The nature and purpose of the DBA

Abstract

Purpose -To explore the nature (component parts, degree structure) and purpose (intended outcomes) of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the degree as they stand presently, using Australian experience. Design/methodology/approach -A review of DBA programme offerings in Australia identified commonalities and differences in these offerings, and provided information necessary to propose strategic and theoretical implications of DBA education. Findings -The paper demonstrates areas of confusion surrounding the purpose and nature of the DBA degree, especially as a research degree in comparison to the PhD. It concludes that quality controls are needed to ensure that this growing addition to management education adds to, and aids, the goal of strengthening management research, in ways that link theoretical insights with management practice. Research limitations/implications -Theoretical and practical implications of the DBA degree are offered, as well as the extent to which the DBA addresses the educational needs of students and its benefits to the university. Practical implications -The paper provides data useful to administrators interested in establishing a DBA degree in their institution, for researchers wishing to further explore and contribute to the discourse regarding the calibre and content of DBA degrees, and for students wishing to learn more about the fundamental differences between the PhD and the DBA. Originality/value -This paper provides new information about the way the DBA degree is developing in an Australian context, and offers advice on issues that need attention in order to further ground the DBA in a combined research and practitioner ethic.The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature (component parts, degree structure) and purpose (intended outcomes) of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the degree as they stand presently, using Australian experience. In this paper, business administration is defined as the management and administration of enterprises across fields as diverse as corporate finance, accounting, economics and law, management, marketing, engineering and information technology and including industries in the private and public sectors, not-for-profit organisations, higher education, and hospital and school systems. The nature of the DBA degree refers to its structure across institutions, and also the delivery of the degree in Australia and internationally in terms of student numbers and mode of delivery. Purpose refers to intended outcomes of the DBA. As discussed in this paper, the research focus of professional doctorates like the DBA is "concerned with researching the real business and managerial issues via the critical

Discourse, knowledge and power: the continuing debate over the DBA

“…Second, the purpose and value of the professional doctorate is presented in terms of professional development and not as research-based learning. Researchers across the globe have criticised professional doctorates as a poor alternative to the PhD; lacking in intellectual rigour and research-orientated skills in the UK and Canada (Winter et al, 2000;Allen et al, 2002) or a lack of quality controls over their growth in Australia (Sarros et al, 2005). For McWilliam et al (2002McWilliam et al ( , p. 1104 although the DBA and PhD are "differently rigorous […], there is little consistency in how these graduate degree programmes are delivered, monitored, and evaluated".…”

Fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology education in Australia: current challenges and future directions

“…While there has been some confusion about the relative emphases of professional doctorates compared to the research PhD (Sarros et al 2005), they nevertheless ground students thoroughly in research methodology via coursework. We believe that the education of Australian postgraduates in the natural resource fields should emulate this approach, but it will take time and resources to achieve this.…”

“…Furthermore, recent research has identified the value of 'collective academic supervision', with multiple supervisors working with students to create the best environment for students to learn core academic competencies (Nordentoft et al 2013). This can also balance the 'tough love' approach of some supervisors, who deliberately create a critical environment for their students who need to rise to the expectations or leave (Aitchison et al 2012).Many overseas universities and some disciplines in Australian universities have responded to these evolving requirements for providing fundamental skills to research students with postgraduate courses within higher degrees by research to cover critical learning skills, provide peer-learning interactions amongst students and expose students to a wide range of subject experts (e.g., Maxwell and Shanahan 1997;Sarros et al 2005;Stephenson et al 2006; Rolfe and Davies 2009; Chiteng Kot and Henda 2012). These are known variously as researchcoursework doctoral programs (Trigwell et al 1997), professional doctorates (Chiteng Kot and Henda 2012), professional research doctorates (Nerad 2007), or workbased doctorates if they involve significant practitioner liaison (Costley and Lester 2012).…”

“…Many overseas universities and some disciplines in Australian universities have responded to these evolving requirements for providing fundamental skills to research students with postgraduate courses within higher degrees by research to cover critical learning skills, provide peer-learning interactions amongst students and expose students to a wide range of subject experts (e.g., Maxwell and Shanahan 1997;Sarros et al 2005;Stephenson et al 2006; Rolfe and Davies 2009; Chiteng Kot and Henda 2012). These are known variously as researchcoursework doctoral programs (Trigwell et al 1997), professional doctorates (Chiteng Kot and Henda 2012), professional research doctorates (Nerad 2007), or workbased doctorates if they involve significant practitioner liaison (Costley and Lester 2012).…”