DBA Thesis
| Module title | DBA Thesis |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEMD003 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 360 |
| Module staff |
Module description
The final three years of your studies will comprise your individual research and thesis development. You will have identified a specific challenge on which to base your thesis (for the Thesis Proposal and Presentation module) and are expected to exit the programme with a body of research that could support you to achieve publication in top academic journals.
You will have regular contact with your assigned supervisor throughout, as you plan and undertake your research and develop your thesis. Your supervisor will review your progress on a regular basis and provide feedback, however your studies will be largely self-led and there is no formal assessment point until you submit your thesis and participate in a viva (a personal defence of your work to independent examiners) at the end of your studies. The final thesis should have a word count of around 60,000 words.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is for you to create and interpret new knowledge through original research of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of your discipline and merit publication. You will write a Dissertation as a single text with a maximum of 60,000 words, which will be submitted for examination along with an oral viva. Your Dissertation must be to a peer-review standard and be suitable (for example in a condensed form) for publication in a peer reviewed journal or as a book, even though you do not necessarily have to have had it accepted for publication. Your thesis should be original work, and not be published in alternative forms or undertaken in respect of any other course or written prior to commencement of the doctorate.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Produce a piece of substantial original research at a peer reviewed publication quality standard.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 2. Evidence great depth and systematic understanding of a substantial body of knowledge in managerial research.
- 3. Synthesise new approaches to contribute to the development of methodology and understanding in managerial research practice.
- 4. Communicate complex information clearly and effectively.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Analyse and manage the implications of ethical dilemmas, adjusting the research design in light of unforeseen problems, and actively work with others to formulate solutions.
- 6. Manage complexity, incompleteness, and contradiction.
- 7. Function independently and self-critically as a learner, using a wide range of learning resources to aid the creation and interpretation of new knowledge.
Syllabus plan
Your topic will be determined by your areas of research interests and must be approved by the University of Exeter Ethic committee.
With the help of your supervisor(s), you will formulate a research thesis. You may also have assistance from field collaborators. With the assistance of your supervisors/field collaborators and your peers you will carry out your research, analyse your data and write your thesis.
You will have one to one supervision with your supervisor(s) to discuss your ideas, put them into practice, analyse your data and formulate your conclusions.
Usually, you will complete your research and write your thesis by the end of year five of the programme.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 3550 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 26 | Research supervision (26 x 1 hours) Lead supervisor minimum of 10 hours a year, second supervisor minimum of 2 hours a year, for two years. |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 24 | Presentation and discussions at DBA programme conferences |
| Guided Independent Study | 3550 | Practice based research and individual study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation of research at DBA conference | 15-minute presentation of thesis research, to peers and staff. 10 minutes discussion/feedback | 1-7 | Formative oral feedback from staff and peers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Thesis submission and viva voce examination | 100 | Max 60,000 words Dissertation and a viva. Format and presentation information can be found here: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/presentationoftheses/ | 1-7 | Written feedback from the Board of Examiners |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Thesis submission and viva voce examination | Max 60,000 words Dissertation and a viva. | 1-7 | See TQA |
Re-assessment notes
Format and presentation information can be found here, including information on the inclusion of previously published papers. http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/presentationoftheses/
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/pgrexaminations/
http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/pgr/pgrexaminations/#after
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Alvesson, M., & Sköldberg, K. (2017).?Reflexive methodology: New vistas for qualitative research. Sage.
- Bell, E., Bryman, A., & Harley, B. (2022).?Business research methods. Oxford university press.
- Clews, S. (2023).?The New Academic: A Researcher's Guide to Writing and Presenting Content in a Modern World. Sourcebooks, Inc
- Creswell, J.W. & Creswell, J.D. (2018). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Los Angeles ; London: SAGE.
- Easterby-Smith, M., Jaspersen, L. J., Thorpe, R., & Valizade, D. (2021).?Management and business research. Sage.
- Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination.
- Locke, L. F., Silverman, S. J., & Spirduso, W. W. (2019). Proposals that work: A guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals. Sage Publications
- Mewburn, I., Firth, K., & Lehmann, S. (2018).?How to fix your academic writing trouble: a practical guide. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
- Ridley, D. (2012). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students.
- Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009).?Research methods for business students. Pearson education.
- Webster, J., & Watson, R. T. (2002). Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: Writing a literature review.?MIS quarterly, xiii-xxiii.
| Credit value | 360 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 180 |
| Module pre-requisites | All other stage one and stage two modules are a pre-requisite to this module. |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 8 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 01/06/2024 |
| Last revision date | 18/02/2025 |