The International Executive Doctorate (DBA+PhD) – (D.B.A.)

Contents

The focus of the programme is a series of three thematically linked projects which are designed to explore a management issue of your choice. The first project will normally be a review of literature, followed by two empirical projects and a linking document which highlights the contribution of what has been confirmed, what has been developed and what is brand new.
Underpinning the whole process is a series of taught courses which aim to:

• assist you in identifying and defining the scope of each project;
• provide you with the necessary research skills and techniques to conduct the work successfully;
• aid you in understanding the issues involved in managing a major piece of research;
• develop your skills in communicating and disseminating research in an academic environment.

In addition, throughout the programme, all participants are required to present seminars on their work to their peers and faculty.

Year 1 - Research Methodology Course Researcher Development

Year 1 comprises five separate 5-day sessions focusing on research methodology plus an end-of-year progress meeting with the supervisory panel.
The research training and researcher development input is structured into weekly blocks enabling participants to work together for a concentrated period.
Week 1: September 2012 (Induction week)
Week 2: November - December 2012
Week 3: January - February 2013
Week 4: May 2013
Week 5: October 2013
These weeks cover five elements of research methodology:

• Developing as a researcher and developing your research
• Organisation theory and research philosophy
• Quantitative research approaches
• Qualitative research approaches
• Personal development

Years 2-4 Project 1 Literature Review or Empirical

Years 2-4 comprise two separate 4-day sessions per year focusing on in-depth methodologies, writing, personal development and viva issues, plus end-of-year progress meetings with your supervisory panel. Additional input is tailored to meet individual study requirements.
The time commitment (in addition to the formal input) is approximately 15-20 hours per week.

Doctoral Thesis Defence

The viva voce is the final, oral examination that leads to the DBA title. Students are required to present their work before a panel of examiners that comprises an internal examiner, from the School, and an external examiner who has been selected as a specialist in the student’s research area. The student’s supervisor attends and the panel is chaired by a member of faculty of the School. The student is awarded the degree of DBA on passing the viva or on completion of any required corrections/revisions to the satisfaction of the examiner(s). Successful candidates are conferred at the annual graduation ceremony in June and may then use the title ‘Dr’.
The PhD defence is the individual final, oral examination when students are required to present their work before a panel of examiners. This PhD committee comprises the supervisor and several external examiners who have been selected as specialists in the student’s research area. The defence consists of an hour-long question round. If the questions are answered satisfactory the student is awarded the PhD degree.

DBA+PhD: Personal Development

The many skills that you acquire, or in many cases build on, are sophisticated ones that will clearly differentiate you from other managers. The skills are both derived from, and are seamlessly transferable to, ongoing business situations.
There are three key areas of anticipated personal development:

• increased managerial effectiveness
• increased understanding of yourself as a researcher
• transfer of skills.

The personal development aspect of The International Executive Doctorate (DBA+PhD) provides you with a structured approach to help you reflect on and make sense of this more personal impact. By reflecting on these aspects in a systematic way, you will be better able to harness the personal learning which is inherent to the programme.

Taught Elements

Induction - aims to help participants understand themselves and their motivation for engaging in the process, to gain a better understanding of their peers and to create peer group learning; to know what resources exist; to understand what is expected of them and to provide a firm foundation for the rest of year 1.
Organisational Theory & Research Philosophy - exposes participants to a variety of theoretical perspectives that can inform their understanding of the organisation and introduces participants to some of the basic principles of research design.
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Techniques - explains and demonstrates the different research approaches available, providing the most appropriate techniques for a particular project and practice in developing the analysis skills required to undertake research at this level.
The Research Process - helps participants to understand the issues involved in managing a major piece of research. The course also looks at bibliographic skills and takes participants through the process, explaining what will be expected at each stage and provides an overview of research currently being undertaken at TiasNimbas Business School. Assistance on putting the thesis together is also an integral part of the process.
Writing Workshops - a series of workshops throughout the programme which will develop the students' skills in identifying communicating and disseminating their work.
Personal Development - allows students to develop personal as well as research skills by engaging in the learning required to do the doctorate. This impacts on professional practice as a result of acquiring new mind sets and approaches to producing evidence, understanding what counts as knowledge and the inquiring, questioning approach used in a doctorate.
Student Project Presentations - run throughout the programme and allow participants to present their work as it progresses and obtain supervisory feedback and peer review.
This programme information can be subjected to change.

Accreditation

There are many different accreditation agencies and the following highlights the
most important ones for TiasNimbas and its programmes.

The Association of MBAs (AMBA) is an international organisation that has accredited all our MBA programmes, including those offered in partnership with Bradford University School of Management. In addition, Bradford University is accredited by EQUIS.

The IMM (International Executive MBA Programme) is one of our programmes that, through its founding partners and their respective universities, qualifies for the international AACSB accreditation since both Purdue University and Tilburg University are AACSB accredited.In The Netherlands and Belgium, our MSc programme, as well as the Executive Master of Finance and Control (RC) are accredited by the NVAO. (Dutch Flemish Accreditation Organisation).

The following programmes are accredited by the NVAO. (Dutch Flemish Accreditation Organisation):

• International MSc in Business Administration
• Executive Master of Finance and Control (RC)
• Executive Master in Finance
• Executive Master of Business Valuation
• Executive Master of Management and Organisation

The TiasNimbas Master in Real Estate programme is RICS accredited. Created in 1868 and with 130 000 members in 120 countries, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) represents professionals working in property, land and the built environment all around the world.

The International Executive Doctorate (DBA+PhD), offered in partnership with the Cranfield University School of Management, is accredited by the Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC). This programme is one of only six in the UK to be recognised.

TiasNimbas is accredited by CEDEO for Accountancy Programmes. A selection of programmes at TiasNimbas is available for achieving the PE (permanent education) requirements for Royal NIVRA (Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Registeraccountants).

Faculty

The International Executive Doctorate (DBA+PhD) is a fully-resourced programme with leading faculty contributing to both teaching and supervision. As the issues addressed by DBA+PhD researchers are real organisational problems, they tend to be cross-functional, requiring input from a number of faculty with differing expertise. This is reflected in our distinctive panel structure of up to three members of the faculty rather than a single supervisor. This ensures you will receive the most appropriate level of support.

Research Community

Support from faculty is backed additionally by the Research Centres/Groups which you will join, allowing access to a wide range of expertise with common research interests. The exciting research you will undertake open doors to linking theory with practice that has a genuine impact on your organisation.

Research Office

The programme has the added value of a dedicated administrative team headed by the Programme Manager who together with a team of administrators, provides support to all Executive Doctorate researchers from initial enquiry through to final viva voce examination. Whenever you need that vital piece of information or advice they will respond directly by e-mail or telephone. A learning portal is also available for all course materials and guidelines, accessible anywhere in the world, which is supported by the Research Office.

Supervision, Structure, Support

The structured nature of the Executive Doctorate provides a clear set of milestones throughout the four years of the programme, which enable students to evaluate their progress and to ensure that they are keeping on track to complete within the timeframe.
The strength of support from other students in the cohort is invaluable. A Cohort Leader from the academic community takes specific interest in your progress, in addition to the Course Director, Supervisor(s) and Research Training Tutors. In addition, excellent support is available from the Tilburg University Library, which is essential for international students.