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Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

A 3-year executive doctoral program (Level-8 equivalent) designed for applied, practice-driven research and strategic leadership.

Duration: 36 Months Mode: Online Credits: ~180 Executive Doctorate

Program Philosophy

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a terminal professional doctorate designed for senior managers, executives, consultants, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders seeking to apply advanced research to complex, real-world business challenges. Unlike a traditional PhD (theory-dominant), the DBA emphasizes applied research, strategic decision-making, organizational transformation, and evidence-based management.

Program Structure Overview

Year Focus Key Output
Year 1 Doctoral Foundations & Research Design Approved Research Proposal
Year 2 Advanced Research & Applied Inquiry Data Collection & Analysis
Year 3 Thesis Completion & Defense Doctoral Thesis & Viva

Year 1 – Doctoral Foundations & Research Design

Milestone: Proposal Approval
Module 1: Doctoral Research Foundations
Credits: 15

Topics Covered
  • Nature of Doctoral Research
  • DBA vs PhD: Applied Doctoral Models
  • Knowledge Creation in Business
  • Theory–Practice Integration
  • Doctoral Ethics & Academic Integrity
Learning Outcomes
  • Understand doctoral-level expectations
  • Frame research within professional business contexts
Module 2: Advanced Management & Organizational Theory
Credits: 15

Topics Covered
  • Classical & Contemporary Management Theories
  • Organizational Behavior & Design
  • Strategic Leadership Models
  • Corporate Governance & Ethics
  • Institutional & Stakeholder Theory
Learning Outcomes
  • Apply advanced management theory to real organizations
  • Critically analyze leadership and governance challenges
Module 3: Quantitative Research Methods for Business
Credits: 15

Topics Covered
  • Research Design & Hypothesis Development
  • Advanced Statistical Techniques
  • Regression, SEM, Multivariate Analysis
  • Data Reliability & Validity
  • Statistical Software (SPSS / R / STATA)
Learning Outcomes
  • Design robust quantitative research studies
  • Analyze complex business datasets
Module 4: Qualitative & Mixed Research Methods
Credits: 15

Topics Covered
  • Case Study Research
  • Interviews, Focus Groups & Observation
  • Grounded Theory & Phenomenology
  • Mixed-Methods Research Design
  • Qualitative Data Analysis (NVivo / ATLAS.ti)
Learning Outcomes
  • Conduct in-depth qualitative inquiry
  • Integrate qualitative and quantitative insights
Module 5: Research Proposal Development (Mandatory)
Credits: 20

Structure
  • Problem Identification
  • Research Questions & Objectives
  • Literature Review Framework
  • Methodology Selection
  • Ethical Approval Process
Deliverables
  • Formal Doctoral Research Proposal
  • Proposal Defense & Approval
Learning Outcomes
  • Produce a doctoral-standard proposal suitable for organizational research
  • Obtain approval to proceed to full doctoral research

Year 2 – Advanced Research & Applied Inquiry

Milestone: Verified Data Collection & Analysis
Module 6: Strategic Management & Business Innovation
Credits: 15

Topics Covered
  • Corporate & Competitive Strategy
  • Innovation Management
  • Digital Transformation
  • Business Model Innovation
  • Global Strategy & Sustainability
Learning Outcomes
  • Apply strategic frameworks to complex environments
  • Analyze innovation-driven business transformation
Module 7: Advanced Data Analysis & Business Analytics
Credits: 15

Topics Covered
  • Advanced Statistical Modeling
  • Big Data in Business Research
  • Predictive & Prescriptive Analytics
  • Decision Science
  • AI & Analytics for Executives
Learning Outcomes
  • Leverage analytics for executive decision-making
  • Translate data insights into strategy
Module 8: Applied Research Seminar (Colloquium)
Credits: 10

Topics Covered
  • Doctoral Research Presentations
  • Peer Review & Scholarly Debate
  • Research Refinement Workshops
  • Academic & Practitioner Publishing
  • Conference Paper Development
Learning Outcomes
  • Refine research through scholarly feedback
  • Develop publication-ready work
Module 9: Data Collection & Field Research
Credits: 20

Activities
  • Organizational Fieldwork
  • Surveys, Interviews, Case Studies
  • Longitudinal & Comparative Studies
  • Ethical Compliance & Documentation
Deliverables
  • Verified Data Collection Report
  • Supervisor Evaluation & Approval
Learning Outcomes
  • Generate original doctoral-level data suitable for applied business research
  • Maintain evidence trails aligned with governance and ethics expectations

Year 3 – Thesis Completion & Doctoral Defense

Milestone: Thesis Submission & Viva
Module 10: Doctoral Thesis Development
Credits: 30

Structure
  • Data Analysis & Interpretation
  • Findings & Discussion
  • Managerial & Policy Implications
  • Contribution to Practice & Knowledge
  • Limitations & Future Research
Learning Outcomes
  • Produce an original, practice-oriented doctoral thesis
  • Translate findings into actionable executive recommendations
Module 11: Leadership, Ethics & Global Impact
Credits: 10

Topics Covered
  • Executive Ethics & Responsibility
  • ESG & Sustainable Leadership
  • Global Business Risk
  • Policy Impact & Governance
  • Responsible Decision-Making
Learning Outcomes
  • Demonstrate ethical, global leadership thinking
  • Embed sustainability and governance into executive strategy
Module 12: Thesis Submission, Viva & Defense
Credits: 20

Components
  • Final Thesis Submission
  • Oral Defense (Viva Voce)
  • Examiner Evaluation
  • Final Revisions & Award Approval
Outcome
  • Award of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  • Demonstrated doctoral-level contribution to practice and knowledge

Research Areas (Illustrative)

  • Strategic Management
  • Leadership & Organizational Change
  • Finance & Corporate Governance
  • Marketing Strategy & Consumer Behavior
  • Human Resource Management
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • Digital Transformation
  • Sustainability & ESG
  • International Business

Assessment & Progression

  • Coursework & Methodology Assignments
  • Proposal Defense
  • Annual Progress Reviews
  • Research Colloquium Presentations
  • Thesis Evaluation & Viva Voce
  • Supervisor Milestone Sign-Offs

Graduate Outcomes

Graduates are prepared for senior leadership and advanced advisory roles such as:

  • C-Suite Executives (CEO, COO, CFO, CMO)
  • Senior Consultants & Advisors
  • Policy & Strategy Leaders
  • Corporate Researchers
  • Academic Faculty (Practice-Focused)
  • Entrepreneurs & Board Members

Key Doctoral Features

  • Dedicated Doctoral Supervisor
  • Structured Research Milestones
  • Executive-Friendly Format
  • Practice-Driven Research Focus
  • Publication & Conference Support
  • Governance and Ethics Alignment