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We will discuss 18 relevant topics for junior research scholars. Below, you will find a list of these areas and the subcomponents.
CHAPTER 1: GETTING INTO AND OUT OF A PHD PROGRAM
To start, we will discuss the Ph.D. admission process, recognizing that each school has unique criteria for admission.
CHAPTER 2: THE RESEARCH SYSTEM
In the next section, we will discuss technologically setting up the research system. we will cover the software applications used by academics, including free cloud-based tools and expensive options worth investing in. Then, we will address how to set up a research project.
CHAPTER 3: WRITING
After you have set up your research system, we will begin our journey into the writing process. I am by no means the best writer, and I strive only to be a competent one. My tips on writing primarily focus on the writing system I have developed to improve myself little by little, to make fewer mistakes than I would in a less constrained system.
While many people use Microsoft Word to write research, this tool is not built for researchers. A research-specific writing tool may be the most helpful. I will describe how I use LaTeX, specifically the Overleaf cloud-based LaTeX writing software, to write my research.
Beyond the technology, I will focus on breaking down the research paper into small manageable parts that will allow you to take what is ultimately a daunting task – writing a high-quality research paper fit for publication in top journals – and break it down into small parts and piece them together in a meaningful way.
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS
After developing our writing system, we will focus on building our data analysis system. Being a competent data analyst is crucial in modern empirical strategy research. Many changes have occurred, including methodological advancements and the increasing demand for openness in the scientific publication process.
We will discuss basic hardware requirements for data analysis and what a compelling data section/result section of a strategy paper may entail. We will also provide an overview of the “standard model” of strategy or organizational research, a practical empirical framework for framing strategy research but it should not fully constrain how we organize our research.
We will explain causality in the simplest way possible for everyday applied research and cover writing code using the R programming language and Stata software in a replicable way. We will also create publication-ready tables and graphs that are as readable and standalone as possible.
Lastly, we will discuss what makes good data and how to obtain it. We will present a taxonomy to assess whether data will likely lead to a top-tier publication and examples of ways to acquire research data that may meet these criteria.
CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH IDEAS
In Chapter 5, we will focus on the creative aspect of research and discuss research ideas – the nuggets of insight that enable us to build a research paper and share knowledge with others. We will cover five broad types of research ideas and questions, and our primary focus will be on writing down a research question that stems from an idea about how the world works.
We will outline the taxonomy of research ideas and develop a straightforward checklist to evaluate whether an idea has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to academic literature. We will assess factors such as clarity, essentiality, and ambition.
Once we have defined the research question and generated theory about why we should expect things to work a certain way, we will specify a null hypothesis. We will also discuss the limitations of papers and introduce the GAS framework to assess the type of theory we aim for. The letter G stands for generalizable, the letter A stands for accurate, and the letter S stands for simple.
We will then discuss the different types of theories and what theory means in the academic community. Lastly, we will address taste, the factor determining whether a paper gets into a particular journal. Different papers look different, and different readers prefer various types of papers. Knowing your audience and accounting for their taste in your write-up is essential.
CHAPTER 6: LITERATURE REVIEWS
Chapter 6 will focus on the literature review, an essential aspect of research. While academic articles’ length has increased over the years, particularly in fields like sociology and management, people have less time to read. However, the literature review is crucial in building on existing knowledge. I will present a method to simplify the literature review using data, which is especially helpful when waiting for new literature. I will also discuss how to organize the literature review technically within the overleaf system using BibTeX and provide tools to help readers approach the literature review systematically.
CHAPTER 7: HABITS
This is my favorite chapter to write. The better part of the last two decades of my life has been spent in the environment of academia. I have met hundreds of students, faculty, and some luminaries, as well as those who have tremendous potential but have burned out. I have tried to make sense of what leads some people to be wildly successful and others not. I begin by thinking about the nature of the academic career and what counts as excellence. I will then focus on the research system and how this relates to habits – the little things that combine to produce excellence. I will also discuss improving by 1% on a hundred dimensions and propose a checklist that could help you produce a refined manuscript that you could be proud of if followed diligently. Additionally, I will discuss little things that may help improve your papers on the margin.
Finally, I will talk about scaling and delegation. Although I have yet to succeed, I have been thinking about how some people have been able to turn individual research careers into a team effort that helps their careers and other people’s careers.
CHAPTER 8: PUBLISHING
In Chapter 9, we will cover the publishing process. The primary interface that determines the success or failure of an academic tenure track. Publish or perish. There is a lot of truth to this. It becomes even more challenging if you aim to be a top-tier university professor. You have to publish in the very best journals. In this chapter, I will talk about topics such as setting goals and managing your time to ensure that you progress on research every day, even a little. We will discuss creating a research tracker for yourself, nothing complicated, a latex file that helps you keep track of all the activities in your research portfolio to understand better whether you are moving forward and where the hiccups are in your publishing process. I also want to help you build intuition about managing a resort portfolio. I developed a simulation that is strikingly accurate in terms of describing how our curriculum vitae and how many publications researchers can expect to have over their careers with a certain level of flow in their pipeline. We will talk about choosing a journal, audiences within journals, how to submit a paper and choose reviewers and associate editors, and how to write cover letters. We will provide you with a template.
The section would only be meaningful with a discussion about rejection. Rejection is substantially more common than acceptance. Many of the top journals have sub 10%, now in some cases sub 5%, acceptance rate. This means there is an over 95% chance that your paper will be rejected if you are the median academic from a given Journal. How do you deal with rejection, how do you reduce your chance of rejection, how do you respond to the rejected manuscript, and what the real frictions are for turning the paper back around and getting it out again?
If you’re lucky enough to get a revise and resubmit decision on your manuscript, it’s something to celebrate! In this chapter, we’ll discuss how to tackle a revision. You’ll learn how to create a response memo to use as a to-do list and tag different concerns and prioritize them so you can keep moving forward. And once you are done, it’s time to get your pepper back out!
We will then switch perspectives and talk about reviewing papers. What is a good review? What is the purpose of the review? How do you help others create excellent papers without also destroying your time?
CHAPTER 9: PRESENTING
Academics are often asked, “What is your job?” The typical response is, “I do research and teach.” However, our primary job is to teach. We commonly teach our students by constructing syllabi based on the most robust evidence to explain how the world works and transmit that information to them. Our second job is to teach ourselves, learning new methods and gaining new knowledge through our original research. We then incorporate what we learn into research papers. Finally, we teach our peers through research presentations, which can convey information in ways written papers cannot.
In Chapter 9, I will focus on three aspects of presenting. Firstly, I will discuss the structure of an academic presentation, its purpose, and the best way to prepare an exciting and convincing presentation. Secondly, I will explore the goals of a seminar and how to approach it, considering the audience’s intellectual background, field, and receptiveness. The audience typically seeks to understand the research, its relevance, and credibility and give feedback to improve the presentation. A good seminar generates questions and sparks conversation, leading to deeper insights into how the world works.
During the seminar, many questions will arise, and I will provide insights on how to respond to them convincingly. The best presentations are not necessarily those with airtight empirical analyses but those that inspire discussion about broader implications.
CHAPTER 10: THE CAREER
In Chapter 10, we will focus on the practical aspects of an academic career, particularly the materials needed for job applications and what they communicate about you as a researcher. We will explore the importance of creating a job market paper that is engaging, ambitious, and showcases your research pipeline. A compelling research statement is essential to clarify your research goals and identity, while a teaching statement should also be included in your academic portfolio.
We will discuss the significance of creating a personal research website to increase visibility, which is critical in academia. Although research published in high-quality journals is crucial, its impact can be maximized by making it readily accessible and providing a broader context for your work.
Next, we will delve into how academic hiring works, drawing from my experience serving on hiring committees at Stanford and Duke. The academic career can be opaque and confusing, and I will provide insight into the career milestones, systems, and goals at each step.
We will then explore the tenure process, a crucial academic career transition. This process differs across schools, disciplines, and departments, but some shared features are essential to understand and appreciate.
Finally, we will discuss citations, an observable measure of your impact (albeit imperfect), and your publication record. While the quality of your research is essential, visibility is just as crucial in obtaining citations. We will explore how creating value for others and increasing visibility can impact your citation count.
If you receive multiple job offers, we will discuss the factors to consider when choosing the best fit for your career, such as location, prestige, and sense of belonging. Thinking about your first job as the beginning of your career rather than your final destination or an irreversible choice is essential. Careers evolve and can lead you to unexpected transitions and opportunities.
CHAPTER 11: PERSONAL FINANCE
In this chapter, I will explore the personal side of an academic career, which offers long-term stability. After the initial 10 to 15 years, most academics settle down and have relative stability. Tenure increases the likelihood of deciding when to retire, with the average retirement age for academics higher than that of the average American, around 66 years old.
I will discuss how to balance the trade-off between money and time, which is one of the most consequential determinations in your career. Living close to work can save time and allow you to allocate it to high-quality research, especially if you have children with lots of obligations. I will provide tools and resources to help you navigate this journey and maximize your potential.
Money should not be the primary focus for academics, who have abundant resources such as time and freedom to do what they find meaningful. I will offer insights on how to utilize this time effectively, taking advantage of the benefits most universities offer, such as retirement matches, excellent health insurance, and tuition benefits for yourself, your partner, or your dependents.
I will also link to financial blogs that may be helpful for young academics or Ph.D. students, offering nuggets of wisdom and advice. Ultimately, your academic career is a personal journey, and you need to prioritize what is important to you.
CHAPTER 12: CREATING A COMMUNITY
Thus far, I have been focusing on the idea that “I alone” am responsible for my productivity as an academic. However, I am also part of a larger community that can help me achieve success.
In this chapter, I will begin by discussing the advantages of co-authoring. I have noticed that scientific teams are growing larger and larger across different disciplines, and I believe this is because research is becoming more challenging. It is increasingly difficult for a single person to have all the necessary skills to produce a world-class paper. That is why co-authoring is crucial. I will discuss how to co-author effectively, optimize productivity in distributed teams, and hold each other accountable.
Another important aspect of academic work is sharing working papers. The publication process can be lengthy, so it is essential to get results out there, especially if they are new and groundbreaking. I appreciate the working paper culture in economics and believe it is something we should adopt more widely in management and strategy. We should make our work available online and invite feedback from others. This way, we can create a dialogue and advance our knowledge and insights.
Conferences are another way to learn and share ideas. Both big and small conferences have their benefits. Large conferences like the Academy of Management annual meetings and the Strategic Management Society conference are valuable for networking, while smaller conferences are intellectually engaging and exciting. I will talk about the advantages of attending these conferences and also touch on organizing conferences, which is easier than it seems.
Finally, I will discuss the role of #AcademicTwitter and being part of an online community. Some people find value in being part of this community, but weighing the benefits against the costs is crucial, especially in terms of time. At least for me, being part of an online community is a deliberate decision, and I have deleted my social media accounts to free up more time.
CHAPTER 13: TOPICS AND IDEAS IN STRATEGY AND OT
In this chapter, I aim to develop a dictionary for the strategy and organization theory literature. New doctoral students and even experienced researchers often face the challenge of understanding the relationship between words and their meanings in specific academic literature. Therefore, I have compiled an extensive list of specialized terms commonly used in the academic literature on strategy and organization theory for the past several decades. The goal of this dictionary is to help new students understand basic concepts from this work so that they can apply them to their research.
The academic literature on strategy and organization theory can overwhelm new researchers. To address this, I have included a syllabus for the first course in strategic management. The syllabus covers critical canonical papers in this literature, ties them to broad research areas, and connects them to new research papers that build on this canonical work.
Additionally, I will provide a literature review of the most cited papers one should read in the organization theory field. We will break organization theory into subdisciplines and highlight some of the most important topics in these areas.
Since I have experience conducting field experiments, I will share material consisting of a course on field experiments in strategy research. I will begin by describing the nature of an experiment in strategy, followed by a broad template to think about how to design and execute an experiment. Next, we will discuss several papers that fall into these broad research designs. We will also consider issues such as treatment design and measurement design, as well as issues related to the analysis of the experiment.
Furthermore, I will share my course on social network analysis for both Masters and Ph.D. students. This course was developed over the years at Stanford University and covered topics ranging from simple descriptions of what networks are to theories used in the management and strategy literature on the formation and impact of networks on organizational and market outcomes. The course provides a rapid introduction to a topical area that may be useful to strategy scholars.
Finally, I will provide a syllabus for the economics and management of entrepreneurship. I taught this course at Duke University for several years, focusing on topics ranging from entrepreneurial entry to the behavioral economics of entrepreneurship to newer research on the entrepreneurial process. I will emphasize the emerging research on the entrepreneurial process with field experiments conducted by various scholars worldwide.
CHAPTER 14: MBA STUDENTS
Finally, I would like to discuss teaching MBA students. I will begin by outlining the syllabus for two courses I have taught regularly: the core course in Strategic Management at Duke and an Elective on Social Networks. I will also share the course material I have developed for these classes whenever possible.
Sharique Hasan 