U:\SQ_ANNUALMONITOR\Course Handbooks 2020\PDF Handbooks Uploaded\LSBE\sh_doctor_of_business_administration_2020.docx Course Handbook Doctor of Business Administration 2020/21 Dr Dorota Marsh Programme Director Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise Please read this Handbook in conjunction with the University’s Student Handbook. All course materials, including lecture notes and other additional materials related to your course and provided to you, whether electronically or in hard copy, as part of your study, are the property of (or licensed to) UCLan and MUST not be distributed, sold, published, made available to others or copied other than for your personal study use unless you have gained written permission to do so from the Dean of School. This applies to the materials in their entirety and to any part of the materials.
Welcome to the University of Central Lancashire! More specifically, welcome to the DBA programme.
This is your guide to the programme at the University of Central Lancashire. We recognise that the decision to spend 4 years of your life investing in your personal and professional development by embarking on the doctoral programme is an important commitment on your part. This guide has been designed to help you get the most from this investment. It aims to give you information on the aims of the programme, the learning outcomes you will achieve, what you will be studying and how you will be assessed. There is also general information on how the DBA is managed, what we expect of you as members of the programme and the University, and what you can expect of us, as the team of staff responsible for the DBA.
It is part of our University's philosophy to involve students in the running of their courses as much as possible. Quite soon, therefore, I shall be asking you to nominate representatives to serve on the Staff/Student Liaison Committee (SSLC). So, perhaps at this early stage, you might like to be thinking about whether you personally would like to be a Student Representative. Whatever part you play in student life, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you success here at the University of Central Lancashire and to encourage you to strive to achieve your full potential.
We are committed to doing everything we can to make your studies and time with the University of Central Lancashire an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. As Programme Director, I shall be playing an active part in the day-to-day running of the programme and will be available to offer guidance and support as and when necessary. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need help.
1.1 Rationale, aims and learning outcomes of the course
The DBA is a part of the portfolio of postgraduate programmes within the Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise. The course is designed to allow early career or experienced managers the opportunity to develop their knowledge and critical understanding of contemporary management practice and theory, raising their research awareness, and the ability to conduct a substantial independent research project, while at the same time, engaging in the process of personal and career development. The course is appropriate for both public and private sector employees.
The course has been reviewed in line with programmes offered at other institutions and as such, the content of the programme has been developed to reflect contemporary themes in doctoral education and also to remain competitive in the regional and national market.
The taught element of the programme covers a range of philosophical and methodological issues and the module content has been reviewed to ensure contemporary themes are explored and critically debated. The assessment strategies for all of the modules have been designed to assess high level conceptual knowledge, research awareness and understanding, and also the application of knowledge to the workplace.
The professional experience and research interests and expertise of the staff involved inform content and teaching on the course. Research active staff will bring their experience and knowledge into their teaching as well as drawing on current research in their particular field.
The primary aim of the DBA programme is to provide an opportunity for doctoral level study,
alongside relevant professional development. The DBA will enable you to:
• design and conduct an investigation into a contemporary business, management or
professional issue, the outcomes of which make a significant and demonstrable
contribution to both appropriate knowledge, theory and professional knowledge and
practice
In addition, the DBA programme aims to enable you to:
• critically assess, select and implement appropriate research methodologies and
methods within complex business, management or professional contexts
• synthesise, interpret and rigorously apply relevant theoretical frameworks and
research findings in relation to complex business and management contexts and
issues
• develop high level analytical and conceptual skills, facilitating questioning and critical
debate about established theoretical orthodoxy and challenges to such orthodoxy
• engage in and manage a process of high level critical reflective personal and
professional development leading to the enhancement of your own professional
practice and performance within a work context or specific domain
A Knowledge and Understanding
At the end of the programme of study you will be able to demonstrate:
A1: a critical understanding of research paradigms, philosophical issues, methodologies and methods applicable in business, management and professional contexts
A2: a critical understanding of the research process and the creation and interpretation of new knowledge through empirical research and advanced level scholarship
A3: a critical understanding, synthesis, and evaluation of a substantial body of theoretical and research knowledge related to the field of study
B Subject-specific skills
At the end of the programme you will be able to demonstrate:
B1: an ability to critically analyse and synthesise the complexities associated with contemporary business, management and professional issues, the linkages between them and their application to organisational contexts
B2: an ability to design and implement an appropriate programme of applied research and defend its rationale
B3: an ability to write up the research in the form of a Doctoral thesis and to provide an oral defence of the research
C Thinking Skills
At the end of the programme you will be able to demonstrate:
C1: an ability to critically analyse information and make informed judgements in relation to
the complex issues relevant to advanced practice and research in Management and
Organisation
C2: an ability to synthesise ideas in order to develop and communicate and debate
alternative explanations and hypotheses
C3: an ability to critically develop well-evidenced and argued conclusions and
recommendations informed by critical argument and debate
D Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
At the end of the programme you will be able to demonstrate:
D1.an ability to undertake research, working independently in complex and uncertain
environments
D2. an ability to reflect upon and critically assess your own professional practice and
behaviour in order to underpin your own future professional development and effectiveness
1.2 Course Team
The academic staff will include the following, although at thesis stage a wider range of staff
will be available, depending on student research topics (this will include members of the
The Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise has wide ranging experience across most business and management topics. We have particular expertise and experience in human resource management, corporate social responsibility, marketing, public sector management, development finance and public policy, strategy, supply chain management and logistics, economics, managerial discourse and critical perspectives on management. There will be access to LBS Professors, Readers, and research staff with extensive specialist subject knowledge and research expertise.
1.4 Academic Advisor
You will be assigned an Academic Advisor who will provide additional academic advice and support during the year. They will be the first point of call for many of the questions that you might have during the year. Your Academic Advisor will be able to help you with personal development, providing insight and direction to enable you to realise your potential.
1.5 Administration details
Course Administration Service provides academic administration support for
students and staff and are located in the following hubs which open from 8.45am
until 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and until 4.00pm on Fridays. The hub can provide general
assistance and advice regarding specific processes such as extenuating circumstances,
The University expects you to use your UCLan email address and check regularly for messages from staff. If you send us email messages from other addresses they risk being filtered out as potential spam and discarded unread. The course team will communicate with you through e-mail and Blackboard so you must check both regularly
1.7 External Examiner
The University has appointed an External Examiner to your course who helps to ensure that the standards of your course are comparable to those provided at other higher education institutions in the UK. The name of this person, their position and home institution can be found below.
Clare Schofield
Associate Dean,
University of Chester
If you wish to make contact with your External Examiner, you should do this through your Course Leader and not directly. External Examiner reports will be made available to you electronically via Blackboard.
2. Structure of the course
2.1 Overall structure
The Programme is structured around two essential strands: Stage 1 is the
taught element of the DBA undertaken in years 1 and 2; Stage 2 is the
research component during which you will be engaged in writing a doctoral
thesis during years 3 and 4. Taken together these strands make a fundamental contribution
to the students achievement of the learning outcomes specified in section 1.1.
The particular intent of these two strands is to develop critical and reflective skills at doctoral
level - through the requirement to think conceptually, apply critical thinking and reasoning
skills, and to challenge orthodoxy relating to the body of knowledge and research relating to
Management and Organisation. It will also enable you to acquire and evaluate different
domains of knowledge and ways of thinking about that knowledge. This will include the
acquisition of the conceptual frameworks, major theories, current accepted positions and
methodologies relating to Management and Organisation. It will enable you to develop a
critical understanding of contemporary research themes in Management and Organisation,
in particular, an integration of relevant theoretical knowledge with knowledge of processes
and principles developed from research and empirical evidence. Finally, it will develop a
critical understanding of methods, philosophy, and research design issues, and a critical
understanding of the specific knowledge and skills relevant to doctoral education.
All the modules in stages 1 and 2 will contribute to learning outcomes in terms of content
and/or process. Given the holistic nature of the academic subject of management and
current management models, it is important to recognise that modules in the DBA are inter-
A timetable will be available once you have enrolled on the programme, through the student
portal.
2.4.2 Expected hours of study
The normal amount of work involved in achieving a successful outcome to your studies is to study for 10 hours per each credit you need to achieve – this includes attendance at UCLan and time spent in private study.
You are expected to undertake preparation for classes, reading and personal study for each module as well as assessment and class contact time. Your personal study, assessment, preparation, and class contact time is expected to be the equivalent of 200 hours per 20 credit module
2.4.3 Attendance Requirements You are required to attend all timetabled learning activities for each module. Notification of illness or exceptional requests for leave of absence must be made to: [email protected] or by telephoning the hub on 01772
891998 or 01772 891999
3. Approaches to teaching and learning
3.1 Learning and teaching methods
The construction of the teaching and learning strategy for the DBA has been informed by the successful experience of running business and management courses over many years and the learning that has taken place for the staff involved. In addition, it reflects the changes that have taken place within the sphere of management education and development. Also, it reflects the policy framework of the University in relation to teaching and learning in particular, the emphasis upon participants seeking to become lifelong independent learners and acknowledging that each has a contribution to make by making active use of their experience.
Each Module Information Pack to be provided by the module tutors details the particular teaching and learning strategies to be used to achieve the learning outcomes. However, within
the DBA there will be an underlying commitment to fully utilise a range of teaching and learning strategies that will include lectures and guided reading; active group work; case studies, videos, reviews of current events and student presentations.
Participants will be encouraged to draw upon their own experiences, both work and non-work to promote their own learning and that of others. This will be of particular significance in exploring management theory where the sharing and critical evaluation of their ideas and experiences will play a vital part in the learning process.
3.2 Study skills
Study Skills - ‘Ask Your Librarian’ https://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/support/study/it_library_trainer.php You can book a one to one session with a subject Librarian via Starfish. These sessions will help with questions such as “My lecturer says I need a wider variety of sources in my references, what do I do?" "I need to find research articles, where do I start?" "How do I find the Journal of ...?" "How do I use RefWorks?”
In addition to the development of study skills in each module, students will be provided with a range of online study skills materials in Blackboard .These include essay writing, report writing, learning styles, effective reading, thinking skills, referencing and reflective writing. Students requiring additional advice are referred to WISER. http://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/study/wiser/index.php
3.3 Learning resources
3.3.1 Learning and Information Services (LIS)
The best place to start when exploring the Library resources available to you is;
• Your ‘Subject Guide’ can be found in the Library Resources • Your ‘My Library’ tab in the Student Portal • Library search
Extensive Resources are available to support your studies provided by LIS – library and IT staff. Take advantage of the free training sessions designed to enable you to gain all the skills you need for your research and study. Further links to resources and support are available and details can be found in the programme area in Blackboard.
3.3.2 Electronic Resources
LIS provide access to a huge range of electronic resources – e-journals and databases, e-books, images and texts. Each module has an area in Blackboard where module documentation and additional resources are made available to students. Blackboard also provides access to course level information and other resources such as study skills materials.
Students will be given training on how to access specialist materials for their course e.g. Mintel during induction week.
Students at UCLan now have unlimited free 24/7 access to lynda.com, an online library of high-quality instructional training videos and tutorials covering a wide range of software, technology and business topics. lynda.com is designed for all levels of learners and is available whenever you're ready to learn - you can even use it on your iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet, or other mobile device. To access lynda.com:
1. Go to www.lynda.com 2. Select Login (top right-hand corner) 3. Under Log in through your organization or school enter www.uclan.ac.uk and click
Go 4. Enter your UCLan username and password
3.4 Personal development planning
Employability skills and personal development is embedded in all modules on the course.
However, additional resources are made available in Blackboard for students to use. These
include time management, emotional intelligence, assertiveness, impression management,
giving and receiving feedback etc.
3.5 Preparing for your career
As the DBA Programme is offered to experienced practitioners we do
understand that your interest in enhancing your employability may be
minimal. If, however you would require any support please refer to Careers
for:-
• career and employability advice and guidance
• support to find work placements, internships, voluntary opportunities, part-time employment and live projects
• workshops, seminars, modules, certificates and events to develop your skills.
Daily drop in service available from 09:00-17:00 for CV checks and initial careers information. For more information come along and visit the team or access our careers and employability resources via the Student Portal. 4. Student Support
Information on the support available is at: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/
The Academic Advisor is there to help you with advice about both the academic and administrative aspects of your course. If there is anything which you are not sure about then ask them. They are someone to go to if you have any personal difficulties which are
affecting your ability to study on the course, certainly in the first instance. It is wise to inform them at the earliest opportunity. 4.2 Students with disabilities
Assessment arrangements for students with a disability
Arrangements are made for students who have a disability/learning difficulty for which valid supporting evidence can be made available. Contact the Disability Adviser for advice and information, [email protected] The Disability Lead for the Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise is Angela M
4.3 Students’ Union The Students’ Union offers thousands of volunteering opportunities ranging from
representative to other leadership roles. We also advertise paid work and employ student
staff on a variety of roles. You can find out more information on our website:
http://www.uclansu.co.uk/
5. Assessment
5.1 Assessment Strategy
The overall assessment strategy for the DBA is coursework during stage 1 and thesis in stage 2. A variety of assessment methods will be used and learners will be required to demonstrate their capabilities through written assessments (projects, reports and research articles), time constrained assessments, and presentations. A variety of summative assessments are
used including essays, reports, practical projects and exercises, including case studies as well as individual and group oral presentations Learners may also be provided with formative assessments including case study analysis, problem solving exercises short essays and market analysis reports. Formative assessment may also include presentation, short answers and discussions feedback usually in-class.
5.2 Notification of assignments and examination arrangements Details of assignments for modules are provided in the Module Information Pack given to students at the start of the module. Individual assessment briefs are provided for each module. These detail the assessment requirements, marking criteria and submission arrangements. Some submission will be electronically submitted through Blackboard
Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise uses the Harvard system of referencing as its preferred referencing style. It uses a specific format that is followed by the Journal of Management. See the Referencing Guide at: https://v3.pebblepad.co.uk/v3portfolio/uclan/Asset/View/Gm3mmGk6sM3RgHZnjGfh7mm6pM
5.4 Confidential material
Although you not expected to access confidential information during the course you are
reminded that you have ethical and legal responsibilities to respect confidentiality and
maintain the anonymity of individuals and organisations within their assignments
5.5 Cheating, plagiarism, collusion or re-presentation
Please refer to the information included in section 6.6 of the University Student Handbook for
full definitions. The University uses an online Assessment Tool called Turnitin. A pseudo-
Turnitin assignment will be set up using the School space on Blackboard to allow students to
check as many drafts as the system allows before their final submission to the ‘official’
Turnitin assignment. Students are required to self-submit their own assignment on Turnitin
and will be given access to the Originality Reports arising from each submission. In
operating Turnitin, Schools must take steps to ensure that the University’s requirement for all
summative assessment to be marked anonymously is not undermined and therefore Turnitin
reports should either be anonymised or considered separately from marking. Turnitin may
also be used to assist with plagiarism detection and collusion, where there is suspicion about
individual piece(s) of work.
5.6 How do I know that my assessed work had been marked fairly?
Assessment is an integral part of the course. Module staff work closely together to design assessments, agree the marking criteria and approve final versions of assessments to ensure that these are appropriate. The criteria for assessment will be communicated to you clearly during the module teaching. All module staff engage in development and training in assessment, marking and feedback. Once the assessments have been completed the module team will discuss the assessment methods and marking criteria, prior to starting to mark, so that there is a common understanding of what is expected of students. All assessed modules have moderation built into the marking process. Moderation involves sampling students’ assessed work to make sure that the learning outcomes and agreed marking criteria have been interpreted and applied in the same way. This ensures that you and your fellow students are treated equitably and that the academic standards are applied consistently. During the marking process the module leader will co-ordinate moderation to ensure that at least 10% of assessed work (or a minimum of three pieces) has been reviewed by other markers and any concerns about consistency or accuracy addressed with the whole module team. Your work may or may not be part of this sample, but the processes for developing assessments and marking criteria as well as moderation mean that you can be confident that teaching staff are marking assessments to the same criteria. Module teams may then use feedback from moderation to improve clarity about the nature and purpose of future assessment, or to make changes if required.
Modules are also moderated externally. The module leader will arrange for the external examiner to receive a sample of work for review and comment. External examiners cannot change individual grades, but can act as ‘critical friends’ and confirm that marking standards are in line with other, similar courses in the sector. If, on reviewing the sample, external examiners feel that the marking criteria have not been applied consistently the work of the whole cohort will be reviewed.
6. Classification of Awards
The University publishes the principles underpinning the way in which awards and results are decided in Academic Regulations. Decisions about the overall classification of awards are made by Assessment Boards through the application of the academic and relevant course regulations.
7. Student Feedback
You can play an important part in the process of improving the quality of this course through the feedback you give. In addition to the on-going discussion with the course team throughout the year, there are a range of mechanisms for you to feedback about your experience of teaching and
learning. We aim to respond to your feedback and let you know of our plans for improvement. 7.1 Student Staff Liaison Committee meetings (SSLCs) Details of the Protocol for the operation of SSLCs is included in section 8.2 of the University
Student Handbook. As a student your feedback is essential to inform the Course Team of
your views about modules, the course as a whole and the University facilities. There are
opportunities to do so personally in dialogue with the module tutors and the course leader
through the year and more formally through the Student Liaison Officer and Student
Representatives who represent all the students at the Staff Student Liaison Committee
meetings (once a semester and through the Module Evaluation Questionnaires if applicable)
• The primary aim of the DBA programme is to provide an opportunity for doctoral level study, alongside relevant professional development. The DBA will enable you to:
• design and conduct an investigation into a contemporary business, management or professional issue, the outcomes of which make a significant and demonstrable contribution to both appropriate knowledge, theory and professional knowledge and practice
• In addition, the DBA programme aims to enable you to:
• critically assess, select and implement appropriate research methodologies and methods within complex business, management or professional contexts
• synthesise, interpret and rigorously apply relevant theoretical frameworks and research findings in relation to complex business and management contexts and issues
• develop high level analytical and conceptual skills, facilitating questioning and critical debate about established theoretical orthodoxy and challenges to such orthodoxy
• engage in and manage a process of high level critical reflective personal and professional development leading to the enhancement of your own professional practice and performance within a work context or specific domain
For each exit award available, list learning outcomes relating to the knowledge and
understanding, subject specific skills, thinking, other skills relevant to employability and
personal development that a typical student might be expected to gain as a result of
successfully completing each level of a course of study.
Learning outcomes for the award of: PG Diploma in Management Research ( requires
120 credits at Level 7.
• a critical understanding of research paradigms, philosophical issues, methodologies and methods applicable in business, management and professional contexts
• a critical understanding of the research process and the creation and interpretation of new knowledge through empirical research and advanced level scholarship
• a critical understanding, synthesis, and evaluation of a substantial body of theoretical and research knowledge related to the field of study.
• an ability to critically analyse and synthesise the complexities associated with contemporary business, management and professional issues, the linkages between them and their application to organisational contexts
• an ability to design and implement an appropriate programme of applied research and defend its rationale
• an ability to write up the research in the form of a Doctoral thesis and to provide an oral defence of the research.
• an ability to critically analyse information and make informed judgements in relation to the complex issues relevant to advanced practice and research in Management and Organisation
• an ability to synthesise ideas in order to develop and communicate and debate alternative explanations and hypotheses
• an ability to critically develop well-evidenced and argued conclusions and recommendations informed by critical argument and debate.
• an ability to undertake research, working independently in complex and uncertain environments
• an ability to reflect upon and critically assess your own professional practice and behaviour in order to underpin your own future professional development and effectiveness
Learning outcomes for the award of: PG Certificate in Management Research (requires
60 credits at level 7.
• a critical understanding of research paradigms, philosophical issues, methodologies and methods applicable in business, management and professional contexts
• a critical understanding of the research process and the creation and interpretation of new knowledge through empirical research and advanced level scholarship
• a critical understanding, synthesis, and evaluation of a substantial body of theoretical and research knowledge related to the field of study.
• an ability to critically analyse and synthesise the complexities associated with contemporary business, management and professional issues, the linkages between them and their application to organisational contexts
• an ability to design and implement an appropriate programme of applied research and defend its rationale
• an ability to write up the research in the form of a Doctoral thesis and to provide an oral defence of the research.
• an ability to critically analyse information and make informed judgements in relation to the complex issues relevant to advanced practice and research in Management and Organisation
• an ability to synthesise ideas in order to develop and communicate and debate alternative explanations and hypotheses
• an ability to critically develop well-evidenced and argued conclusions and recommendations informed by critical argument and debate.
