GoITSystems by Dr. M. Gottlieb

Theses - Checklist

Proposal Checklist

This checklist is intended as a practical guideline to help you cover the key elements of your proposal and increase the chances that your thesis will be approved and successfully supervised.

Research topic

  • Is the topic theoretically and practically relevant?
  • Is it specific enough to contribute to Information Systems theory and Information Systems practice?
  • Do I have a clear idea of what is outside the scope of my study?

Title

  • Does the title capture the core idea of my project in roughly 10–12 words in an engaging way?
  • Is it a concise statement of the research challenge?
  • Does the title reflect the intended outcome or focus of the thesis?
  • Would a non‑specialist audience roughly understand what the thesis is about?
  • Have I avoided abbreviations and acronyms where possible?

Motivation

  • Do I provide a brief description of my proposed study and the phenomenon of interest?
  • Do I explain why the reader should care about this topic?
  • Do I clarify why the topic and the research question are of broader interest?
  • Do I situate the topic in a clear context (relevant theories/constructs; what is not included; time frame; level of analysis such as individual, organizational, economic, technical, etc.)?
  • Do I explain how the results of my study will advance our understanding of the topic?
  • Do I explain how the results will help to close a specific knowledge gap?

Research Objective

  • Do I provide a formal and clear statement of purpose for my study, including the overarching research objective and the associated research question(s)?
  • Do I make a convincing case for why my proposed research and research questions matter?
  • Have my research questions been derived from relevant, peer‑reviewed literature?
  • Do I present and develop my research objective and questions with sufficient breadth and clarity so that reviewers who are not specialists in the topic can still understand their importance?
  • Are my research objective and research questions logically connected, researchable, feasible, and ethically acceptable?
  • Do my research questions build on one another in a coherent way?

Theoretical Framework / Methodology

  • Have I identified a theoretical framework and a methodological approach that will guide my study?
  • Do I explain the research design and approach I intend to use to address the research challenge in my thesis, and is this reasoning explicit and well thought through?
  • Are both the theoretical framework and the chosen methods clearly linked to my research objective and questions?
  • Do my framework and methodology demonstrate an understanding of the relevant peer‑reviewed literature?
  • Are my procedures for data collection and analysis well structured and clearly described?

Expected Contribution

  • Do I outline a meaningful expected contribution that indicates both micro‑level (e.g., for a specific organization or context) and macro‑level implications (e.g., for theory, practice, or policy)?
  • Do I explain how the study is expected to address or narrow a concrete knowledge gap?

Timeline

  • Does my timeline specify dates or time windows for key milestones and deliverables?
  • Are these milestones clearly linked to the goals I have set for the study?
  • Is the timeline manageable and realistic?
  • Have I allocated sufficient time to complete each phase of the project?
  • Is the overall sequence of activities logical and consistent?

References

  • Do I provide a list of current and relevant references cited in the proposal?
  • Do I use the correct citation style (e. g., APA, as required)?
  • Do I cite all references accurately and consistently?
  • Have I consulted the department’s guidelines for academic writing in Information Systems?
  • Do I draw on literature of appropriate quality (e. g., peer‑reviewed journals, established conferences, reputable books)?

Format and Structure

  • Do my research questions follow a clear internal logic and build on each other?
  • Have I read, understood, and applied the department’s reader/guide on academic writing (structure, formatting, citation, etc.)?

Additional tips

  • Have I avoided filler words and vague formulations (e. g., “also”, “very”, “quite”) where they do not add substance?
  • Do I use precise statements (e. g., “8 out of 10 respondents”) instead of vague terms like “many”?
  • Have I set the proposal aside for at least a day and re‑read it with fresh eyes before submitting it (a simple step that significantly reduces errors)?

Publications

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