1. Surviving Both the Proposal and
Final Dissertation Defenses
Mike Ahearne (Houston)
&
John Hulland (Georgia)
AMA DocSIG Presentation, February 21, 2014

3. Agenda
• Committee considerations
• The dissertation proposal
• Managing the final defense

4. What to Look For From Your Committee Members
• Willingness to devote sufficient time to review and give
feedback on drafts
• Committed to seeing you get done in a timely manner
• Provide some form of “added value”, be it methodological,
conceptual, substantive, supportive and/or reputational
• Good synergy with other members and works well with the
chair

5. The Dissertation Proposal
• A formal step in the dissertation
• Encompasses full scope of dissertation
• Timing
– Not before you are ready to discuss – in some detail –
all facets of dissertation (e.g., all three essays)
– Don’t wait too long!
– At a minimum (pre-AMA)
– Rely on advice of your chair

6. The Dissertation Proposal - 2
• Typically involves a full presentation of proposal,
followed by Q&A
• Often open to the public
• Formal decision by committee
– If approved, represents a “contract” between you and committee
– Good chair will not allow student to defend proposal that is not
solid
– If not approved, push for specific, detailed feedback
– Represents an opportunity to cement committee commitment

7. The Final Dissertation Defense
• The final formal step
• Typically involves a full presentation of the
dissertation, followed by Q&A
• Often open to the public
• Formal decision by committee

8. Managing the Final Defense
• Plan to have a final draft version of the
dissertation in (internal) committee members
hands at least three weeks before submission date
• Submission is often 2-3 weeks before actual
defense date
• This will give you time to make final changes (if
necessary), and it escalates committee member
commitment

9. Managing the Final Defense - 2
• Work with your chair to decide when it’s time to
schedule a defense
• Do not ignore her/his advice!

10. The Defense Day
• Accept the fact that you will be nervous
• If you have chosen the committee (and especially
the chair) wisely, they will be supportive
• Expect them to challenge you during the defense
• Remember, if you have taken true ownership of
your topic and dissertation, you are the expert

11. Afterwards
• If successful
– Congratulations!
– Expect to be asked to make some changes
– Make sure you fulfill all of the bureaucratic
requirements of your institution
– Enjoy yourself (for a little while), you deserve it!