FIND OUT IF THERE IS ENOUGH LITERATURE TO SUPPORT FOCUS. STAY ON THE BUSINESS PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH LACK OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT AND NOT A SOCIAL ISSUE LIKE MONETARILY AND OTHER EXAMPLES OF HOW IT HAVE IMPACTED THE NFL BUSINESS WISE Overview For this assignment, you will develop two specific areas using the Project Plan Template, which you will populate throughout this course: Topic. Problem. The Project Plan helps you develop the details of your project. Your work will be viewed through multiple lenses, including those of instructors, peers, the existing literature, and other sources. You should seek opportunities to improve and refine your work. As you deepen your understanding and add detail to your project, you should expect to make several revisions during and after this course. Doctoral project planning is an iterative process, with each revision often inspiring further revisions until everything is aligned. These iterations are a necessary and customary part of the doctoral journey. Refer to the Virtual Residency Campus page for your PhD or Professional Doctorate program’s Project Plan Guide, and consider the following guidance as you develop these areas of your Project Plan: Discussion of the topic should begin with a topic sentence like this: “The topic for the proposed study is…” (The topic statement should not be the same as your question.) This paragraph should include descriptive sentences that provide your reader with a clear overview of the topic supported with literature from evidence-based, peer-reviewed journal articles. Example: The topic for the proposed study is resiliency among first-generation college students at four-year colleges. Describe resiliency, first-generation college students, and four-year colleges, supporting each description and citing that support. Having clearly named, described, and supported each element of the topic, articulate the link between your topic and the field of your program as well as your specialization. The most effective way to demonstrate your topic’s significance is to link it to the growing body of peer-reviewed literature related to your topic. A dissertation or capstone is an independent, original piece of scholarship; you want to connect your proposed work explicitly to the acceptable topics and methods for your program. Cited support is required. The problem takes the form of a miniature literature review. Often this section is best organized using subheadings for each concept, phenomenon, or variable you plan to study. This is a brief summary of important findings related to your study—it should be evident that you are well-versed in the scholarship of literature on your proposed topic. The problem is also a good place to connect the target population in a deeper way to your topic if you have not done so. The reference section should be in perfect APA style. This section should include supporting references (articles cited in your Project Plan). Most projects will have 35 or more references listed by the end of the course. Instructions Consult the Acceptable Topics and Methods and Project Plan Guide provided by your program for specific expectations for the following sections. Be sure to update the reference list as you add resources to support your project development. Use the Project Plan Template to structure your assignment as follows: Topic Describe the specific topic to be studied. Provide a brief synthesis of recent literature on the topic and clearly identify the target population, variables, and/or concepts under study. Ensure that the topic is grounded in a problem and aligned with your program of study. Example: The topic for the proposed study is the effect of transformational leadership on organizational citizenship behavior among employees in health care organizations. Describe transformational leadership, organizational citizenship behavior, and employees in health care organizations. Support and cite the support for each of these descriptions. Describe the significance of this topic to your program or field (business, counseling, education, technology, public service leadership, psychology, social work, and so on) and your specialization within your program if applicable. Correctly form the topic. Use appropriate language for key concepts/phenomena addressed by the topic. Clearly specify relationships among the foundations (quantitative method). Identify and define the specific concepts or foundations to be explored (qualitative method). Name the target population. Focus the concepts appropriately. Use scholarly literature to explain what is known and unknown about this topic. Report the actual study findings (not implications or recommendations) from recent (5–7 years from expected date of graduation), peer-reviewed articles, and seminal works to explain the current status of the topic and to show the gap in understanding that you propose to fill. Problem Write a brief statement regarding the need for the study that fully describes the problem or need being addressed. The need for the study is often referred to as the project or research problem. Correctly state the problem: Summarize existing literature and key findings. Clearly formulate gaps in the existing literature or problems in practice. Explicitly state, rather than imply, the project or research problem. State the theoretical or conceptual framework with source. In simplified terms, the project or research problem might take this form: “The scholarly literature on _________ indicates that ________ is known and __________ is known, but what is not known is ______________.” Write out the problem statement and theoretical foundation. Quantitative problem statement example: “The proposed study will examine the extent to which (independent variable) influences (dependent variable) among (population) (moderated/mediated by [variable]). X Theory (citation) will serve as the theoretical framework of the proposed study.” Qualitative problem statement example: “The proposed study will seek to ________ (understand, describe, develop, discover) how [concepts/theory foundations] have addressed the ________ (central phenomenon, experience/event, process) for _______ (the target population). The tenets of Y theory (citation) will serve as the conceptual framework of the proposed study.” Example: “This qualitative generic inquiry study will explore how Maslow’s hierarchy of needs’ foundations of physiological and safety needs are associated with the perceptions of post-Covid 19 unemployed job seekers toward job hunting.” Additional Requirements ? Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Be sure to use your Project Plan Template to structure your paper. Refer to the Virtual Residency Campus page for your PhD or Professional Doctorate program’s Project Plan Guide. ? Resources: 15–25 scholarly references, including seminal works, listed in references section at the end of the paper. The Capella library resource Researching Theory in the Capella Library may be a useful guide as you search for theory: https://capellauniversity.libguides.com/theory APA guidelines: Double-spaced paragraph formatting in the body of the paper. When appropriate, use APA-formatted headings. Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and format per Evidence and APA. Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 points. Grammarly: Before submitting your work through SafeAssign, use the free Grammarly tool to help detect plagiarism and correct errors with grammar, usage, and writing mechanics. PROJECT PLAN GUIDELINE: Topic Topic proposal is grounded in a problem and aligned with program of study. When selecting a doctoral topic, learners should avoid topics involving significant participant risk, including those which might be considered highly “sensitive” or involve highly vulnerable populations. Certain topics are also prohibited at Capella. Be sure to review the information on Topic Selection on Campus. Key Scoring Guide Criteria • Describes the specific topic, including the target population name and phenomena. • Applies conventions of voice, academic tone, and discipline-specific language • Conveys purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence in grammatically sound sentences. Additional Requirements • Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. • Resources: Scholarly references including seminal research on the topic. Use primary sources. Include in the Reference section at the end of the paper. • APA guidelines: Double-spaced paragraph formatting in the body of the paper. When appropriate, use APA-formatted headings. Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and format. See Evidence and APA for more information on APA style and format. • Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point. Alignment to the Program of Study Presents an introduction to a clear topic proposal grounded in a problem within the program, project, and topic. Suggested length 1-2 paragraphs. The topic introduction opens the window into your project, orienting the reader to the topic, focus, and area of interest within your program and specialization. The introduction should provide a concise, clear overview of the proposed project and make the link between the topic and your professional doctorate program. Ensure you provide clear statements regarding how your proposed topic is within your doctoral program. Include interesting facts, statistics, or statements that catch the attention of your reader and which are relevant to your topic and project. Use recent scholarly references published within the last 5 years plus additional seminal research. Ensure a thesis sentence exists in which you clearly identify the topic and the specific focus of your project. Make a strong case for your project topic and focus. Write with proper grammar and APA format and style, using a scholarly tone, and expert paragraph development. This is not a purpose statement, background of the project, or justification for the project, but an opening 1-2 paragraph section introducing your proposed project. The section is written clearly and is grounded in a problem in your program. A brief hypothetical example of an opening paragraph for the topic section: The topic of the proposed project is the unfulfilled psychological contract of Gen Z employees in the U.S. gaming technology industry. The definition of the Gen Z psychological contract is an unwritten set of employee expectations regarding their employment relationship (citation).