On the afternoon of December 20, 2024, CUFE Business School hosted the 4th and 5th sessions of its 2024 Phase II PhD Research Capacity Enhancement Program in Room 615. The forum invited Professor Xu Hao-Ying from Stevens Institute of Technology School of Business and Professor Ling Ruobing from the Marketing Department of CUFE Business School as keynote speakers, who shared essential aspects of dissertation design/writing processes and empirical research methods/paper writing techniques in marketing. Nearly 20 faculty and students attended the event, which was organized by Professor Dou Chao, Director of the PhD Program. This enhancement program, a distinctive initiative of CUFE Business School to improve doctoral candidates’ research capabilities, adopts a “lecture + tutoring” format covering all core academic research processes. Conducted annually with multiple professional sessions, it addresses topics including research topic selection, literature review, research design, methodology, paper writing, and journal submission/revision.
Group Photo
The sessions were chaired by Professor Dou Chao, Director of the PhD Program. Professor Xu Hao-Ying from Stevens Institute of Technology School of Business, who obtained his PhD in Management from University of Illinois Chicago in 2022, specializes in leadership, workplace relationships, and work emotions. His first-authored research has been published in Journal of Applied Psychology and Personnel Psychology, with additional publications in Journal of Management, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Human Relations, Journal of Business Ethics, and domestic journals including Advances in Psychological Science, Psychological Science, Chinese Journal of Management, Management Review, and Human Resources Development of China. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and The Guardian.
Keynote Speaker - Professor Xu Hao-Ying
In Session 4, Prof. Xu emphasized that doctoral dissertations represent crucial milestones that shape academic capabilities and thinking. He detailed time management strategies, research question selection criteria, communication with dissertation committees, proposal writing/revision, data collection/analysis, and iterative writing processes. Specifically, he advised selecting research questions that balance academic interest, practical value, and feasibility while constructing compelling academic narratives. Regarding research design, he shared practical methods to avoid fatal flaws through anticipated challenges, resource acquisition, robustness testing, and supplementary analyses. For introduction writing, he proposed core questions to clarify research contributions. Prof. Xu also recommended essential literature for doctoral researchers.
Keynote Speaker - Professor Ling Ruobing
In Session 5, Professor Dou Chao introduced Professor Ling Ruobing, who earned her bachelor’s degree from Beijing Normal University School of Mathematical Sciences and PhD from National University of Singapore Business School. Currently serving at CUFE Business School Marketing Department, her research focuses on omnichannel retailing, platform economy, green consumption, and bargaining.
Prof. Ling systematically explained empirical marketing research methods and paper writing techniques, covering the entire process from conceptualization to publication. She emphasized selecting research topics with significant academic/practical value, building persuasive frameworks, and effectively communicating findings. Introducing the “Academic Hunter vs. Academic Farmer” metaphor, she encouraged proactive research approaches. She advised leveraging personal competitive advantages (industry experience, technical skills, collaborations, storytelling) while exploring new domains and classic academic puzzles. Detailed guidance was provided on identifying impactful research through literature mastery, self-assessment of interests/skills, and contribution evaluation.
Both speakers comprehensively addressed the full empirical research cycle, offering practical guidance on topic selection, framework construction, research robustness, and writing logic. They recommended essential literature to enhance research capabilities. Through such lecture series, CUFE Business School continues to clarify core empirical research methodologies and writing techniques for doctoral students, receiving high acclaim from faculty and students for effectively supporting academic advancement.
