This document provides an overview and advice for surviving dissertation proposal and final defenses. It discusses committee considerations, managing the proposal process, and preparing for the final defense. The key points covered are: looking for committed committee members; timing the proposal properly; treating the proposal as a contract; allowing 3 weeks for committee to review the final draft; and accepting challenges during the defense as an opportunity to demonstrate expertise in the topic. The overall message is to choose committee members wisely, be prepared, and view the process as a milestone to be successfully navigated.

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!