Director of Research Emeritus, CNRS
Professor at École polytechnique
*Faculty member of the Business Science Institute
In a world where innovation and adaptability are essential, the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is emerging as a superior alternative to the traditional Master of Business Administration (MBA). By enhancing the value of professional experience through scientific research, the DBA opens up new perspectives for ambitious managers eager to push back the frontiers of their expertise.
A New Era in Management Training
The MBA, with its focus on the practical application of managerial theory, has long been the degree of choice for professionals wishing to enhance their management skills. However, in the face of increasingly complex and dynamic environments, the need for deeper and more rigorous training is becoming apparent. This is where the DBA comes in, offering an integrative approach that combines scientific research and practical experience.
The DBA: a fusion of theory and practice
The DBA, often referred to as “doctorate as practice”, enables managers to transform their professional challenges into research questions, helping them to develop innovative, actionable solutions. Unlike the traditional PhD, which focuses on pure theory, the DBA emphasizes applied research, directly linked to business realities and needs. This practical orientation generates valuable, relevant and immediately usable knowledge.
Valuing professional experience
One of the DBA's strengths lies in its ability to capitalize on participants' professional experience. As managers who already have in-depth knowledge of their sector, DBA students bring unique perspectives and valuable insights to their research. This synergy between theory and practice not only enriches their understanding of complex issues, but also enables them to come up with concrete, effective solutions.
Training through research
The DBA program is rigorous and demanding. It is based on the quality of the research question and high-level supervision by experienced research professors. This symbiotic relationship between the doctoral student-manager and the lecturer provides optimum support for the research process, ensuring that the results obtained are not only scientifically valid but also relevant to the business world.
An interdisciplinary and collaborative approach
The success of the DBA also relies on interdisciplinary collaboration. Managers are encouraged to work with experts from different fields to enrich their research and develop innovative solutions. This approach fosters creativity and innovation, essential elements in today's business landscape.
Conclusion: the DBA, a strategic asset for the future
Finally, the DBA represents a natural and necessary evolution in manager training. By enhancing the value of professional experience through scientific research, it enables us to meet contemporary challenges with innovative and robust solutions. While the MBA has played a crucial role for decades, the DBA is now establishing itself as the royal road for those who aspire to excel in an ever-changing world. For ambitious managers, it's time to say goodbye to the MBA and welcome the DBA, a training program that combines academic rigor and practical relevance to make a lasting impact on their careers and organizations.