Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA)

Businesses are increasingly confronted by novel situations that cannot always be solved using past practices and strategies. As change, fuelled by globalisation, continues to accelerate, leaders have to develop organisations where knowledge informs practice and policy especially through the conduct of work-related research. This Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) has been designed to offer individuals the opportunity to improve business performance by combining experience acquired as a professional and the academic research technique learnt at the university while producing an original doctoral-level research project. Therefore, people in employment can pursue practice-based research within an organisation to tackle real workplace challenges. As part of the DBA, students are taught the use of research techniques that enable them to understand and reflect upon their ability to utilise and apply theory in order to improve workplace practices. Thus, they develop doctoral-level thinking, a superior capacity to investigate, and research skills as they work through the issues of corporate concern. The synthesis of practical experience and theoretical frame works together with effective methodological approaches also empower individuals and organisations with new perspectives that add value.
The DBA differs from a PhD. The DBA is a professional doctorate that focuses on business issues and makes contribution to workplace practice, policies and strategies through research carried out in the context of professional practice. While the Ph D aims at making significant contribution to an area of knowledge.