General Rules and Regulations

Transcription

1 Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) Program General Rules and Regulations Valid from September 1, 2015 to August 31, Distributed to all active DBA students and supervisors

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION OBJECTIVES OF THIS DOCUMENT DBA GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE The Advisory Board The Admission Board The DBA Management Board The Review Committee Appeals DURATION OF THE PROGRAM ETHICAL POLICY AND PLAGIARISM Principles Plagiarism Procedures for Unethical Behavior and Plagiarism GRENOBLE ECOLE DE MANAGEMENT DBA PROGRAM OVERVIEW CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING THE DEGREE SELECTION AND ADMISSION PROCEDURES RECEPTION OF APPLICATION APPLICATION PROCEDURE SELECTION DIRECT ADMISSION TO STAGE 2 OF THE DBA PROGRAM REGISTRATION, FEES, AND STUDENT STATUS ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM TUITION FEES REGISTRATION STUDENT STATUS ABEYANCE WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM SUPERVISION APPOINTMENT OF THE SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS: STAGE LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: STAGE TRAINING IN DOCTORAL RESEARCH IN MANAGEMENT SCIENCES Course Overview... 16

3 5.2.2 Course Attendance Preparation for Classes and Assessment DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRELIMINARY THESIS Deliverables Content of the deliverables ASSESSMENT: STAGE RULES AND REGULATIONS: STAGE LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: STAGE THESIS CONTENT Case 1: Classic thesis Case 2: Paper-based thesis ASSESSMENT: STAGE Authorization from the supervisor Appointment of Two Reviewers Review Process Thesis Defense... 23

4 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. OBJECTIVES OF THIS DOCUMENT This document provides the general guidelines designed to ensure the highest quality and consistency of ethical behavior among the /participants of the DBA Programs in Grenoble Ecole de Management, specifically the program directors, supervisors and students. It also defines the general rules and regulations that underlie the DBA program. These rules ensure the program s continuing conformance with quality assurance standards as defined by Grenoble Ecole de Management and in line with the following international accrediting organizations: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration (EDAMBA). These rules are valid for the academic year and may be subject to change, with written notice. They are applicable to all active DBA students and supervisors DBA GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE The doctoral programs of Grenoble Ecole de Management are the responsibility of the Doctoral School. The director of the Doctoral School delegates some of these responsibilities to the following governance bodies: The Advisory Board The Advisory Board is composed of a minimum of eight appointed members: the Director of the Doctoral School who chairs it, two alumni of the Doctoral School, two to four external members who are distinguished visitors from academia, business, industry or government; the Director for Research at Grenoble Ecole de Management, the Deputy Director and the Scientific Advisor of the Doctoral School. The program directors of the Doctoral School are also invited to participate. The Advisory Board meets approximately once every two years to review processes and discuss future major changes in the Doctoral School and its programs. To ensure continuity and follow-up, the written report of the Advisory Board will be discussed in order to respond effectively to recommendations. The Director of the Doctoral School will respond to the members of the Advisory Board, outlining the actions decided upon The Admission Board The admission board meets at the beginning of each academic year to establish admission requirements of students entering DBA programs, review the names of all applicants and the status of their applications, and their effective inscription in the program, equivalent to a Procès-Verbal d admission. This Board consists of the Program Director (who serves as the chairperson of the board), a representative of the Doctoral School (designated by the director of the Doctoral School) and at least one faculty member who holds a PhD or DBA. Decisions are taken by the Admission Board and are recorded in the meeting s minutes. Admission Boards are organized every month during ongoing admissions and applications procedures. The board will evaluate every application but will not write the Procès-Verbal d admission as this official document is produced once a year for each new cohort. 1

5 1.2.3 The DBA Management Board The DBA Management Board is responsible for the strategic and operational management of a particular program. It convenes at least once every two years. This board consists of a representative of the Director of the Doctoral School, the program directors, the administrator(s) and the representatives of the partner university when the program is delivered in partnership. Decisions taken by the Management Board are recorded in specific minutes The Review Committee The Review Committee meets at least once a year and when considered necessary by a program director to review student progress and administrative and pedagogical situations in the program. The members of this committee include a representative of the Director of the Doctoral School, a minimum of one faculty member, the Program Director(s), and the administrator. Decisions made by the Review Committee are recorded in specific minutes. More specifically, the Review Committee has the responsibility to: - validate Stage 1 (based on the supervisor s and reviewers assessments). In case of split assessments, the Review Committee will make the final decision or may decide to appoint an additional reviewer; - take appropriate actions (suspension, de-registration, warning, etc.) when problems occur with a student (cheating, unsatisfactory research advancement, nonpayment of the tuition fees, plagiarism, etc.); - accept or refuse registration of students in the program for additional years after Year 4; and - evaluate re-registration in the DBA Program. If a student has withdrawn from the program and would like to be reintegrated, he/she should write a detailed letter to the Review Committee explaining the reason for re-application and should submit an updated research proposal (if intending to work on a different subject). The Review Committee will decide whether to re-integrate the student on a case-by-case basis. If students have been de-registered by the thesis committee, they cannot be reintegrated in the program. In the case of an Extraordinary Review Committee, a student and/or supervisor may be present in person or by video link Appeals Students have the right to appeal the decisions of the Review Committee or an Extraordinary Review Committee. In this case, they must appeal in writing within 10 working days from publication of the Review Committee s decision. To be considered, they must provide evidence or documents that support their case which were not available at the time of the original Review Committee meeting. An extraordinary Review Committee may then meet to review the appeal, if necessary. The decision of the extraordinary Review Committee is final and cannot be appealed further. 2

6 Any disputes that cannot be settled amicably may be submitted to the court within the jurisdiction of Grenoble Ecole de Management in France In compliance with provisions of French legislation (article L771-1 du code de justice administrative), students are informed that they may be held liable for fees engaged by GEM to address legal actions undertaken by students in an effort to contest or reverse review Committee decisions when such action is revealed to be unjustified or in favor of GEM DURATION OF THE PROGRAM The DBA program is a four-year program. 1 Within this time limit, students are expected to complete their thesis, including its defense. A delay in the delivery of the thesis or in its defense may be allowed only exceptionally by the Review Committee and must be requested by the student. An extension request form should be submitted at least three months before the end of the fourth year and be justified by serious personal/professional reasons or by objective difficulties in the research work. The request must be approved by the Review Committee. If research progress is not satisfactory, the Review Committee may refuse reregistration of a DBA candidate and can proceed to de-register him/her. The academic year starts with workshop 1 and the minimum duration of the program is four years in Stage 1 and Stage II (or 2 years if entering directly into Stage II). The maximum duration is seven years. Students will be asked to submit a Research Advancement Contract after 4 years study to ensure a timely completion. In case of abeyance, the abeyance period is not considered as part of the four years of part-time study ETHICAL POLICY AND PLAGIARISM Principles It is the responsibility of all stakeholders of the doctoral school students, candidates, supervisors, program directors and other related faculty and staff to ensure that the highest standards are maintained. All stakeholders are responsible for informing their respective program director or the Director of the Doctoral School of any potential conflict of interest and/or behavior(s) that risk being, or appearing, unethical or harmful, or potentially harmful, to research participants, other stakeholders and/or the reputation of Grenoble Ecole de Management. Since 2009, the Grenoble Ecole de Management Doctoral School (DBA and PhD programs) has followed the ethical policy developed by the Academy of Management in All stakeholders in the doctoral programs are required to adopt the recommendations of this guide fully. 1 As specified by AMBA, The duration of a DBA programme shall meet the general doctoral requirement that it should be equivalent to three year s full-time study. For what might be regarded as a standard course for a normal entrant, the minimum duration is likely to be three calendar years full-time or four years part-time. (AMBA criteria for the accreditation of DBA Programmes, in vigor in 2013)

7 In the event of a report of a conflict of interest and/or behavior(s) that risk being, or appearing, unethical or harmful, or potentially harmful, to research participants, other stakeholders and/or the reputation of Grenoble Ecole de Management the Doctoral school may organize an extraordinary review committee to consider the case and advise the stakeholders involved.. The doctoral school understands that in certain cultures the giving of gifts is normal practice but in compliance with French legislation the Management of the Doctoral School, program directors and supervisors are not able to accept gifts, including travel, with a value greater than Plagiarism Grenoble Ecole de Management has a strict policy that prohibits all plagiarism and enforces the attendant procedures and measures of control. Plagiarism defined as the wrongful appropriation or purloining and publication as one s own, of the ideas, or the expression of the ideas of another (Oxford English Dictionary, 1999) is a major violation. Grenoble Ecole de Management relies on the knowledge and skills of its research supervisors in their respective fields to detect fraud. The Doctoral School also uses TURNITIN (or equivalent) software as an additional tool to detect plagiarism. Evidence of plagiarism invokes the following responses: - Evidence of intentional plagiarism in preliminary research proposals submitted by DBA applicants may lead the Doctoral School to refuse the application. No reimbursement of registration fees will be made. - Evidence of intentional plagiarism in any document produced by a DBA candidate (e.g., research proposal, preliminary thesis, or papers submitted to a journal or conference, without any restriction) can lead to the violator s final and non-negotiable de-registration from the program. No tuition fee reimbursement will be made. Any other evidence of cheating (e.g., falsified diploma or falsified data collection or analysis, without any restriction) will trigger the same procedure and outcomes Procedures for Unethical Behavior and Plagiarism Any unethical behavior, potential unethical behavior or behavior that could be perceived as unethical should be reported to the program director or the Director of the doctoral school. Any breach, potential breach or perceived breach of the ethical policy may be subject to a written inquiry (by mail or ) from the Program Director or Director of the Doctoral school. The Program Director or Director will receive the relevant information and, if necessary, and will appoint an extraordinary Review Committee. The Extraordinary Review Committee will examine the circumstances and take a decision pertaining to the alleged incident or misconduct, and take appropriate measures. In the case of plagiarism or a breach of ethical policy, the extraordinary Review Committee will determine if the act was intentional or represented an unintentional error. The Program Director or the Director of the Doctoral School will inform the candidate by mail of any decisions, conditions or sanctions. 4

8 1.5 GRENOBLE ECOLE DE MANAGEMENT DBA The primary goal of the DBA program is to enable students to earn Doctoral degrees that are recognized by international universities and business schools. The official DBA mission statement, approved by the Business Advisory Council on 14 December 2006, is the following: The DBA provision at Grenoble Ecole de Management offers senior managers, independent consultants, and senior academics an opportunity to leverage their careers and/or to make a transition into the highest levels of academia. Students will carry out long-term research projects that are highly relevant to management practice and based on up-to-date scientific knowledge. Their research will make academically recognized intellectual contributions in the fields of technology, innovation, and organizational change, thus providing private and public organizations with doctoral dissertations that address their practice and policy needs. 1.6 PROGRAM OVERVIEW The four-year DBA program consists of two main stages: Stage to 24 months: Training in Doctoral Research in Management Sciences: Philosophy, Methods and Tools. During this part of the DBA program, students attend workshops on research methodologies (at least 140 hours of face-to-face class time). In parallel and with the support of their research supervisor, they must formulate the research question for their DBA thesis, develop their introduction and literature review, define their research design, and prepare their pilot project for defense at the end of Stage1. Stage to 24 months: Writing, Submitting, and Defending the DBA Thesis. For this stage of the DBA program, students must finalize their data collection and data analysis, complete their writing of the dissertation, and submit and defend their work. Detailed regulations related to each of these two stages appear in subsequent sections. The first day of the month when the introductory workshop occurs, officially determines the new academic year of each program CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING THE DEGREE Grenoble Ecole de Management defines the learning goals for DBA students. These goals are the basis for measuring the extent to which students have met learning objectives, and these are detailed in sections 5 and 6. Assurance of learning is measured through a formal Assurance of Learning policy. 3 Example: If the introductory workshop of a program is on October 15, 2013, the academic year starts on October 1, 2013 and finishes on September 30,

9 Upon completion of the program, DBA students should have 1. acquired expertise in research design and methods necessary to undertake independent scholarly research; 2. acquired a state of the art understanding of theories and practices in their area of research; 3. produced and published research that will contribute to the development and creation of new knowledge in the academic environment and/or in business; and 4. evaluated relevant ethical practices in research and higher education. To obtain the DBA degree, students must also write and submit to the thesis committee (the Program Director, the Supervisor, a minimum of one external reviewer and one internal reviewer; see section 6 in this document) a thesis that meets doctoral-level standards and is - between 50,000 and 80,000 words (excluding appendices) in length; - a clear presentation and substantial evidence of original scholarship; and - a clear presentation and substantial evidence of scientific rigor and managerial relevance. Determining whether the DBA student and the thesis meet these criteria is the responsibility of the reviewers appointed by the Program Director at the end of Stage 2. Two types of dissertations are acceptable and include: - a classic doctoral thesis, including original and unpublished content written by the student - paper-based Doctoral thesis, which is an original document that presents the candidate s academic research achievements and results, together with publications. Detailed expectations are provided in section The final thesis should be a single pdf document and not exceed 20MB. 6

10 2. SELECTION AND ADMISSION PROCEDURES 2.1 RECEPTION OF APPLICATION The application package for the DBA program is available on the Grenoble Ecole de Management website and with the DBA recruitment officers. Online registration is possible for some programs. The application deadline is mentioned on the website. 2.2 APPLICATION PROCEDURE The application must be fully completed prior to submission, including - A standard application form completed by the applicant; - A preliminary research proposal 4, using the template provided; - Certified proof of previous degrees and qualifications issued by internationally recognized universities or business schools. The Doctoral School may use a transcript service to ensure that issued diplomas are equivalent to accredited MBAs; - Two letters of reference; - A statement of purpose that explains the candidate s motivations for pursuing a degree through the DBA program; and - Payment of an administration fee where applicable. Documents provided by the students and written in languages other than English or French must be translated, and the translations must be sent together with the documents in the original language. Translations must be officially certified. Applicants must - hold a Master s degree (minimum 90 ECTS) or its equivalent in management or a related field with thesis or equivalent research experience. The Doctoral School may use a transcript service to ensure that issued diplomas are equivalent to accredited MBAs. In exceptional cases and at the discretion of the admission board, extensive work experience may serve as an equivalent to a Master s degree. - have at least three years of pre- or post-master s professional experience at the executive level. For international intakes, applicants must also demonstrate their language proficiency in English if it is not their native language. An English exam may be requested if necessary. For French intakes, applicants must also demonstrate their language proficiency in French if it is not their native language. A French exam may be requested if necessary. 4 Due to the nature of the program, only topics which are in the field of business administration are acceptable. 7

11 2.3 SELECTION All application files submitted to the DBA Recruitment Office will be first reviewed by the recruitment officer to ensure that they are complete. An incomplete application file will not be considered. Complete files are then reviewed by the Program Director, who conducts the initial interviews with applicants. These interviews may be face-to-face, by telephone, or via video conference. The Program Director completes an interview report and offers recommendations regarding the applicant s admission. A review grid serves to facilitate the analysis of the candidate s research proposal. The Program Director may recommend revision, full acceptance, or refusal of the proposal. If considered necessary by the Program Director, the application can be sent to another faculty member or potential supervisor who may recommend revision, full acceptance, or refusal of the proposal. A candidate whose application has been rejected may apply for admission in a subsequent intake period. The complete application, the research proposal evaluation, and the interview report are presented to the Admission Board for collegial decision. In the case of rejection of an application, any administration fee paid is nonrefundable. If a student is accepted in the program but wishes to postpone the start date, the student s application remains valid for an additional year. 2.4 DIRECT ADMISSION TO STAGE 2 OF THE DBA PROGRAM It may be possible to join the DBA Program in the 2nd year if the applicant has attended the similar level courses in another recognized academic institution (in this case, syllabi and transcripts must be submitted with the application), or holds a PhD from an accredited institution, or has published papers and/or other publications or has successfully defended the equivalent of a Stage I preliminary thesis. A complete application must be submitted and the Admission Board will make the final decision. Case 1 Applicants who hold a French DEA or Master of Research degrees may be accepted directly into Stage 2. This decision is not automatic and will be made by the Admission Board on the basis of the submitted application file and research proposal. Case 2 Applicants who have already published papers in peer-reviewed journals in management or business administration may be accepted directly into Stage 2. These papers must belong to journals in categories 1 or 2 of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) ranking. 8

12 This decision is not automatic and will be made by the Admission Board on the basis of the submitted application file and research proposal. In both cases a pre-dissertation is required. If the applicants have already successfully completed the workshop modules they may be granted a dispensation for some or all of the workshops provided they have transcripts and syllabi from the modules previously attended and adequate research experience. This decision is not automatic and will be made by the Program Director on the basis of the submitted application file, research proposal and previous experience. 9

13 3. REGISTRATION, FEES, AND STUDENT STATUS 3.1 ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM When an applicant is accepted into the program, the following documents will be sent to the candidate: - Letter of acceptance - Invitation to the first seminar - Confirmation of acceptance for participation and rules and regulations of the DBA program (which the applicant must complete and return to the Doctoral School) - Tuition regulations (which the applicant must sign and return to the Doctoral School) - Program structure, outlining workshops in Stage 1 and deliverables - Pro forma invoice - Rules and Regulations 3.2 TUITION FEES If the student is paying tuition fees to Grenoble Ecole de Management, the invoice for the first year and related payment conditions are sent directly to the student. All fees must be paid within six weeks of receipt of the acceptance package and at least six weeks before the start of the program. After this deadline, students who have not paid will not be permitted to join the program and the Doctoral School. It is the responsibility of the student to adhere to the payment conditions during each year of the program. If tuition fees are not fully paid, the student may have their registration suspended without access to supervision and library facilities. Deregistration will then be considered by the review committee after three months or at the end of the academic years, whichever is sooner, unless the situation is remedied. If the student is ready to defend their thesis before the end of the third year, tuition fees for years 1, 2, and 3 are to be paid in full (regardless of the defense date). The tuition fee is subject to change between cohorts and re-registration or transfers between sites or cohorts may incur the higher tuition fee. 3.3 REGISTRATION Upon receipt of the completed confirmation acceptance form, tuition regulations document, and deposit, the student will be enrolled in the student body. The student will be assigned an identification number, an identification card and a Grenoble Ecole de Management address. Registration is automatically renewed annually, provided the student is in good administrative standing and satisfies the requirements for academic progress. Student identification cards 10

14 are renewed annually, and stickers to extend their validity will be sent to the students following payment of the tuition fees. Students are liable for the costs of any replacements for lost cards. Students will be contacted by the Program Administrator two months prior to the beginning of the new academic year, asked to update records and given the opportunity to establish a payment schedule, request abeyance, or withdraw from the program. 3.4 STUDENT STATUS A DBA student enjoys the full status of a registered student and therefore has access to all student facilities if all necessary fees have been paid. During the first workshop, students will receive an identification card, and they will be given access to the Grenoble Ecole de Management s system and to research databases through the online library of the school. Students of Grenoble Ecole de Management authorize the school to use any photographs or videos in which they may appear that present learning activities or promote Grenoble Ecole de Management. If a student does not wish to grant this authorization to Grenoble Ecole de Management, the student must inform the Program Administrator of the program in writing. During Stage 1 of the program, students are considered DBA Students. After completion of Stage 1, students are considered DBA Candidates. 3.5 ABEYANCE For personal or professional reasons, students may request an abeyance period (6 months renewable or for a period of 1 year). A Request for Abeyance form must be completed by the student, Supervisor, and Program Director. The period of abeyance would not normally be refused by the Doctoral School, but it should not exceed one year, unless exceptional circumstances demand a longer period. In this case, a formal request must be made to the Review Committee, which may accept or refuse the additional abeyance year. In any case, the maximum period of abeyance for a student in the DBA Program is two years. Maternity/paternity leave is considered a valid reason for abeyance, but does not extend the maximum period of abeyance. Abeyance officially starts at the beginning of the new DBA academic year, regardless of the date of the request.. Tuition fees related to the period between the request for abeyance and the beginning of the new DBA academic year remain due, and payment cannot be postponed. During the abeyance period, students will not have access to the Grenoble Ecole de Management facilities (including the online library) and will not receive guidance from their supervisor for their research. 11

15 3.6 WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM For personal or professional reasons, students may choose to withdraw from the program. A request for withdrawal form must be completed by the student, supervisor, and program director. This request cannot be refused by the Doctoral School. Tuition fees related to the period between the request for withdrawal and end of the program s academic year remain due, and the payment cannot be postponed or delayed. If a student has withdrawn from the program and would like to be re-integrated, the student should write a detailed letter to the Review Committee explaining the reason for the reapplication and should submit an updated research proposal (if the intent is to work on a different subject). The Review Committee will decide whether to re-integrate the student on a case-by-case basis. If students have been de-registered by the review committee, they cannot be re-integrated into the program. 12

16 4. SUPERVISION 4.1 APPOINTMENT OF THE SUPERVISOR Program Directors are responsible for assigning supervisors to all DBA students. To serve as a supervisor in the DBA program, the individual must (1) hold a doctoral degree (PhD/DBA) and/or HDR (French post-doctoral degree that supports supervision of research projects), (2) have published in relevant peer-reviewed journal(s) in the past five years, and (3) have had supervisory experience at the post-graduate level in the previous three years. The Doctoral School supervision handbook and charter contain more details. Research supervisors may be members of the Grenoble Ecole de Management, affiliated supervisors, participating faculty, supporting or visiting faculty. They also may belong to the faculties of academic partner schools. It is the responsibility of Grenoble Ecole de Management to inform supervisors of supervision rules. By accepting the role of supervisor, all supervisors must adhere to the Academy of Management code of ethics, and the rules and regulations of the program. 4.2 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SUPERVISOR The supervisor monitors the ongoing progress of students, including whether their work complies with the doctoral standards and follows ethical guidelines. Therefore, supervisors are required to make contact at least once per month with each student under their supervision (as per the Supervision Charter). Supervisors and students will keep records of these meetings and share these as required. In Stage 1, the research supervisor s key responsibilities are as follows: - Advise the student with regard to the research question definition, overall research design, conceptual framework, literature review, and pilot project (i.e., data collection and data analysis pre-test); - Review written materials received from the student and provide written feedback; assess and provide feedback to the student and grade each deliverable (the extended research proposal, the literature review, the preliminary thesis); and send a copy of this assessment to the Doctoral School (the program director); - Complete the annual progress evaluation with the student. In Stage 2, the research supervisor s key responsibilities are as follows: - Advise the candidate regarding research methodology, data collection, and data analysis; - Review written materials received from the candidate and provide written feedback to the student; - Determine whether the candidate is ready to submit a thesis, complete the Intention To Submit form, and officially ask the program director to initiate the review process; 13

17 - Suggest potential reviewers according to their academic qualifications and their interest in the DBA research topic; and - Complete the annual progress evaluation with the candidate. - The participation of the supervisor in the viva voce defense is not compulsory but supervisors are welcome. No supervisor may - Write any parts of the thesis for the candidate ; - Collect data for the candidate ; or - Analyze data for the candidate. 4.3 SUPERVISOR-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT As specified in the Supervision Charter, a minimum of one monthly contact meeting is required to ensure sufficient level of support and collaboration between the student and the supervisor. Every year, the student and the supervisor must complete the annual evaluation form together, and the student must return the evaluation to the doctoral school and send a copy to the supervisor. As a prerequisite for any discussion, the supervisor may require written documentation from the student. Disagreements between the supervisor and the student may arise. If those disagreements cannot be resolved by the two parties, either the student or the supervisor may inform the program director or Director of the Doctoral School, who will serve as a mediator by meeting with both parties, determining a solution, and making necessary decisions. If the issue cannot be resolved, the program director may decide to assign a new supervisor, in which case the program director will notify both the student and the supervisor of the change. In exceptional circumstances, the program director may ask the Review Committee to make a final decision. All students are free, and encouraged, to obtain diverse support from both their appointed supervisor and other academics that might provide relevant advice. In particular, students are encouraged to participate in events such as research conferences, discussions with workshop leaders, GEM advanced methods workshops, discussions with other GEM faculty members, and interactions with academics worldwide. 14

18 5. RULES AND REGULATIONS: STAGE 1 Stage 1, which should last approximately 18 to 24 months, is entitled Training in Doctoral Research in Management Sciences: Philosophy, Methods, and Tools. It consists of two major activities: training in research methodologies and development and writing of the preliminary thesis. 5.1 LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: STAGE 1 At the end of Stage 1, a DBA student should have achieved the following criteria (learning goals 1, 2 and 4): Goal 1. The DBA Student will acquire expertise in research design and the methods necessary to undertake independent scholarly research. Learning Objective 1 Learning Objective 2 Learning Objective 3 Learning Objective 4 Learning Objective 5 Learning Objective 6 Is capable of defining and stating a research question Is capable of writing a clear and coherent research proposal Demonstrates the ability to prepare and deliver a pilot project Is knowledgeable about the main research designs available in business administration Is able to adequately undertake the data collection and data management techniques relevant to the student s research Is able to adequately perform data analyses techniques relevant to the student s research Goal 2. The DBA Student will acquire a state-of-the-art understanding of theories and practices in the student s area of research. Learning Objective 1 Learning Objective 2 Is knowledgeable about the theories relevant to the student s research Is capable of doing a critical analysis of the literature in the student s area of expertise leading to identification of research gaps and research questions Goal 3. The DBA Student will be able to evaluate the issues associated with ethical practices in research and higher education (collaboration with other researchers, plagiarism, etc.) Learning Objective 1 Is able to evaluate the issues associated with ethical practices in research and higher education (collaboration with other researchers 15

19 plagiarism, etc.) 5.2 TRAINING IN DOCTORAL RESEARCH IN MANAGEMENT SCIENCES Training activities aim to give students the necessary knowledge and skills to perform rigorous research that meets doctoral-level standards, as well as to develop productive collaborations with supervisors Course Overview During Stage 1 of the DBA, the student must attend a series of courses given during the training workshops. The workshops represent at least 140 hours of lectures (detailed in the syllabi). These include the following topics -- Introduction to research methods and doctoral research,, Research Design and Literature Review, Qualitative Data Collection, Quantitative Data Collection, Qualitative Data Analysis, Quantitative Data Analysis, and Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis The student receives full information about the locations of the workshops upon enrollment in the program Course Attendance During Stage 1 of the DBA program, course attendance is mandatory. Students cannot defend their preliminary thesis before they have participated in all workshops. In case of exceptional circumstances, the student may request to attend the same workshop with another intake of the GEM DBA program portfolio. The student must send a formal letter stating the reason for the request to the assigned program director, who will make a decision together with the director of the other program. If this substitution is not possible, the student must attend the particular seminar in the following year Preparation for Classes and Assessment For each workshop, students may be asked to perform preparatory or follow up work. In this case, assignments must be submitted no later than the deadline set by the workshop teacher. If a student submits this material after the deadline, the work will be subject to penalty, at the discretion of the teacher. The preliminary thesis provides evidence of the student s achievement of these learning objectives. 5.3 DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRELIMINARY THESIS Deliverables Stage 1 includes three deliverables: - the extended research proposal (6 months) - the literature review (12 months) - the preliminary thesis (18 to 24 months) 16

20 Students have 18 to 24 months after their registration in the program to submit their preliminary thesis (the precise date will be established by the program director). This preliminary thesis must be sent to both the program director and the supervisor at least 21 days before the defense date. The research proposal and a draft of the literature review are intermediate steps and must have previously been submitted to and assessed by the supervisor. The general schedule is outlined in Table 1. Table 1 General DBA Program Schedule Deadline Deliverable Recipient Assessment Month +6 Extended research proposal Supervisor (copy program director) Assessment by the supervisor Month +12 Literature review Supervisor (copy program director) Assessment by the supervisor Month +18 to Month + 24 Preliminary thesis Program director and supervisor Assessment by the Review Committee, based on formal feedback from (1) two reviewers and (2) the supervisor Content of the deliverables The research proposal (1,500 4,000 words) must include - a brief introduction and problem statement - the definitive research question and its justification (from both managerial and academic points of view) - discussion of the relevance to existing literature - the overall research design This deliverable is the same for classic and paper-based dissertations. The literature review (5,000 20,000 words) provides a critical analysis of scientific knowledge in the pertinent research field. This written document should highlight existing research gaps and must be accompanied by a bibliography (Harvard or APA style). This deliverable is the same for classic and paper-based dissertations. The preliminary thesis (15,000 30,000 words) must include - a brief introduction and problem statement - the definitive research question and its justification (from both managerial and academic points of view) - an improved literature review and outline of research gaps 17

21 - the research design - the pilot project which describes a preliminary empirical investigation (equivalent to a pre-test) and demonstrates the feasibility of the empirical study and outlines key issues If the doctoral student is preparing a paper-based dissertation (see section 6), one of the student s articles can be included in the preliminary thesis, but the compulsory content outlined above must also be included. The structure of a Stage 1 paper-based dissertation should include - a brief introduction and problem statement - the global research question and its justification (the critical literature review, which is not present in the article but is necessary to highlight the research gaps, should be detailed in this chapter) - the overall research design of the dissertation and how the three articles relate to the research question - one or two articles 5.4 ASSESSMENT: STAGE 1 The DBA student must submit a preliminary thesis to the program director and supervisor. The formal twofold assessment features an assessment of the preliminary thesis by the supervisor and, in parallel, formal assessments by two reviewers. The formal assessments by the two reviewers take place during an oral presentation. The Review Committee takes these two formal assessments into consideration when making its final decision. If both reviews are positive, the process is simplified, and a review committee is not necessary as the director or deputy director of the Doctoral School validates the decision. The procedure usually follows the timeline described in Table 2. In the other cases, the Review Committee (section ) will make appropriate decisions. If the student is judged not to have achieved the required standard at Stage 1 on two separate occasions but has completed all of the relevant requirements of the workshops, the review committee can award the certificate of management research without the right to continue to Stage 2 of the DBA. The student will then forfeit the right to continue to Stage 2 and will be deregistered from the DBA program. Table 2 DBA Thesis Timeline and Procedure DEADLINE TASK 28 days before the defense DBA student sends preliminary thesis to the supervisor and program director. The program director will check the thesis in Turnitin 18

22 Before the defense Stage 1 defense Four to six weeks after the defense Supervisor provides feedback form to Program Director According to a schedule provided in advance, students defend their work before two independent reviewers. The reviewers must read the preliminary thesis before the defense and prepare questions; a formal report is not required before the Stage 1 defense. The defense should last approximately 45 minutes: - 20 minutes to present - 15 minutes for questions/answers - 10 minutes for feedback Review Committee meets to summarize the assessments and determine whether the student will: - Be admitted to Stage 2 - Submit to a new preliminary thesis in six months - Submit to a new preliminary thesis in one year Students who have passed Stage 1 receive a Certificate of Research in Management Sciences. 19

23 6. RULES AND REGULATIONS: STAGE LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: STAGE 2 At the end of Stage 2, candidates should meet the following criteria: Goal 1. The DBA candidate will acquire the expertise in research design and methods necessary to undertake independent scholarly research. Learning Objective 1 Learning Objective 2 Learning Objective 3 Learning Objective 4 Learning Objective 5 Learning Objective 6 Is capable of defining and stating a research question Is capable of writing a clear and coherent research proposal Demonstrates the ability to prepare and deliver a pilot project Is knowledgeable about the main research designs available in business administration Is able to adequately undertake the data collection and data management techniques relevant to the research Is able to adequately perform the data analyses techniques relevant to the research Goal 2. The DBA candidate will acquire a state-of-the-art understanding of theories and practices in the student s area of research Learning Objective 1 Learning Objective 2 Is knowledgeable about the theories relevant to the research Is capable of doing a critical analysis of the literature in the student s area of expertise leading to the identification of research gaps and research questions Goal 3. The DBA candidate will be able to produce and publish research that will contribute to the development and creation of new knowledge in the academic environment and/or in business Learning Objective 1 Learning Objective 2 Learning Objective 3 Is capable of writing an original, rigorous, and relevant piece of research (research paper, doctoral thesis, etc.) according to academic standards Is capable of communicating research findings in appropriate communication channels (peer-reviewed journal, peer-reviewed conference, professional conference, book, etc.) Is able to discuss academic implications and limitations of the research Learning Objective 4 Is able to discuss managerial implications and demonstrate the ability 20

24 to generate relevant managerial recommendations Goal 4. The DBA candidate will be able to evaluate the issues associated with ethical practices in research and higher education (collaboration with other researchers, plagiarism, etc.) Learning Objective 1 Is able to evaluate the issues associated with ethical practices in research and higher education (collaboration with other researchers, plagiarism, etc.) 6.2 THESIS CONTENT Candidates should follow formatting instructions and use the cover page template provided by the Doctoral School in the Stage 2 Thesis Submission and Defense Guidelines Case 1: Classic thesis Each thesis is an individual and unique piece of work; however, this document must follow the format in thesis guidelines, respect the word limits ( to words, not exceeding words) 5 and at least include - an abstract specifying research background, research objectives, methodology, and key findings (according to format in thesis guidelines) - an introductory chapter that presents the research question and its justification - a literature review that summarizes scientific and managerial knowledge in the field of interest building to the candidate s original conceptual framework - a discussion and presentation of the research methodology - a chapter that presents the results and discusses the key findings - a chapter that discusses the managerial implications of research - a chapter outlining the contribution of the research to existing knowledge and theory and including sections that highlight potential biases and limitations of the research, as well as recommendations for further research Case 2: Paper-based thesis The paper-based DBA will integrate articles published or accepted for publication, including at least: - a full paper presented in a peer-reviewed conference or a book chapter - a paper published (or accepted for publication) in a peer-reviewed journal with a ranking of at least 4 in the CNRS ranking 5 Any thesis of less than words or more than 100,000 must be checked and validated by the review committee before proceeding to external review and viva 21

25 - a paper in the process of publication in a journal with a ranking of at least 3 in the CNRS ranking (Revise and Re-submit) The articles may be co-authored, but the student should be listed as first author of the articles, and the student s contribution should be significant. Articles published before graduation must show the student s affiliation to Grenoble Ecole de Management as a DBA student or candidate. Articles published after graduation should include in the footnote acknowledging Grenoble Ecole de Management. The structure of the paper-based dissertation should present: - an abstract that specifies the research background, research objectives, methodology, and key findings (according to format in thesis guidelines) - an introductory chapter that explains the subject and the research question, presents the state-of-the-art literature or parts of the literature that are not included in the articles but are necessary to the comprehension of the whole thesis, linking the articles together and presenting the global coherence of the document - a chapter on the global methodology that is used to answer the research question - the three articles that are introduced in the dissertation by a substantial presentation, showing how the article belongs to the doctoral work - a chapter dedicated to managerial implications and contributions - a general conclusion including the main theoretical contributions, limits of the research, as well as recommendations for future research 6.3 ASSESSMENT: STAGE 2 More detailed information on the stage 2 assessment procedures is available in the Thesis Submission and Defense Guidelines. The candidate cannot submit the thesis for final review and defense before the 3rd year of the program Authorization from the supervisor The candidate submits the thesis to the supervisor who will review, suggest changes and ensure the thesis is of sufficient quality to proceed to external review stage. Thesis is subject to Turnitin plagiarism checks. When the supervisor is satisfied with the final form of the thesis, both the candidate and the supervisor will complete the DBA Degree Examination Entry Form and send it along with the final PDF and word versions of the thesis to the program director and the administrator of the program Appointment of Two Reviewers The program director appoints one external and one internal reviewer and may consult the supervisor to choose appropriate reviewers. The internal reviewer will be a member of the Grenoble Ecole de Management faculty who holds a PhD or a DBA and whose research interests align with those of the student. If there 22

26 is no qualified faculty member working in the same field, the program director may appoint, as an exception, another active researcher. The external reviewer will be a professor or researcher from another institution who holds a PhD or a DBA and who actively researches in the same field as the thesis topic. The program director should take care when appointing reviewers to ensure there is no conflict of interest or perceived conflict of interest. Conflicts of interest may include, but are not limited to, close research collaboration or joint publications between the reviewer(s) and supervisor or candidate; close personal relationships between the reviewer(s) and supervisor or candidate; an existing or potential interest in the outcome of the research on the part of the reviewer(s). The candidate will be informed of the name of the reviewers (by the program director or the administrator in charge of the Stage 2 assessment) and has the right to refuse one of them Review Process The two reviewers must assess the quality of the thesis and write a formal report within eight weeks of reception of the thesis. Following their review, they have the authority to recommend to the Review Committee of Grenoble Ecole de Management that the candidate may defend the DBA during the viva voce process. Alternatively, they can require the candidate to revise the thesis to meet the standards of the DBA. In this situation, a further review may be required. In exceptional circumstances, the examiners may decide that the thesis is not acceptable and that the candidate can be judged to have failed. In the event of a split decision by the two DBA thesis examiners, the Review Committee may appoint a third examiner, whose evaluation will produce one of three possible outcomes: - acceptance of the viva voce - re-submission following revision (within 3, 6, or 9 months, as is specified by the program director) - rejection A copy of the reviewers reports will be sent prior to the viva process to the supervisor and the DBA candidate so the candidate may prepare adequately for the oral defense. There should be no direct contact whatsoever between the candidate and the reviewers after their appointment. If the candidate is judged not to have achieved the required standard at Stage 2 but has been awarded the certificate of research in management sciences, the review committee can award a Diploma of Research in Management Sciences. The candidate will then forfeit the right to re-submit the thesis and be deregistered from the program Thesis Defense The defense may be organized only if (1) the reviewers give permission to defend, (2) the student candidate is in good administrative standing, and (3) tuition fees have been paid in full. 23

27 The viva voce panel includes - Compulsorily: the chairperson (program director or faculty member) and the two initial reviewers, and - Optionally: the candidate s supervisor and one or two additional examiners, usually from academia. One of the additional external examiners may be a professional with expertise in the research topic addressed by the thesis. The panel members are fully responsible for assessing the doctoral quality of the thesis. When they sign the viva voce report, they attest to this responsibility. In exceptional circumstances, one of the panel members may provide comments and questions in absentia, and the chairperson of the committee will read the report. In addition, one or more of the panel members may not be physically present in the room but may be participating online. The candidate defends the thesis during an open-door viva voce session with the panel. The candidate provides a twenty-minute presentation and then must submit to questions from the examiners. Afterwards, the candidate and any public observers must leave the room to allow the panel to undertake confidential deliberations. The final decision to grant the degree will be determined and validated by the panel. The panel also may require modifications to the thesis within a specified period of time; the internal reviewer will be responsible for validating the revisions. If modifications are required, the candidate s diploma will be granted after submitting the revised version and receiving confirmation from the program director. - END OF THE DOCUMENT - 24

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