The lack of a planned, disciplined, and well-supervised approach to research which frustrates a student's timely completion of a Ph.D. program is addressed. Some practices are discussed which, if adopted, could lead many more students to complete their Ph.D. expeditiously. A framework is presented that is intended to help the student and the supervisor to recognize when things are starting to go wrong in the progress towards completing the Ph.D. program. Some of the reasons are discussed, most particularly those associated with research methods, problems of completion time or failure to complete. Guidelines are suggested for each stage of progress towards a completed Ph.D. program, as well as ways to enable both the supervisor and the student to recognize whether the student should continue on for the Ph.D. A checklist on good supervisory practice is provided, in question form, which reinforces the main points addressed in the report. Six references. (GLR)