The Manchester DBA Worldwide Learn from a world of experience. Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) The Manchester Business School doctoral programme ranked no 1 by the Financial Times 2008 Are you cut out for a Manchester DBA? Manchester Business School’s DBA gives you the opportunity to pursue your academic interests whilst continuing a demanding career. The programme is offered through a blend of core modules, workshops, self-study and supervised research. Typically, our students have enjoyed high levels of success in their business careers and gained an MBA or similar qualification from a good business school. More often than not, each student’s research proposal is related to their work experience, providing an extra incentive to succeed and opening up opportunities for access to new business contacts and information. On joining the DBA programme, you will be allocated a supervisor, from over 200 within the faculty, with similar research interests. You will work closely with this individual, meeting face-to-face at least twice a year and increasing your chances of successful completion. Many joint publications between students and supervisors have resulted from their collaborations. The MBS Doctoral programme was ranked first in the world by the FT in 2008. The taught component of the DBA on how to conduct business and management research takes place in the first three blocks of residential workshops (October and February of the first year and October in the second). The remainder of the second year focusses on the candidates intended research, starting with a literature review followed by a mini project. This leads up to the preparation of the research proposal, followed by the research itself in years three and four, and the writing up of the dissertation in year five. Many similarities exist between the DBA and the Manchester PhD. The same modules and workshops are offered by the same faculty. Research and dissertation quality expectations are the same and both are defended by the student at a viva attended by external examiners. The emphasis of the DBA, however, is more focused on testing and extending existing theory than on developing new theory. Applying to do a DBA whilst continuing a demanding career is a major decision and commitment. Only the best and most motivated should apply. If you are accepted, you will find it an exciting, life-changing experience as part of a high achieving, international group with lots to share at both personal and professional levels. We look forward to hearing from you. Prof Chris Easingwood Director Manchester Business School DBA A world-class research based qualification Manchester Business School’s doctoral programme is well established and is one of the largest in Europe. At MBS practitioners can undertake a substantial piece of research work in conjunction with their professional working life. The DBA offers part-time/blended learning to senior executives who cannot or choose not to put their career on hold. Flexible, portable and international, the programme enables you to balance the demands of your career, study and family while completing a significant research undertaking. To be eligible for a place on the DBA, applicants must possess an MBA or Masters degree in a relevant subject and have achieved significant career success. Participants are often practitioners, consultants, senior executives or business owner-managers. The results of research for a PhD will almost certainly have implications for one or more aspects of running an organisation. The DBA, however, allows application of state-of-the-art knowledge to a specific management issue to directly improve the quality of decision-making. •The Manchester Business School Already established in many American universities, including Harvard, the DBA is bringing a new impetus to research and learning within commercial organisations. The course focuses less on the development of theory than a PhD, although the employment of large-scale databases is certainly not excluded. The emphasis here, however, is on the application and testing of existing theory on particular sets of cases. DBAs are also more likely than PhDs to be multidisciplinary and case-based. •Manchester Business School is in Key features and benefits Throughout the thesis you will demonstrate the usefulness of its results to one or more organisations. Apart from this more immediate practical bias of research results, the elements of the DBA are the same as for the PhD. Participants must complete the taught phase and are only registered for a DBA upon acceptance of the research proposal. Historically, substantial value has been placed by participants on the training they receive in research methods when carrying out research of a commercial nature. The programme is delivered using a blend of self-study and face-to-face teaching in years one and two, providing solid foundations for refined research methods. Your studies will typically take five years to complete, although a maximum of seven is allowed. doctoral programme is a world-class qualification, ranked first in the world by the Financial Times 2008 •Over 200 academics are on-hand as supervisors, covering a broad spectrum of research interests, many of them at the forefront of their fields the top 11% of schools to receive an RAE 5 rating •Around 34% of our DBA students are CEOs, Company Directors or Vice Presidents •Two one-week workshops in year one and two one-week workshops in year two which includes the project presentation will be spent in Manchester, providing great networking opportunities with academics and fellow DBA students “Contributing to academia whilst continuing to work in industry had been my long-term aspiration since graduation. A full-time doctoral programme, however, would have meant sacrificing my corporate profile during a mid-term career. The Manchester DBA programme offered a solution to my dilemma. I focus on a cutting edge research topic, ‘Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) at Asia Pacific Financial Conglomerates’, with the sponsorship of my employer who recognises the currency of this subject area. “The programme format allows me to observe the GRC framework closely in my day-to-day work environment. It further provides me with flexibility of contribution – informing academic knowledge Srinivas Yanamandra, Chief Manager, Compliance Group, ICICI Bank, India Learn from a world of experience Manchester Business School, since its establishment in 1965, has been a leading centre for management teaching and research. Today, it stands alongside the world’s top business schools, and is recognised as one of the strongest in terms of international focus. The University of Manchester Stretching back nearly 200 years, the University’s history is closely linked to the emergence of Manchester as the world’s first industrial city. and administering independent guided learning on a global scale. For more than a decade, individuals and corporate clients in over 80 countries have benefited from our unique programmes. With its rich academic heritage, the University of Manchester can lay claim to great traditions in astronomy, history, music, mathematics and many other areas. So the reputation of today’s University is built on the shoulders of some real academic giants. Enabling access to quality management education for career-oriented professionals, regardless of location, we now support over 2,500 MBA students and have over 2,000 alumni, which form part of the 5,000-strong MBS alumni network. As for the future, there is a bold and exciting plan in place – the Manchester 2015 Agenda, which aims to make the University of Manchester one of the top 25 universities in the world. Few cities in the UK are able to match Manchester in terms of sheer depth of cultural and business activity. A key location for international commerce, the city attracts some of the world’s biggest businesses to its high streets, offices and, of course, to its football pitches. Manchester Business School Manchester Business School is a worldleading centre for management teaching and research. The School produces research ranked among the world’s best by peer academics and practitioners, and is one of only a small number of business schools worldwide to be accredited by the Association of MBAs, AACSB International and Equis. Also highly valued is the successful and proven method of study – The Manchester Method. This unique approach replicates real-world challenges in every project that is undertaken, and sees learning directly related to professional work. It also produces confident and assured graduates who are ready to take on high levels of responsibility. Research has shown that this method not only enhances learning outcomes, but, by promoting the immediate application of knowledge, also makes study far more relevant to the complexities of actual business challenges. Research at Manchester Business School is about generating cutting-edge thinking, and then communicating it to our students and to business. MBS leads business thinking and is constantly learning from the contemporary commercial environment. Manchester Business School Worldwide Acknowledged as a leader in our field, Manchester Business School Worldwide is dedicated to developing, supporting Manchester - city of culture Home to the world’s biggest football club, Manchester United, along with its local rival Manchester City, the city is steeped in the sporting tradition. In 2002, Manchester hosted the Commonwealth Games, which brought huge investment and urban regeneration with it. The economic and cultural climate of the city has changed dramatically over the years, and some of the world’s most successful, luxury high street names have been attracted to the city. World-class retailers such as Harvey Nichols, have helped to give the city its reputation as a shopper’s paradise, while exclusive entertainment venues light up the Manchester night. The City’s food culture has taken a turn for the ‘haute’ and world-renowned chefs, including Raymond Blanc, have now opened-up restaurants here. Excellent We have the best quality teaching of any UK business school Top 15 We are constantly ranked as one of the top 15 business schools in Europe – delivering the distinctiveness you need in a competitive job market DBA programme structure Stage one: The taught stage of the programme will be completed in years one and two. Year one Year two You will begin with a week-long induction programme on-campus in October. During this period, you will also start three core modules, which will be completed during your February workshop sessions. In February, you will also commence six residential elective workshops, which are chosen from a range of options. You will continue with your elective workshops during the second year, before moving onto the literary review and mini project (a preliminary research project). The year will culminate with the research proposal. •Induction • Core modules Social research methods An overview of social science research processes and commonly used methods. Topics include problem formation, research and questionnaire design, interviewing and observational methods. Statistics This module covers the major aspects of descriptive and inferential statistics and their application in research. Philosophical issues in management (Epistemology) These seminars examine epistemological problems in management research and their roots in philosophies of the natural and social sciences. Assumptions of dominant schools are discussed in conjunction with the problems posed by the contemporary philosophy of science. • Start elective workshops ‘Typical’ options include: - Qualitative Methods - Survey Design - Case Study Methodology - Business Analysis - Comparative Case Analysis - Multivariate Statistics - Action Research - Interviewing including elite interviewing •Continue with your elective workshops •Literature project •Mini project •Research proposal •Residential workshops (years one and two) During the first two years, you will complete four week-long residential workshops on-campus at Manchester Business School. These are considered a unique feature and are distinguished by the following features: - Students and faculty meet face-to-face to put theory into practice - Management issues are addressed through exchange of ideas - There is the opportunity to network with fellow global business professionals - They enable group cooperation, presentation and interaction “I chose the DBA at MBS because it allowed me to further my theoretical knowledge, which would be useful in my profession. Supervision from and interaction with a world-class faculty also influenced my choice. My research focuses on various roles and strategies adopted by subsidiaries of multinational corporations in foreign locations, and I also look at their activities in Japan. My extensive experience as a consultant has enabled me to identify challenges faced by top management. “I will now be able to combine my existing skills with new research skills learned at MBS to strengthen my business profile. In my new position as a business development manager, I intend to learn further from my research work and put it into practice through strategy formulation and implementation.” Kazuyki Marukawa, Head of Business Development, H.C. Starck, Japan Structure of stage one and two of DBA programme Year 1 Year 2 October, 1 wk block October, 1 wk block • Induction • Core modules • Continue Elective Workshops February, 1 wk block February, 1 wk block • Finish Core Modules • Start Elective workshops • Literary Review • Mini Project Culmination • Written report & presentation (May/June) DBA programme structure Stage two: The research stage of your DBA will take a minimum of three years to complete. You will develop a research proposal and work with your supervisor to produce the thesis. The research proposal The research proposal, prepared in consultation with a supervisor, will include: •A description of the management issue •Evidence of its academic suitability •The conceptual framework for research •Justification of research methods Supervision You will need to arrange to meet your supervisor face-to-face in the UK (or possibly during their overseas visits) at least twice a year. Regular contact is encouraged through e-mail and telephone, or video conferencing, where available. The thesis Based on original research that will normally take a minimum of three years to complete on a part-time basis, the thesis is submitted at the end of the programme and should be written in a way that is acceptable for publication (either in a journal or book). The viva (the oral exam) then takes place where you justify your assumptions, data and outcome etc. Sample DBA projects Below, we have listed a few sample DBA projects that are currently in progress to enable you to consider how your own research interests may align with those of the School: •Maximising return on innovation in emerging markets •A study of governance, risk and compliance framework at Asia-Pacific financial conglomerates •Stock return predictability with book-to-market ratio •The marketing role of the distribution channel – a study of the Canadian IT industry •Localisation of Japanese engineering companies’ management of subsidiaries in China •Direct impact of corporate brands on investor choice •Assessment of the impact of e-Business on Nigerian banks •Ethical IT offshore outsourcing – do social costs matter? “My interest in governance, the functioning of corporate boards and the ethical challenges faced by corporate directors led to my decision to pursue the DBA programme. I love learning and was excited by the prospect of filling in the knowledge gaps relating to corporate boards. The first stage of the programme includes coursework on statistics, social research methodology and epistemology, which is both relevant to my work and really interesting. “Another key benefit is the opportunity to develop relationships with classmates from around the world – we are a truly international group and bring different perspectives to discussions, both inside and outside the classroom. Originally, I was considering a PhD programme, but was delighted when I discovered the MBS programme as it met all of my criteria. It offered as much rigour, demanded the same academic ability as a full-time programme, and it had fantastic research and academic credentials.” Barbara Wilkes, President, Management Initiatives Inc, Canada 200 We have over 200 academics available to act as supervisors. Many of them at the forefront of their field. 11% MBS is in the top 11% of schools to receive an RAE5 rating. Your DBA colleagues worldwide Participants on the DBA come from a broad range of industries and an even broader range of countries, giving Consulting the programme credibility amongst high-ranking Education professionals across the globe. Finance, Investment, Banking Industry background Pharmaceuticals/Healthcare IT/Technologies/e-Business Engineering/Construction Manufacturing Energy/Utilities Public/Not-for-profit 27 19 15 15 8 4 % 4 4 4 Consulting Education Finance, Investment, Banking Pharmaceuticals/Healthcare IT/Technologies/e-Business Engineering/Construction Manufacturing Energy/Utilities Public/Not-for-profit 27 19 15 15 8 4 4 4 4 Nationality % Asia North America Europe Rest of the World (including India & Middle East) 31 27 25 17 Asia North America Europe Rest of the World (including India & Middle East) 31 27 25 17 World Class The MBS Doctoral programme was ranked first in the world by the FT in 2008. 34% Over a third of our DBA students are CEOs, company directors or vice-presidents. “I’m a graduate of both Harvard University and Henley Management College, I received my distance learning MBA from the University of Hull in 1998. The DBA offers me both academic rigour and potential for practical business application. My research proposal deals with Islamic monetarisation of assets as well as Islamic securitisation techniques and conventions. Following a blended learning approach via the MBS Worldwide Middle East Centre in Dubai, I feel that the programme is a logical extension of the MBA programme, through which I can undertake a substantial piece of research work whilst remaining in a real business environment with minimal disruption. Internationally renowned, along with the quality of the school and faculty, were key factors in choosing MBS. After all, I’m investing my own money.” Dr Issam Zaid Al Tawari, Vice Chairman and CEO, Rasameel Structured Finance, Kuwait Vice Chairman, Ain Takaful Insurance, Kuwait Academic profiles Our programme leaders are revered thinkers in their respective fields, offering you academic support of the very highest calibre. Prof. Christopher Easingwood Professor of Marketing, Programme Director Chris is a leading expert in the marketing of technology and services. He has authored more than 100 papers in leading international journals and conference proceedings. In 2007, with Dr. Steve Moxey, he founded the High Technology Marketing Innovation research centre, funded by Microsoft, IBM, Vodafone and Nortel. He has held appointments at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Michigan. He joined MBS in 1981 and has been the Director of the Executive MBA and Head of the Marketing and Strategy Group. Teaching and research interests Prof. Easingwood teaches Marketing, Marketing Management in Technology-Led Environments and Research Methods. His marketing of technology research interests include product launch, product re-launch, channel competitiveness, high-tech partner relationships, channel renewal and regeneration, disruptive technology, as well as the adoption and diffusion of major new high-tech products. His 1986 article, “New Product Development for Service Companies” was, in 2007, declared one of the 10 most influential articles in the history of services marketing. His 2000 article with A Koustelos, “Marketing High Technology: Preparation, Targeting, Positioning and Execution” was declared one the 10 most influential marketing articles for 2000-2003. Prof. Pete Naude Professor of Marketing, Project Supervisor Prior to joining MBS as a doctoral student in 1988, Pete taught at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. He taught at MBS until 1999, when he joined the University of Bath School of Management as Professor of Marketing. He returned to MBS in 2005. Teaching and research interests His area of interest is in Business-to-Business Marketing and, along with many of his MBS colleagues, is closely associated with the research themes of the IMP Group (see www.impgroup.org). He and his colleagues hosted the 23rd annual IMP Conference at MBS in 2007. Publications An authority on the Marketing discipline, Prof. Naude is well respected amongst the business community and has been highly published, including two books: Business-to-Business Marketing (Naude, P., Salle, R., Michel, D. & Valla, J-P., 2003, Palgrave) and The Business Marketing Course: Managing in Complex Networks (Naude, P., Ford, D., Berthon, P., Brown, S., Gadde, S., Hakansson, L-E., Ritter, T. & Snehota, I., 2002, John Wiley and Sons Ltd.). Academic profiles Prof. Catherine Cassell – Professor of Occupational Psychology, Director of Postgraduate Research A Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Catherine has held appointments at the University of Sheffield’s Management School and Sheffield Business School. She is Chair of the British Academy of Management’s Special Interest group in Research Methodology and a former Chair of the Occupational Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society. Catherine is an associate editor of the ‘British Journal of Management’, inaugural co-Editor of ‘Qualitative Research in Organisations and Management: an international journal’, and on the Editorial Advisory Boards of four other journals, including the Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology. Teaching and Research interests Prof. Cassell teaches Research Methodology and Organisational Change. Her research interests are in organisational change, learning and development, and she has a specific interest in the use of qualitative research techniques in both management and organisational research. Together with Gillian Symon from Birkbeck she has published a number of books and articles in this area. Recently she completed a two-year, ESRC funded project, ‘Benchmarking good practice in qualitative management research’ (with G. Symon and P. Johnson) where the team developed training materials aimed at enhancing good practice in the field. She has also received research grants from a number of organisations including ESRC, EPSRC, British Academy, ERDF and the EU. Ismail Ertürk Senior Fellow in Banking, Project Supervisor Ismail joined the School in January 1987 from a merchant bank in Istanbul. From 1982 to 1983 he was a research fellow at Hull University and continued his postgraduate studies at New York University where he specialised in banking. He has taught Corporate Finance, Bank Financial Management and International Finance on the School’s MBA and Executive Centre programmes. Recent teaching reflects his research interests in financialisation and financial innovation, which he investigates as part of an inter-disciplinary team at CRESC at the University of Manchester. To view the many ‘leading edge’ profiles of academics at MBS please visit: www.mbs.ac.uk He has undertaken advisory work for companies and government institutions internationally and has developed and directed senior banking programmes for the Executive Centre. He has held visiting positions on Executive MBA Programmes at Stockholm School of Economics, St Petersburg, Istanbul Bilgi University, and ESCP-EAP, Paris. Teaching and Research interests Teaching specialisms: Banking; Bank Financial Management; Foreign Exchange Risk Management; International Project Finance; Corporate Finance; International Finance. Current research interests include financialisation, financial intermediation, financial innovation, corporate governance, executive pay, financial literacy, household financial portfolios and cultural economy. Student profiles Our student body comprises a large number of successful business practitioners, working on cutting edge research topics. We asked some of them to tell us about their personal experiences on the DBA programme. Jeff Word, Vice President of Product Strategy, SAP AG, USA Jeff is focusing on optimising corporate value from the management approach to business processes derived from globalisation and technology adoption in business. His thesis is titled, “The Event-Centric Enterprise: A Multiple Case Study Analysis and Theoretical Framework for Event-Centric Business Processes”. Since starting his DBA, Jeff has combined his role in SAP’s medium-term product strategy (3-5 years) with his research into the next generation of business process automation capabilities. This allows him to combine the academic rigor of business research with SAP’s global customers and to simultaneously influence the product strategy with his research findings. His research focuses on a new breed of business processes that have emerged as a result of the past decade of globalisation and technology adoption in business. Through careful study of the behaviour of these processes as they occur in the real-world today and a creation of a methodology to identify, classify and prioritise them, he hopes to shed some light on the huge potential for cost savings and efficiencies. Jeff believes that to be successful on the DBA, students should not expect to be handed a case to analyse or a problem to solve. He suggests that ‘doctoral training requires a very different mindset that can be difficult for someone with an MBA to adopt. The intricacies of the scientific method are sure to sound odd to an MBA, but the MBS research training programme brings you into the mindset quickly if you’re able to let go of some of the paradigms you learned in your MBA studies.’ Jonathan Giuliano, Senior Entrepreneur and Investor, USA In decades past, companies invented the products they sold. This vertically integrated innovation process was constrained within the company and closed to others. Jonathan’s research, thus, focuses on open innovation, in which companies seek and employ both internal and external ideas, technologies and paths to market. application. The programme also offered Jonathan the opportunity to learn and test ideas, develop new ones and prove them, as well as allowing him, through the dissertation, to make a unique contribution to the progress of business administration as a professional practice, a contribution that can benefit people throughout the world. His work focuses on how people organise to acquire, develop and market innovation as well as the intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights and know-how) that constitutes the basis for the innovation. He came to MBS because he was impressed by its long-standing reputation as one of the world’s best business schools, which he believes is derived partly from its excellence in doctoral programmes and partly due to its truly global student body and focus. The DBA has improved the quantity and quality of the diverse sources from which he can learn and provides a unique structure for rigorous academic study and practical Admissions Applicants will need a recognised MBA or Masters to gain entry onto this programme, however, those who do not hold formal academic qualifications may still apply if they have extensive management experience. Overseas students whose first language is not English may be asked to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), which is available through the British Council. Should language problems arise during the first stage, then the satisfactory completion of an approved English language course may be required prior to stage two registration. You must submit a three-page outline of your proposed research with the application. It is recognised that ideas will be provisional at this early stage, but you must give an indication of your area of interest to allow the School to judge your interests and match them to those of an appropriate supervisor. Wherever practical and appropriate, applicants are asked to visit the School for interview by members of the faculty. If this is not possible, a telephone interview will be scheduled. Making your application Deadline for applications In the first instance please forward a copy of your CV and a draft research proposal to dba_admissions@mbs-worldwide.ac.uk. This will be reviewed by our Academic Director and an invitation to apply will be sent to you, if you are suitable. For full details of application deadlines please visit http://www.mbs-worldwide. ac.uk/programmes/dba/default.asp for entry to the taught stage in October. Applicants should also: •make prompt arrangements for the IELTS test, if necessary •secure references from at least one member of faculty at a previous institution – all referees must be told that the applicant is intending to pursue doctoral studies •nominate an industrial referee, if you are employed in industry •include relevant course transcripts or certificates with the application •include an up-to-date cv Suitable candidates’ application forms will be circulated to the appropriate faculty as soon as possible after they are received. Whilst every effort is made to find the ideal supervisor for each candidate meeting the programme’s entry requirements, demand is heavy and sometimes the applications of well-qualified candidates prove unsuccessful through lack of supervisory capacity. Because applications may be sent to several different members of faculty, the application process can sometimes take two or more months. We will update you on the progress of your application within one month of receiving it and at regular intervals thereafter. For an informal discussion regarding making an application to the programme, please contact one of our dedicated Course Counsellors at dba_admissions@mbs-worldwide.ac.uk or phone them on +44 (0)1248 672 279/270. United Kingdom Manchester Business School Worldwide Unit E Llys-y-Dderwen Parc Menai, Bangor Gwynedd LL57 4BL United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1248 672222 Fax: +44 (0)1248 672201 E-mail: dba_admissions@mbs-worldwide.ac.uk Hong Kong Manchester Business School Worldwide 6th Floor, Wilson House 19 – 27 Wyndham Street Central, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 25264694 Fax: (852) 2526 4910 E-mail: mba@mbs-worldwide.edu.hk Singapore Manchester Business School Worldwide 1 Phillip Street 07-00, Singapore 048692 Tel: (65) 6538 4344 Fax: (65) 6538 4404 E-mail: mba@mbs-worldwide.edu.sg Malaysia Manchester Business School Worldwide Sunway University College No. 5, Jalan Kolej, Bandar Sunway 46 150 Petaling Jaya Selangor, Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: (603) 7491 8622 ext. 8125 DID: (603) 7491 8625 Fax: (603) 5635 8633 E-mail: marie@sunway.edu.my Website: www.sunway.edu.my Middle East Manchester Business School Worldwide Dubai Knowledge Village Block 6, 1st Floor PO Box 502907 Tel: (971) 4 365 8313 Fax: (971) 4 360 4505 E-mail: middleeast@mbs-worldwide.ac.uk Caribbean Manchester Business School Worldwide Jamaica Institute of Bankers 39 Hope Road Kingston 10 Jamaica, West Indies Tel: (876) 978 6212 Fax: (876) 927 9405 E-mail: jiobinfo@jiob.org.jm Brazil Manchester Business School Worldwide Rua da Candelária, No6 Centro-Rio de Janeiro–RJ–Brazil Tel: 55 21 2197-5100 Fax: 55 21 2197-5200 E-mail: fgvonline_mbs@fgr.br www.mbs-worldwide.ac.uk