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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Business Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
101835  Doctor of Business Administration 
ORIGINATOR
Nelson Mandela University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 10  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
91809  Doctor of Business Administration  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  360  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional Doctorate Degree designed to make a contribution to the enhancement of transdisciplinary professional practice in management and business administration. This Degree pursues the application and development of theoretical frameworks, methods and techniques to solve practical business problems.

The Professional DBA qualification offers a combination of both theoretical and applied research methodology modules. The qualification offers learners a rigorous, research-focused curriculum that emphasises research which addresses the problems most relevant to managers. The DBA curriculum develops the applied research competencies necessary to create independent thinkers and problem-solvers. Learners will be equipped with these advanced research skills will be better prepared to discover and address the vexing problems that face complex organisations, lead change initiatives, improve general organisational performance and impact advanced business practice in an innovative an sustainable way.

Rationale:
The European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration (EDAMBA) highlights the following about professional Doctoral Degrees (PhD):
  • PhDs are often too theoretical and not sufficiently related to practice. Doctoral programmes are needed that include creative interventions around enterprise and have a practice focus.
  • More doctoral research needs to be done in partnerships with businesses.
  • Theoretical contributions in doctoral degrees are important, but a lot of theoretical business knowledge does not mean that one knows business. On the other hand, a practitioner might not be well-read, but he or she knows more about business than graduates that conducted theoretical studies on business.
  • A practitioner PhD or professional doctorate calls for a different type of rigour and scholarship. While PhDs often rigorously pursue gaps in the literature, professional doctorates should rigorously pursue the solution to a practical business problem in a scholarly manner.

    The Professional Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), with its strong focus on professions and searching for solutions to practical business problems, is aligned to EDAMBA's rationale for professional Doctoral Degrees. The Doctorate in Business Administration is designed for reflective business executives who desire to advance their careers in management or consulting through high-quality applied, practice-focused research. Participants in the qualification may be drawn from a wide range of organisational settings, including the public and private sectors. They may include executives from small, medium and large organisations working in different industries, professions and services. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements are required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the University that they have suitable experiential or work-based learning which has taken the applicant to a level the entry level of the qualification specified above. Such candidates may be considered for admission through RPL after assessment via a portfolio of evidence. Applicants who, after such an assessment, are deemed to have sufficient potential but are in need of further academic development, may be required to broaden their curriculum by enrolling for preliminary modules prior to admission or parallel modules after admission. This would be done according to the institution's RPL Policy.

    Entry Requirements:
  • Master of Business Administration, Level 9.
    And
  • At least five years' middle to senior management work experience. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 10 totalling, 360 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules: 320 Credits:
  • Advanced Business Administration, 15 Credits.
  • Theory of Applied Research, 30 Credits.
  • Advanced Research Techniques, 35 Credits.
  • Research Project/Thesis, 240 Credits.

    Elective Modules: 40 Credits (Choose one module):
  • Entrepreneurship, 40 Credits.
  • Future Studies, 40 Credits.
  • Leadership, 40 Credits.
  • Operations Management, 40 Credits.
  • Marketing, 40 Credits.
  • General Management, 40 Credits.
  • Strategic Management, 40 Credits.
  • Supply Chain Management, 40 Credits.
  • Financial Management, 40 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the dynamics of complex organisations through the lens of advanced theories of management and business administration (for example, leadership, industry structures and dynamics, international business, innovation, corporate social responsibility and business ethics).
    2. Demonstrate the ability to create and integrate new knowledge.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to bring new and relevant scholarship to bear on a new business management problem.
    4. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of research theory that would enable them to conceptualise a solution to a practical business problem, aiming the study at making an original contribution to the body of knowledge of the field of interest.
    5. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of rigorous data analysis tools that can be applied in solving the research problem.
    6. Present research findings in a scholarly manner to both academic and non-academic audiences. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Demonstrate evidence of advanced critique and theoretical understanding of organisational practice in case studies, projects and the research process.
  • Critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate a subject matter.
  • Cultivate and perform innovative approaches to practice.
  • Make a contribution to academic debates and informed scholarship.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Use a wide and appropriate range of literature sources to analyse and critique research stances and data.
  • Conduct critical analysis and assessment of relevant research.
  • Examine, reflect on and evaluate the relationships between theory and professional practice.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Identify and define the business research problem.
  • Choose appropriate research approaches for solving the research problem.
  • Rigorously defend research proposals and research outcomes.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of key concepts and current thinking in any of the fields as indicated serving as a platform for the conceptualisation, formulation and framing of complex research problems and questions:
    > Entrepreneurship.
    > Future Studies.
    > Leadership.
    > Operations Management.
    > Marketing.
    > General Management.
    > Strategic Management.
    > Supply Chain Management.
    > Financial Management.
  • Apply systematically and accurately data analysis techniques and tools, maintaining a high level of data integrity.
  • Present appropriately and in a scholarly manner findings and recommendations.
  • Draw and present conclusions to both academic and non-academic audiences.
  • Clearly articulate and link ideas to relevant theory and analysis protocols.
  • Produce evidence in the form of a written thesis and at least one peer reviewed, publishable article.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Demonstrate a critical and analytical approach to research methodology selection.
  • Implement and consider the ethical and practical implications of chosen methods.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Appropriately present and discuss findings.
  • Clearly articulate and link Ideas to relevant theory and analysis protocols.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Successfully produce evidence in the form of a written thesis and in at least one publishable article intellectually scrutinised and externally assessed by experts.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated assessment at the level of the qualification provides an opportunity for the students to show that they are able to integrate concepts, ideas and actions across the programme to achieve competence that is grounded and coherent with the purpose of the learning programme. Integrated assessment will show how already demonstrated competence in individual areas can be linked and applied for the achievement of a holistic outcome as described in the Exit Level Outcomes.

    Integrated assessment will judge the quality of the observable performance, and also the quality of the reasoning that lies behind it. Assessments tools will encourage students to give an account of the thinking and decision-making that underpin their demonstrated performance.

    Formative and summative assessments will include the following:
    Formative:
  • Business simulations as a basis on which to provide formative feedback on knowledge gaps, skills application and possible ways of improvement.
  • Research assignments to provide formative feedback on different aspects of the students' learning.

    Summative:
  • Individual projects and assignments.
  • Group projects and assignments.
  • Case study analyses and presentations.

    On the basis of the above assessment tasks during the period of study a final mark will be accumulated. The summative opportunities will be used to determine and assess the candidate's ability to demonstrate the learning outcomes.

    Research project: The research project will integrate knowledge from all different aspects of the programme. It is expected that what is learnt in the modules is utilised and applied in the project. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    During the period May 2013 to May 2014, research was conducted on the professional DBAs in business schools in the world, including Cranfield, Grenoble, Manchester, Maastricht, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Gloucestershire and the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) business schools. The programme structures of the DBAs offered by these business schools are provided below. Most of these programme structures include a course work component that is spread over a year or two, with two to three years allowed for the completion of the thesis. The course-work year (s) generally includes core and elective modules on Research Methodology and core or elective modules on Business Administration or Science.
    Manchester Business School (DBA Programme).
    Year 1 Modules:
  • Social Research Methods (questionnaire design, interviewing and observational methods).
  • Statistics (application of descriptive and inferential statistics).
  • Epistemology (examining problems in management research and their roots in philosophies of the natural and social sciences).
  • Literature Project (last 6 months of the year).

    Year 2 Modules:
  • Qualitative methods.
  • Survey design.
  • Case study methodology.
  • Business analysis.
  • Multivariate statistics.
  • Action research.
  • Elite interviewing.
  • Mixed methods.
  • Pilot Project (first 4 months of the year).
  • Research Proposal (last 6 months of the year).

    Year 2 Electives:
  • Consultation with supervisor.
  • Description of management issue.
  • Evidence of academic relevance.
  • Conceptual framework study.
  • Justification for research methodology.
  • DBA Conference 2 on Pilot Project or Research Proposal.

    Year 3-5 Modules:
  • Research for career, company and publication.
  • Fieldwork.
  • Data analysis.
  • Write up.
  • DBA Conference 3 in year 3 on conference paper.
  • DBA Conference 4 in year 4 on journal paper.
  • DBA Conference 5 in year 5 on journal paper. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This is a final level qualification. It can however articulate to post-doctoral studies in related fields. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Nelson Mandela University 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.