Doctorate business degrees are designed for business professionals who want to make a contribution in the business and management arenas, while, at the same time, enhancing their academic and professional capabilities with recognized integrity as a leader.
Structured to give business leaders the knowledge and skills to design and deliver a comprehensive research project, these qualifications strengthen the business manager’s ability to solve complex problems through rigorous research, further developing their practical and theoretical knowledge of the principles of management and business administration.
If you already have an MBA, MSc, or MA degree in business or management and a minimum of five years’ experience in a senior role, perhaps it’s time to consider obtaining a Doctor of Business Administration from Aston University as the next step in your career. Designed to deliver high-quality business leadership tuition in a practical, research-driven environment, the degree can be taken online over a period of four to six years while you work at your own pace.
What to expect Business and management research?
Academic research is a process of detailed and methodical investigation into your chosen area of study. Besides intensive search and investigation, it involves critical analysis based on a specific question or hypothesis, and in this instance, a literature review is included as part of the module.
1. Applied research methods
Exploring the links between philosophy, theory, and research methodology allows you further your professional development by applying diverse knowledge to your management and business practice. Empirical in nature, applied research is solution-based, helping businesses find real-world solutions to specific problems, saving costs and increasing productivity. Unlike other research methods, applied research is not subject to bias.
2. Qualitative and quantitative research methods
This involves the application of the scientific methodology for the purpose of generating factual observations to solve critical problems in business. These methods are executed through a range of strategies that can be qualitative, quantitative, or a combination of both.
When pursuing further education, you will gain a thorough grounding in the principles of the two methods of research, when and how to use them, and the various data collection methods that are available.
Qualitative research, which is expressed in words, enables an in-depth insight into experiences, thoughts, and concepts surrounding topics that are not easily understood. Explore concepts and theories using methods such as open-ended interviews, observations, and literature reviews. Gain an awareness of the various biases that put this method of research at risk: observer bias, recall bias, social desirability bias, and the Hawthorne effect (this is the tendency for people to act differently when under observation).
Quantitative research is expressed in graphs and numbers, testing, and confirming theories or assumptions. The methods used include experiments, surveys with close-ended questions, and observations, all numerically recorded. Learn about the various risks involved in using these methods, such as biases related to the omission of variables, information bias, sampling bias, and selection bias.
3. Professional development and research impact
You will learn the value of impact-related research and the effect it has on the operational and decision-making processes within your business. Research is seldom easy to quantify in monetary terms. However, the impact it has on business practice is invaluable. When the focus is on the impact of a project, the best possible results are almost guaranteed, both in terms of cost and added value. The impact is measured not by the amount of work that goes into the research, but by the resulting, provable change.
4. Work while you study
An online doctorate degree is structured for business professionals who have full-time employment in business management or run their own businesses. Build your business or practice your new skills in the workplace while simultaneously studying for your online degree.
Choose a research project that interests you and is applicable to your business
The selection of a topic that suits your current business environment will undoubtedly increase your knowledge in that area, leading to further success in your business and professional life.
Mentorship by experienced business leaders
Mentorship in the business environment is invaluable for obtaining knowledge and valuable feedback regarding business practices and, in this case, your research project. You will have access to academics with research track records within the various areas of business administration, and be guided through the entire process by a leading specialist, or specialists, in the topic of your choice. It is an excellent opportunity to gain insights from an experienced individual who has done it all before, helping to improve your strategies and business ideas.
Program outcomes
By the end of the program, you will be able to do the following:
- Design and conduct a research project on a subject of your choice.
- Apply advanced scientific methods such as data science, forecasting, and prediction.
- Manage the collection, analysis, and organization of information.
- Contribute to developing new models and theories.
- Write and present research and reports to non-technical audiences.
- Make strategic business decisions based on research data and the analytical tools at your disposal.
Become an expert in your field and lead with confidence, using your newfound research methodologies to aid you in future business management projects.
Apply ethical business practices by creating a culture in your organization whereby decisions positively impact it and its people, living up to the expectations of stakeholders. Build a sustainable business that promotes the ethics and legal obligations of all involved.
The business world is changing rapidly, and in order to remain competitive and successful, it is important to keep up to date with technology and emerging methodologies, to strive for excellence in your field of expertise, and to keep on learning.
