Conducting a PhD as a project: sharing insights from my doctoral journey
International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
ISSN: 1753-8378
Article publication date: 30 August 2022
Issue publication date: 7 November 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The aims of this paper are to mobilize project management concepts in order to draw parallels with the doctoral project and to share the author’s experience and lessons learned.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on a qualitative inquiry using an autoethnographic approach.
Findings
This paper contributes a self-reflexive examination of the doctoral project experience that incites current and future doctoral students and early-career researchers to take advantage of opportunities that make the experience satisfying, lay the foundations of an academic career and help ensure the thesis is completed in a timely and orderly manner.
Originality/value
Examining the doctoral project through the lens of one of the highest standards in project management, developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI), this paper enables PhD students in project management and other fields of study to understand the basics of a project and take action to structure their doctoral journey in a way that enhances both their experience and chances of success.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank the research department of HEC Montréal, which contributed financially to support the presentation of papers at scientific conferences. The ideas in this paper were initially presented at the Doctoral Colloquium at IRNOP conference, 2019 in Melbourne. The author is also grateful to the three anonymous reviewers who provided very valuable comments and suggestions.
Citation
Brunet, M. (2022), "Conducting a PhD as a project: sharing insights from my doctoral journey", International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, Vol. 15 No. 7, pp. 1032-1047. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-08-2021-0212
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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