Sunday, September 09, 2012

What's the difference between a Ph.D. and a D.B.A.?

After having been accepted to the DBA programme, there was a little bureaucracy to be attended to; then I was able to download the text to the first required course, "Introduction to Business Research 1". Initially I downloaded in Kindle format (mobi) but later downloaded as PDF. I am considering whether to order the printed version as in the past I have had difficulty in reading course texts on the Kindle - one can only see a small amount of 'page' and I have found it easier to read the large, printed text (not because of the font size but because one can see more at the same time, including diagrams). I looked at the PDF version a few minutes ago and this is much easier to read than on the Kindle, but I baulk at printing some 350 pages.

One of the first things discussed in the text is the difference between the degrees PhD and DBA: I thought it worthwhile to quote that text here:

The aim of the DBA is to produce applied business research professionals who can use their doctoral-level skills at senior executive level in a business environment. The term ‘research professional’ should be clearly understood. It could be said that a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme produces a graduate who is a professional researcher. He or she has developed a detailed theory or hypothesis in order to evaluate a specific piece of theoretical research. The hypothesis, or theory, could be concerned with almost any area, from molecular structure to particle beam physics. In many cases, there may be no direct application of the hypothesis or theory. To gain a PhD degree it is necessary only to demonstrate an original contribution to the knowledge base. A large proportion of PhD graduates continue their research either in academia or in non-academic organisations such as private companies and the public sector. The EBS DBA programme, in contrast, aims to produce research professionals. EBS DBA graduates are typically professional managers who are also researchers. The majority of DBA graduates will go on to work in a non-academic environment, primarily as senior managers who will not only retain their doctoral research skills but will also use them in a real and applied capacity within their organisations.

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