Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is the most noteworthy expert degree accessible in this field. It is planned for prepared business practitioners who need to advance their professions and decidedly affect the business world by means of business opportunity exploration and adaptation. Most of the DBA programmes are being tailored to enrich managers’ and practitioners’ knowledge. DBA students are instilled with a high standard of meticulous research, which contributes to industrial practices. An exclusive expectation is expected from DBA studies before being granted the title of “Doctor”. A graduate from DBA will have the skills and ability to produce quality and impact research papers whilst managing their own businesses or corporates.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest degree that can be conferred to any individual that had completed the programme. Several years of research are needed before the completion of a PhD dissertation. A PhD gives someone a specialised and research-based background in a subject related to business management. This is one of the main reasons people who want to work in business-related academia or research are interested in it. PhD programmes are customised to create subject-matter specialists. Individuals who pursue PhD programmes will be instilled with research modules to strengthen their research foundation.
Are They Cousins?
Both (DBA and PhD) are cousins, as they will be awarded doctoral degrees; however, they are normally obtained in a diversified field and have their own goals and objectives.
The research topic is a clear differentiation between DBA and Ph.D. An individual who pursues the DBA programme chooses a research project that has a real-world commercial impact, and the findings enable them to gain a competitive advantage in the business environment. In contrast, an academic research project with theoretical value is chosen by individuals who pursue a PhD. DBA is interested in using theoretical knowledge to solve practical business issues. It is intended for professionals and practitioners who are looking to provide their organisation solutions that are supported by thorough research and are motivated by the pursuit of a new challenge. On the other hand, if the individual has a desire to present and publish their findings and research in prestigious management journals and conferences in social science and science, the individual should enrol in the PhD programmes.
Individual career goals and preferences should be the deciding factors when choosing between the two (DBA and PhD). However, it is important to keep in mind that both options demand a sizable commitment to demanding academic work. In the end, the choice should be influenced by a knowledge of the individual’s goals and the chances each degree offers. This decision remains extremely personal in the constantly changing higher education environment, and people who take on these scholarly journeys must consider its ramifications carefully.
About the Author:
DR TAN WEI YET
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Accountancy & Law, SEGi College Kota Damansara
Dr Tan was an industrial practitioner in a Japanese multinational manufacturing company, and he has been in the education industry for more than a decade. Prior to joining the SEGi family, he was leading faculties in various Malaysian colleges. Dr Tan introduces blended innovative and creative pedagogy in his lectures, which include Business Simulation Games to make teaching and learning sessions interesting and easy to instil within students’ mindsets. In addition, Dr Tan is actively involved in entrepreneurship consulting programmes and digital entrepreneurship activities. He works closely with MNCs to cultivate and nurture young talent since he is passionate about young talent management. Dr Tan is a fellow member of the Institute of Marketing Malaysia, and his research interest spans a wide variety of digital entrepreneurship and customer relationships.