Earning the doctoral degree: an example of relationship marketing

Abstract

The title of my dissertation was “An Analysis of Competitive Positioning Strategies in the U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry: An EQS Application.” Doctoral students frequently are daunted when they first hear that their dissertation research is to be a contribution to the field. “What could I do, as a mere doctoral candidate, who would revolutionize the field?” seems to be the question. After all is said and done, a dissertation is the “capstone to a formal academic training process.” It is a demonstration that you are capable of conceptualizing, conducting, and reporting research in a (reasonably) independent way. The real contribution of most dissertations is that they lead to conferral of the degree, open up new career options, help you to mature as a scholar, and socialize you into the scholarly norms of your field. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. once quoted that “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” If the doctoral degree provides tangible evidence of one's ability to function at a high academic level, then the number of citations associated with that research is a testimonial of the apparent scientific impact of that scientist. In this case, the citation rate associated with my dissertation article “An empirical analysis of sustained advantage in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry: impact of firm resources and capabilities” is my personal tour de force (see Table 1).

Citation

Yeoh, P.-L. (2008), "Earning the doctoral degree: an example of relationship marketing", Tamer Cavusgil, S. (Ed.) Michigan State University Contributions to International Business and Innovation (Advances in International Marketing, Vol. 19), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 109-117. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1474-7979(2009)0000019013