Create an hypothesis

Dissertation Proposal Form

This form must be approved for a candidate to register for the dissertation. It is the student’s responsibility to find a Faculty Promoter with whom to complete this form. It is also incumbent upon the student to make sure that all academic and administrative criteria have been met. The form must be completed, signed by the respective parties, and submitted to the Dissertation Coordinator for approval. Please type on this form. Handwritten forms will not be accepted.

Section A: Registration Information

Name:

Email: Click or tap here to enter text.

Program (DBA; MBA, BBA): BBA

Specialization: Bachelor of Arts in Digital Business, Design & Innovation.

Promoter:

Proposed Dissertation Defense Cohort (Choose One)

☒January 2021 ☐May 2021 ☐ June 2021 ☐September 2021

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Section B: Dissertation Outline

I. Proposed Dissertation Title:.

Ocean endangered: how businesses can promote the conservation of endangered marine environment while creating value et the same time?

II. Research Question or Hypothesis:

Businesses can save marine life while at the same time making profit. There are several ways in which the business can do this. At first, it can preserve the natural resources of the ocean such as fish stock for instance, which plays a significant role in providing livelihoods, nutrition, and food. Similarly, it can improve the costal environment, capture marine-based economic opportunities, and increase the productivity of the ocean sustainably. Unsustainable fishing practices, the pollution, the spread of diseases, and loss of habitats are many factors that are directly associated with human actions: it endanger marine life. Therefore, I would like focus on how to develop a marine related business that can solve global ecological issues relying on the following question:

How to create value and at the same time, contribute to the protection of the marine life?

Research question

Which is the best business model that can save and promote the marine environment while generating profit simultaneously ?

III. Review of Literature/Background:

The conflict between the human civilisation and wildlife has gone too far. In fact, the marine life is significantly becoming endangered as the global population continues to increase, industrialization as well as business and human activities also continue to increase. Therefore, The climate is changing too. A study conducted by observe that climate change is one of the leading factors endangering marine life (Duarte et al., 2020).

In addition, the atmospheric carbon dioxide is also increasing generating more ocean acidification, resulting in adverse effects to marine life such as loss of breeding grounds, coral bleaching, and dissolving skeletons and shells (Yanik and Aslan, 2018).

Today, marine life is more threatened as compared to few decades ago. For instance, a study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund revealed that more than 100 million marine animals are killed by plastic wastes every year. Moreover, around 100,000 marine animals die from being entangled in plastic wastes every year.

According to the projects by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), almost 50% of marine species in the world may become extinct if there are effective and necessary measures put in place to make sure that the threats facing marine life are eradicated (Bermudez and Lindemann-Matthies, 2020). Human activities, especially industrialization is among the leading contributor of ocean pollution. Pesticides, discharge of nutrients, agricultural run-off, and untreated sewage are among land-based sources that make up approximately 18% of marine pollution in the world (Gutoff, 2017).

Similarly, almost 8 million tons of plastic are released into oceans in different parts of the world every year (Yanik and Aslan, 2018).

Other studies have assesses the significant role played by businesses in conserving and protecting endangered marine animals and ocean species. For instance, a report by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2021) revealed that 8.7% of the 380 million tons of plastic waste were recycled in the year 2019. This aspect was considered to be an effective strategy when it comes to reducing water pollutants by businesses. It was also considered to be the best strategy for saving money. In fact, a well-designed planned and implemented recycling program can generate thousands of euros in savings per person annually (Carney Almroth and Eggert, 2019)

Therefore, the new research will build on the literature provided above and explore other ways businesses can save marine life while also creating business value in the process. This research will recommend new strategies for big and small businesses to improve waste management, adopt more sustainable business practices, and collaborate with the rest of the world in addressing the various threats endangering marine life. The strategy through which businesses can save marine life is shifting away from plastic packaging to more eco-friendly alternatives. Packaging waste accounts for approximately 40% of all solid waste in waste streams. Some of the eco-friendly packaging alternatives that businesses should adopt include organic fabrics, seaweed and mushroom packaging, recyclable and reusable materials and biodegradable packaging. In so doing, this research will make a valuable addition to the existing knowledge about the subject.

IV. Research Methodology:

This study will use a mixed-method research design. It is important to note that choosing a research design is a significant process in research since it helps in formulating the path followed by the researcher in an entire research process such as designing questionnaires, analyzing data, interpreting as well as reporting the findings.

The study will use both primary and secondary approaches in data collection and analysis. In other words, it will collect both qualitative and quantitative data. As far as the primary research is concerned, the researcher will conduct telephonic and online surveys to examine and understand the role of businesses in the protection and conservation of endangered marine species. A standardized questionnaire will be administered to a maximum of respondents which will include researchers, professors, policy makers, and business leaders for the purpose of collecting primary data which will be quantitative in nature. Every respondent will be asked to completely fill a structured questionnaire to demonstrate the way and magnitude in which businesses can contribute in the protection of marine life. A standardized questionnaire involves asking precisely the same questions to all participants in an identical formats, and recording the responses in a uniform manner (Sharpe & Berggren, 2019). It will capture the role played by businesses in protecting and conserving marine animals and ocean species. Before the main study, I will conduct a pilot study including 4 respondents from the study area. However, the respondents that will take part in the pilot study will not be included in the main study. A pilot study gives the researcher an opportunity to ascertain the feasibility of the project and also whether the proposed instruments and methods of the study are appropriate and if they will yield needed information (Manzello et al., 2019)

Primary data will be complemented with secondary data which will result from a systematic literature review. I will identify, select, and appraise literature for the purpose of answering the research question. The main research question of the proposed study is whether businesses can promote the conservation of endangered marine species while also creating value for the business at the same time.

Moreover, I will put in place inclusion/exclusion criteria where he will carry out a systematic scoping review to eliminate unreliable low-quality sources of data. Reputed websites and peer-reviewed journal articles to obtain the highest level of evidence will be used.

V. Selected Bibliography

Bermudez, G.M. and Lindemann-Matthies, P., 2020. “What Matters Is Species Richness”—High School Students’ Understanding of the Components of Biodiversity. Research in Science Education, 50(6), pp.2159-2187.

Broderick, A.C., 2015. Grand challenges in marine conservation and sustainable use. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2, p.11.

Brownlee, E. and Elias, A., 2014. World Wildlife Fund and The Coca-Cola Company: A global partnership for freshwater conservation. World Wildlife Fund and the Coca-Cola Company: A Global Partnership for Freshwater Conservation. Darden Case No. UVA-ENT-0204.

Burgess, G.H., 2011. ISAF 2010 Worldwide Shark Attack Summary. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Website. https://www. floridamuseum. ufl. edu/fish/isaf/worldwide-summary.

Carney Almroth, B. and Eggert, H., 2019. Marine plastic pollution: sources, impacts, and policy issues. Review of environmental economics and policy, 13(2), pp.317-326.

Duarte, C.M., Agusti, S., Barbier, E., Britten, G.L., Castilla, J.C., Gattuso, J.P., Fulweiler, R.W., Hughes, T.P., Knowlton, N., Lovelock, C.E. and Lotze, H.K., 2020. Rebuilding marine life. Nature, 580(7801), pp.39-51.

Gutoff, J.M., 2017. Attaching Domestic Assets to Remedy High Seas Pollution: Rule B and Marine Debris. Roger Williams UL Rev., 22, p.432.

Nyhus, P.J., 2016. Human–wildlife conflict and coexistence. Annual review of environment and resources, 41, pp.143-171.

Yanik, T. and Aslan, I., 2018. Impact of global warming on aquatic animals. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 50(1).

VI. Research and Writing Timeline:

The starting date has already begun. I am now doing a research time in order to accumulate my knowledge on the subject. I already start to identify, select an safe useful information as well as the sources where I can fin them.

Click or tap here to enter text.

VII. Ethics: How does your research relate to the ethical aspects of your subject matter?

There is a growing concern that the current human population must act to save the sea and tackle the factors that threaten marine life. Therefore there is a need to minimize these threatening factors. Saving seas and oceans is ethical since it benefits all life on earth. It is also in accordance with human values and our own long-term wellbeing. It also enhances the beauty of nature, sense of the greatness of seas and oceans, and recreation which are also non-economic values of saving seas and oceans.

There will be a clear shift from today’s world to a more sustainable one. It is essential to prevent not only the nature from dying, but the whole planet, including human beings.

I see a great opportunity there and I am willing to be part of the shift to a sustainable and eco-friendly world.

VIII. Signature of Student:

Signature Date: August 27, 2021

The grade for the entire dissertation project is a composite grade allocated by the defense panel and takes three areas into consideration:

· Form (20%): the structural organization of the Dissertation document (grammar and vocabulary; writing and reporting; technology; style)

· Content (60%): the academic accuracy and value of the project (executive summary; research question & objectives; background; main body; conclusions)

· Defense (20%): the manner and methods used (visuals; content; questions & answers)