Welcome to the Programme for the Doctorate in Business Administration – DBA

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is the ultimate degree in the field of Business Administration, with only a very small percentage of business professionals ever achieving this level of success. It is a specialist professional qualification that unites professional practice in business and industry with academic knowledge. DBA professionals are an elite group, recognised as leaders of their own organisation, and attractive to those others who seek to appoint at the highest level of management.

The DBA is a part-time executive doctoral programme for motivated, high achieving global executives who plan to research cutting edge solutions to real world issues, without having to put their careers on hold. It is structured around a research project which is driven by you the individual, and which has direct application to the business world. This is an outstanding opportunity for you to study real-life business issues and to make an impact in your organisation and beyond.

Research is typically undertaken in your own organisation or sector, giving you the opportunity to make that difference in your own field. Joining the DBA programme will provide you not only an outstanding (and challenging) learning experience, but the opportunity to participate in a vibrant community of like-minded business Professionals.

Professional Academic Standards and Quality

The programme has been designed according to the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education 2011 (QAA) Doctoral Degrees Characteristics (2011) and FHEQ (2008) Qualification Descriptor for Level 8. The QAA Code of Practice for PG Research Programmes have also informed the design of this programme. Thus, the main focus of the candidate’s work can be their contribution to knowledge in their discipline or field, through original research, or the original application of existing knowledge or understanding. In professional and practice- based doctorates the research may be undertaken in the workplace and so have a direct effect on organisational policy and change, as well as improving personal practice. (QAA, 2011; www.qaa.ac.uk)

Learning outcomes

• Development of critical thinking, analytical, conceptual and research skills at the highest level
• Critical reflection on relevant literature
• Capacity to communicate research findings, relating them to theoretical literature and methodologies
• Deep understanding of your chosen research topic
• Contribution to your own professional practice
• Application of intellectual independence, autonomy, authoritative judgement, academic rigour and ethical integrity to the creation of a substantial
• contribution to knowledge in the field of business.

Brief Summary

Taught Programme Route

Study Duration: minimum of 2.5 years. Maximum of 5 years.

DBA BY PUBLICATION ROUTE

Thesis is the final outcome of the research. It requires a significant level of self-regulated learning and will be written in a style that meets the standards of internationally recognised peer-reviewed journal papers.

Thesis by publication

Thesis by publication situates a DBA candidate’s research on the world stage and validates its relevance to the international business community. DBA by Publication is designed according to QAA guidelines: ’A candidate can present a portfolio of interconnected, published research papers contextualised by a coherent narrative, demonstrating overall an original contribution to knowledge. Such publications may include papers, chapters, monographs, books, scholarly editions of a text, technical reports, creative work in relevant areas, or other artefacts’ (QAA, 2011).

Thus the final thesis by publication document, written in English, draws together a series of connected publications into a cohesive document. The final document will take the form of:

• Introduction (1000 – 2000 words)
• Artefact 1 Literature review, published by the International Professional Managers Journal – IJPM journal (2000 – 3000 words)
• Artefact 2 (paper, chapter, primer, monograph, book, scholarly edition of a text, technical report or creative work before conceptual research in relevant area) (5000 – 7000 words); accepted for publication, but not necessarily published yet.
• Artefact 3 (paper, chapter, primer, monograph, book, scholarly edition of a text, technical report or creative work by empirical research in relevant area) (5000 – 7000 words); accepted for publication, but not necessarily published yet
• Artefact 4 Discussions. Conclusion, Implications, Recommendations. (1000 – 2000 words)
• References
• Appendice

Total: 20000 – 25000 words, excluding references and appendices. There is some flexibility regarding the word limit for articles, according to the requirements of the relevant publication.

We recommend thesis by publication. This route sets you on the path to recognition immediately and enables you to disseminate your results to a global audience straight away. It splits your thesis up into manageable sections, and enables you to learn from the journal feedback process. Publication of your work is one of the most effective ways of securing scholarships, funding and jobs. It defines your worth as an academic and is the principal currency in academia.

If your articles have not been accepted into journals, then your thesis will be evaluated using the traditional method of submission for examination. Your articles will, in this case, form chapters within your thesis.

1.1. Submitting articles to the IJPM journal

You may choose to submit your articles to the IJPM journal. When submitting, you have one of two choices. It is important that you understand the implication of each choice:

• You can choose to have it editorially reviewed.
• You can opt for peer review.

Having your articles peer reviewed increases your chances of gaining Merit or Distinction in your degree. Thus the potential degree outcomes are a) DBA, b) DBA with Merit (1 peer reviewed article), or c) DBA with Distinction (2 peer reviewed articles).

Milestones

This part-time doctoral programme is for ambitious business executives and consultants. Fitting around your career lifestyle, DBA study is organised according to a number of flexible milestones: