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The School of Business encourages and fosters a rich research-oriented environment for faculty and doctoral candidates. Students can choose from a variety of topics reflecting the varied research interests of our faculty. The Ph.D. Program is intended to prepare students to conduct original research; i.e., to explain phenomena previously not well understood and then to test proposed explanations empirically.
Boston University
Boston University’s PhD in Business Administration & Management program trains scholars to develop and test management theories that contribute to management education and practice. Students acquire advanced knowledge of literature and theory in their major area of specialization as well as solid grounding in a minor (for example, a social science discipline such as sociology, economics, or political science) that broadens their foundation. Students also gain theoretical and practical knowledge of advanced research skills, essential for publishing in leading academic journals.
The PhD in Business Administration & Management program ensures that students develop an appreciation of the role of their research domain in managerial and organizational contexts and can translate their learning from scholarly research into effective teaching. Our faculty, which has earned worldwide recognition for its scholarly and applied research, is the school’s major resource for doctoral education. Their commitment to advancing management knowledge through research published in top journals, and improving the quality of teaching, enables them to effectively mentor doctoral students, who, in close collaboration with faculty, are part of the intellectual capital of the school.
The PhD curriculum has the following learning goals. Students will:
After matriculation into the PhD program, a candidate for the degree must register for and satisfactorily complete a minimum of 64 graduate-level units at Boston University. More courses may be needed, depending on departmental requirements.
The curriculum provides the graduate with a combination of major and minor foci which incorporates both the depth and breadth of knowledge and research skills required to contribute to management research. It creates the capacity for learning and innovation in the face of rapid changes in the social, economic, technical, and political contexts of management. The curriculum has the following specific learning goals:
Students must:
The minimum course requirement is 16 courses (64 units).
Research Methodology & Methods Core | 5 | 20 |
Major area | 5 | 20 |
Minor area | 5 | 20 |
DS 906 Philosophy and Science of Research | 1 | 4 |
Course choices must be approved by the department liaison prior to registration each term. The department liaison must also approve whether courses will be accepted as meeting the requirements for classification as major, minor, or research methodology courses. In the fall of the first year, all students are automatically registered for DS 906 Philosophy and Science of Research. All students must take a noncredit teaching intensive prior to the start of their third year.
Candidates are required to complete five courses in research methods and design. Students, with the advice and approval of department liaisons, will choose these courses. Courses may be taken at the Questrom School of Business or may be selected from appropriate courses offered in other disciplines at the University.
At least two of the five research methodology courses must be taken from the following list of approved Methods Core courses:
Students must acquire advanced knowledge of literature and theory in their area of specialization (the major). Such competence is gained by coursework, participation in seminars, and independent study. Candidates must complete five doctoral courses in the major area and pass a qualifying examination at the end of their coursework.
Students are encouraged to choose a minor that draws on one or more of the social sciences that management theories draw on: for example, sociology, psychology, economics, and political science. Minor area courses may be selected from doctoral-level courses, including independent studies, from any department at the Questrom School of Business (other than the major area), or from other graduate departments at the University. The five-course minor may also be custom-designed as an interdisciplinary conceptual area with the advice and consent of the department liaison. For example, a student may define the minor as “human behavior” and take five doctoral-level courses in psychology, anthropology, and sociology to meet the requirement.
All students are required to take QST DS 906 Philosophy and Science of Research.
Note that this information may change at any time. Read the full terms of use .
Boston University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
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At the turn of the 20th century, the world was industrializing at a rapid pace. Businesses were growing larger and more complex, with more employees working in more diversified divisions spread across more geographical boundaries.
As a result, demand grew for people who had special training in managing the general operations of a business, which led to the creation and proliferation of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
More than 100 years later, MBAs have become a commodity that no longer serve organizations’ core needs.
In today’s age of data and information, knowledge has become the most valuable resource. Companies don’t necessarily need more general managers who can assess broad patterns across multiple industries—they need people with deep expertise in specific domains who can analyze data and generate unique insights that lead to better business decisions.
That’s why Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) holders are becoming increasingly valuable in the modern workplace.
DBA is a professional degree representing the highest level of qualification in management. In contrast to an MBA, it takes students on a different path toward acquiring and using business knowledge.
For an MBA, students spend two years taking a broad range of practical courses to learn about several pillars of business—such as accounting, finance, marketing, leadership, operations, strategy, and ethics—to help them become effective leaders across many industries.
By contrast, DBAs spend up to two years studying academic literature across several domains and up to two additional years designing and executing an original research project: a dissertation focused on one domain. The primary goal of a DBA is to produce scholarly individuals who have deep expertise in a field of management.
When seeking executive-level positions, DBAs’ “Dr.” titles are likely to help them stand out from their peers. DBAs can also pursue high-level positions in areas such as consulting by becoming subject-matter experts—or maintain ties with academia as full-time or adjunct professors.
DBAs’ training gives them diverse career options. The academic literature they read gives them expertise in understanding management theories that can help them analyze real-world situations and differentiate the signal from the noise. A DBA specializing in innovation can assess whether newcomers to a market pose a credible threat as a disruptive innovation to an existing company.
Students then learn advanced scientific techniques in quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies, which trains them in analyzing data to generate valid inferences that their organizations can use for decision-making purposes. Rather than relying on gut feel and graphs, DBAs can use powerful techniques such as sampling data to reduce bias, using statistical regressions to identify the strongest factors that influence an outcome, or designing an experiment to gain 100% certainty over the causal relationship between variables.
Finally, DBAs combine their business knowledge with analytical skills to design and execute original research studies, making them the world’s leading experts in particular domains.
DBAs also stand out because they represent only 2% of all people who hold higher degrees in business. In 2021, more than 250,000 students graduated with MBAs or specialist degrees in business; only 5,000 graduated with doctorates.
While a DBA may represent an attractive option that can be highly valuable to organizations today, they are not necessarily recommended for everyone.
To help you determine whether a DBA is right for you, the most important question to ask yourself centers on whether you’re satisfied with the tools and frameworks you use to analyze data and information to make important business decisions. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where these frameworks come from—or whether there might be a better way to make decisions—consider applying to a DBA program. These programs are designed to channel deep intellectual interests and passions toward producing business knowledge that’s both theoretically novel and practically relevant.
DBA training may help you develop deeper knowledge than an MBA program will while opening doors to more ambitious careers in industry or academia. While MBA degrees are designed to meet the needs of 20th-century businesses, DBAs can help meet the needs of organizations today—and well into the future.
Learn more about how earning a DBA can help you step up your career.
At the intersection of innovation, technology and business, Saunders faculty consistently publish their research in elite journals across the following three Ph.D. specialty areas.
Learn more about Saunders Research , faculty expertise and published scholarship from Business Administration Ph.D. program faculty.
Our faculty members have expertise in a variety of areas and their research often reside at the intersection of technology and data. Faculty regularly collaborate within and outside of their discipline and publish in premier journals in the field. The following areas broadly represent faculty research interests:
Research Spotlight - Digital Transformation, with Emi Moriuchi
Research Spotlight - Digital Transformation, with Sean Hansen
Research Spotlight - Digital Transformation, with Ali Tosyali
Research Spotlight - Digital Transformation, with Manlu Liu
View Digital Transformation Ph.D. Faculty for Digital Transformation
Our faculty members have a broad research expertise in finance and accounting. They have published research papers in a myriad of research topics and you will have the opportunity to explore the following fields.
Research Spotlight - Finance and Accounting, with Archana Jain
Research Spotlight - Finance and Accounting, with Ashok Robin
Research Spotlight - Finance and Accounting, with Rong Yang
View Finance and Accounting Ph.D. Faculty for Finance and Accounting
Our faculty members have expertise in a variety of areas and their research often reside at the intersection of management, strategy, and innovation. Faculty have published research papers in a myriad of research topics that address some facet of strategic management with a particular focus on technology and innovation. You will have the opportunity to partner with faculty members in the following areas:
Research Spotlight - Strategy and Innovation, with Richard DeJordy
Research Spotlight - Strategy and Innovation, with Zhi Tang
Research Spotlight - Strategy and Innovation, with Clyde Eiríkur Hull
Research Spotlight - Strategy and Innovation, with Ettore Spadafora
View Management, Strategy, and Innovation Ph.D. Faculty for Strategy and Innovation
Degree Options
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100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Are you a business professional looking to take your career to the next level? With Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration, you can strengthen your management skills and learn how to develop research-oriented solutions to complex business problems. The knowledge you gain throughout this program can help equip you to handle various challenges in the field. Additionally, this degree can help prepare you to teach at the college level and train up the next generation of business leaders.
This doctoral business administration program covers several core topics in the field – such as strategy formulation, marketing, and human resource management – while also allowing you to select a specialization in an area that interests you. By pursuing a specialization, you can tailor your degree to match your unique career goals and further hone your expertise to meet the demands of the business world.
We’re excited to partner with you as you take this important next step in your professional journey. Apply today and prepare for exciting new opportunities with an online doctorate in business administration from Liberty!
This doctorate in business administration online is broken down into 4 main parts: core business administration courses, specialization classes, research courses, and a dissertation. Within the core courses, you can learn how to strategically allocate financial resources, oversee supply chains, market for competitive advantage, and manage human resources. You’ll also explore how to apply strategic thinking and strategy development to a variety of business settings.
From there, you’ll be able to select a specialization in an area that interests you. From executive coaching to entrepreneurship, we offer a variety of specializations that can help you hone your skills and pursue your unique career goals. Whether you want to launch a new company, mentor other business professionals, manage supply chains, or bolster your leadership skills, you can get the niche training you need to prepare for your future.
Additionally, you will complete several courses in qualitative, quantitative, and applied research methods. Then, through a sequence of 4 courses, you will research, write, and defend your dissertation – giving you an opportunity to conduct original research and contribute valuable findings to your field.
Liberty has been a pioneer in distance learning since 1985. A lot has changed since then, but our commitment to offering a flexible, accessible, and high-quality education has not. Our PhD in Business Administration program is offered 100% online, and the courses have no set login times. At Liberty, you’ll have the freedom to fit your studies into your schedule and maintain your commitments to your job, family, and community while pursuing your degree.
One of our most valuable assets is our faculty. Our professors have years of business experience and advanced degrees in related areas of study – and they are committed to equipping you with the knowledge and skills you need to take the next step in your career. With their guidance, you can prepare to make important contributions in your field and display excellence as a leader in business.
Maybe you’re wondering whether an online degree offers the same rigor and credibility as a residential program. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ( SACSCOC ) – so you can rest assured that we offer a world-class education designed to help you stand out to employers and pursue your goals with confidence.
Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America
At Liberty, you can customize your doctorate degree in business administration by selecting a specialization in an area that interests you. Check out your available options below!
Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration – Entrepreneurship can help you gain an advanced understanding of how to start and run your own business.
View the Degree Completion Plan .
Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration – Executive Coaching can help equip you to mentor other business professionals, so they can develop their leadership skills and lead their organizations to success.
Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration – Leadership can help enhance your leadership skills as you learn how to manage teams, foster innovation, and navigate ethical dilemmas in business.
Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration – Supply Chain and Logistics explores how to oversee supply chains on a global level – so you can help ensure that goods and services are created and delivered in an efficient manner.
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
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This Best Ph.D. in Business Administration ranking lists the most prestigious and highest academic degrees from around the country focused on business and management research. A Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., in Business Administration is a postgraduate degree offered by business schools and business faculties at colleges and universities across the nation. Professionals who complete a Ph.D. can enjoy an array of significantly superior career prospects. Graduate students and professionals interested in leadership research, administration, academia, consulting, and entrepreneurship will find that a Ph.D. in Business Administration is the exciting finish line.
Many universities around the nation offer Ph.D. programs. It is common for doctoral students to specialize in Business Administration, Social Sciences, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Medicine, Sustainability, Humanities, and the Arts. Like in all other areas of concentration, Ph.D. in Business Administration holders are considered to be experts in their field. If you are interested in this type of doctoral degree, this ranking contains some of the best you will find in the nation.
This is a consensus ranking of the best Ph.D. programs in business administration. What makes this ranking a great tool for prospective students is that we use data from five prestigious ranking systems. This means that students get a broad view of the best programs available, separate from any one particular organization’s priorities. These are not the best according to one person. They are the best according to everyone.
This list shows the most prestigious programs across the board. Ranking scores were weighted equally, averaged, and converted to a score on a 100-point scale to reveal the degree’s Consensus Score.
Data for our ranking order was collected from:
There was a significant change in the ranking order from the 2020 ranking. We used our consensus methodology from our MBA program rankings, giving us a comprehensive view of business schools with the best brands. This methodology change only kept five business schools from our previous ranking. But you will see that this ranking lists the most prestigious Ph.D. programs from around the country.
Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.
One of the nation’s best Ph.D. in business administration programs is offered at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. Enrolled students discover a focus and intensity more significant than they have thought possible. Stanford Graduate School of Business Ph.D. students are inspired and challenged to explore complex questions and novel ideas.
Stanford’s Ph.D. program develops outstanding scholars for careers in teaching and research at leading academic institutions worldwide. Doctoral students embark on a meaningful and challenging experience. Students focus their academic study in one of seven fields within the Ph.D. program. Solid Ph.D. candidates are full of curiosity and ideas, with an aptitude and passion for research. Candidates preparing to embark on a rigorous career in research and develop their full potential are invited to explore the possibilities of a Ph.D. in business administration. Accepted applicants receive full fellowships for their doctoral studies. There is a lot to love about this Ph.D. in business administration.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 650-723-2831
AACSB Accredited: YES
Ph.D. Website
Harvard University delivers an excellent Ph.D. in Business Administration through the Harvard Business School. The doctoral program in Accounting and Management falls under the Ph.D. in Business Administration. It focuses on the role of information systems in allocating resources among organizations and between individual departments. This degree also deals with monitoring and rewarding managers’ performance, formulating and executing strategy by managers, and understanding the profitability of business units, suppliers, products, customers, and distribution channels.
Prospective candidates apply to the Ph.D. in Business Administration and select Accounting as their field of study. Ph.D. students work closely with professors in the Accounting and Management Unit. Research there encompasses Management Accounting and Financial Reporting and Analysis. Harvard’s programs are full-time degrees which officially begin each August. Students are expected to complete their doctoral program in five years. The first two years are for coursework, at the end of which postgraduate students take a field exam. The final three years are spent on dissertation research and writing.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 617-495-6101
The Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago provides a Ph.D. in business administration. The Stevens Doctoral Program at Chicago Booth is the elite destination for intellectually curious and analytical individuals wanting to earn a doctorate in business from one of the world’s best business Ph.D. programs. Chicago Booth Ph.D. students explore and cultivate their research interests from day one—wherever they lead them. In partnership with a distinguished faculty, doctoral students develop their ability to conduct groundbreaking research.
Program finishers graduate with a business Ph.D. and the tools to succeed academically and professionally. The Stevens Program is competitive and highly rewarding. Approximately 20–25 Ph.D. students enroll each fall from an applicant pool of over 1,000. Graduates are highly sought after at the world’s top institutions of higher learning, at leading global businesses, and in government. This full-time program takes five years to complete. This Ph.D. in business administration is worth a second look.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 773-702-3760
Northwestern university kellogg school of management.
A Ph.D. in business administration program is available at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Program designers understand undergraduate students are introduced to a field and become aware of its unexpected complexities and nuances. They believe students acquire an intellectual framework that allows them to embrace and accommodate complexities as they strive to make sense of the world at the doctoral level. As business leaders progress, their novel insights help others make sense of the world. This Ph.D. in business administration allows leaders to contribute to knowledge. Northwestern’s doctorate is rigorous, immersive, and rewarding.
Enrolled students in the Kellogg Ph.D. program master an academic discipline—data science, economics, psychology, sociology, or operations research. They apply that mastery to real-world issues facing policymakers and managers. This discipline-based approach prepares Ph.D. students to challenge conventional wisdom with fresh ideas, models, and empirical findings. These business leaders foster an enduring impact on organizations and communities.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 847-491-5279
Columbia University’s Business School features a Ph.D. in business administration program. Management Doctoral students learn to apply basic social science knowledge and research methods to organizations, their members, and their environments. The program prepares doctoral students for careers in scholarly research. Graduates take jobs primarily in academic and research institutions worldwide. The Management Division at Columbia Business School trains scholars to become academics at the world’s most prestigious institutions. The business school’s placement success is due to the close working relationship students develop with the instructors in the division.
The school keeps the Ph.D. program small so students can find faculty collaborators and thrive. Columbia Business School’s doctoral community includes 125 students across six programs. The program attracts learners from across the globe looking to develop research skills under the tutelage of industry experts. Students come to Columbia for the exceptional training. They value the creativity, entrepreneurship, diversity, and social tolerance that NYC features. Ph.D. students enrolled in this excellent business administration degree love it.
Admissions Email: 212-854-6729 Admissions Phone: [email protected]
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management features a Ph.D. in business administration. The hallmark of the MIT Sloan Ph.D. Program is rigorous, discipline-based research. The doctorate program is committed to educating scholars who will lead in their research fields. Doctoral students with outstanding intellectual skills who conduct productive research on organizational, financial, and technological issues thrive in this program.
Program designers understand today’s economic environment is characterized by an increasingly challenging and competitive business world. Ph.D. studies at MIT Sloan are intent on business leadership. This Ph.D. in business demands a great deal of time, initiative, and discipline from all candidates. The rewards of such hard work are tremendous. MIT Sloan Ph.D. graduates teach and conduct research at the world’s best universities. This Ph.D. program’s curriculum is organized under three academic areas. Students gain exposure to Management Science, Behavior and Policy Sciences, and Economics, Finance & Accounting.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 617-253-3400
Yale University’s Yale School of Management offers a Ph.D. in business administration. This Doctoral Program is a selective course of study for advanced students planning to pursue scholarly careers in management. It matches scholars with some of the most renowned instructors in their fields. Only a select handful of students are admitted each year. This small on-campus program encourages close interaction between Ph.D. candidates and staff. Students and faculty members collaborate on scholarly papers and research projects.
This Ph.D. in business administration program takes three to five years for a candidate to complete. Most students satisfy all program requirements in four to five years. The initial study focuses on the core underlying disciplines. This content is followed by a course developed in consultation with senior instructors and the Director of Graduate Studies. The curriculum includes coursework at Yale SOM with research and preparation for the qualifying exam in a student’s specialization. Yale School of Management is tightly integrated with Yale University. Ph.D. students study across the university, providing essential skills and different perspectives. This Ph.D. is one of the nation’s best.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 203-432-2771
The University of California, Berkeley delivers one of the country’s best Ph.D. in Business Administration programs at the Haas School of Business. This Ph.D. program offers six fields of academic study for a curriculum of unique richness and depth. Since the program enrolls less than 20 new Ph.D. students each year, doctoral students get the opportunity to work very closely with instructors and experts in their chosen specialties. The close partnership, coupled with the diverse cultural and academic backgrounds of Haas’ Ph.D. students, fosters an environment of intellectual curiosity and close collaboration.
Berkeley’s Haas Ph.D. is strongly oriented toward research and discipline. Emphasis is placed on preparing doctoral students to evaluate the state of knowledge in their particular fields and advance them by applying theory from statistics, the social sciences, and mathematics. After applying to the program, business school candidates must choose a field of study, which will determine coursework and focus on future employment opportunities. Students may choose from the areas of Accounting, Business and Public Policy, Finance, Marketing, Management of Organizations, and Real Estate.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 510-642-7405
Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business offers a top Ph.D. A Ph.D. in Management is where advanced education and business research intersect. Doctoral students enrolled in the program become industry thought leaders while preparing tomorrow’s business leaders. Cornell’s fully funded Ph.D. in Management is perfect for ambitious students and professionals wanting careers in university teaching and research.
This is a residential program. It is based at Ithaca, New York’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. This doctorate combines Ivy League rigor and real-world relevance to prepare students for successful academic careers. There is a solid focus on management science and applied research. The doctoral degree is perfect for anyone looking to teach at the university level and contribute to the body of industry knowledge. Pursuing a Ph.D. in Management is an ideal next step for senior managers and executives wanting to transition to academia or enhance research skills for successful consulting careers.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 607-255-5820
The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia features a Ph.D. in business management. It offers an intellectually demanding advanced program for a select group of high-potential applicants. This degree is distinguished by its top-ranked instructors and world-class research centers. The doctoral program trains students as academic researchers capable of contributing to cutting-edge research in business and management. Program leaders give students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed as professors.
The Ph.D. program features a deliberately small size. Darden’s open-door research ecosystem fosters high emotional and intellectual engagement with the world’s leading business leaders and thinkers. There are many unmatched benefits to this program. Doctoral students focus on ethics, scientific freedom, and friendly and productive relationships with instructors. The business school offers an individual approach to Ph.D. students with unconditional support and a diverse student cohort. Darden faculty are always willing to collaborate on research projects with Ph.D. students.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 434-924-3900
The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan offers a Ph.D. in business administration. This advanced degree prepares students for scholarly positions at top global universities. Enrolled students generate impactful research as they seek new solutions to business’s most complex issues. You can immerse yourself in one of seven doctoral areas of study based on academic career goals and research interests. All Ross Ph.D. graduates were offered positions over the past few years. Most program graduates received tenure-track assistant professor positions.
Over the five-year Ph.D. in business administration, doctoral students acquire the advanced knowledge and research skills needed to achieve academic and professional success. As admitted postgraduate students, learners receive five years of merit-based financial aid. This support includes a full tuition waiver, health insurance for themselves and their dependents, and stipend packages. This advanced degree has a lot to offer.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 734-764-8129
The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University offers a Ph.D. in Business Administration. This program prepares candidates for teaching and research careers at leading educational institutions and expert careers where advanced analytical and research capabilities are needed. At Fuqua, doctoral students develop close working relationships with leading scholars in their fields in a collaborative and stimulating learning environment. Business school leaders encourage strong collaborations between faculty and students, both within their academic area and across various disciplines, to better foster the groundbreaking interdisciplinary research Duke University is known for.
The Ph.D. program focuses on three critical development areas to prepare doctoral students for their careers: independent inquiry, competence in research methodology, and communication of research results. From the start, postgraduate students will be introduced to rigorous coursework and Fuqua faculty’s research activities. In this Ph.D. degree program, students work with our world-renowned instructors who are recognized for excellence in teaching and research.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 919-660-7862
The Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University offers a Ph.D. in business administration. Many business schools can boast of adequate Ph.D. programs. However, many lack the collaborative culture that the Stern School cultivates. The business school develops individual student-to-faculty and student-to-student relationships. NYU Stern nurtures students’ innate curiosities. Program directors teach doctorates to use the research tools required to solve issues they address. By the end of this program, post-graduate students have become faculty colleagues. Program graduates are transformed into trained scholars capable of doing research at the same level as professors.
NYU Stern doctoral students enter a highly motivated community of scholars. These students thrive in an atmosphere of creative collaboration and intellectual rigor. The Ph.D. student body consists of over one hundred full-time students across all departments and stages in the program. The business school employs over 200 full-time research faculty. The Stern Ph.D. program is one you will want to take advantage of.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 212-998-4500
The University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management offers a Ph.D. in business management. Enrolled students live in a city of innovation. They study within the university’s top-notch research facilities. Program designers have built a program where students cultivate deep and lasting relationships. The best researchers and educators of this generation present a solid curriculum. Post-graduate students gain the skills to solve complex management issues.
UCLA Anderson gives Ph.D.s the support they need to embark on a groundbreaking research career. This program changes how people see business in the future. Instructors help students advance their understanding of business through rigorous research. Where else can you have the chance to train with world-renowned scholars alongside the next generation of researchers? Ph.D. students have UCLA’s resources and attributes as a world-class research institution available to them. If you are ready to work alongside UCLA Anderson’s highly celebrated instructors, this is the Ph.D. for you.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 310-206-3411
The University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business has a Ph.D. in business administration. This is one of the premier business programs in the world. It boasts a diverse and outstanding group of instructors and a student-centered culture. The business school has achieved stellar success in placing graduates in faculty jobs at the nation’s top business schools and abroad. Marshall instructors are top-tier professionals with a passion for research and academia.
Marshall Faculty ranks highly in the world of publication output in the best business journals. Many instructors are thought leaders in their profession. Their experience conducting innovative and influential research is a benefit to Ph.D. students. During recent years, Marshall has engaged in a successful and aggressive strategy to recruit top researchers in business. Enrolled students explore their research interests and take advantage of the programs, classes, and centers offered within and outside of Marshall. This Ph.D. in business administration is ripe with opportunity.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 213-740–1111
The Goizueta Business School at Emory University features a Ph.D. in business administration. Leaders at Goizueta believe that hands-on discussion, research, and collaboration between faculty and students create the solid faculty of tomorrow’s top business schools. Students come from everywhere to attend the highly competitive program. Ph.D. candidates push business thinking and theory forward to make their impact on the business world. Goizueta seeks applicants with superior intelligence and a healthy work ethic.
Emory’s business school is among the best business programs in the country, with programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Doctoral program graduates fill faculty positions at elite business schools. Goizueta leaders have access to the resources of Emory University, a major world-class research school. Business school leaders believe that hands-on research, collaboration, and discussion between students and faculty create tomorrow’s best business school leaders. Many international students attend this highly competitive program. Ph.D. students looking for one of the best programs in the world will find it at Emory University.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 404-727-6036
The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University offers a Ph.D. in business administration. Doctoral graduates and instructors at the Tepper School share an impressive legacy of groundbreaking research and global recognition. The staff includes nine Nobel laureates. This Ph.D. is a small, serious-minded program. Post-graduate students benefit from close working academic and social relationships with students, faculty, and advisors.
There are eight focused fields of study within this doctoral program. The business school also offers joint Ph.D. degrees with world-class schools and colleges across the university campus. This well-designed Ph.D. trains tomorrow’s business thinkers and leaders. Enrolled students learn to anticipate and address future business needs. They learn to think boldly, challenge preconceived notions, and do the needed work. Tepper’s doctoral program hosts next-generation researchers. Program graduates transform society’s collective intelligence into The Intelligent Future of Business.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 412-268-1319
The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill features a Ph.D. in business administration. This rigorous, five-year program excels at training scholars to produce high-quality research as instructors at top universities. The Ph.D. program is intentionally small-sized. Program designers’ essential focus is close student-to-faculty collaboration and mentoring. Enrolled students reward their initiative and tenacity with a top-ranked doctoral program that prepares them for a rewarding and successful academic career.
If you are looking for options, you can develop into a research expert in one of six areas of study. Each specialization positions Ph.D. students with career options they may never have thought possible. Enrolled students benefit from the business school’s international reputation as one of the world’s best academic centers of innovative tax and accounting research. The idea of conducting high-impact research that advances our understanding of business may excite you.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 919-962-7772
The University of Washington has a Ph.D. in business management at the Michael G. Foster School of Business. This elite Ph.D. Program in Business Administration is a research-based degree. Program architects train scholars to be knowledgeable about developments on the frontiers of their discipline. The curriculum encourages students to contribute to advancing knowledge needed in business education and practice. Well-equipped business leaders can skillfully convey information to students and practitioners.
Washington created the program for students interested in academic careers. The training is also helpful for students seeking research positions in government, business, and consulting firms. The Ph.D. program in Business Administration at the University of Washington is perfect for those wishing to pursue academic careers. The program provides postgraduates with the tools to conduct top-quality research in their areas of expertise. The program’s first two years are coursework-based. Foster’s Ph.D. in Business Administration is an elite program.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 206-685-2630
The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin offers a Ph.D. in business administration. Program leaders understand that the path ahead is long and challenging for many professionals, with twists and a detour or two. Postgraduate students who are ready to dedicate their time and energy to pursuing this academic degree will appreciate this program. A Ph.D.’s four to six years are exciting, exhausting, and demanding. When students see the next step of their academic career come into view – it is immensely gratifying.
Texas McCombs is one of the nation’s most distinguished business schools at a world-renowned public research university. The business school features five acclaimed Ph.D. programs and over two dozen specializations that support interests and goals. Program leaders are uncompromisingly committed to a PhD’s academic career. This business administration’s renowned faculty, impeccable resources, and exceptional mentoring combine to produce sought-after graduates. This Ph.D. will set you up for a career’s worth of success.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 512-475-7391
Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business delivers a Ph.D. in business administration. This Ph.D. program is for those who aspire to be elite business school professors. Rice’s doctoral program in business is perfect for those aspiring to become faculty members at prestigious business schools and research universities. Students engage in coursework and research as part of their training. As graduation approaches, Ph.D. students interview for professor positions, hoping to start careers as assistant instructors at business schools worldwide.
Assistant professor careers include conducting research that gets published in well-respected, peer-reviewed academic journals. Professors impart management wisdom informed by research in the classroom. This well-rounded Ph.D. would be an asset to anyone’s resume. The program’s strategic management content reinforces coursework in the base theories of strategic management. The field of management studies big-picture issues managers deal with, like deciding what industries to enter.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 713-348-4002
The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School features a Ph.D. in business administration. Enrolled students experience innovation, leadership, and collaboration in business education. There are many reasons to pursue this PhD. The curriculum gives students access to world-renowned instructors whose expertise spans business knowledge and disciplines. Wharton faculty encourages doctoral students to explore ideas and cross disciplinary boundaries. Ph.D. students share their research interests and their pursuit to create understanding.
Completing a doctorate at Wharton requires five years of full-time study. It consists of two years of classes followed by research. The first few years in the program are for taking courses and exams and starting research projects to prepare students for admission to candidacy. The program in each discipline has individual requirements. Students wrapping up their degrees conduct research full-time. They write and defend their doctoral dissertation. This Ph.D. is rigorous, but students emerge as leaders in their field.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 215-898-4877
You can join one of the nation’s top-ranked Ph.D. programs at the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech. Enrolled students gain the confidence they need to create groundbreaking work. Ph.D.s conduct research, educate others, and direct the business world forward within this full-time, five-year program. Georgia Tech’s Scheller Ph.D. program gives postgraduates the tools to think and work independently. These students conduct groundbreaking research while finding innovative solutions to business issues.
From business administration to organizational behavior, doctoral students choose from seven concentrations to match their interests and goals. You can demonstrate your abilities to conduct high-quality work by hitting milestones throughout the completion of the degree. Successful completion of a Ph.D. program demonstrates high-quality, independent academic work. Ph.D. program milestones guide students in their training to determine the continuity of the program. Georgia Tech trains tomorrow’s business leaders.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 404-894-1610
Washington University in St. Louis delivers an excellent Ph.D. in Business Administration at the Olin Business School. The University’s business school is one of the nation’s leading research universities, with a faculty whose research work consistently ranks among the highest in the business school realm. Olin faculty members are recognized worldwide for their essential contributions to the discovery of new knowledge. The business school also takes great pride in its commitment to excellence in teaching.
Olin’s Ph.D. in Business students are guided by highly prolific researchers who are among the U.S.’s top scholars. Instructors work closely with doctoral students to develop their research skills, often nurturing one-on-one mentoring relationships that may include co-authoring research papers and projects. The development of strong problem-solving abilities equips Washington University in St. Louis students to strategically address complex business problems. This results in new ideas and innovative thinking for research that adds value to the academic community and business world.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 314-935-7301
One of the nation’s best Ph.D. in business administration programs is featured at the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. The Simon Business School has a solid track record of mentoring Ph.D. students to become leaders in their fields. These highly sought-after graduates are known for their robust analytical skills and research performance. Ph.D. students at the business school form a strong foundation in statistics and economics to deepen their understanding of state-of-the-art tools and concepts and tools.
Doctoral students in business administration collaborate with the world-renowned faculty to explore the process of modern business and economic research. This work fuels their successful independent research. Students take Operations Management, Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Marketing coursework. Students can customize their degrees depending on their skills and goals. Program leaders are known for excellence in innovation, research, and instruction. Instructors guide Ph.D. students to master mathematics, statistics, economics, and data science. If you are ready to dive into business administration, this program might be for you.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 585-275-2959
The Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame provides a top Ph.D. in business administration. Everyone knows a Notre Dame education includes unparalleled opportunities to refine your business skills and acumen and put them into practice, solving real-world business issues. This Notre Dame graduate business degree is grounded in analytics. Ph.D. students understand how to use the data to make better business decisions. Instructors guide learners in amplifying their strengths and emerging with the skills needed to accelerate business careers. Doctoral students learn to make ethical decisions and impact their world for the better.
Notre Dame believes that building careers in business means understanding how organizations and industries can serve the greater good. Ph.D. students are given the keys to act with the moral courage to make it happen. The business school’s approach to building business knowledge is unique among elite graduate business schools. The process begins with a curriculum based on ethical decision-making and the core values.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 574-631-7706
A Ph.D. in business administration program is at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Enrolled students become experts in their fields. PhDs can design, conduct, and defend their research. Areas of study within the business administration program include:
Program leaders know that planning and preparing for a meaningful academic career requires time and support from professionals who understand what it takes. Kelley School of Business faculty inspires Ph.D. students to turn thought-provoking scientific research into knowledge that drives business practice and develops the academic discipline. Doctoral students work with faculty and peers after entering the program. These professionals learn to communicate complex ideas as instructors. All PhDs work to become experts in their field as they design, conduct, and defend their research. This doctoral in business administration degree has it all.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 812-855-8853
The University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management features a top Ph.D. program. The business school grants a Ph.D. in Management Science degree. Doctoral students use economics, statistics, behavioral science, and mathematics to conduct rigorous scientific research. The terminal program encompasses theory and empirical analysis. It is characterized by a high ratio of research instructors to students. The program’s environment fosters close working relationships that produce excellent results.
The Management Science Ph.D. degree program allows students to choose a study concentration. Doctoral students dive deep into Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or Operations Management. The program’s core and elective courses give students an understanding of management principles. Coursework includes a study of business theory and practice. Ph.D. seminars expose students to traditional and emerging research issues. Early in their graduate work, learners are encouraged to join faculty research projects with experienced professors. This Ph.D. in business administration at UT Dallas is worth its weight in gold.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 972-883-2270
The University of Maryland, College Park’s Robert H. Smith School of Business features a Ph.D. in business administration. Today’s international economy is driven by accelerating change. The business world needs cutting-edge scholarship that challenges the marketplace and gives thinkers, practitioners, and policymakers evidence-based tools and strategies. This Ph.D. in business administration transforms our models for leading, managing, innovating, and succeeding. The Smith School of Business Ph.D. is a collaborative, research-oriented community of academics. Enrolled students enjoy its breadth of business knowledge.
Program leaders help students launch their careers as academic leaders. The curriculum inspires contributions to discovering and distributing scientific knowledge through research and teaching careers at top universities worldwide. All Ph.D. students benefit from the diverse, world-class experience. They collaborate with faculty on groundbreaking, relevant research long after graduation. Students typically complete the full-time program in five years. Learners spend two years on coursework and three years on a dissertation. This Ph.D. in business administration will set you up for future success.
Admissions Email: [email protected] Admissions Phone: 301-405-3644
The Mays Business School at Texas A&M University offers one of the nation’s best Ph.D. in Business Administration programs. Admission to this Ph.D. program is open to all qualified individuals who hold an undergraduate or a graduate degree. The review process includes assessing factors including an accredited academic degree and a GMAT or GRE score, and more. Business school candidates can elect to center their studies in a specific area. Organizational Behavior/Human Resource Management. This specialization focuses on the analysis of human behavior within complex social systems and organizations. Strategic Management deals with the roles and issues of top management groups and strategy formulation and implementation.
This Ph.D. at the Mays Business School has a five-year limit for completion, with 64 semester hours required after a master’s degree and 96 hours required beyond an undergraduate program. Doctoral students and their advisory committees may schedule coursework beyond these minimums. Texas A&M University’s Ph.D. in Business Administration’s management curriculum contains five different research focuses: Accounting, Operations and Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Finance, and Management.
Are you interested in becoming a business professor or pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration? There are several reasons why this is an excellent idea, including job security, intellectual stimulation, a lucrative income , flexible work conditions, and more. Given the current shortage of individuals holding a doctoral degree in business administration and the increasing demand for their services, now is an excellent time to consider pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration.
In today’s business, the number of new doctorates is less than the average of positions available. This tendency is due to three current realities:
According to a survey conducted by AACSB International , demand for Ph.D.s in business schools rose slightly in 2006 while the overall vacancy rate rose to 6.8 percent. At the same time, the estimated growth in business faculty positions for 2007 was 4.7 percent. Overall, the shortage of business faculty staff members is predicted to reach 2,400 in the coming years.
The staff shortage has resulted in more attractive salaries for faculty at business schools. Combined with additional payment for activities such as summer teaching and research, consulting, sponsored papers, executive program teaching, textbook writing, and presentations, business administrators enjoy healthy incomes.
Professionals with this type of degree can become economists, C-level executives, financial managers, and educators. Professionals working in traditional areas of executive business leadership will often experience more high-pressure roles within their organizations. University professors, however, enjoy many lifestyle and work privileges that are not typically found in other professions.
Significant intellectual and professional autonomy allows for an atypical degree of freedom in defining workflow and developing academic activity areas. Nine-month contracts in higher education allow professors the freedom to travel and experience alternative teaching, consulting, and research assignments. Tenured faculty in higher education have employment that provides unprecedented job security.
The opportunity to teach high capacity students, undertake research, and develop professional relations with colleagues across the nation and world is unrivaled in most other professions. Being a professor also means searching for knowledge that will make a mark on society and business practice. Through research and teaching, a Ph.D. in Business Administration can significantly affect the industry by influencing organizations to become more efficient, innovative, and profitable. They can also contribute by creating jobs and economic prosperity at the national level.
Ph.D. programs prepare students to conduct specialized scholarly research. Most Ph.D. in business administration graduates enter careers as university professors, senior researchers, or consultants in business or government.
A business professor teaches college students various subjects that help them manage or start a business. Business professors give their students the specific knowledge required to earn degrees offered by business programs at institutions of higher learning. Good business professors are naturally analytical, curious, outgoing, patient, and resourceful.
Business analysts are also called business systems analysts, enterprise analysts, business architects, and functional analysts. These professionals use data to suggest ways that organizations can operate efficiently. They gather and analyze information to develop and investigate potential solutions and system improvements. Business analysts use data modeling techniques to help businesses improve their processes.
The two main degree designations offered by business programs are the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) . In an earlier business education era, the DBA was regarded as providing broad exposure to business subjects geared towards practice. Simultaneously, the Ph.D. was thought to focus more on research in a given business realm. Over the years, the distinction between these two degrees has become blurred at many business schools.
Today, the Ph.D. is more widely available at business schools than the DBA, particularly in the United States. Most Ph.D. programs require full-time enrollment, while it is more common for DBA students to complete the degree on a part-time basis.
While requirements vary among programs, many do not require that doctoral students have a graduate degree in business. There is no specific requirement to have business work experience either. However, students lacking a business background or degree will likely have to take foundational business courses.
Once you have completed your undergraduate degree or MBA, you point your academic career to a Ph.D. in business administration. But how do you get started? What are business schools looking for? And what can you be doing to prepare yourself for the application process?
Step #1: Submit a Graduate Application found on your favorite B-school’s website. After perusing the program that excites you, it’s time to start the application process. Applications have never been easier to find and complete online. Business schools have different prerequisites, but all are looking for the same thing – a quality match between student and program. There might be an application fee, but many doctoral programs waive the requirement .
Step #2: Request your official transcripts be mailed electronically to an email the B-school gives you. Admissions directors want to see who they are dealing with. Those transcripts will reveal your past academic performance, showing that you have made the grade while taking relevant courses to ensure your academic success. Transcripts also show if you need to brush up on any foundational courses that Ph.D. in business administration students have benefited by taking in the past.
Step #3: Look for specific admission requirements and courses. Business schools provide general requirements and some specific needs based on the degree you are pursuing. Rest assured, your favorite program lets you view its admission requirements and courses from a current graduate catalog.
To be admitted to a top Ph.D. program, applicants must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to the university and the other requirements listed. Ph.D. requirements typically include the following needs:
Admission decisions for Ph.D. programs are made by college-level admissions committees in consultation with the respective faculty in each area of concentration. Committee members make determinations concerning the probability of a student’s projected success. Ph.D. applicants need to provide materials that will help make those decisions.
Most of the top programs in our ranking offer tuition waivers that cover all or most of the Ph.D. program. These Ph.D.s are full-time, residential programs with strict guidelines on no outside employment. Because of this, many schools additionally offer yearly stipends to offset their students’ living expenses while in the program.
School | Fully Funded Tuition | Stipend | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Stanford University | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
Harvard University | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
University of Chicago | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
Northwestern University | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
Columbia University | ✔️ | ✔️ |
If you are not enrolled in a program with a tuition waiver and stipend, you might be wondering about how to pay for your program. Here are some factors to consider in making a Ph.D. in business administration and comparing costs:
Personal considerations, including geographical location and educational preferences in a specialized field of interest, are criteria that will help narrow the range of possibilities. One primary concern is whether a particular business school has staff who specialize in the prospective student’s study area.
Students may assume that all schools offer similar types of emphases and pay relatively no attention to the faculty’s specific research interests. This may cause unfortunate surprises once a student enrolls in a doctoral program.
Even among leading postgraduate programs at the nation’s top research universities, there are significant differences in what areas schools have national and international recognition for teaching and research. Potential students should research faculty interest areas at all schools being considered.
Publications that offer rankings of business schools should be viewed with an understanding of their goals and priorities. All rankings are subjective to each entity’s priorities and goals. Some focus on cost, some on college support, some on peer review, and some on student reviews. Ranking exposure should never substitute a student’s own research and investigation, but only to aid as a tool.
A crucial selection factor to consider is accreditation. Accreditation is a viable measure indicating that knowledgeable peers from a neutral institution have determined that a school’s program meets accreditation standards for:
Most non-profit colleges and universities in the nation hold institutional accreditation conferred by regional accrediting agencies. Within the field of business, separate specialized accrediting agencies grant business accreditation to business schools or individual business programs. Among the top is AACSB . Selecting a business school accredited by AACSB is an assurance that the institution provides a high-quality education.
Unlike bachelor’s or master’s-level work, where highly structured learning and individual courses with many different instructors are the norms, doctoral education places a higher premium on self-directed learning and closer relationships with fewer faculty members in a particular area of specialization. On average, Ph.D. programs will take five to six years to complete and involve the intense study of academic journal articles and original research writings. Doctoral students often forge close friendships with faculty mentors. These mentors work closely with students to:
Returning to school to study business administration is a fantastic investment in your career. All business-minded professionals know you can’t make an investment and check out. To be successful at a Ph.D. in business administration requires hard work, persistence, and grit to ensure it pays off. Here are some ways doctoral students can make the most of their degree and time as business students.
People pursue a Ph.D. in Business Administration for various reasons, as it offers unique benefits and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Many individuals pursue a Ph.D. in Business Administration to engage in rigorous research and contribute to the academic field. They aspire to become professors or researchers, conducting in-depth studies and publishing their work in academic journals.
Pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration is a journey of personal and intellectual growth. It offers an opportunity to delve deeply into a specific area of interest, expand knowledge, and develop critical thinking skills. A Ph.D. program allows individuals to specialize in a specific area of business administration. This specialization enables them to develop deep knowledge and expertise in their chosen field, such as finance, marketing, organizational behavior, or strategy. This level of specialization can make them highly sought-after experts in industries, consulting firms, or think tanks. Some individuals pursue a Ph.D. in Business Administration to enhance their leadership and consulting skills.
For many, obtaining a Ph.D. in Business Administration is a personal achievement and a symbol of dedication, perseverance, and intellectual rigor. It is a significant milestone that brings a sense of personal fulfillment and sets individuals apart as experts in their field.
A degree like a Ph.D. in Business Administration is an opportunity that has much to offer in terms of intellectual stimulation, future income, lifestyle, and many other attractive characteristics. It is a challenging and rewarding journey that opens doors to a wide range of opportunities in academia, research, consulting, and leadership roles.
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Home Blog Business Management 400 Trending Business Management Research Topics in 2024
Business management is crucial for competitiveness and profitability in today's fast-paced world. It involves understanding business structure, finance, marketing, and strategy. Pursuing a postgraduate course, like PGDM, often requires a well-researched paper to launch one's career. The main challenge is selecting a relevant, trending research topic. To assist, here are ten current business management research topics for 2024, focusing on technological advancements and innovative leadership strategies. Enrolling in Business Management training courses can further enhance your skills and knowledge, propelling your career to new heights. Let's explore these cutting-edge topics together for career growth.
A. business management research topics for business administration.
Every aspect of business, like strategy, finance, operations, and management, is essential. So, it’s hard to say that a particular area of research is more significant. Choosing the best research topic in business management within your area of interest or specialization is one way to decide what your business management research project will be about. It is also a learning process and an opportunity to showcase your in-depth knowledge.
But if you want to explore other options, write about trending issues and events in the business world, and learn something new, here’s a list of 10 research proposal topics in business management that can help you create an engaging and practical project. You can also take a CCBA training certification to learn more in-depth about business management.
With businesses going global, team management has escalated from merely managing people to guiding, mentoring and resolving conflicts among individuals. Teams with multicultural members from different departments are fertile ground for conflicts. If you are looking for international business management research topics, conflict management in work teams is an excellent option.
This research will give you an insight into the various causes of conflict and different techniques and methods of conflict resolution within global multi-lingual and multi-cultural teams enabling you to lead teams successfully and keep disruptions minimal. Better teams translate to better productivity and, eventually, revenue. On the personal front, it means career growth, leadership roles, and higher pay scales for you.
In contemporary society, women have made notable strides in shattering patriarchal norms and embracing diverse opportunities and career paths, thereby demonstrating their strength and autonomy. While women encounter challenges in assuming leadership roles, often stemming from prevailing cultural attitudes, their presence in business management positions is more prevalent than commonly perceived. This prompts inquiry into the factors that contribute to the exceptional success of certain women in managerial positions and the unique value they bring to such roles. Exploring this subject through qualitative research could yield insightful findings regarding women's impact on business management.
The COVID-19 pandemic drove everyone online and created a new digital startup ecosystem. However, while it may be easy to set up a digital business , sustenance, scaling, and growth are some of the challenges that follow. If you are entrepreneurial, your research title about business management should read something like “Challenges in the startup ecosystem.” Such research covers issues that affect the management of business startups. It covers the various factors that lead to success and the pitfalls and obstacles on the growth trajectory. It covers effective strategies to mitigate or work around challenges, and this is where you can get creative. Limiting your research to startups is okay, but you can also cover significant ground across other business models.
Work-life balance is the buzzword in today’s business environment. If you choose to write your thesis on the impact of excessive work in business, it could well escalate to international levels as everyone talks about employee well-being, from corporates to SMEs and top management to HR.
The single most significant reason behind this is the instances of early burnout seen in the past. Secondly, globalization is another cause for concern since people are often required to work multiple shifts. Lastly, the recent trend of post-Covid layoffs that have driven the need for side hustle makes it even more necessary to keep track of how hectic business operations are.
Failure is the steppingstone to success. Or so the saying goes. The recent outcrop of start-ups has proven this to be true. If one venture fails, do not give up. Learn from the experience and start again. Not only is that the mantra of the current generation, but it is also among the trending quantitative research topics in business management.
The main objective and outcome of this business management research topic are to explore lessons learned from failures, the advantages of starting afresh, and the strategies for overcoming the fear of failure.
This research focuses on managing global networks in leadership roles. It is among the hot favorite research topics for business management students considering how businesses are going global. If you are an aspiring global entrepreneur or leader, you would want to know more about local and global inter-organizational networks, how things work, how people communicate, etc. Researching inter-organizational leadership and networks can provide insights into businesses' challenges and opportunities when building and maintaining relationships. Managing these relationships is another challenging part of the process, and that is what you will learn through this research.
Not only is crisis management a critical leadership skill, but today's turbulent business environment is fertile ground for an organizational crisis. Globalization, digitization, and the startup ecosystem have disrupted the environment. Barring corporates, a crisis can strike any business at any time and bailing out of that crisis is the responsibility of the business leadership. Managing an organizational crisis in business is a popular business management research paper topic, especially among MBA students, PGDM, and aspiring entrepreneurs.
When it comes to research paper topics related to business management, one area worth exploring is product bundling in a strategic alliance. The ICICI credit card offered to online customers of Amazon India is a classic example.
Development of such strategic products or services requires in-depth product knowledge, knowledge of finance, and of course, a strategic mindset. If you have a strategic mindset and interest in product management, this is one of your best business management research project topics.
Innovation and Network marketing is an emerging and strategic business model for startups. When entrepreneurs need more resources to raise seed or venture capital for their businesses, they elect to market their products through networking. Social Media platforms like Facebook offer substantial networking opportunities. Choose this probe as your quantitative research topic for business management if you have entrepreneurial aspirations to understand every aspect of this business model and strategy in depth.
Social enterprise is any business having a social objective and undertaking activities in the public interest. Writing a research paper on social enterprises and entrepreneurship will lead you to explore opportunities that can bring an innovative change in society and hold business potential. One thing to remember if you want to explore social enterprise and entrepreneurship as one of several business management research titles is that the organizational goal is primarily social impact rather than revenue generation. This research will make you more open to an inclusive idea of growth by bringing you closer to social causes, marginalized communities, and people thriving in them.
This is just our list of hot and trending business research topics. To help you discover more research project topics on business management, here are some quick-follow tips:
Start by making a list of the various aspects of business management that interest you. Rate them on a scale of 1-10, with one being the least liked and 10 being your most favorite. You can also narrow down your topic to a specific niche while seeking sample research topics in business management.
You might want to conduct preliminary research on a few of the topics you shortlisted to see if something interesting jumps out at you. One way to do this is by reading academic journals related to your selected area of business management. Findings by earlier researchers may trigger innovative thought.
Attending business events like seminars, conferences, and webinars on topics of interest can help you narrow down your list of research topics related to business management. It is also an excellent way to gather knowledge about your area of interest as well as to grow your network.
Your thesis supervisor is a valuable resource when searching for the best research topics in business management. They can guide you about relevant research areas and help you identify potential research questions apart from guiding you on research presentation.
Many research journals online allow students access to research papers either free of cost or in exchange for a small fee. Explore this resource and sign up for a few that are relevant to your area of interest.
Business research, like any other research, involves the collection of data and information about your chosen topic, analysis of the information and data gathered, and exploring new possibilities in the field.
Broadly speaking, research may be of two types – Quantitative or Qualitative. Quantitative research, also called empirical research, involves the collection of data from sample groups to answer a question. Qualitative research has more to do with the impact of certain phenomena. Such research is usually an extension of previously researched topics.
The table below highlights the difference between quantitative research topics in business management and qualitative research about business management.
Criteria | Quantitative Research Methods | Qualitative Research Methods |
---|---|---|
Data Collection | Numerical data | Non-numerical data such as words, images, and observations |
Purpose | Investigate cause-and-effect relationships, test hypotheses, and generate statistical models | Gain an in-depth understanding of complex phenomena, explore social processes, and generate new theories |
Sample Size | quantitative research topic for business management requires a fairly large sample size | qualitative research topics in business management have a comparatively small sample size |
Analysis Techniques | techniques such as regression analysis or correlation analysis | Content analysis or thematic analysis |
Examples of Research Topics in business management | "The impact of employee satisfaction on customer Loyalty" or "The relationship between Corporate social responsibility and financial Performance" | "The Experiences of Women in top leadership positions" or "The Impact of organizational culture on employee motivation" |
The world of business management is constantly evolving and finding the right business management research topic might seem like a Herculean task. But, with a little thought, planning, and some research, it is not that hard. So, the 90 topics we've explored in this blog represent some of the most significant areas of development in the field of business management today, from the rise of women as business leaders and to the importance of innovation and network markets. As we move into 2024 and beyond, it's clear that these topics will only continue to grow in importance, shaping the way we do business and interact with the world around us. By staying informed and engaged with the latest research and trends, you can position yourself as a thought leader and innovator in the world of business management.
Also, our pointers on how to discover a business management research topic will help you identify a list of research topics in business management for your thesis. You can then narrow it down to your area of talent or interest. If you still want to know more, you can enroll in our KnowledgeHut's Business Management training , where you’ll learn more about the different aspects of business.
An example of a business research study could be investigating the impact of social media marketing on consumer buying behavior or examining the effectiveness of a new leadership development program in a company.
The 4 types of business research include:
Business management is wide in scope, and there is a spectrum of research topics to choose from. The most prominent areas of business include finance, operations, procurement, marketing, and HR. Within each of these, you’ll find several macro and micro niches to explore.
Mansoor Mohammed is a dynamic and energetic Enterprise Agile Coach, P3M & PMO Consultant, Trainer, Mentor, and Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in Strategy Execution and Business Agility. With a background in Avionics, Financial Services, Banking, Telecommunications, Retail, and Digital, Mansoor has led global infrastructure and software development teams, launched innovative products, and enabled Organizational Change Management. As a results-driven leader, he excels in collaborating, adapting, and driving partnerships with stakeholders at all levels. With expertise in Change Management, Transformation, Lean, Agile, and Organizational Design, Mansoor is passionate about aligning strategic goals and delivering creative solutions for successful business outcomes. Connect with him to explore change, Agile Governance, implementation delivery, and the future of work.
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Doctorate of business administration (dba), phd research project.
PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.
This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.
The bradford executive doctorate in business administration (dba), self-funded phd students only.
The PhD opportunities on this programme do not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.
Business Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.
Awaiting funding decision/possible external funding.
This programme is waiting to confirm funding from a university or external source. This may depend on attracting suitable students and applications are welcome. Please see the programme details for more information.
A French PhD usually takes 3-4 years and often involves additional training and courses alongside research towards an original thesis. This will be assessed by external examiners before being presented at a public examination and eventually awarded with one of three grades. Some programmes are delivered in English.
Funded phd programme (students worldwide).
Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.
A German PhD usually takes 3-4 years. Traditional programmes focus on independent research, but more structured PhDs involve additional training units (worth 180-240 ECTS credits) as well as placement opportunities. Both options require you to produce a thesis and present it for examination. Many programmes are delivered in English.
Research at london met, phd opportunities.
PhD Opportunities highlight some of the specific PhD projects, programmes or other information currently available from a university.
Hong kong phd programme.
A Hong Kong PhD usually takes 3-4 years; the exact length may depend on whether or not a student holds a Masters degree. Longer programmes begin with a probation period involving taught classes and assessments. Eventually all students produce an original thesis and submit it for examination in an oral ‘viva voce’ format. Most programmes are delivered in English, but some universities also teach in Mandarin Chinese.
Competition funded phd project (european/uk students only).
This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.
Social sciences research programme.
Social Sciences Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.
4 year phd programme.
4 Year PhD Programmes are extended PhD opportunities that involve more training and preparation. You will usually complete taught courses in your first year (sometimes equivalent to a Masters in your subject) before choosing and proposing your research project. You will then research and submit your thesis in the normal way.
Mapping uk’s stakeholder ecosystems of battery technologies and sustaining resilient battery manufacturing supply chains.
This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.
Pharmacokinetics guided natural products exploration for drug discovery, development, delivery and therapy.
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Are you the right fit for the Business Administration PhD at UMass Boston? The program’s distinguishing feature is the collegial spirit and noncompetitive nature of the community, where students collaborate on projects and assist each other and participate in joint research with faculty. Our informal atmosphere and open-door policy encourage students to engage in conversation with faculty or continue seminar discussions with distinguished visitors beyond the allotted class time and space.
To prepare for the academic path, students participate in a teaching seminar and practicum in their second year and then are offered opportunities to teach a variety of undergraduate courses. Career development workshops are also offered, and focus on topics such as writing research grants, the interviewing process, and delivering a successful research talk. Three distinct tracks of this program are available to suit the differing needs of PhD candidates: Organizations and Social Change (OSC) , Finance , and Information Systems for Data Science and Management .
Work for a prestigious business school as a professor or researcher. Become a consultant for a government agency whose work speaks to you. Or, use your entrepreneurial spirit and know-how to launch your own successful business. These are just a few of the possibilities a Business Administration PhD offers.
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UMass Boston's Business Administration PhD - Finance track is a full-time, in-residence program lasting 4 to 5 years. The program prepares students to be academic researchers, tenure-track professors, or for careers in government organizations and the private sector.
The finance track provides a unique curriculum. It’s taught by both accounting and finance faculty and demands competency tests in both subject areas. Additionally, the curriculum has been updated to include state-of-the-art classes in data science (natural language processing, machine learning, and textual analysis). This new emphasis on data science provides students the tools needed to differentiate their research in a very competitive area. Learn more about students' job placements .
Students accepted into the program generally qualify for a stipend ($31,000 per year for four years, subject to satisfactory academic progress) and full tuition credits. Students may also apply for grants for conference participation. Travel grants annually fund academic conference presentations. Additionally, teaching opportunities and summer internships at financial institutions are encouraged to complement the stipend.
Small class sizes (4-6 students) allow closer interaction with faculty publishing in top-ranked journals to develop research niches. We organized international conferences to signal that competence ( Corporate Social Responsibility in 2019, 2021, and 2023 ). Mindful of the teaching career – a course on teaching skills is also part of the required curriculum. Recognizing the diverse insights other disciplines may bring, students can attend classes from two additional tracks of our PhD Business Administration program – the Organizations & Social Change and Information Systems for Data Science track. Competency tests in Accounting are also part of the required curriculum.
The finance program track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a full-time doctoral program specializing in areas such as:
The program is designed to give students a solid foundation in finance, economics, accounting, and econometrics in the first year through coursework. The intensity of the coursework takes into consideration that applicants come from multiple disciplines. To proceed, students take a qualifying exam in the summer of their first year. The second year is dedicated solely to seminar courses, with some covering investments, asset pricing, corporate finance, and accounting. Courses are designed to prepare students for taking on instructor duties in their third year.
View the Finance Track curriculum.
Our faculty has published in the most prestigious journals in finance and accounting. Recent publications include articles listed in the FT-50 list of the highest-ranked journals in business, including in Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Management Science, Journal of Accounting Research, Accounting Review, Journal of Business Ethics, and Journal of International Business Studies.
Learn more about the Accounting & Finance faculty.
Data analytics has become a critical need in industries ranging from health care and financial services to marketing and government. Leveraging the strengths of the College of Management's faculty, the University of Massachusetts Boston is offering a cutting-edge and flexible doctoral program in this field.
Positioned at the intersection of technology, business, and strategy, UMass Boston's Business Administration PhD - Information Systems for Data Science and Management track allows students to have a holistic view of data science and its role in the competition. Students will get exposed to various state-of-art research streams in information systems and data science, with a relative focus on data analytical techniques from a design science perspective and the application and management of data analytics in business settings from an organizational perspective. The program offers students the flexibility to investigate other topics they find interesting in data science and technology fields.
All students with master's degrees who are interested in information technology and data analytics are welcome to apply. Students with degrees in quantitative fields such as statistics, economics, math, computer science, management sciences, information systems, and other related disciplines are particularly encouraged to apply. A master's degree in these related fields is a plus, although not required. Previous full-time working experiences in related positions are also a plus.
Rapid increases in the amount of published data results in a data deluge that imposes significant challenges in data analytics. By offering a carefully tailored combination of courses in information technology, applied statistics, and business analytics, our PhD program provides rigorous and in-depth courses of study with emphasis on various research methodologies, tools for data analytics, and relevant academic skill sets involving research design, literature review, theoretical development, empirical validation, and academic writing. Our program also provides students with extensive knowledge in the various emerging research areas in information systems (IS) field through IS research seminars and research collaboration opportunities with faculty members.
Academic advisors will help students configure a program of study which includes a rigorous sequence of courses in a variety of research methodologies, theories, and topics. Students will develop theoretical and methodological competencies in a variety of topics in the field of information systems and data science. Students will develop teaching competences through the teaching seminar, GA assignments to support a professor, and independently deliver courses. In addition to course work, students will actively engage in research with faculty members.
View the Information Systems for Data Science and Management curriculum.
More than a dozen dedicated faculty members are devoted to student learning, with additional faculty serving in supporting roles. They are leaders in their fields who regularly publish scholarly articles in top academic journals. The program involves close, apprentice-like working relationships with faculty members, and students are introduced early to the world of conferences and publishing. Doctoral students are paired with faculty advisors based on their area of interest. This intense mentorship program allows students to learn the crafts of research and teaching in a highly collaborative environment. A sampling of faculty projects includes:
Learn more about faculty and their research.
There are two main career opportunities for the individuals graduated from this program. They can pursue a career in academia as a faculty member or join an organization as a data scientist. In the first case, they can educate other data scientists and conduct state of the art research to be published in peer-reviewed journals.
For the second, students can become data scientists who use the acquired knowledge to excel the effectiveness of data collection and analytics in their organization and improve its competitiveness in today’s economy.
UMass Boston's Business Administration PhD - Organizations and Social Change (OSC) program has gained a strong international reputation for its distinctive focus on issues at the intersection of business and society and its explicit commitment to diverse perspectives, theories, and methodologies. The program examines how business and organizations structure societies, economies, and our identities, sometimes in harmful ways, but also how business and organizations can be engines for positive change.
This full-time, on-campus program is led by a high-quality faculty who are committed to supportive supervision and mentoring of students. Students are eligible for four years of financial support and enjoy opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects. Graduates of the program, which is primarily designed to train students for academic careers, have secured positions in well-known universities, while others have pursued successful careers in consulting and nonprofits.
The program is part of the AACSB-accredited College of Management at UMass Boston. The university is guided by a mission of social justice and community involvement. It is an extraordinary place to learn about the relevance of business and organizations in addressing societal issues.
The Organizations and Social Change program track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a full-time doctoral program specializing in areas such as:
Prospective students with prior degrees in management, sociology, economics, political science, or other relevant areas are encouraged to apply. Most successful applicants have a master’s degree. Prior research experience (e.g., data analysis, literature reviews, academic writing) is highly recommended. Students accepted into the program are offered full tuition credits and a $31,000 stipend to help defray living costs for up to four years. Travel grants annually fund academic conference presentations.
View the Organizations and Social Change Track curriculum.
Doctoral students are paired with faculty advisors based on their area of interest. This intense mentorship program allows students to learn the crafts of research and teaching in a highly collaborative environment. Students are introduced early to academic research and publishing. Current and former PhD students of the OSC track regularly publish in highly regarded journals, typically together with faculty, and have been involved in impactful community projects and action-oriented research.
Faculty of the OSC track possess international reputations in their fields and are actively engaged in academic and practice-oriented research, and publishing in highly regarded outlets on inequality, sustainability, social entrepreneurship, and diversity. Their expertise in organizations and social change brings them into close contact with business, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and nonprofits.
This year, Professor Maureen Scully was awarded the highly prestigious Joanne Martin Trailblazer Award from the Organization and Management Theory Division of the Academy of Management (2020). She also won the Donald Shephard Endowed Award for Research, College of Management, UMass Boston (2020).
Students in the OSC track will be positioned to pursue academic careers at universities and research institutions. Program graduates have successfully published in highly regarded academic journals and found excellent academic positions at institutions in North America and Europe.
The OSC PhD degree has qualified students for faculty positions in various departments, including entrepreneurship, strategy, management, and public affairs. They teach courses in organization theory, strategy, business and society, sustainability, business ethics, and international business. Several graduates have taken leadership positions in nonprofit organizations, research centers, and consulting.
How to apply.
Applicants need to submit a current résumé or CV, a statement of purpose, a writing sample, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts of all prior academic work, official GMAT or GRE scores, and, if appropriate, an official TOEFL or IELTS score. Provide these materials directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.
Writing Sample:
Please submit with your application one or two selected samples of prior academic writings. Such writings could include course papers from your master’s program, research papers, conference papers, or other types of manuscripts. Length is not important, but these typically range between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Please select papers written by you (solo-authored) that best showcase your ability to tackle a relevant research topic by using or developing analytical frameworks or theories, referencing other people’s work, and using empirical evidence (if applicable).
Applicants need to submit a current résumé or CV, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts of all prior academic work, a writing sample, official GMAT or GRE scores, and, if appropriate an official TOEFL or IELTS score.
Statement of Purpose: With your application, please submit a statement of purpose, including a mini-research proposal on an OSC topic that reflects the goals of the program. Your mini- proposal should be about 5 pages long, and it should include the following elements:
Note that you are not committing to a PhD topic at this point; your goal is to demonstrate your current thinking and capabilities in research. The mini-proposal will help us determine some of your potential interests and your aptitude for doing research.
Writing Sample: Please submit with your application one or two selected samples of prior academic writings. Such writings could include course papers from your master’s program, research papers, conference papers, or other types of manuscripts. Length is not important, but these typically range between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Please select papers that are written by you (solo-authored), and which best showcase your ability to tackle a relevant research topic by using or developing analytical frameworks or theories, referencing other people’s work, and using empirical evidence (if applicable).
Finance: We are currently not accepting applications for this track. The next admittance for this track will be for Fall 2026.
Information Systems for Data Science and Management: February 1 (priority deadline) and February 15 (final deadline) for Fall 2025
Organizations and Social Change (OSC): February 1 (priority deadline) and February 15 (final deadline) for Fall 2025
Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.
Program Cost Information: Please refer to Cost & Aid - Graduate Students for more information. For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or email [email protected] .
Core courses (6 credits).
Complete three additional BUSADM courses.
At least one course must be from below.
Complete three additional courses chosen with faculty advisor approval.
Track courses (18 credits).
Complete six additional courses chosen with approval of the faculty advisor.
Program requirements - finance track.
Complete a minimum of 57 credits from at least sixteen courses including two core courses, ten track courses, three electives, and twelve credits of dissertation research.
Doctoral candidacy: Pass qualifying exams at the end of the first and second years. Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research. Project: Complete a summer project.
Statute of limitations: Eight years.
Complete a minimum of 54 credits from at least 15 courses including two core courses, nine track courses, three electives, and twelve credits of dissertation research.
Doctoral candidacy: Pass a qualifying exam taken at the end of the second year. Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research. Project: Complete a summer project.
Complete a minimum of 54 credits from at least 15 courses including two core courses, six track courses, six electives, and twelve credits of dissertation research.
Doctoral candidacy: Pass a qualifying exam by the end of the second year. Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research. Project: Complete a summer project after the first year.
As a candidate in the Business Administration PhD, you will:
Learning Outcomes: OSC Track
The OSC PhD track will prepare students to pursue academic and research careers and have a broader impact on the world by engaging with the media and organizational practice. Students will learn how to:
Graduate Program Director Chi Wan (Finance) Chi.Wan [at] umb.edu
Graduate Program Director Ehsan Elahi (Information Systems for Data Science and Management) Ehsan.Elahi [at] umb.edu (617) 287-7881
Graduate Program Director David Levy (Organizations and Social Change) David.Levy [at] umb.edu (617) 287-7860
Finance Faculty
Accounting Faculty
OSC Faculty
ISDS Faculty
Learn more about UMass Boston's Department of Accounting & Finance, our research and our faculty.
Learn more about the faculty, research, and programs that make up our College of Management.
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What are research topics in business administration? The field of Business Administration is vast. The changes in the market and constant advancement in processes and technology have easily captured the attention of researchers around the world. If you are pursuing a degree in business administration and want relevant and credible business administration research topics or business administration dissertation topics.
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Purpose of the PhD Qualifications:
The purpose of the doctorate degree In Business Administration is to provide opportunities for deserving students from IUM and other universities who have successfully completed Master’s degree programmes in the relevant and/or related fields, and who fulfil the requirements for admission to a doctorate (Ph.D.) programme in Business Administration.
Outcomes of the PhD Qualification in Business Administration:
Holders of the PhD qualification in Business Administration are able to:
Admission requirements
To be admitted into a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Delivery requirements
The attainment of this qualification requires significant levels of self-directed study and research actions that require access to specialized research resources and/or facilities. The availability of such resources and/or facilities shall be verified by the IUM Postgraduate Committee. Students preparing for the award of this qualification must be supervised by recognized experts in the field of study. At least one of these recognized experts must hold a PhD Degree, preferably in the field of study. Supervisors allocated to students shall be approved by the Postgraduate Committee and shall act in accordance with instructions issued by the Committee and approved by the Council.
Assessment arrangements
The award of this qualification first requires the presentation and defence of a research (dissertation) proposal that is accepted by the Higher Degrees/Postgraduate Committee of Senate. As a minimum, the dissertation proposal must comply with the format specified by the Committee and be inclusive of:
a. A review of literature relevant to the proposed area of research and which clearly establishes a conceptual framework upon which the research problem is based and provides insight into existing knowledge related to the problem.
b. A clear outline of the purpose of the research study and the research questions, the relevant theoretical and/or conceptual framework on which the study shall be based, any delineations regarding the scope of the study, and defines terms specific to the study.
c. A clear outline of the research design and procedures, data collection and analysis methods to be applied, and measures to ensure the research shall be ethical and, where relevant, cognisant of the need to protect the welfare and wellbeing of any persons who and/or environs that are the subject of the research.
d. A proposed timeline for the completion of the research and the presentation of a thesis and/or associated innovative or creative works.
The award of this qualification shall ultimately depend on the recommendation made by a panel of independent experts to the Postgraduate Committee who, in applying current international standards, would consider that a thesis submitted to the panel and defended by the candidate:
a. Represents scholarly and/or innovative work significantly higher than a Master’s degree in that it represents comprehensive, systematic and in-depth mastery of knowledge, research and analysis techniques relevant to the field of study, and
b. Contributes significantly and originally to the ideas, practices and current debates at the cutting edge of the field of study, and
c. Warrants publication and/or presentation as a peer-reviewed work.
There shall be at least three examiners for each thesis. The examiners shall be experts/specialists in the field of the study approved by Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty Postgraduate Committee. At least one of the examiners shall not be an employee of the IUM and shall not have been one of the supervisors of the candidate being examined.
All the processes of the PhD programme shall be conducted under the oversight of the each faculty under the supervision and/or coordination of the Postgraduate Committee and normally all external examiners shall be senior academics at Senior Lecturer level and above with considerable experience in teaching and research at postgraduate studies level and at least three years after their PhD graduation.
Course Outline
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD) DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (NQF LEVEL 10) |
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Conceptual Analysis & Research Methodology |
Full PhD Thesis (Dissertation) |
Professional landscapes change fast, and so do the qualifications they demand. Thus, advanced, impactful degrees are a big draw for those aspiring to leadership roles and beyond. Among the most prestigious and impactful degrees for such positions are the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and the Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership (PhD).
This article will analyze the differences between the two and help guide you towards the best choice for your future.
First off, while both degrees aim to enhance leadership capabilities , each caters to different career paths and personal aspirations. You need to understand where you are and clearly envision where you want to be. Only then can you figure out the path to get there.
Whether with a DBA or a PhD in Leadership, you’ll equally advance toward the knowledge and skills required for leadership roles . They’re both good paths forward if you consider moving upward in your career.
It’s not just about having that nice “Dr.” before your name, but it sure is a big part of it. Doctoral programs grant you credibility and expertise in your field of choice.
You’ll improve at thinking critically and strategically about complex problems – undoubtedly a significant requirement for managers and directors everywhere.
Both types of programs involve research . That means you’ll spend considerable time with data, analyzing it, and drawing conclusions from it.
And then there’s the networking. If you want to move upward toward a leadership role, you’ll be happy to rub shoulders with a network of professionals, academics, and industry experts .
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Global Leadership is designed for those who wish to apply research to practical business challenges,issues, and problems. Its main qualities include:
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership is more academically inclined, focusing on theoretical foundations and research. Key characteristics include:
Deciding between a DBA and a PhD boils down to three main factors:
If you work in an industry and want to keep it that way, go with the DBA. Learn everything there is to learn and go apply it to practical problems in your area. However, if your goal is to continue doing research for a living while teaching at a university, a PhD might be a better choice.
The next question is whether you want a program emphasizing practical application or theoretical knowledge . DBA for the former, PhD for the latter.
So good so far. What about flexibility and commitment ? DBAs are better suited if you want to keep your job while working toward earning your degree. PhDs tend to be full-time commitments that demand the better part of your life for a few years. Oh, and DBAs tend to be better for online programs .
Before finishing the article, let’s highlight the story of Stevens Bonhomme and how a DBA propelled him to new heights.
Stevens graduated from CIU in 2019, with a shiny new Doctor of Business Administration in Global Business and Leadership . He kept an impressive CGPA of 3.78 and made the President’s List for high academic achievement.
One of Stevens’ top goals was to receive a doctorate by the age of 30. He achieved this at 28 while working full-time at Microsoft. Remarkably, he completed the program in just one year by doubling up on classes each term. His dissertation, titled “Adaptation of Business Strategies in Haiti and the United States – The Case of Five Culturally Diversified Small Business Owners,” spanned 150 pages and highlighted his dedication and ambition.
Stevens has held various leadership roles at Microsoft, served as an Adjunct Professor of Business at Northwest University, and is the Founder & CEO of Feedcoyote, a robust social productivity network. His journey illustrates how a DBA can open doors to diverse leadership opportunities and drive impactful change.
Both DBA and PhD in Leadership programs provide distinct benefits for aspiring leaders. Your ideal choice depends on whether your career goals are in industry or academia. Pursuing an advanced degree not only deepens your expertise and enhances your credibility but also equips you with the essential skills to navigate leadership challenges in a complex environment. For professionals managing other commitments, flexible online DBA programs , such as those at CIU, offer a practical route to achieving your leadership ambitions.
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Looking for a DBA or PhD in business and management? Find out which fields of business research present most opportunities, according to course leaders.
In the application you must indicate your top three choices of research areas, in order of preference, from the topics listed below. Top applicants will be matched with faculty-designed research project based on their indicated interests. 1. Corporate Social Responsibility research explores business impact of delivering economic, social, and ...
Students in our PhD programs are encouraged from day one to think of this experience as their first job in business academia—a training ground for a challenging and rewarding career generating rigorous, relevant research that influences practice. Our doctoral students work with faculty and access resources throughout HBS and Harvard University.
Research Topics The School of Business encourages and fosters a rich research-oriented environment for faculty and doctoral candidates. Students can choose from a variety of topics reflecting the varied research interests of our faculty. The Ph.D. Program is intended to prepare students to conduct original research; i.e., to explain phenomena previously not well understood and then to test ...
Management is a dynamic field that overlaps with many other business areas and so we strongly encourage applicants interested in Management to also explore PhDs in Strategy, Technology and Operations Management and Organizational Behavior to see if those fields would be an appropriate fit for their research interests.
The PhD in Business Administration & Management program ensures that students develop an appreciation of the role of their research domain in managerial and organizational contexts and can translate their learning from scholarly research into effective teaching. Our faculty, which has earned worldwide recognition for its scholarly and applied research, is the school's major resource for ...
DBA is a professional degree representing the highest level of qualification in management. In contrast to an MBA, it takes students on a different path toward acquiring and using business knowledge.
The PhD Program in Business Analytics and Operations focuses on research in areas such as supply chain management, business analytics, operations, and project management. Research foci include methodology development, empirical analysis, and analytical modeling. Tools from a broad base such as operations research, probabilistic modeling ...
Business Administration Ph.D. Digital Transformation. Finance and Accounting. Management, Strategy, and Innovation. At the intersection of innovation, technology and business, Saunders faculty consistently publish their research in elite journals across the following three Ph.D. specialty areas. Learn more about Saunders Research, faculty ...
This doctorate in business administration online is broken down into 4 main parts: core business administration courses, specialization classes, research courses, and a dissertation. Within the ...
This Best Ph.D. in Business Administration ranking lists the most prestigious and highest academic degrees from around the country focused on business and management research. A Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., in Business Administration is a postgraduate degree offered by business schools and business faculties at colleges and universities across the nation. Professionals who complete a Ph.D. can ...
Accounting & Management The doctoral program in Accounting and Management, which falls under the PhD in Business Administration, focuses on understanding the role of information and measurement systems for: allocating resources among firms in the economy and between departments or divisions of individual firms; rewarding and monitoring the performance of managers; formulating, executing and ...
In a DBA program, you study current research and theories about business practices, including topics like leadership and decision making, as well as how to conduct research at the graduate level. These courses typically build on content taught in MBA programs and help prepare you to work on your dissertation and residency.
Examples of Research Topics in business management. "The impact of employee satisfaction on customer Loyalty" or "The relationship between Corporate social responsibility and financial Performance". "The Experiences of Women in top leadership positions" or "The Impact of organizational culture on employee motivation".
Business Administration Ph.D. Rochester Institute of Technology USA Saunders College of Business. The Ph.D. in business administration is designed to inspire and train scholars to identify, investigate, and solve novel business challenges that influence business and society, particularly, those that are triggered by technological changes.
Are you the right fit for the Business Administration PhD at UMass Boston? The program's distinguishing feature is the collegial spirit and noncompetitive nature of the community, where students collaborate on projects and assist each other and participate in joint research with faculty. Our informal atmosphere and open-door policy encourage students to engage in conversation with faculty or ...
The PhD in Business Administration Program provides this guide to facilitate the substantive and technical aspects of those activities. The student's dissertation committee is responsible for facilitating thoughtful and scholarly development of dissertation content.
Strategy. The doctoral program in Strategy encourages students to pursue multi-disciplinary research that utilizes multiple methodologies—quantitative, as well as qualitative—to study how companies and industries around the world develop and sustain competitive advantage. Students in the program are expected to master graduate-level ...
Overview This document is designed to help you think about, structure and write a research proposal for the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme. What follows contains an overview of the purpose of the proposal together with some advice on structure and content.
Best Business administration Research Topics for your dissertation or research papers Here is a well-crafted list of dissertation topics on business administration for your help. Pick business administration research topics of your choice from the below list and start writing your dissertation.
Outcomes of the PhD Qualification in Business Administration: Holders of the PhD qualification in Business Administration are able to: Demonstrate comprehensive, systematic and in-depth mastery of knowledge, research and analytical skills used in the formulation of new, cutting-edge learning, practice principles or processes relevant to Business Administration. Demonstrate advanced knowledge ...
Prior Degrees, Current Students. Some of the greatest intellectual challenges of our time are emerging from the broad fields of business management. Harvard Business School together with the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers PHD programs that reflect the changing world of business, society, and education.
The Doctor of Business Administration and the PhD in Leadership are both prestigious and impactful degrees for leadership roles.
Business scholars at Harvard Business School investigate a wide range of topics and pursue questions relating to management, markets, finance, and organizations. Our doctoral students benefit from resources that are unmatched by any other school, including access to first-class research facilities, a generous fellowship and living stipend, and additional financial support for research and ...