These are good anticipated questions. Your answers show that you understand the practical background of the research. However, some answers need to be strengthened because the panel may challenge the researcher's reasoning, particularly Questions 2, 3 and 5.
I will refine them without changing the original research direction.
Additional Pre-Proposal Defence Questions and Answers
1. Why did you choose Carey Island only?
Suggested answer:
Carey Island was selected because the two palm oil mills involved in this study are located within this area, and there are operational and employee performance issues that warrant further investigation.
Furthermore, the location provides a relevant research setting for examining the organisational, environmental and individual factors influencing mill worker performance.
The study is also designed within the scope of a DBA, which emphasises addressing practical organisational issues and generating findings that may contribute to management improvement.
Therefore, Carey Island provides a suitable and manageable research context for this study.If challenged: Why not include other palm oil mills?
Answer: The study focuses on a specific organisational context to allow a more focused investigation. The findings may provide useful insights for similar operations, although generalisation beyond the selected mills should be made cautiously.
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2. Why Perceived Supervisor Support (PSS) as a mediator instead of a moderator?
Your original answer was: We do not know if it is a moderator or mediator yet.
I would advise against saying this during the defence. It may give the impression that the researcher has not established the conceptual framework.
You need to demonstrate that there is a theoretical reason for selecting mediation.
Suggested answer:
Perceived Supervisor Support was selected as a mediator because this study intends to investigate how organisational, environmental and individual factors may influence employee performance through employees' perceptions of support from their supervisors.
The underlying assumption is that the presence of favourable working conditions and individual resources may influence how employees perceive supervisor support, which may subsequently relate to their work performance.
A mediator helps explain the mechanism through which an independent variable influences a dependent variable, whereas a moderator explains under what conditions or for whom that relationship becomes stronger or weaker.
Based on this conceptual reasoning and the supporting literature, PSS is proposed as a mediating variable in this study.Remember the distinction:
Mediator: Explains HOW or THROUGH WHAT mechanism a relationship occurs.
Moderator: Explains WHEN or UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS a relationship becomes stronger or weaker.
You are proposing mediation, not claiming that the statistical result is already established.
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3. Why combine Job Demands-Resources Theory (JD-R) and Social Exchange Theory (SET)?
Your answer: It strengthens the finding.
The idea is correct, but the theories should have distinct roles.
Suggested answer:
This study combines Job Demands-Resources Theory (JD-R) and Social Exchange Theory (SET) because both theories provide complementary explanations of employee performance.
JD-R Theory provides the main theoretical foundation for understanding how organisational resources, workplace conditions and individual resources influence employee performance.
Meanwhile, Social Exchange Theory helps explain the relationship between employees and their supervisors, particularly how perceived supervisor support may influence employees' attitudes and work-related behaviour.
Therefore, combining these theories provides a broader theoretical perspective for explaining the relationships between the proposed antecedents, perceived supervisor support and employee performance.A useful distinction for the panel:
Theory Role in your research
JD-R Theory Explains job resources, working conditions and their relationship with performance.
Social Exchange Theory Explains reciprocal relationships between employees and supervisors.
JD-R is your primary theory. SET provides additional theoretical support for the PSS relationship.
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4. Why use proportionate stratified random sampling?
Your original answer is correct, but we need to explain why this technique is appropriate.
Suggested answer:
Proportionate stratified random sampling is proposed because the research involves two palm oil mills, and both mills need to be adequately represented in the sample.
The workers from each mill will be treated as separate strata. The sample will then be allocated proportionately according to the number of eligible workers in each mill.
Respondents will be selected randomly within each stratum to reduce selection bias and ensure that both mills are represented according to their respective population sizes.
This approach is considered appropriate because the study focuses exclusively on operational mill workers from the two selected mills.One important point: You are not using stratified sampling simply because there are two mills. You are using it to ensure proportional representation of workers from both mills.
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5. Why choose SmartPLS instead of SPSS?
There is a small terminology issue here.
PSS is your mediator. SmartPLS and SPSS are statistical software packages. They are not competing research variables or research approaches.
Also, PLS-SEM is a statistical modelling technique, whereas SmartPLS is software that can perform it.
Suggested answer:
The final statistical software has not yet been confirmed because the selection will depend on the research model, measurement requirements and analytical objectives.
SPSS may be used for preliminary data analysis, descriptive statistics and reliability assessment.
However, since this study proposes multiple relationships between independent variables, a mediating variable and employee performance, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is being considered.
SmartPLS is one of the potential software packages for conducting the measurement model and structural model assessments, including mediation analysis.
The final decision will be made based on the suitability of the analytical technique for the proposed research framework.My recommendation is to seriously consider SPSS together with SmartPLS.
Your model has multiple constructs and a mediation relationship. PLS-SEM would be a reasonable candidate, particularly if you retain your three higher-order independent variables.
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6. How will your findings support workforce adaptation to Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0?
This is an interesting question because it connects your DBA research to the future of the palm oil industry.
Your answer about human capital is right.
Suggested answer:
The findings may support workforce adaptation to Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 by providing insights into the human factors that influence employee performance.
While Industry 4.0 emphasises technological advancement, automation and digitalisation, successful implementation also depends on employees' ability to adapt to technological changes.
Industry 5.0 further emphasises a human-centric approach, recognising the importance of human capabilities, well-being and collaboration between people and technology.
By examining training, communication, management support, workplace conditions, self-efficacy and work motivation, this research may help management identify areas that require improvement to prepare workers for changes in the working environment.
Therefore, the study contributes to understanding the human capital dimension of industrial transformation, particularly within the palm oil industry.One caution: Your research does not directly measure Industry 4.0 or Industry 5.0 readiness. Therefore, describe this as a potential practical contribution, rather than claiming that your research measures or proves workforce readiness.
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My assessment: Which questions are most likely to challenge you?
I would rank them as follows:
Question Potential difficulty Reason
Why Carey Island? Low Clear practical justification.
Why PSS as mediator? High Requires theoretical and empirical justification.
Why JD-R and SET? High Must explain the distinct roles of both theories.
Why stratified sampling? Medium Must understand population distribution and random selection.
Why SmartPLS? High Must understand the analytical requirements.
Industry 4.0 and 5.0 contribution? Medium Must avoid claiming more than the research actually measures.
Three things I want you to remember during the defence
1. Do not confuse research intention with research findings.
For example, you are investigating whether PSS mediates the relationships. You have not yet established that mediation exists.
2. Do not claim that two theories automatically strengthen findings.
They strengthen the theoretical explanation when their roles are complementary and clearly justified.
3. Do not promise outcomes that your research does not measure.
Your study examines mill worker performance. Industry 4.0 and 5.0 adaptation is a potential implication, not necessarily a measured outcome.
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One additional question I would prepare
"What makes your research different from previous studies on employee performance?"
This is potentially one of the most important questions in a DBA defence.
Your strongest answer should combine three elements:
The specific palm oil mill context in Carey Island.
The examination of organisational, environmental and individual antecedents together.
The proposed mediating role of perceived supervisor support.
That gives your research a coherent identity rather than presenting it as another general employee-performance study.
My suggestion: Before moving to more anticipated questions, we should eventually prepare a single-page defence cheat sheet containing all 10 questions, with short answers that the candidate can comfortably explain without memorising entire paragraphs.
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