module specification

This is the final module of the London Metropolitan University DBA student’s professional doctoral journey. It provides the teaching, learning and assessment framework as well as support mechanisms to enable students to complete their substantial practice-based doctoral research project. Utilising the problem-solving skills and competences that students have developed throughout the DBA programme, they must identify a practice-based problem area and/or organisational challenge and seek a solution through their doctoral project.

This DBA is designed to meet the needs of various professions and advance professional practice or use practice as a legitimate research method.

Students’ work must include a significant piece of practice-based empirical research demonstrating critical investigation, independent thought and research creativity. Students must make an originalcontribution to knowledge and practice by generating new applications or understanding that extend the frontier of knowledge in an area of professional practice.

Indicative Structure of submitted document

Students are able to select between two distinct routes to conduct your applied doctoral research project:

- a practice-based research project informed by and seeking to impact a real phenomenon in organisational or business context through knowledge creation.
- a consultancy project informed by and seeking to advise on a real organisational issue. Students will work closely with an organisation to provide a solution or deeper awareness of a defined problem through applied research.

Educational Aims

This applied module aims to enable students to:

• Integrate prior knowledge and research skills into an in-depth investigation of a specific organisational problem or issue and present the results
• Facilitate the identification of topical issues in a professional field of interest
• Assimilate theories and concepts drawn from different cognate areas and the wider organisational literature
• Develop and implement strategies in problem identification, research design, data collection, analysis, synthesis and in building evidence-based arguments
• Synthesise knowledge, experience and reflective practice to continually develop professional skills and competences
• Communicate effectively and disseminate research output and creative solutions to relevant and targeted audiences

Throughout the duration of the doctoral project, there will be regular meetings with the allocated supervisory team which will ensure that individual support and monitoring of progress takes place. 

There will be an emphasis on sharing knowledge and experience while reflecting in particular on practise-based research. Student progress will be monitored at regular intervals by the supervisory team and peer review at key stages will also provide feedback opportunities.

As members of the wider research community within the Business School and the University, students will have the opportunity to attend and engage in a wide range of research activities, training and events.  These beneficial opportunities may help students to extend networks and to draw upon a broad disciplinary base to enhance their chosen area of study.

Support with advanced research methods may be provided by the supervisory team and also via research group meetings, dedicated school and university-level events and contextual discussions, as required.

Research Ethics
Candidates are required to comply with the University’s research ethics policy which may be seen here https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/your-studies/mphil--phd-professional-doctorates/research-ethics/

All students are required to take account of university policy on the use of Generative AI
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/your-studies/student-administration/rules-and-regulations/academic-misconduct/

Assessment

The requirement for this module is to demonstrate an original contribution to knowledge or practice and the generation of new applications or understanding that extend the frontier of knowledge in an area of professional practice Students will produce a portfolio of work that presents evidence for a thorough situation analysis, systematic literature review, synthesis of extant knowledge, problem description, solution design and implementation evaluation. They will then a final Viva (oral examination). 
Doctoral Thesis Portfolio: 
• A written account of the Consultancy Project or a Practice-based Research Project (40,000 – 55,000 words) 
• Consultancy Project - Chapters-based document (typically includes 3 empirical outputs) OR
• Practice-based Research Project: 
Written up either in the format of a Thesis or Unpublished papers (typically 3: one conceptual and two empirical papers)

• Recorded Video Presentation focussed on Personal Development Journey: You will be required to prepare a short reflective video presentation (max. 15 mins) discussing the relevance of the experience gained during your DBA journey to your future career aspirations and identify any future developmental or additional research needs. This will include discussing the challenges faced during the research and development of your doctoral thesis, how you dealt with them and whether and in what ways the learning journey benefited you as a professional and an individual.
 
• Impact Report (3,000 words): You will be required to discuss the impact of your doctoral project. This will include information on how you have developed a plan for impact throughout your doctoral journey, your dissemination strategy of your findings and potential impact from your project in academic and organisational contexts over the next five years.

This is a project related module, which is organised along three stages:

- In the first stage, students will have to do a Literature Review and define the focus of their study, its aims and objectives, context and set research/consultancy question(s).
- In the second stage, students will have to design their methodology, collect and analyse their data/empirical material.
- In the final stage, students will draw on the first two stages to write up a coherent piece of work.

If required, the module team will consider adding additional support at each stage.

This module is taught (ca. 50 hours) through the format of doctoral supervision, where students meet with their supervisory teams on a regular basis to seek advice on their project and feedback on written work. The module will also facilitate peer review meetings. Support with advanced research methods may be provided by the supervisory team and also via research group meetings, dedicated school and university-level events and contextual discussions, as required.

Students will work independently and as guided by their supervisory team on their research projects (3190 hours). This will include writing and presenting aspects of their work to their supervisory teams and as part of the annual progress review process. Students are expected to plan for and seek guidance from their supervisory team during their final stage of completing their assessment and attending their Viva (360 hours).

1. Demonstrate research design capability and analysis skills in order to support your output at a doctoral level
2. Demonstrate practical impact through research and applied problem-solving techniques
3. Apply criticality in creating new knowledge and in the development of impactful solutions by expanding the frontiers of a professional field
4. Aim to provide or create new knowledge and / or solutions that may be applicable to similar contexts (e.g. product or service, function, organisation, market, geography)
5. Adhere to ethical standards in order to recognise, evaluate and minimise the risks involved in the research design and execution and its impact on the environment.
6. Be able to communicate effectively and disseminate research output and creative solutions to various audiences including contextual stakeholders

The module will include resources from academic journals, practitioner journals and books about the writing process, the creation of research impact, the publication process, the peer-review process and dissemination. It will also provide articles about effective writing, academic craftmanship, responding to criticism, avoiding plagiarism etc.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/CBEE7743-47AC-1D71-C311-310935ADDCE0.html?lang=en-GB&login=1

Suggested Textbooks:
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Bryman, A., Bell. E. and Harley, B.. (2019), Business Research Methods,  5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Carter, S., Guerin, C. and Aitchison, C. (2020), Doctoral Writing: Practices, Processes and Pleasures. Singapore: Springer.
Covington, D. (2020), Probability: Risk Management, Statistics, Combinations and Permutations for Business.5th ed. Lulu.com
Elliot, D.L., Bengtsen, S., Guccione, K. and Kobayashi, S. (2020), The Hidden Curriculum in Doctoral Education. Switzerland: Routledge.
Fulton, J., Kuit, J., Sanders, G. and Smith, P. (2013), The professional doctorate: a practical guide. Macmillan Research Skills. London: Red Globe Press.
Roberts, C. and Hyatt, L. (2019), The Dissertation Journey: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Writing, and Defending Your Dissertation. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, Ca: Corwin

Additional Resources:

• Baer, M. and Shaw, J.D. (2017), Falling In Love Again With What We Do: Academic Craftsmanship In The Management Sciences, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 60 (4), 1213-1217.
• LSE (2011). Maximizing The Impacts Of Your Research: A Handbook For Social Scientists, LSE Public Policy Group: London.
• Leblebici, H. (1996), The Art Of Reviewing And Being A Reviewer, In P.J. Frost and M.S. Taylor (Editors) “Rhythms Of Academic Life”, Chapter 27, Sage Publications: London.
• Ragins, B.R. (2012), Reflecting on The Craft of Clear Writing, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 37 (4), 493-501.
• Ragins, B.R. (2017), Raising the Bar for Developmental Reviewing, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 42 (4), 573-576.
• Van Maanen, J., Sorensen, J.B. and Mitchell, T.R. (2007), The Interplay Between Theory And Method. Academy of Management Review, Vol 32 (4), 1145-1154.