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  • Published on

    Reading: On making sentences do something

    Phd Readings Research
    As a reasonably pragmatic type, my starting point when writing is function. Every sentence should have a purpose—it is more important to communicate the message fluently and eloquently than to dress the message in what some describe as "flowery language". Unlike many fiction writers, my default setting is to prioritise function over form.

    Yet when I read this article, I found myself thinking about my as yet unwritten thesis. Doctoral theses are limited to 100,000 words (about 270–300 pages), with an expectation that a robust argument will probably require 75,000–85,000 words. Gosh that seems like a lot. Why so long? Bulk for bulk's sake is never going to make the grade. Clearly a balance needs to be struck between function and form though, to ensure the expectations of the academic community are satisfied and that the essence of one's thesis is clearly communicated. But where does one draw the line between function and form?
  • Published on

    Three high-growth companies needed, for PhD research

    Governance Phd Research
    The first (planning) phase of my doctorate journey is drawing to a close. In the next few weeks I expect to finalise my research proposal and defend it in front of the University Confirmation Panel. Assuming that goes well, I can start the research proper, by selecting three companies to participate in the research. I have one already, but need at least two more. Here are the parameters:
    • A record of high-growth over at least three years (revenue growth at least 20% pa compounding)
    • A mature governance structure in place (a formal board that meets regularly, with reports and minutes)
    • Formal records available (annual reports and board minutes)
    • Domiciled in New Zealand

    Would you like to participate in some ground-breaking research to explore the contribution boards make to company performance? The research will involve observation of board meetings and some interviews, and all company details will be kept 100% confidential. 

    Please contact me if your company might be willing to participate, if you know of a company I should consider, or you would like more information. Thanks in advance!
  • Published on

    Reading: Six people you need with you

    Phd Readings Research
    How well to do contribute in your work environment? Most of us rate ourselves fairly highly, but we all have blind spots. Today, Jessica Hagy offered some simple truths to help us lift our game. She suggested we all need six people around us, to challenge and encourage us to perform well.

    Thanks Jessica, your thoughts were a timely reminder for me as I continue to wrestle with my doctoral research. 
  • Published on

    Is gender reporting the right thing to focus on?

    Governance Phd Research
    The debate surrounding the benefit of women on boards is starting to heat up. Eight days ago, NZX announced it's decision to require gender diversity reporting for all publicly listed boards. Yesterday, an article by Richard Baker asserted that "gender diversity is not essential to the good running of major companies". Today, Denis Mowbray challenged the NZX proposal. He said it is "intellectually lazy" to isolate a single characteristic (like gender).
  • Published on

    The humble apostrophe and pluralism

    Phd Research Societal Wellbeing
    I am no English scholar, but I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to grammar and punctuation. Take for instance the humble apostrophe. How often have you seen an apostrophe inserted in the word "it's" to imply ownership when "its" is correct? Another rather common mistake in business writing is the incorrect usage of the plural "are" following a company name. When a company (singular) takes an action, the company "is" acting.
    The incorrect usage of words, punctuation and grammatical constructs is a sign of sloppiness. It also creates an opportunity for miscommunication to occur. In today's technologically-equipped world, real-time grammar checkers should have all but eradicated poor grammar. Yet the evidence seems to show the opposite. The widespread influence of instant communication via email, text messaging and Twitter seems to have elevated speed (of response) over precision (of message). Think about the messages you have received in the last seven days. How many contained ambiguities or grammatical errors? Perhaps more importantly, how many messages did you misinterpret or misunderstand—to the extent that you needed to ask a question or double-back to check on a relationship? This might sound a little picky, but each poorly constructed message has the potential to reduce our productivity. And that brings me to the point. Isn't technology supposed to enhance our productivity? I'm sure it can, but only if we get the basics correct first.
  • Published on

    Managing tensions

    Phd Research Time Management
    One of the things I'm re-learning as I continue on my doctoral research journey is this—that critical thinking and a broad, open mind are two crucial characteristics that need to be mastered and maintained. The sheer volume of material available at my fingertips (through electronic library systems) is mind-blowing. A simple search on "governance AND high-growth" revealed thousands of peer-reviewed academic articles and books. With this volume of material, where do I start? Clearly, my searches need to become more refined and more specific (and they are). I've found it relatively easy to go down seemingly interesting and relevant pathways, only to subsequently find that I'm miles away from where I need to be.

    Learning involves the management of tensions. On one hand, an enquiring mind is good, very good. On the other, the vastness of the pool of information is such that you simply need to become ruthless about what gets explored and what gets left. The question that begs to be answered is: "How do I manage this tension"? As I continue to write my research proposal, I've embraced two techniques that seem to be serving me well:
    • Manage my research time ruthlessly. For me, this means 1/4 of my time reading books, 1/4 searching and reviewing academic articles, 1/4 thinking (often as I ride my bike!), and 1/4 writing. Without this guide, it would be very easy to gather stuff and miss the thinking and writing parts.
    • Ask and answer two questions immediately after reading any title or abstract. How does this fit? Why does this fit? By ruthlessly asking and answering these questions, I've been able to reduce my reading list by 40-50%. That's got to be good for time management!
    Like many things in life, managing the doctoral research workload is about managing tensions effectively. What works for me may not work for you though. And that's OK!

    How do you manage the tension between effective enquiry and information overload?