Doctor of Business Administration

Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Doctor of Business Administration - DB

Educational Aims of the Course

The main aim of this programme is to validate, at the highest academic level, the professional practice competence of people working in business and management related areas. The programme will aim to: Develop knowledge of the information sources, and analytical tools pertinent to effective research and analysis in business and management studies; Learn from and reflect upon past experience and academic achievements as part of a carefully considered set of research activities; Develop an understanding of the nature and conceptual framework of business and management knowledge and innovation; Enhance consultancy, project management, teamwork, research, leadership and organisational skills; Increase understanding of research methodology and techniques and their application in extending and applying knowledge; Develop excellence in analytical, qualitative and quantitative skills in business and management research and problem-identification and problem solving; Develop higher-level transferable and personal skills such as reasoning, report writing, independent learning, communication, critical thinking, personal management and presentation skills; Enhance and demonstrate IT skills in statistical and quantitative/qualitative analysis using research data at a level to empirically investigate business and management issues/questions and reach valid conclusions; Equip participants for significant career progression and intellectual development in business, management and related areas; Make an original contribution to professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

Possess expert knowledge and understanding of a subject area relevant to their work place.

Provide evidence of original contribution to the development and/or implementation of new methods or system of practice.

Provide implications for the further development of their specific professional practice in relation to their own work, its context, and the form future development would take.

Apply and develop appropriate techniques/methods in research and scholarship.

Communicate, discuss, evaluate and defend ideas and conclusions to the satisfaction of peers and to non-specialist audiences.

Present information/reports clearly and concisely at a level judged suitable for publication in refereed academic and professional journals.

Collect, record and interpret qualitative and/or quantitative data and demonstrate advance academic enquiry.

Recognise, and describe problems in the work place, plan and implement solutions.

Provide evidence for the creation and interpretation of new knowledge at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice.

10.

Display a critical understanding of complex and specialised research knowledge and skills through the development of research proposals that demonstrate a) the potential for the creation of new knowledge at the forefront of their academic discipline or their area of professional practice b) the use of appropriate techniques/methodologies in their research.

11.

Display an ability to apply theory to professional practice.

12.

Display a critical understanding of complex and specialised research knowledge and techniques in relation to the specific research programme followed.

13.

Plan research work, which is original, coherent and significant to their professional area.

14.

Critically appraise research methods for their appropriateness to the area of enquiry.

15.

Display an ability to apply theory to professional practice.

16.

To work independently dealing with complex and unpredictable situations in the work environment.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Lectures, seminars, action learning sets, tutorials and self-directed study. Coursework (Learning Agreement, investigative project reports, seminar presentations),examination (viva voce by external and internal examiners). Action learning sets, seminars, tutorials, self-directed study and supervision sessions. Coursework (Learning Agreement, investigative project reports, seminar presentations),examination (viva voce by external and internal examiners). Action learning sets, reflection seminars, critical friend feedback, supervision sessions and self-directed study. Coursework (Learning Agreement, investigative project reports, which can be presented in a journal article format, seminar presentations),examination (viva voce by external and internal examiners). Peer presentation, action learning sets, critical friend feedback, supervision sessions, tutorials and self-directed study. Coursework (Learning Agreement, investigative project reports, which can be presented in a journal article format, seminar presentations),examination (viva voce by external and internal examiners).

Opportunities for work related learning

As decided by each participant in relation to their place of work.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

The programme has 2 levels: Masters and Doctoral, with a total of 540 credits. The Masters level comprises 180 credits, and participants already possessing an appropriate and relevant Masters degree (normally an MBA) may enter the programme at level 8 for which APL will be awarded following confirmation that the modules studied and the learning outcomes are equivalent to but not necessarily identical to those specified in the L7 core/option modules listed within the module table below. The Doctoral phase comprises 360 level 8 credits, all of which must be completed successfully to obtain the award of Professional Doctorate. The level 8 credits will take a minimum of 3 years to complete, although it is likely that most participants will take longer than this. This is explained below: Masters, 180 credits, Level 7, Stage: Depends upon Masters award, Content: Taught and work-based learning providing under-pinning knowledge and skills development for Level 8. Doctoral, 360 credits, Level 8, Stage 1: 60 credits, Content: Planning Module. This stage consists of a 60-credit Research Methodologies and Planning Module for the development of the Learning Agreement, which will detail the project-based learning, the underpinning literature to be undertaken for Stage 2. Reflective practice and action learning will be analysed and participants will be required to keep a reflective diary throughout the programme. Doctoral, 360 credits, Level 8, Stage 2: 300 credits, Content: Investigative Project Module (240 credits). This will be a substantive project that must represent an original contribution to knowledge/practice including testing Reflective Module (60 credits). Reflective piece either in the form of a reflective chapter presented as part of the full thesis or an account of practise or a published peer-reviewed conference paper in a practitioner journal. Any of these outputs must refer to the overall value of the whole endeavour and make suggestions on how the learning achieved can be developed further / applied in the professional context. The Doctoral phase of the programme consists of 2 Stages: Stage 1-The Planning Module. The Planning Module aims to enable participants to demonstrate their skills and critical knowledge associated with their own area of professional practice in relationship to: a. The development of effective plans/proposals for the doctorate level investigative project/s to be undertaken in Stage 2 of the Professional Doctorate including the research strategy. b. The development of appropriate doctoral level Learning Agreement. All outcomes from Stage 1 will be assessed by the module tutor and moderated as defined by AF. In order to progress to Stage 2, all elements must achieve a pass grade, without compensation. The assessment for the Planning Module is a: Report of between 5-8,000 words to include rationale, activities planned for Stage 2, outline plan, research strategy, methodology, draft literature review and reflections upon learning. Learning Agreement(s),which will additionally be subject to the approval of the Professional Doctorate Approval Group Ethical approval (if required). Stage 2 consists of the Investigative Project Module and Reflective Module. Investigative Project (240 credits) Individual project negotiated between the participant, supervisors and the workplace will be set out in the Learning Agreement. Specific learning outcomes will have been identified in the Planning Module, and participants advised and directed accordingly. LJMU based participants will present their work as part of the ongoing Faculty Research Seminar Programme, and to their peers in the workplace. All participants will present their work in the action learning groups and/or development days. Assessment will be specified as part of the Learning Agreement, but the participant must demonstrate: A significant and original contribution to a specialised field of inquiry. A substantial contribution to the development and/or

Structure

Level 7

Level 8

Entry Requirements

Alternative qualifications considered

The programme is designed to allow participants holding acceptable Masters degrees (e.g. MBA) to enter directly to the doctoral phase of the Professional Doctorate. For the Participants who do not have a Masters level qualification, they will be advised to enrol for one of the Master's courses available in the APS Faculty. The need for level 7 study would be assessed on an individual basis, both at entry and during the planning module. These credits could be studied in parallel with the Planning module, and participants would be counselled appropriately on application.

Course Catalogue