The Hidden Power of Every Research Dissertation.

It can take many years for a researcher to complete their dissertation. From gathering data and analyzing findings to reviewing literature and defending their work, research involves dedicated and hard effort. However, many researchers see their dissertations fade away into university archives when they are finished, remaining largely untouched by students or society. This unexploited resource is one of the biggest losses of contemporary academia.

Actually, a dissertation is an extremely powerful piece of work.

In the globalized knowledge economy of today, the greatest professional asset that anyone has is an area of knowledge in which they are expert. Businesses and other organizations are searching for experts who can provide a depth of insight and an evidence-based approach. A dissertation is a test and a demonstration of that kind of understanding-as well as an intellectual discipline, analytical ability, originality, and an ability to see a task through.

Research now has real-world value outside the academic institution or classroom. Industries will use it for strategy, governments will use it to inform policy, educational institutions will use it for innovation, and the media will seek expert commentary to provide informed perspective on complex issues. For this reason, research is no longer contained solely within the structures of universities and academia.

Unfortunately, too many researchers underrate the power of their work. They may view their thesis merely as a means to get a degree, but there may be ideas in that work which will shape industries, inform organizations, and lend authority to their careers.

One of the greatest reasons research is invisible today is the lack of communication. Academic work is constructed for the approval of faculty rather than for public engagement; technical jargon is often utilized in a manner inaccessible to a lay audience. The value of the research is exponentially increased when it is translated into clear and practical terms for readers who do not have specialized knowledge.

Researchers today must become adept translators and disseminators of knowledge.

What begins as a chapter of research work can be transformed into an article of value. Research can become a paper presented at a conference, a webinar hosted online, a podcast, or a popular article. Expertise which is embedded in a dissertation can become consulting advice, speaking invitations, or an educational program. This is the way that knowledge becomes an influence.

With the rise of the Internet, this transmission of information is simpler than it has ever been. Sites like LinkedIn, Medium, Google Scholar and ResearchGate are accessible to a worldwide audience, and researchers do not need to rely solely on their universities and on academic journal publishing to share their insights and to create awareness. Researchers can build and establish their reputation by disseminating their knowledge continually.

Personal branding also comes into play. In the professional world of today, the power of being seen is correlated with professional prestige. As people continually make known their areas of expertise, they will soon come to be thought of as authority figures on these topics. Even very accomplished and capable researchers who do not reveal themselves are very unlikely to gain much attention and opportunity.

The importance of publication then becomes obvious. Publishing is now about positioning, as well as about academic achievement. It sends the signal that a person's research is something which people need to read. As knowledge is shared, further opportunities emerge through that visibility-whether they be collaborative efforts, interviews, consulting contracts, invitations to keynote conferences, or international contacts.

The nature of research is changing fast. In the future, successful researchers will not disappear after completing their dissertation. They will build a reputation and will influence trends by the constant and public demonstration of their knowledge and their intellect. A research dissertation is not just the end of a long road; it is actually the beginning of intellectual influence. Researchers can leverage the hidden power contained within their work for professional success, credibility and global recognition in a few short years.

Read More