Our structure
The DBA is an integrated coursework and research program for management practitioners and professionals who are oriented towards making a significant contribution to practice and/or policy. DBA candidates will have a diverse range of interests. Consequently there will be scope for requisite specialisation within a general organisational and management framework. Graduates from the program are expected to make a key contribution to practice, so coursework will relate to leadership, change and process management, as well as research methodologies.
Courses in the DBA program are offered in intensive mode, and the program can be completed in a minimum period of 2.5 years full time study.
The DBA program comprises a total of 108 units, and includes the following two components:
- Coursework: Doctoral program seminars (50%).
- Research: Research review sessions (50%).
Program structure
FIRST YEAR
Semester 1
- DBA Induction Session
- Course 1: Management Research: Theory and Methodology
- Course 2: Analysis and Critique of Research-based Literature
- Course 3: International Business and Global Trends
Semester 2
- Course 4: Changes in Business and Organisational Process
- Course 5: Annotated Literature Review
- Research Review Session 1
SECOND YEAR
Semester 1
- Course 6: Management Research: Design, Methodologies and Practice
- Course 7: Research Project Proposal Development
- Research Review Session 2
- Research Paper 1: Broad Concepts and Literature Review (Portfolio) or
- Chapter 1 & Chapter 2 (Dissertation)
Semester 2
- Research Review Sessions 3 & 4
- Carry out research study & write up research findings
- Research Paper 2: Research and Findings (Portfolio) or
- Chapter 3: (Dissertation)
THIRD YEAR
Semester 1
- Research Review Sessions 5 & 6
- Write up implications for practice and finalise research portfolio
- Research Paper 3: Implications for Practice and
- Overall Integration Paper/Summary (Portfolio) or
- Chapter 4 & Chapter 5 (Dissertation)
- Submission of consolidated research portfolio or dissertation for external examination
Program progression
Candidates will be assessed and required to attain the prescribed standard of achievement in the DBA program. Substantial pre-seminar preparation and written reports, class activities/participation will be required by all courses. Therefore, seminar attendance is compulsory for all courses. Failure to attend or participate in any course seminars will result in a 0% F2 grade for the course.
Candidates must complete all course assessment requirements including seminar attendance to be eligible to pass the course overall.
Candidates must achieve a pass grade in the final assignment (post-seminar assignment) for each course to be eligible to pass the course overall.
At the end of the coursework phase, students will be accorded one of the following status :
- Completion of each course with a minimum of P2 grade with an average grade of P1 or above over the 7 courses, and on satisfactory submission of their DBA proposal with a grade of P1 or above will enable students to continue with the program as a DBA candidate into the research phase.
- Completion of each course with a minimum of P2 grade with an average of P1 or above over the 7 courses, but with submission of their DBA proposal with a grade of P2, students may be given an additional 6 weeks to revise the proposal for resubmission. However students may decide not to choose the option of revising their Research Proposal and exit the program with the degree Master of Advanced Business Practice.
- If the student chooses to resubmit their DBA Research Proposal and
fails to achieve a P1 grade or above, the following options may apply:
- Exit the program with a Masters of Advanced Business Practice; or
- Re-enrol in the DBA to undertake a course/s as determined by the IGSM Doctoral Academic Review Committee (DARC).
- Completion of each course with a minimum of P2 grade students can exit the program with a Master of Advanced Business Practice and will not be offered progression to the research phase
- Failure to satisfactorily complete each of the 7 courses would result in no award and no progression to the research phase.