This study explores MBA students’ experiences of academic writing, and endeavours to
determine the difficulties experienced by MBA students during the writing of their
dissertations especially in terms of academic literacy.
Case study research design and mixed methods were used to generate both quantitative
and qualitative data in this qualitative study. A constant comparative method of analysis
was used to identify categories and themes within the data.
The results of this research showed that the majority of MBA students, while at Business
School X, viewed their identities primarily as business professionals as opposed to
students of business in an academic setting. Findings of the study showed that MBA
students’ identities as readers and writers are strongly framed by the business genres they
encounter in their professional capacities. The study also revealed that MBA students
writing their dissertations desire to produce a professionally relevant research document
as much as one that meets the requirements of academic rigour. It is within this arena of
academic research writing that a dilemma exists for MBA students with reference to the
purpose, format and value of the dissertation as a vehicle for reporting research findings.
Recommendations are that academic literacies and genre pedagogy are mainstreamed
into the course design of the MBA programme at Business School X and that the
repurposing of the dissertation as a genre be evaluated in terms of business relevance.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/8573 |
| Date | 30 August 2010 |
| Creators | De Coning, Deborah Jean |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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