Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is the highest qualification increasingly recognised by international business and management schools. It is the most appropriate post-MBA route to combining academic research in management and business, leading to the title ‘Doctor’. This is equivalent to a conventional PhD and its designation as a 'Doctor of Business Administration' emphasises its focus on the application of theoretical knowledge and management practices. The course combines a taught element with a research element. The taught element provides the theory, knowledge, tools and techniques, which underpin the subsequent applied research element.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The aims of the DBA programme are:
   -   To develop a thorough understanding of their field of research
   -   To develop the ability to successfully identify, investigate and
       solve problems in business.
   -   To undertake independent research through the design and
       implementation of a focused research study.
   -   Make a significant and original contribution to a body of
       knowledge and /or professional practice
   -   To develop a graduate’s competencies as a senior corporate        manager and help them to acquire an in-depth knowledge of        a specialist area.

MODULE SYNOPSIS
The modular DBA programme:
This DBA programme is divided into three modules of one year each. Within each module there will be at least one research-in-progress workshop where the candidates must make a presentation and answer constructive questions from Co-Supervisors and other candidates.
The modules are:
» Module 1
Research proposal and literature review
Research proposal (duration – 4 months) of about 5,000 words, and parent theories and conceptual framework in the literature review (duration – 8 months) of about 15,000 words that will comprise most of Chapter 2. The end points of this Module are the approval of the Research Proposal and the submission and assessment of the chapter on Literature Review.
» Module 2
Data Collection and Analysis
Data collection of the case research (and of convergent interviews if they are done) (duration – 8 months) of about 20,000 words. The end points of this Module are the chapters that will comprise Chapters 3 and 4 of the thesis.
» Module 3
Conclusion and Submission
Writing of the conclusions and implications of about 10,000 words (duration - 6 months) will comprise Chapter 5. The complete thesis will then be revised many times (duration - 6 months) and submission and the examination of the completed thesis of about 50,000 words by two external examiners is the end point of this module.

THE DBA ASSESSMENT PROCESS
» Research Proposal
The grading system used for the research proposal is pass or fail.
» Thesis
The examination process for the DBA thesis is in two stages:
   1. the thesis will be assessed by two external examiners; and
   2. the candidate must undergo a viva voce.

EXIT POINTS OF THE DBA
Exit points are available as follows:
» A Graduate Certificate in Management (R) is awarded if:
   1. Module 1 has been satisfactorily completed but not at doctoral
   standard, and as a result the candidate had been refused
   permission to proceed to Module 2;
   or
   2. the candidate has passed Modules 1 but does not wish to
   proceed to Module 2.
» A Graduate Diploma in Management (R) is awarded if:
   1. Modules 1 and 2 have been satisfactorily completed but not at
   doctoral level and the candidate ahs as a result been refused
   permission to proceed to Module 3;
   or
   2. The candidate has completed Modules 1 and 2 successfully
   but has decided not to proceed to Module 3.
» A Master of Management (R) is awarded if:
   Modules 1 and 2 have been satisfactorily completed, but the
   completed Module 3 thesis is not regarded up to doctoral
   standard.

These cut-off points are retrospective. Candidates cannot register initially for a lower degree and transfer to a higher degree; they have to register for a DBA from the start. The early exit strategy has been designed to ensure that quality is maintained and that candidates who leave before completion of the DBA have academic recognition of the work achieved.

ADMISSION CRITERIA
Candidates entering the DBA programme will normally have:
   » Completed an MBA at Credit level Grade Point Average (GPA);
   and
   » Five years of management or professional experience.

Applicants who have a Master’s Degree in a non-management field; or an MBA at below Credit Level GPA; or an honours degree will normally have to complete four MBA –type units at GGSB or elsewhere, at Credit level GPA. Applicants who already have a Master’s degree in management or a related area at Credit level GPA may be admitted at the discretion of the Gibaran Director.