Structure & Content
The programme is designed to provide an opportunity for students to obtain a DBA by means of independent study supported by online distance learning resources and academic support.
The DBA programme forms two stages of research. The first stage follows rigorous development of a student’s investigative, research and planning skills through reflective practice, research methods and design - fully preparing them for successful completion of the second stage – an independent piece of research contributing to development of management knowledge and practice.
Research Methods (30 credits) Students will be introduced to a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods that will enable them to make informed choices as to the methods of data collection and analysis used in their own research projects. Students will identify a management issue and develop and implement a research project to investigate this issue.
Indicative Content: • Qualitative methods such as interviews, observation, ethnography, documentary analysis, focus groups, case studies, pictorial representation, diaries, stories and life stories
Detailed Programme Structure
Research Stage 1 Reflective Practice (60 credits) This module focuses on two key areas. Firstly, management students are notoriously poor at self-reflection as a consideration of MBA dissertations will signify. Requiring students to go through a process of self-reflection will inform them about their strengths and weaknesses and learning preferences and so aid them in the eventual thesis development. This process will enhance the self-awareness and therefore, it is anticipated, the managerial effectiveness of the candidate with a strong reflective ethos. Secondly, consultancy skills. The ability to make a consultancy type intervention is an important one for managers and it is likely that as part of the research that such an event would be called for. Developing and applying those skills would be useful both in their own terms but also as part of the research training effort.
Students will therefore evaluate themselves against current and potential roles and design and implement an action to plan to address key development needs within the context of the design and delivery of a consultancy project intervention. Students will be required to undertake a consultancy project which should have some change management implications for the organisation.
Indicative Content: • Undertake self-analysis and profiling using professional tools • Models of reflective practice e.g. Schon; Kolb; and Atkins and Murphy • Development and use of the process of reflection upon professional practice
• Demonstrate reflective activities as part of professional decision making • Working in groups • Design and implementation of personal development plans • Action learning sets • The role of the consultant • Ethical behaviour • Project management techniques • The consultancy cycle • Theories of change management
• Qualitative data analysis • Questionnaire design • Survey and sampling methods • Measurement • Quantitative methods such as exploratory data analysis, statistical hypothesis testing, ANOVA, multivariate regression analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis
• Using SPSS for data analysis • Presenting data and reporting findings • Action learning and action research • NVivo and NUD*IST (software)
Research Design (30 credits) This module will prepare you for transfer to Stage 2 of the programme – the doctoral thesis. Students will prepare a research proposal for the intended doctoral thesis. The proposal will demonstrate that the work will be ‘characterised by advanced learning based on professional capability and in depth research and development leading to substantial projects which achieve major organisational change and/or excellence in professional practice’.
Indicative Content: • The philosophy of knowledge • Research methodologies • Research tools • Developing a research question, searching and using literature • Designing a study • Obstacles to data gathering • Writing a proposal
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