Management Information Systems personal statement

Reading time: 4 minutes
Price: Free download
Published: 22nd September 2019
Word count: 1000 words
File format: Text

Degree Objective: Ph.D. in Management Information Systems

It has been my childhood dream and a long-term academic goal to teach and publish research. Having majored in accounting in my undergraduate and graduate studies. I would now like to obtain a doctorate degree in Management Information Systems. I became interested in Information Technology several years ago when I served as both a project accountant and IT Manager at a design company and later as a business analyst for another firm. In my undergraduate study, I had the opportunity to be exposed to a range of business, statistics and information systems courses which reinforced my interest in accounting and information systems. In addition, I am a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and have taken graduate courses in financial statement analysis, data analytics, taxation of business entities, etc. which were enjoyable and enlightening providing me with a different view on the world in which we live. My undergraduate and master’s degree coursework involved a combination of accounting, statistics and Data Analytics courses. For the research requirement of my masters degree, I concentrated on the potential impact of blockchain technology for CPA’S and other practitioners.

My academic and professional goal is to conduct a world class research in Management Information Systems and publish in tier one journals drawing from influences of my academic studies. In terms of a career, I see myself teaching and publishing in finance My long-term career objective is to teach, conduct research and produce research publications that would add value and contribute to my field of specialisation. Completing a doctorate degree will bring a deep sense of accomplishment. It will give me the priceless opportunity to be challenged, motivated and learn. Although my career experience has provided me with an invaluable opportunity to further my knowledge in business analysis, project accounting and management, a doctoral program will allow me to continue with my quest for knowledge and provide me with an environment where I can conduct research.

Doctoral studies would be valuable to me in several ways. With an impressive faculty and a strong academic reputation, I believe my academic goals align with the Georgia State University (GSU) graduate program to which I am applying. Your doctoral program would allow me to think innovatively, use cutting edge research in Information Systems and establish myself as a leading researcher in information systems. I have no doubt that your school would contribute tremendously towards the achievement of my long-term goal. I am most impressed with gsu’s strength in business and computer science which had allowed it to develop expertise in business process and innovation. In addition, the school would provide me with the opportunity to work closely, share experiences, and exchange ideas with my professors and peers. The teaching assistant ship program would provide me with the practical teaching experience I am eager to acquire. Further, earning a Ph.D. in MIS would advance my other career goals by adding to my skills. I see the Ph.D. as an end in itself, as well as a professional stepping stone; I enjoy studying finance and would like to continue my studies on the level demanded by the Ph.D. program.

Throughout the course of my doctoral studies, I hope to examine the conflict between the traditional role of IT project management and innovation. Completing projects on time, within budget, and within scope has become a huge challenge for many organisations. Nearly half of businesses are experiencing project failure in a given year. I am interested in looking at the phases and processes in project management from the perspectives of people, process & tool focusing my research on project manager leadership, team work, team member competencies, project team effectiveness, including how to effectively initiate, plan, execute, control, and complete projects as well as examine new tools that are available to IT project managers, Through the Ph.D. program, I hope to find answers to the question of how to find the right strategy that allows for oversight without stifling creativity and how can businesses re-imagine IT project management to suit their unique needs. I plan to work further on best practices for managing large Information Technology projects using emerging technologies and prepare a paper suitable for publication in my studies toward the doctoral degree, I hope to examine more closely the relationship between people, processes and tools in project management and consider role of each of them..

I believe I can make a great contribution to Management Information Systems using my background and experience in project accounting and business analysis. My capabilities and motivation to do independent research at the doctoral level is enhanced by my strong knowledge of Information Technology and Business Administration, strong analytical ability, a passion for analyzing problems rigorously and solving them ingenuously, and an excellent writing and presentation skills. I am highly motivated and driven with a capacity to make significant contribution to society. As a professor, I would impact knowledge, encourage innovation, inspire students, and bring out their hidden talents.

There is still much to be explored and studied in information systems academia, and I believe that Georgia State University doctoral program would provide me with the knowledge necessary to understand and apply information systems theories which I could in turn bring to my teaching and research career. I am committed and determined to succeed at the Ph.D. program, and I am confident that I will be able to contribute to the university community in my area of interest. I know GSU to be a very reputable school and my discussions with some of your graduates have deepen my interest in attending the school. With an excellent faculty and staff, your school is among the best in Canada and I am looking forward to an opportunity to receive a world-class research training that would prepare me to make significant contributions to the field of management information systems. I hope you will grant me the honor to continue my studies at your institution.

Why this example works — strengths and ways to improve

This PhD statement has promising raw material: accounting degrees, CISA certification, dual project accountant and IT Manager roles, and a master's project on blockchain. The research interest in IT project management is plausible. However, experience is listed rather than reflected on, the stated field drifts between MIS and finance, institutional fit is generic and partly inaccurate, and errors undermine credibility.

Subject motivation

served as both a project accountant and IT Manager at a design company

This is the most convincing origin for your MIS interest, because it suggests direct exposure to where finance and technology meet. You never explain what happened in those roles that made research questions feel urgent, so motivation rests on a childhood dream and general goals rather than a specific turning point.

Academic preparation

I concentrated on the potential impact of blockchain technology for CPA’S and other practitioners

A completed research requirement is valuable preparation for a doctorate, but you give no method, finding or limitation. You also list coursework with "etc.", and saying your studies reinforced interest in accounting weakens the case for MIS specifically. Explain what the blockchain project taught you about doing research.

Evidence and reflection

Nearly half of businesses are experiencing project failure in a given year.

Grounding your research area in a real problem is sensible, but this statistic is unsourced and unconnected to anything you observed. The question about oversight versus creativity is promising. Link it to a project you managed or analysed, and show what you noticed and why existing practice seemed inadequate.

Relevant experience

later as a business analyst for another firm

Business analysis is directly relevant to project processes, people and tools, which are your proposed themes. The roles are named only once, however, and the later claim of strong analytical ability is asserted rather than demonstrated. One concrete episode from either job would carry far more weight than the skills list.

Credibility and voice

I see myself teaching and publishing in finance

This line, and "I enjoy studying finance," contradict your stated MIS goal and suggest recycled text. Calling GSU "among the best in Canada" is a serious factual error, since Georgia State is in the United States. Phrases like "world class research" and "impact knowledge" read as generic, and errors such as "ingenuously" erode trust.

Structure and format

Having majored in accounting in my undergraduate and graduate studies.

This sentence fragment opens the draft, and similar problems recur: run-on sentences, a missing full stop before "My long-term", and "assistant ship". The paragraph order is logical, moving from background to goals, fit, research and conclusion. However, the goals and fit sections repeat each other, and the research paragraph sprawls without a clear focus.

What you’ve done well

Your combination of accounting qualifications, CISA certification and hands-on IT management gives you a distinctive and credible angle on IT project management research.
You state a concrete research tension, oversight without stifling creativity, which is more focused than many doctoral statements manage.

How this draft could improve

Correct the factual and consistency errors: GSU's location, the finance references and the inconsistent capitalisation of the school's name. Then proofread thoroughly for fragments and misspellings.
Replace generic praise of the faculty with named research groups or faculty work in project management or business process innovation, and explain how they fit your proposed questions.
Choose one episode from your IT Manager or analyst work, and your blockchain project, and reflect on what each taught you. Cut the unsupported list of personal qualities to make room.

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