Professional Doctorate in Business and Management DBA

The DBA is structured in a way that allows you to develop the necessary academic skills to complement your existing professional skills set.

Stage 1 – Taught component

The first year of the course consists of two 30 credit modules, supported with online “scaffolding sessions”. You will undertake one module in semester 1 and the second module in semester 2. For each semester you will be required to attend, in week 7, a block teaching session, 4 days attendance in semester 1- and 3-days attendance in semester 2. Attendance will be based at the ARU Chelmsford Campus.

The online “supportive scaffolding” sessions will take place, via Microsoft teams, from week 1 alternating weekly until week 12 of the module. In these sessions we will prepare you for delivery of the block delivery in week 7, whilst also providing assessment support.

In module 2, delivered in semester 2, you will be required to complete a research proposal, as part of the assessment. Progression onto the research stage, will be dependent upon successful completion of this module, with a minimum of a 60% pass mark in the assessment.

The two modules are:

Advanced Professional Practice Research Problem and Theory

This module will cover three core elements:

1: As the introductory module on the DBA, the module will introduce the conceptual basis of Evidence Based Management and explore the relationship between theory and practice in management research. The move from practice to theory and back to practice will provide the underpinning structure of this module.

2: The module will explore how to move from a research topic, to a set of specific research problems and questions, to clarify and focus what a good research question is and how to formulate researchable questions.

3: This section of the module will focus on how to undertake a literature review, and how to use academic literature in business and management theory to clarify and narrow the research topic into a coherent set of research questions, that will deliver a doctoral level research project if answered.

The module will take you through the different approaches to reviewing the literature, with a focus on undertaking systematic literature reviews to explore the evidence base for specific practices and their efficacy in the field of management practice. This approach is located within an Evidence Based Management (EBM) paradigm that encourages you to critically analyse and evaluate the evidence underpinning your taken-for-granted practices and assumptions about what makes effective management.

The EBM paradigm is at the core of the management approach found in the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), and the structured literature review is the preferred approach in the International Journal of Management Reviews, the British Academy of Management’s main journal for literature reviews. As such, this module combines best practice in both the management profession and academic studies of management, to prepare you for formulating novel and relevant research questions.

The module adopts a blended approach to learning, combining a 4 day, intensive, face-to-face block, delivered once a year on the Chelmsford campus, with a Canvas-based tutor lead program of studies for the duration of the remainder of the semester.

2. Advanced Research Methods in a Business Context

This module will cover three core elements:

1: The second and final module on the taught stage of the DBA, introduces the theoretical, contextual and conceptual requirements of undertaking independent research that will lead to a Doctoral award. The module will explore the relationship between practice-based research and the requirements needed to develop and create a doctoral thesis.

2: The module will explore how to move from the development of a research topic and its underpinning theoretical concepts into developing a robust and justified scientific research paradigm, equipping you with a wide range of doctoral level research tools, prior to moving to the practical research in stage 2.

3: The main section of the module will focus upon the relationship between practice-based research and the requirements to develop a research paradigm that is appropriate and justified academically, that will lead to a doctoral award. Consequently, you will be exposed to a wide range of research processes with the associated lexicon, ensuring that you will be able to determine an appropriate research paradigm for your research project.

It will be expected that you will build upon your first module and by the time this module is completed you will have gained a thorough understanding of the various research techniques that you’ll have at your disposal, to develop your research and complete your doctoral thesis.

The module will take you through the different approaches to the various research paradigms, exploring as well as practical issues wide philosophical issues such as ontological. epistemological axiological positions. Additionally, you will develop your research strategies, research approaches and research methods with a constant requirement that the research is scientifically based. As such, this module combines best practice in both the management profession and academic studies of management, to prepare you for formulating novel and relevant research paradigms.

The module adopts a blended approach to learning, combining a 3 day, intensive, face-to-face block, delivered once a year on the Chelmsford campus, with a Canvas-based tutor lead program of studies for the duration of the remainder of the trimester.

Stage 2 – Research component

Research Proposal Approval

Stage 2: The Research Stage

After successfully completing stage 1, you will progress onto stage 2, the research stage. You will be able to undertake a significant research project in your chosen subject area, focusing upon identifying a gap in the practice and theory, supported by 2 academic supervisors. During your time on the research stage, you will complete annual reviews, ethics approval to conduct your research and an upgrade of registration. The final milestone is the completion of the research thesis and Viva Voce examination.

Annual Review

Annually you will prepare a range of documents for presentation at an annual review. The meeting is conducted by two academics who are not familiar with your work, who will assess your progress toward your goal of achieving a Doctorate.

Upgrade of Registration

By this stage of the programme, you will have clarified your research instruments, operationalised a pilot study for the main research and be in a position to proceed with the primary research project. By building in supervisory meetings, it will mean that you will have benefited from a structured programme of support that will have prepared you for the upgrade.

The Thesis and Viva

The final element of the DBA is assessed through the production and submission of a 60,000-word thesis, which is defended in a viva voce examination.