Sponsored by Hercher Publishing, Inc. and the Decision Sciences Institute

Searching for the best 2013 dissertation in the decision sciences

The Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) and Hercher Publishing, Inc., are proud to be co-sponsors of the Elwood S. Buffa Doctoral Dissertation Competition. This competition identifies and recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertation research, completed in the calendar year 2012, in the development of theory for the decision sciences, the development of methodology for the decision sciences, and/or the application of theory or methodology in the decision sciences.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, a submission must meet the following criteria:

1. The doctoral dissertation has to have been accepted by the degree-granting institution within the 2012 calendar year (i.e., between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012).

2. Finalists for the Elwood S. Buffa Doctoral Dissertation Competition must register and attend the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute in order to be eligible to win.

Submission Requirements

1. Letter of Introduction

A nominating letter is required from the dissertation advisor. This nominating letter:

• Introduces the doctoral student, the dissertation advisor supervising the dissertation, and the degree-granting institution; • Argues for the worthiness of the doctoral dissertation; and
• Provides contact information for both the doctoral student and the dissertation advisor.

2. Executive Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation Submission

Content

An executive summary is required with the following suggested sections:

• Describes and justifies the importance of the theoretical / pragmatic problem that the doctoral dissertation addresses,
• Delineates the research questions that stem from the theoretical / pragmatic problem,
• Explains the methods being used in sufficient detail for referees with no a priori exposure to the doctoral dissertation to evaluate methodological rigor,
• Discusses the major findings in terms of its contributions to science and / or to practice, and
• Highlights future research opportunities stemming from this doctoral dissertation, and the limitations of the work. In preparing the Executive Summary, please feel free to refer the reader to specific tables, figures, sections, etc., of the actual doctoral dissertation by including the following pointer: [Please see _____, page ___ of the doctoral dissertation].

Format

The Executive Summary must adhere to the following formatting guidelines:

• Does not exceed a maximum of 10 double-spaced, 8.5x11, pages with 1-inch margins.
• Includes a header with two pieces of information: (i) the most relevant discipline within which the doctoral dissertation falls and (ii) the dominant method(s) used in the conduct of the doctoral dissertation research.
• Have a readable font size (10 to 12). Submission Procedure The Nominating Letter, the Executive Summary, and the dissertation should be submitted as three separate PDF e-mail attachments to Arunachalam Narayanan (see e-mail below).

Please name the Nominating Letter attachment as LAST NAME_FIRST NAME-Nominating Letter.

Please name the Executive Summary as LAST NAME_FIRST NAME-Executive Summary.

Please name the dissertation as LAST NAME_FIRST NAME-Dissertation.

Submission Window

All submissions must be received by April 1, 2013, to be eligible for the competition.

Doctoral Dissertation Coordinator
Arunachalam Narayanan, University of Houston
anarayanan@bauer.uh.edu