UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORDSchool of ManagementProgramme title: Doctor of Business Administration

Awarding and teaching institution: / University of Bradford
Final award: / Doctor of Business Administration[Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 8]
Master of Science/Postgraduate Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate [Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 7]
Programme title: / Doctor of Business Administration (DBA); Research in Business and Management (MSc/PGDip/PGCert).
Programme approved / accredited by:
Relevant subject benchmark statement(s):
FHEQ Level: / 7 - 8
Duration: / 48 months minimum – 84 months maximum
UCAS code:
Date produced: / 17 December 2001
Last updated : / 28June 2013

Introduction

In accordance with the University’s mission ‘Making Knowledge Work’, the School of Management aims to provide excellence in a range of business areas. We are committed to the belief that business education should be offered in a way that facilitates rather than constrains. It should provide a thorough grounding in core business disciplines as well as offering participants the opportunity to specialise in a specific business area. This programme contributes to those aims offering practising managers and professional staff the opportunity to combine the best of academic knowledge with the best of practitioner knowledge so as to push forward the boundaries of understanding of business and management. This involves equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work effectively in rapidly changing and challenging environments. You will develop the competences to think critically and strategically and identify complex research programmes needed to develop new approaches or new knowledge that will drive organisational change and make a significant contribution to the development of your chosen profession. The programme is supported by experienced researchers and practitioners from a wide range of academic backgrounds and cultures to assist you in developing in-depth knowledge of research methods and the ability to apply them to real business and management issues.

Programme Aims

The programme is intended to produce managers and leaders who, through gaining in-depth knowledge about research methods, are able to apply them to exploring organizational and managerial practices. You will do this through combining your academic and business expertise so as to contribute to the development of knowledge of and/or professional practice in organizations.

Programme Learning Outcomes

When you have completed the programme you will be able to:

L01.Create and interpret new knowledge through original research into business and management

L02.Discuss the state of the art in one or more specialist areas of management theory, thus demonstrating a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge at the forefront of the discipline or professional practice

L03.Interpret the nature and philosophy of management research

L04.Identify appropriate research methodologies for addressing areas at the forefront of the discipline

L05.Select suitable methods for the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.

L06.Critically assess the suitability of the research methodologies used in other research projects and in your own work

L07.Conduct a significant research project in your own (or other) organization(s)

L08.Analyse the results of research, using qualitative, quantitative or mixed-method techniques

L09.Demonstrate specialist knowledge in your area of professional practice through the application of research outcomes.

L10.Demonstrate understanding of how to translate theory or research into practice;

L11.Communicate and disseminate research outcomes to a variety of audiences

L12.Understand the importance of ethical practices in research, and conform with high standards of ethics in research;

L13.Address major challenges for business and society in the 21st century. These may include but are not limited to such issues as globalisation, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development.

Curriculum

The programme is structured in two parts: Part 1 consists of eight taught modules and Part 2 relates to the doctoral research-based element. The DBA has a credit volume of 540 credits. Part 1 consists of 180 credits, and Part 2 of 360 credits.

The 8 modules in Part 1 allow you to cumulatively develop knowledge of and experience in research methods. At the start of Part 2, one module is structured to support you in developing and presenting a comprehensive research proposal that assesses your capacity to undertake a programme of research (20 credits), you will then progress to the research phase and produce a 50,000 word thesis (340 credits) based on original research carried out within an organisation(s).

Progression to part 2, the thesis phase, is subject to satisfactory performance in the taught stage of the programme and in the transfer module.

Part 1: FHEQ level 7 (180 credits)

7 / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study period
MAN4285D / Introduction to Research Methods at Doctoral Level / Core / 20 / 7 / Year 1
MAN4286D / Philosophical approaches to researching and studying management and organisations / Core / 20 / 7 / Year 1
MAN4288D / Quantitative Research Methods at Doctoral Level / Core / 20 / 7 / Year 1
MAN4287D / Qualitative research methods for DBA studies / Core / 20 / 7 / Year 1
MAND002D / Critique of management research studies (1) / Core / 20 / 7 / Year 2
MAN4336D / Literature Reviewing for DBA Studies / Core / 20 / 7 / Year 2
MAND008T / Advanced studies in management and business studies (1): the practitioner as author / Core / 30 / 7 / Year 2
MAND009T / Advanced studies in management and business studies (2): translating research into practice / Core / 30 / 7 / Year 2

Part 2: FHEQ Level 8 (360 credits)

Module Code / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study period
MAND010D / Thesis Research Proposal / Core / 20 / 8 / Year 3
MAND007A / DBA Thesis / Core / 340 / 8 / Years 3-7

Upon successful completion of Part 1 and having achieved 180 credits at levels 7, students may be eligible for the degree of MSc. Research in Business and Management if they are not progressing to the research phase.

Candidates who leave the programme prior to completion of Phase 1 may be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma. For a Postgraduate Certificate, candidates must study units in Part 1 amounting to 60 credits at Level 7 and have passed them. For a Postgraduate Diploma, candidates must study units in Part 1 amounting to 120 credits at Level 7 and have passed them.

The curriculum may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures.

Achieving Learning Outcomes

You will achieve the learning outcomes through the following aspects of your studies:

  • Create and interpret new knowledge through original research into business and management

This is primarily achieved through the thesis (MAND007A) but all taught modules contribute towards your achieving this aim. The peer review workshops are important forums for facilitating the development of your ideas through debate and discussion with DBA students and academic staff;

  • Discuss the state of the art in one or more specialist areas of management theory, thus demonstrating a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge at the forefront of the discipline or professional practice

This is initially achieved through the taught modules where you learn to critically evaluate management theory/research, and then through the thesis (MAND007A) as your research will develop new knowledge that pushes forward the boundaries of what is known in your area of management and organization studies. You will develop the skills of discussing the state of the art in peer review workshops, where you will support and be supported by fellow students, through whose work you will be exposed to a wide range of ideas;

  • Interpret the nature and philosophy of management research

This is the specific focus of MAN4286D, which explores philosophical approaches to researching and studying management and business for DBA students. Through the reflective learning log that you will keep throughout your studies, you will be able to use philosophical ideas to explore your own practices;

  • Identify appropriate research methodologies for addressing areas at the forefront of the discipline

This is explored in the three modules that focus on research methods Introduction to research Methods at Doctoral level (MAN4285D), Quantitative research methods at Doctoral level (MAN4288D) and Qualitative research methods for DBA studies (MAN4287D).

  • Select suitable methods for the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.

This is achieved specifically through the module Critique of management research studies (1) (MAND002D) that builds on what you will already have learned in MAN4285D, MAN4286D, MAN4288D, MAN4287D.

  • Critically assess the suitability of the research methodologies used in other research projects and in their own work

This is specifically addressed in Critique of management research studies (1) (MAND002D)

  • Conduct a significant research project in their own (or other) organization(s)

This is the thesis stage of your studies (MAND007A) but all of the other modules will have prepared you for undertaking the thesis. Throughout your studies on the DBA you will keep a reflective learning journal that will provide invaluable insights into how you are developing your ideas. There will be workshops and day-conferences organised during the taught part of the programme that will help you hone your ideas about your research, and the peer review workshops that you will attend during the research phase of the programme will help guide you through the process.

  • Analyse the results of research, using qualitative, quantitative or mixed-method techniques

This aim relates specifically to your thesis (MAND007A) in which you will analyse the results of your own research. However, you will also have been analysing data in most of the modules up to that point.

  • Demonstrate understanding of how to translate theory or research into practice;

This is the specific focus of MAND009T, Advanced studies in management and business studies (2): translating research into practice, which prepares you for exploring how to translate the findings of your thesis (MAND007A) into practice. You will also demonstrate this in the applied aspects of your research project.

  • Communicate and disseminate research outcomes to a variety of audiences.

MAND008T, Advanced studies in management and business studies (1): the practitioner as author,focuses on how to communicate the outcomes of your research through writing for academic and practitioner journals. However, throughout the programme you will participate in seminars, workshops and peer review workshops in which you will be communicating your ideas about your research. Translating your research into practice is the ultimate test of dissemination to a variety of audiences.

  • Understand the importance of ethical practices in research, and conform with high standards of ethics in research.

Research ethics is introduced during the first module and is a running theme through all later modules. The importance of high ethical standards in research is discussed throughout the taught stage of the programme, and students have to account for their ethical research behaviours in all taught modules as well as in the thesis. Students are expected to attach their ethics approval forms with the Thesis Research Proposal.

  • Address major challenges for business and society in the 21st century. These may include but are not limited to such issues as globalisation, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development.

Many students register on the DBA because they are working at the cutting edge of major challenges and changes for business and society in the 21st century. The DBA provides a forum for the development of academic practitioners who bring the highest standards of academic research to the application of business and societal responses to these challenges and changes. Every module in which you participate will explore how to undertake research into the issues identified by students as the most profound topics facing business and society currently. The peer review workshops ensure that students share knowledge and develop ideas about tackling these issues, because each participant is asked to state the relationship of their research to finding solutions to the major problems facing business and society in the 21st century.

Learning Teaching and Assessment Strategies

School of Management programmes aim to combine academic rigour with practicality and relevance to professionals and managers. They aim to reflect best practice and innovative thinking and research. The approach, therefore, to teaching and learning aims to integrate applied and theoretical knowledge. Similarly, assessment processes test both knowledge of the disciplines plus their application and limitations. The DBA in particular facilitates the development of knowledge at the forefront of the discipline.

The philosophy underpinning the taught part of the DBA is that mature students such as those attracted to the DBA learn best by reading, doing, then reflecting on that doing, before beginning the cycle again. Each module builds on the learning achieved in previous modules, so learning is cumulative, and all modules relate to each other. Initially you are introduced to research, and you will undertake a small, mixed method study which is then used in a subsequent module as the focus for developing understanding of the philosophy of research. You are then introduced to more advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods taking forward your earlier work and developing a more in-depth understanding of research methods, the philosophy underpinning research, and a continued refining of your own research aims and questions. The emphasis then switches to developing an understanding of a particular field through focusing on techniques for critically assessing research in your own chosen sub-discipline. As you progress through the modules you will apply the ability of critical review to a wider range of literature in your chosen sub-discipline and search more widely for methods or research outcomes from other disciplines that may be transferred to add value to your own work. This review allows them to identify gaps in knowledge in the sub-discipline, consider creative methods to find ways of extending knowledge in the sub-discipline and to explore how to become a practitioner author through studying how to write for academic journals. You will undertake a pilot study writing it up in the format of a journal paper so as to gain experience of that form of academic writing. You will then develop an understanding of the issues of translating research into practice, a fundamental aspect of a DBA. You will be expected to reflect on the insights already developed into the key issuesyou are tackling, and explore how such findings, if replicated in a bigger study, could be translated into practice. This takes you to the progression to the research stage, bringing all the elements together in a research proposal that is presented and defended. Successful completion of your proposal prepares you for the main research stage and ultimately writing the thesis. During the main research phase you will attend peer review workshops that enhance understanding, provide motivation and support, enable networking, prepare you for presenting your work to non-specialists, give opportunities for the cross-fertilisation of ideas and will expose you to research from outside your specialist area.

Assessment for the early 20 credit modulesis by means of one 7000 word paper, and for the Advanced Studies 30 credit modules it is by means of one 8000-10000 word paper. In addition, you will be asked to make presentations in modules MAN4287D, MAN4285D, MAND008T and MAND009T. Non-credit-bearing, informal formative assessment of these presentations will be made by academic staff and peers on the programme. The later papers are expected to follow the format of academic journal papers, although the focus will differ between modules. If you fail to meet the required standard in any module you will be given feedback and asked to revise the original paper to bring it to the expected standard.

Teaching in Part 1 is in intensive study blocks of 3-5 days, and after each study block you will have 6-8 weeks in which to undertake the work required by the module. During this period you must focus on self-directed study, in liaison with (in the first year) the module tutor and (in subsequent years) your supervisor. There are eight inter-linked, taught modules that take you from an introduction to research to transfer to doctoral status. In the first year’s four taught modules, the module leader first marks all papers, which are then second marked by the module leader of the next module in the timetable, you will always receive formative as well as summative feedback to help you to understand not just the techniques of research but also the culture of constructive critical review that is essential for success. In subsequent years, your supervisor first marks papers, but the Director of Studies or module leader second marks, to ensure consistency between supervisors. During the main research phase you will develop a close working relationship with your supervisor who acts as a “sounding board” for ideas as well as mentoring you through to the preparation of the final thesis.

The range of assessment methods used throughout this programme have been specifically designed to be progressive in terms of developing critical analysis and writing skills in addition to addressing specific learning outcomes as indicated in the previous section. Also, they benefit from increasing levels of formative feedback as you progress through the modules and then the research phase with the final thesis being the “capstone” or synoptic assessment that encompasses all the learning outcomes.