SABI UNIVERSITY 1
Doctor of Business Administration Program Catalog 1. Program Overview The Doctor of Business Administration is a Doctoral level, researchbased qualification, designed to enhance transdisciplinary professional practices in management via the application and development of theoretical frameworks, methods and techniques. A DBA places emphasis on the novel application of theory, rather than the creation and testing of theory. SABI DBA is designed for highranked managers who lead their organization. Program Code: SABIDBA Total Learning Hours: 3000 learning hours Program Language: English Contact Hours: 360 hours Program Length: 2 to 4 Years Directed Study Hours: 360 hours Program Level: Postgraduate (BAC+8) Credits: 120 ECTS Credits 55 American Credits Mode of Delivery: Blended and ELearning Program Director: Adlan Parsa, PhD Program Director Email: adlan.parsa@sabi.eu.com The Scandinavian Art and Business Institute s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) places great emphasis on highly relevant, workplacebased research by producing truly actionable knowledge which is relevant to the student s field of expertise rather than narrowly defined theoretical research. The professional doctoral program produces a qualification, which, whilst being equivalent in status and difficulty to a PhD, is more appropriate for those pursuing professional rather than academic careers. The DBA program s combination of deep practicebased learning and research is highly beneficial to professionals allowing for the immediate integration of actionable knowledge and critical thinking skills. Today s business environment is fully globalized, highly complex and prone to disruptive change. In this environment, effective leaders must make sense of a morass of complex and often conflicting information to help their organizations solve truly challenging problems. The Scandinavian Art and Business Institute s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is designed for managers, professionals and executives looking to develop their management skills and knowledge. 2. Program Objective The Doctor of Business Administration program takes an innovative approach, fostering learning through engagement and action. Students expand their actionable knowledge through classroom learning (pre recorded lectures, flipped classroom interactive discussions, case studies, assignments, seminars, additional reading materials) and through active research using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods. The core curriculum of the DBA program consists of contemporary management topics such as 2
organizational change and development, leadership and managerial decisionmaking among other subjects. Alongside the core modules, students each write a Doctoral Development Plan (DDP) reflecting on their development as doctoral practitioners and researchers. The DDP helps students obtain doctorallevel professional knowledge and the critical thinking skills needed for leading businesses and organizations. Students complete their qualification with an original thesis based on a critical project undertaken in their organization. Unlike traditional academic thesis for PhD research, this thesis is designed to produce new, actionable knowledge for immediate use. 3. Program Outcome The Doctor of Business Administration is designed with the understanding that most senior and middle managers will change positions and organizations throughout their career. By focusing on building critical reflection, critical thinking, and doctorallevel skills, students graduate with knowledge and expertise, which they can apply to a variety of organizational and managerial settings. The program provides students with the following competencies: 1) Doctoral level knowledge and understanding of multiple aspects of business and management 2) The ability to create and integrate new theories, techniques and information 3) An indepth knowledge of research design, research methodology and research management 4) The ability to enter and work in a variety of organizational contexts and to innovate and manage change. 5) The knowledge to resolve complex business management problems applying innovative and creative approaches 6) The ability to succinctly present scholarly research to both academic and nonacademic audiences 7) Thought leadership for organizational change These competencies are achieved through successful completion of the following course components. The Scandinavian Art and Business Institute s Doctor of Business Administration program is comprised of 120 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits. The program requires two to four years to complete. The program begins with courses, seminars and workshops, which bear 40 ECTS credits and will be followed by the Grand Comprehensive Exam (GCE), which hold 10 ECTS credits. Students must complete all courses, seminars and workshops within the first 68 weeks of the program. In these first 68 weeks students also prepare the Doctoral Development Plan (10 ECTS credits). 4. Grand Comprehensive Exam (GCE) The Grand Comprehensive Exam (GCE) will be organized during the second term. Students participate in the exam online or oncampus. The exam will be conducted by a jury made up of: 1) The president of the Scandinavian Art and Business Institute or his representative 2) Two SABI faculty members who hold doctoral degrees The GCE lasts one hour. At the beginning of the exam a list of topics will be presented to the student. He or she must select one of these topics to examine and respond accordingly before the 3
jury. Assessment of GCE 1) The student should understand the majority of questions asked by the jury. Score sheets indicate what percentage of the questions the student was able to comprehend b. Between 50 and 70% 2) The student should be able to present his/her arguments effectively, while answering questions. Score sheets must indicate that the student was able to present effectively their arguments while answering the questions b. Between 50 and 70% 3) The student should not only be an effective communicator, but should be able to present correct answers. Score sheets must indicate what percent of the questions the student answered correctly b. Between 50 and 70%, 4) Jury members at the end of the examination must complete score Sheet. The chairman of the jury will inform students if they have passed or failed the examination. 5. Doctoral Development Plan (DDP) The Doctoral Development Plan (DDP) is a 5,000 words, firstperson research project progressively prepared in parallel with the courses and seminars of the doctoral program. It is an account of students reflection on the research that they have undertaken and upon each student s development as a researcher. The DDP is a means of assessing the extent to which the student has progressed as a doctorallevel thinker, critical action learner and action researcher. It will also access the accumulation of knowledge made by the student during the first two terms of the doctoral program. Mentors and Professors assistants assist students in completing the DDP project. The focus is on three key concerns: 1) Contribution to knowledge 2) Research methodology 3) Development of doctoral skills and dispositions 6. Thesis Synopsis A thesis synopsis is a short summary of the entire thesis and therefore should not be more than 15 pages long. A successful thesis synopsis requires strong summarization skills. The synopsis must include the following elements: 4
1) Thesis purpose: Is the thesis meant to add knowledge to the existing literature? Is it supposed to refute claims made by a prior research study? The purpose should be clear and concise. 2) Population and sample: The thesis synopsis should mention the target population on which the study is carried out and the sample as well as the sampling techniques used in the study. 3) The methodology: research design, data collection methods and instruments, data analysis and data reporting techniques. 4) Results/findings: a brief statement of the results obtained from the data collection and analysis. 5) Conclusion: The thesis synopsis should briefly state the conclusion and implications made from the entire study. 7. Thesis The thesis is an original, scholarly work that applies the student's new knowledge and experience, proving mastery of the techniques and theories studied. Thesis development will last between one and two years and will consist of four stages. These stages are: 1) Developing the thesis synopsis 2) Thesis committee review and approval of the synopsis 3) Writing the thesis itself 4) Viva Voce the oral examination of the thesis Assessment of Thesis The thesis defense will be organized at the end of the program. Students will conduct their thesis defense either online or oncampus. A jury will review the thesis defense. This jury must include: 1) The president of Scandinavian Art and Business Institute or his representative 2) Thesis supervisor 3) A guest professor from another higher education institute who hold doctoral degree The assessment will be judged as follows: 1) The student should be able to comprehend most of the questions asked by the jury. Score sheets indicate what percent of the questions the student was able to comprehend b. Between 50 and 70% 2) The student should be able to present his/her arguments effectively, while answering questions. Score sheets must indicate that the student was able to present effectively their arguments while answering the questions b. Between 50 and 70% 5
3) The student should not only be an effective communicator, but should be able to present correct answers. Score sheets must indicate what percent of the questions the student answered correctly b. Between 50 and 70%, 4) Jury members at the end of exam must fill score Sheet. The chairman of the jury will inform students if they passed or failed the exam. 8. Program Structure The Scandinavian Art and Business Institute s Doctor of Business Administration program is comprised of 120 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits. The program requires two to four years to complete. The program begins with courses, seminars and workshops, which bear 40 ECTS credits and will be followed by the Grand Comprehensive Exam (GCE), which hold 10 ECTS credits. Students must complete all courses, seminars and workshops within the first 68 weeks of the program. In these first 68 weeks students also prepare the Doctoral Development Plan (10 ECTS credits). Students, who pass the GCE successfully, can then present their thesis synopsis to the thesis committee. After approval by the thesis committee, students develop their thesis (60 ECTS credits). Doctoral Development Plan Course Code Course Name Credit (ECTS) Credits (American) SABIDBARM Research and Methodology 3 2 SABIDBAAC Analysis and Critique 1 and 2 4 2 SABIDBATL SABIDBAIBM Transformational Leadership 1 and 2 International Business Management 8 4 3 2 SABIDBAMOCD Managing Organizational 3 2 Change and Development SABIDBAHRTD Human Resource Training 3 2 and Development SABIDBACCM CrossCultural Management 3 2 SABIDBABE Behavioral Economics 3 2 Workshops 4 2 Seminars 6 3 10 4 Grande Comprehensive Exam (GCE) 10 4 Thesis 60 24 Total Program Credits (ECTS) 120 55 6
9. Program Flow Week 1 Week 84 Week 85 Week 86 Week 87 Week 88 Week 91 Week 92 Week 94 Week 95 Week 149 Week 150 Week 156 Time Line (Weeks) Courses + Exams + Breaks + Seminars + Workshops + Doctoral Development Plan GCE Preparation Grande Comprehensive Exam (GCE) Review Doctoral Development Plan Thesis Synopsis Writing Thesis Synopsis Submission and Approval by Committee Thesis Writing and Review by Committee Submission Defense 156 Weeks (3 Years) Course Time Line (Weeks) Week 1, 2 and 3 Prerecorded Lectures Residential Lectures Seminars and Workshops Week 4 Case Study Submission Week 5 Final Exam Submission Week 6 Break 10. Program Calendar Week Course Name 1 5 Research and Methodology 6 Break 7 11 Analysis and Critique 1 12 Break 13 17 Transformational Leadership 1 18 Break 19 23 International Business Management 24 Break 25 29 Managing Organizational Change and Development 30 Break 7
31 35 Seminar 1 36 Break 37 41 Workshop 1 and 2 42 Break 43 47 Analysis and Critique 2 48 Break 49 53 Transformational Leadership 2 54 Break 55 59 Human Resource Training and Development 60 Break 61 65 CrossCultural Management 66 Break 67 71 Behavioral Economics 72 Break 73 77 Seminar 2 78 Break 79 83 Workshop 3 and 4 84 Break 85 86 GCE Preparation 87 GCE 88 91 Review Doctoral Development Plan Thesis Synopsis Writing 92 94 Thesis Synopsis Submission and Approval by Committee 95 149 Thesis Writing 150 Submission 156 Defense 11. Admission Requirements SABI s DBA candidates must meet the following requirements to apply for the DBA program: 1) Proficiency in the English language* a. IELTS Score: 6.5 b. TOEFL Score: 85 c. C1 level according to CEFR 2) Masters degree 3) Transcripts from previous studies 4) Pass entrance exam (Written and Oral Exam) 5) At least 5 years work experience 6) Online Application Form 7) Motivation Letter in English (maximum 150 words) *Applicants from nonenglish speaking countries must also provide a language certificate: IELTS score of 6.5 points, TOEFL score of 85 points or take the English language test offered by SABI. Students can also participate in SABI s Advance English program before starting their studies. 8
12. Graduation Requirements In order for a student to be awarded the DBA, the students must: 1) Pass all required courses with a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 1.66 grade 2) Pass the Grand Comprehensive Exam 3) Submit an approved thesis 4) Successful defense of the thesis 13. Credit Transfer Procedures and Acceleration Students with a superior academic record and a compelling, demonstrated, need may petition the admission committee for an accelerated study allowing them to transfer their previous credits to the Scandinavian Art and Business Institute. The granting of an accelerated study is wholly at the admission committee s discretion. To be eligible, students must provide: 1) Official transcript of their previous studies including all information about received credits 2) Their previous studies must be done in an accredited or state recognized higher education institute Students who believe that they meet the above requirements should inform the admission office immediately after submission of online application. If students meet all of the above conditions, they should take the following steps: 1) Pass Evaluation Exam 2) Attend interview with program director or representative of admission committee 3) Provide thesis synopsis 9