The Applicability of Systems Thinking to Modern Entrepreneurs

This work started as a doctoral study proposal to complete my doctorate degree. There are 3 sections to doctoral studies. The first two sections are the proposal to the university for research to be conducted. The third section is completed after the proposal is approved and the research is completed. I submitted sections 1 and 2 of my doctoral study proposal December 2015, to my mentor, for approval. My mentor rejected my proposal, so I did not complete this study. Since I was not allowed to conduct the research I proposed in this study, I have no findings of my research to present or discuss in section 3, so there is no section 3. My mentor rejected my work, mostly because I use passive voice in my writing. The good things are: my form and style are good, there are no major gaps in concepts or design, and my writing passed plagiarism checks. Although I did not complete this doctoral study, I still think readers can glean benefits from it. I had three mentors/doctoral study committee chair people over the course of three years. My first mentor wanted to work with me, but then my second chairperson rejected my proposal. My second mentor was confused about my use of the word sustainability, and rejected my work because he did not think it was ready for the next stage. My third mentor rejected my proposal, mostly because of my use of passive voice. There were a few more rejections spattered amongst my mentors and second chairperson over those three years; with each rejection, I took it as a challenge to do better. After I dropped out of the doctoral study program, my third mentor said he was interested to co-author this book with me. By chance, I met a former Walden University professor who also reviewed and approved of this work. The comments from my former mentor and the former professor I met, reaffirmed my confidence in my work, and substantiated my decision to publish this doctoral study proposal.