. I am a real person with a life, but never without time for my students. See you in class!

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