The Journey Itself Was So Beautiful – Reflections From My Doctoral Research at SP Jain Global
My doctoral research was about Governance of Project Portfolio Management. At its core, it sought to explore the reasons for governance failures for global multi-million-dollar projects, analyse the impact of this failure on organisations, and more importantly, offer a novel framework to practitioners and contribute towards the body of knowledge.
Today, I may be adorned with a doctorate title, but I cherish and celebrate the journey a lot more.
My time in pursuit of knowledge has been challenging yet rewarding. I have explored the depths of governance of global projects, facing complex theories and pushing the boundaries of what was once deemed impossible. In this journey, I have not only expanded my mind but also forged enduring connections with my mentors and peers at SP Jain Global.
So, that gives me an excellent segway to speak about my guides and supervisors. Their mentorship has been instrumental in shaping not just my research but also my character. The arduous DBA journey with an ever-evolving path was made pleasant by my principal supervisor, Dr Pranab Pani, and co-supervisor, Dr Monica Gallant. Their actions have shown me how an academician with rich experience and knowledge continues to be humble and respectful towards novice researchers like me. My principal supervisor paid attention to every word and punctuation mark in my thesis. What more can anyone ask from a principal supervisor? I consider it a blessing and count it twice.
Dr Seetharaman is a wonderful academic leader and has a relentless zeal to help researchers and protect their interests. Dr K Maddulety, without whom statistics and analysis seem impossible, was available even at unearthly hours for video calls with the same energy and infectious smile.
With so much support and guidance from these experts, my initial phase of literature review and finding existing gaps in my domain seemed fun, contradictory to what I was told by colleagues who had completed their PhDs elsewhere.
Quantitative Research Methodology played a pivotal role in shaping my research’s trajectory. Implementing this methodology required meticulous planning. But again, my supervisors were by my side. I was always nervous when it came to quantitative research and the complex statistical techniques it has, but these experts helped me overcome my phobia of statistical analysis. I wouldn’t have ever dreamed, but now I enjoy quantitative techniques.
Based on this experience my biggest learning was that – A doctoral journey, after all, is not a solo endeavour but a collaborative effort that eventually transcends into own individual accomplishments.
With extensive support and guidance from these experts, I can confidently tell you that one can complete their final thesis and be ready for final presentations, viva and defending the thesis in three and half years. When I started at SP Jain Global, I thought this might be an courageous task because I have a full-time job at E&Y, and I will not be able to dedicate 15-20 hours per week towards research. But, my supervisors were right, one can surely be successful sooner with discipline and guidance.
Finally, I am excited to share the good things that came my way after my doctorate convocation last November in Dubai. I have had the privilege of working for Strategy and Transformation at People Advisory Services at Ernst & Young. I had an extraordinary career progression, and the credit goes to my doctorate title and the impact it makes in large organisations. It may sound audacious, but ever since I earned my doctorate, I have gained a special voice on the table, and I have been consulted more often than before by experienced leaders for global transformation and innovation programs in the organisation. I am also being invited as an industry expert to speak on project portfolio governance across project management groups and business schools.
For anyone embarking on their research journey, I would encourage them to cherish every moment of their curiosity, persevere through challenges, and, above all, NOT forget to enjoy the self-discovery that will come along.
About the Author
Dr Mithun Nagawade has 21 years of diversified experience in Outsourcing, Business Process Management, Legal Managed Services, IT-enabled services, and Consulting. In his career spanning over two decades, he has worked in the USA, UK, and Canada for nine years for eminent organisations like Cisco, The Home Depot, British Petroleum, etc.
Dr Mithun is passionate about leading cross-cultural global teams and mentoring them to take senior roles. For leisure, he loves to study Indian mythology, philosophy, and human psychology. Moreover, he has been associated with several NGOs that work towards children’s education in rural areas. His expertise involve devising global strategies and bringing them to fruition, the transformation of underperforming programs, benefits realisation, client engagement for strategic accounts, and corporate governance.
