KMF 2024: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

TITLE : UNDERSTANDING THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN THE

NAME : HOBIRAJ A/L VHOMMURUGA

MATRIC.NO : 59624

LECTURER : PROF DR ABDUL HALIM BUSARI

1.0 BACKGROUND

Basically. Thought leadership is a study about meaning to find out that whether current

research are doing more or recent discoveries on the older discoveries. (Richard & Kevin,

2008). Thought leadership study has been conducted mostly in the business areas especially

in the SME’s. (Van Halderen, Kettler-Paddock, Badings, 2013). Besides, thought leadership

is also being studied in the sales and marketing discipline. (Bruce, 2015). Since the study on

thought leadership is very rare on other disciplines, the researcher decided to take this

thought leadership study to other discipline which is in the discipline of technology and

humanity. The researcher found that it is important to do the study on technology and

humanity discipline because there are no known research about thought leadership in that

discipline. The purpose of conducting the research is to understand thought leadership in the

discipline of technology and humanity. It can be seen that business leaders have used thought

leadership the most especially in the SME’s in order to increase their profits. So, the question

is why thought leadership is being focused only in the business area rather than focusing on

the discipline of technology and humanity.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

There is not much research on thought leadership in the west nor in Malaysia and

unfortunately, in the discipline of technology and humanity it has not been conducted. The

current literature mostly covers thought leadership in the business area and also thought

leadership from the Islamic perspective. For example, Van Halderen, Kettler-Paddock &
Badings (2013) in their renowned book has conducted thought leadership study mostly in the

business area especially in the SME’s. On the other hand, there are also research conducted

on the study of thought leadership in the sales and marketing discipline (Bruce, 2015). The

research specifically focused on revealing the thought leadership in the discipline of

technology and humanity. The main purpose of this research is to go deeper to get to know

what is thought leadership and its concept in the area of technology and humanity, the

characteristics of thought leadership in humanity discipline and technology discipline in the

organization and how thought leadership can be practised in the discipline of humanity and

technology in the organization. This study also aimed at bridging the gap whereby the study

is only done in business areas but not in technology and humanity. So, it is basically to give

leaders the idea of thought leadership in a new discipline.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

1.3.1 OBJECTIVE

 To explore the understanding of thought leadership in the discipline of technology and

humanity

1.3.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

 To explore the meaning of thought leadership in the discipline of technology and

humanity

 To investigate the characteristic of thought leadership in humanity discipline and

technology discipline in the organization

 To determine how thought leadership in the discipline of humanity and technology

can be practised in the organization

 What is thought leadership and its definition in the area of technology and humanity?

 What are the characteristic of thought leadership in humanity discipline and

technology discipline in the organization?

 How thought leadership in the discipline of humanity and technology can be practised

in the organization?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The significance of this study is to learn about the thought leadership in the area of humanity

and technology especially the definition and get to know the meaning. Moreover, to get to

know the meaning. Moreover, to get to know what really the managers have to say about

thought leadership when comes to technology and humanity discipline. Next, this story also

will benefit the leaders in the organization whereby they could get ideas from the study on

how to make use the thought leadership concept in the discipline of humanity and technology

in the organization. Lastly, we can also gain some ideas on how thought leadership plays an

important role to the leaders when it comes to dealing with technology and humanity.

1.6 LIMITATIONS OF RESEARCH

There is some limitation in the study to consider about. Time is one of the important and

limited in this study as it need more time to finish. This is simply because the semi-structured

interview will create many other questions as well. Interviewing the managers would also

take time and even collecting data using other methods such as online searching maybe time
consuming. Besides, the research cannot cover all the managers working in the organization

in Kuching, but only focuses on certain managers from a few organization.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Thought leadership is more referred to the business term whereby it is regarded as a way of

displaying views of how customers perceive their main concerns plus guiding them to a

solution.(Badings, Halderen, & Kettler-Paddock, 2013).Thought leadership also being

defined as an important concept in the policy of science (Richard & Kevin, 2008). Thought

leader is someone who can be a good follower and great listener whereby they can show the

right kind of knowledge in order to advance new thinking and inspire others as well as

enhance deliverables to the people. (Vusi, 2014)

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1.1 Leadership

It is considered as an art compare to science as it involves very few actions and leadership

also regarded as competencies. (Sydanmaanlakka, 2002). Leadership is always based on

universal principles and values (Sydanmaanlakka, 2002). Leadership is a behaviour which

can be seen through the management act of a leader towards a phenomena (Northouse, 2004)

2.1.2 Thought Leadership

Thought leadership is an idea where leadership is being related to ideology, history, culture

sensitivity and grounded contextually and influentially. (Vusi, 2014). Thought leadership is
basically about bringing in new ideas rather than guiding people towards the mission.

(Mccrimmon, 2005)

2.1.3 Technology Leadership

According to Hope, Kelly & Guyden (2000), technology leadership is about having the

knowledge of using technology devices to pattern a task. Technology leadership is seen as an

important aspect which can have good effect on the quality of the technology-supported

learning environment (Anderson & Dexter, 2005)

2.1.4 Two Pillars of Thought Leadership

According to Kettler-paddock (2013), thought leadership involves this two important pillars

which is called novelty and trust. This is because the first opening for thought leadership is

the novel point of view. Some stakeholders believe that novelty in the company provides

them with new insights to the relevant issues whereas some stakeholders thinks that company

as a trust of voice and partner on the relevant issues. It can be seen that this two pillars of

thought leadership applies to the context of business areas and is being used by the business

leaders.

3.0 RESEARCH METHOD

Research method is one of the important parts in finding information about the study. There

are two types of research method. It can be divided into quantitative and qualitative method.

Besides, that methods helps us to tackle an identify the problem in the relationship. In this

research study, qualitative method has been used to gather information.

Qualitative method has been used in this research as that is the best way to gather info

efficiently for this study. This method usually gives more detailed information and depth

understanding. The reason is because exploratory study is better to use qualitative method.

Thus, it is more likely to explore through asking questions and listening to the respondents

experiences on this issues. There will be different views and opinions from different

managers. Besides, since this study is just focus on small number of respondents it is better to

interview. Interview allows us to ask as many questions as we want and gather data that we

need.

3.2 Research design

In this study, the research design used is the case study. Case study is being chosen because it

can be used to gain more data if the other instruments used doesn’t give much information.

Case study will be obtained through online website.

3.3 Research sampling/Informants ( Non-probability sampling)

This research use the non-probability sampling to gather data. This is because non-probability

sampling does not involve random selection. The focus group for this study involves a few

managers from a certain organization. This simply shows us that it is relevant to use non-

probability sampling.
3.4 Research Instrument

The instrument that is going to be used in this study will be the use of interview method.

Interview session includes managers of an organization. The interview will be a semi-

structured interview. The interview session will be recorded using handphones or camera.

Through recording it helps to replay and listen to what is being said by the respondents.

Moreover, information that is missed can be retrieve easily.

3.5 Data analysis

The data analysis that will be used for this study will be content analysis and thematic

analysis. The content analysis and thematic analysis. The content analysis would include the

analysis of transcript that will be collected after the interview with the respondents. This is

important because it gives proof an assurance that all the information gathered is really being

said by the respondent.

Anderson, R., E., & Dexter, S. (2005). School technology leadership : An empirical

investigation to prevelance and effect, Education Administration Quaterly, 4, (1), 49-82

Badings, C., Halderen, M., & Kettler-paddock, K. (2013). Thought Leadership. Amsterdam :

Adformative Group B.V.

Gumede, V. (2014). Thought Leadership, Thought Liberation and Critical Consciousness for

Africa’s Development and Just World

Hope, W.C., Kelly, B., & Guyden, J. (2009). Technology Standards for School Administartors

: Implications for Administrator Preparation Programs, Paper presented at the Information

Technology and Teacher Education Educational Conference, Sand Diego

Kettler-paddock, K. (2013). Thought Leadership. Amsterdam: Adformative Group B.V.

McCrimmon, M. (2005). Thought Leadership a radier departure from traditional, positional

leadership. Management Decision, 43 (7/8), 1064-1070

Northouse, G. (2004). Leadership : Theory and Practice (3rd ed.). Thousand Daks : Sage

Publications, Inc.

Sydanmaanlakka, P. (2002). Intelligent Leadership and Leadership Competencies.

Developing a leadership framework for intelligent organizations. HUT Industrial

Management and Work and Oragnisational Psychology, Dissertation Series.