DBA Business Administration

You will undertake an individual research project drawing on your practical experience and theoretical frameworks. Initially there is an emphasis on close direction through workshops, presentations and written papers. On the basis of the written papers and a research proposal, the second phase involves the completion of a thesis. You will be expected to concentrate on an issue directly related to your workplace, such as solving a problem or identifying new operational procedures. Before you start your thesis, you’ll agree your area of research with the University, individual student and any other participating organisations. Individual tuition and supervision will be available to you for the duration of the programme. The programme is carefully structured so that in early taught stages there is considerable support, but with the opportunity to develop this thinking in a range of directions from the research proposal stage through to the thesis/research phase.

This course addresses the nature of qualitative research in the business and social sciences, with opportunities to discuss the implications of the choices made in designing, implementing and reporting the findings. Students will discover the complexities and opportunities associated with undertaking rigorous and comprehensive qualitative research that are applied to practice.

This course is designed to familiarise students to the applications of quantitative methods for business management analysis of which data-based decision making is a part. The focus throughout the course is about real world data preparation and analysis using a statistical software package. The module provides a balance between the theoretical and practical application of quantitative design, data collection methods and a range of univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis techniques. It requires students to critically engage and apply techniques to real world business and/or social data.

This module is designed to help students develop theoretical foundations, critically analysing their development and application as a practitioner in a globalised business environment. The candidate will reflect on how theory influence practice together with signposts for future development. This module identifies the correlation between perspectives of theory, paradigms of inquiry and methodological approaches. Consideration is given to future actions and applications within the professional context.

Upon the successful completion of the three taught modules in Year 1, you will embark on the fourth module, the Research Proposal. Further workshops and seminars will be conducted to help you to design, develop and implement a doctoral research project. A Research Adviser will also be allocated to help you develop effective and feasible aims, hypotheses and analytical strategies.

The successful completion of this module will enable you to embark on Phase 2 (Year 3) of the research element where you will develop and complete a substantive doctoral research project in your choice of business domain to create and contribute to knowledge.

This module requires students to plan and begin to implement a substantive doctoral research project in an attempt to create new knowledge. Students will develop and synthesise components of a research proposal and practice developing effective aims, hypotheses, background materials and analytic strategies. The module will also be dedicated to understanding the scope of the field and the many facets of becoming a professional researcher.

Years three to five form the thesis stage of the programme. Under the supervision of your Director of Studies, you will build on the work from the first two years, and develop your research proposal into the final thesis. The thesis comprises a substantial piece of original research into an area of practice of your own choosing, through which you make an original contribution to knowledge.

This programme has a taught phase in years one and two. The programme specification details the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment for the taught phase.