Sodiko Hidayad, Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) of Buwhan Edu (formerly Eduka System) shared his research journey during a guest lecture for the Business Research Method course at SBM ITB. His lecture, titled “Business Model Innovation Alternatives of Digital Education Startup to Meet Business Model Market Fit,” emphasized the challenge of selecting a thesis or business research topic that is relevant and impactful in the real world.
As an SBM ITB alumnus (class of 2019), Sodiko initially aimed to find his thesis’s most suitable business model for the Eduka System. However, he encountered several obstacles throughout the research process.
Among the challenges he faced were the lack of existing research to use as benchmarks and the limited theoretical foundation available, making it difficult to find adaptable frameworks. Additionally, he had to create a new model without reference to established theories, complicating research validation. He also struggled due to the absence of sample questionnaires, making standardized data collection difficult. Furthermore, uncertainty about the appropriate analytical method led to confusion in choosing a statistical approach. The broad range of respondents made it hard to narrow the focus of the research. Lastly, he realized the topic lacked urgency and practical relevance to the business world.
Due to these challenges, he eventually shifted his research topic to “Factors Influencing Indonesian High School Students’ Acceptance Toward Education Technology (EdTech).” This new direction was driven by the need to understand how students adopt educational technology, allowing the research findings to be more applicable to the company’s operations.
So, how can students choose a thesis topic that is both urgent and relevant? In the context of entrepreneurship, Sodiko emphasized that a topic should be evaluated based on its strategic value to a business or industry. He recommended reflecting on the following guiding questions: Does your business truly require this research? Can the results be implemented in real-world settings? How might the findings improve your business or the broader industry? If the answers to these questions remain unclear, it may be wise to revisit and refine the topic.
Sodiko’s research journey highlights the importance of choosing the right topic in business research. Many students face similar struggles when identifying research themes with real-world relevance. Thus, it is crucial to understand the topic’s urgency, build a strong theoretical foundation, and ensure the research outcomes are practically applicable. With a robust research-based approach, students can produce work that meets academic standards and offers tangible solutions for industry challenges.
