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dba international programme

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fulfilling ambitions the sheffield business school at sheffield hallam university and business school netherlands are combining their strengths to offer the dba international programme aimed at the international student it combines the very practical orientation of business school netherlands and its history as a dedicated business school with the research capabilities and resources of the sheffield business school through this joint programme the two institutions are able to offer the international student a unique combination of resources and experience business school netherlands long experience with action learning in its mba and its dutch language dba programmes is combined with sheffield business school s strong academic orientation and research expertise both institutions have long offered programmes for active managers this experience is now being offered to the international student through this joint programme.

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3 dba international programme you are an experienced successful manager you have an mba or similar qualification you feel that you need a deeper understanding of the issues you face and more systematic ways of investigating options and possibilities you feel that only by stepping back and taking the time and putting the issues you face into a broader context of theoretical knowledge will you be able to develop the kinds of breakthrough solutions you are looking for you are enthusiastic about personal professional and organisational development and are motivated to contribute to management thinking and practice by researching and developing new ways of doing things to achieve your goals you are willing to spend a great deal of your time over the next four years in study and research centred on questions you chose you want to develop your conceptual understanding in the context of important practical business problems you and your organisation face and you want the challenges and changes that working with a peer group of international professionals will bring the dba international is a blended learning programme especially tailored for executives who cannot put their careers on hold the freedom and flexibility of this programme will allow you to balance the demands of your career and personal life while developing your skills and capabilities through a significant work of original research aimed at improving practical decision making as well as increasing the understanding of organisational and business life doctor of business administration a doctor of business administration dba is a management practitioner s degree and while not a requirement continued involvement in an organisation is important for keeping the theoretical and methodological contents of your dba studies in a practical context a dba is focused on developing a scientific attitude not just completing a research project the rigorous application of research methods within a theoretical framework is a skill which will serve you throughout your career structure the programme is structured in four phases in the first phase you will be challenged to develop your own identity and vision as a researcher what motivates you what kind of problems fascinate you the focus is on developing your professional identity and drive as a researcher and in defining and refining the problem areas which fascinate and motivate you the second phase is focused on developing your skills as a researcher the instruments of your profession what research skills do you need to master what approaches are best suited for different problems a dba degree is about developing your capacity to act in the world the tools you bring to your work are as important as your motivation and vision the third phase is focused on integration are you able to join your vision and motivation with your knowledge and intellectual capacities to address and resolve specific organisational problems problems of organisational design and action are at heart problems of knowledge faced with an

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4 intractable business problem can you generate the knowledge needed to resolve the problem by formulating a researchable question and doing the research can the answers you come up with be implemented can you put it all together in this third phase you develop your professional identity and capacities into an integrated whole focused on implementing solutions to business and management problems the final phase is the thesis research and writing the focus in this phase is consolidation and elaboration through your research you will apply and internalize the learning of the first three phases you will also contextualize your research placing it in a larger body of theoretical work and practical strategic organisational problems this phase is aimed not only at ensuring that you are capable of doing world class research into business and management problems it is also aimed at elaborating the connections between the various problems which have intrigued you during your studies and which are likely to be of enduring concern in your professional career benefits on completion of the programme you will have made a contribution to theory and the practice of management be capable of undertaking rigorous research in the field of business and management have developed a broad understanding from multiple perspectives of business and management issues be able to critically assess your own thinking and impact as a manager and become more effective in your work interactions have developed an acute understanding of your speciality within the broader context of organisational and managerial action have become a reflective practitioner with a scientific approach to management and organisational problems recognise the strengths of group effort and have developed strong cooperative work habits double degree this programme offers a double degree this means that you will receive a degree from sheffield business school of sheffield hallam university and a degree from business school netherlands the dba is a relatively new degree in continental europe but long recognised by the quality assurance agency for higher education in the uk the dba international programme adheres to the qaa standards.

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5 structure and content learning settings learning takes place in three settings three sets of modules delivered at week-long workshops your participation in your action learning set the advice support and guidance of your thesis supervisors the broad context of organisational and management research in relating your interests to this ongoing stream of research you are better able to define your passion and understand how the problems which fascinate you are related to other management and business issues these workshops will lay the foundations for your future learning and research the output from this first set of modules will be an `x-ray report on your work organisation you will be asked to apply the theories you learn both in the module workshops and in your independent study to an organisation this exercise is aimed at broadening your view of organised action and its organisational context and gaining a better understanding of your own perspective and biases this exercise will develop your identity as a researcher by clarifying your motives and interests it will stretch your theoretical understanding point you to the gaps in your knowledge allow us to assess your needs and provide a foundation for your thesis proposal module delivery you will be making three trips to participate in the delivery of the core modules in each of these trips you will be attending a set of workshops associated with one of the first three phases of the programme the first set of workshops held in buren in the netherlands will introduce you to the programme it will involve five intensive days of work and discussions as the foundations for action learning are laid and current theories and practices of business and management are presented and discussed this set of modules focuses on putting your concerns your motivations and your reasons for wanting to become a practical researcher into

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6 phase i module/activity a introduction to action learning b advanced practice in business and management ­ 1 5 days location buren nl date september 2010 major assignment organisational `x-ray draft finished paper due date february 2011 july 2011 august 2011 october 2011 august 2012 ii foundations and design of management research 5 days sheffield uk february 2011 methodological position paper first draft of thesis proposal iii advanced practice in business and management ­ 2 6 days prague cz september 2011 thesis research proposal iv thesis research and presentation buren or sheffield september 2012 to august 2014 thesis research and writing august 2014 in the second set of workshops to take place in sheffield in the united kingdom you will develop your skills and knowledge as a researcher it will focus on the philosophical issues related to knowledge generation and use and on the design of research in business and management here you will be forced to think about what knowledge is how it is generated and how it is used the development of a scientific attitude requires not just that we view common understandings with scepticism and base our arguments on theory and evidence it also demands that we make conscious decisions about how we understand our world and what constitutes evidence for action in it at the conclusion of these modules you will be asked to write a paper expounding your methodological preferences this exercise is a vehicle for thinking through your research preferences and consolidating your methodological position it provides a means for us to assess your development as a thinker and points to where difficulties may lie ahead in your thesis research at this point you will also be asked to write a first draft for your research proposal this will be presented during the third set of workshops at the beginning of the second year the third set of modules lasting six days will be held in prague in the czech republic as part of phase three of the programme it is designed to do two things first to provide an advanced forum for the exposition and discussion of current thinking in organisations and management and second to provide a means for you to develop your theoretical positions and solidify your thinking about your thesis research you will be presenting your research proposal to the faculty and your peers for discussion and assessment and there will be plentiful opportunities for discussing your ideas and progress with faculty the focus of these workshops is very much on you and your development as a well rounded researcher action learning sets the second setting for learning is your action learning set als an als is liberating by this we mean that it provides a structure where individuals can develop their ideas in a flexible and supportive environment the constant interaction with peers and advisors results in an interplay between theory experience and practical problems that facilitates rigorous and creative inquiry self-study the workshop modules and your thesis work are all supported by your als an als ties your theoretical learning to practical issues relevant to you and your peers management experiences through the als you are put into an environment which is motivating has a practical focus where you can benefit from other perspectives and experiences where feedback is timely and direct and where you can develop your skills in analysis and presentation as well as leadership and persuasion an als promotes team thinking and mutual success an als honours diversity by encouraging and validating multiple perspectives.

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7 by contributing your perspective to your colleagues problems and vice-versa your als contributes to a broadening and deepening of your learning the als is facilitated and coached by the action learning coach while substantive issues can be referred to advisors methodologists and your thesis supervisors for guidance your als is your core reference group it is the thread which runs through the entire programme and together with the faculty and others in the programme the members of your als will provide professional support throughout your ongoing career thesis supervision the final setting for your learning is your relationship with your thesis supervisor from your first year in the dba international programme you should be thinking about who you would like to invite to be your thesis supervisor the person you chose will have a major influence on the direction of your studies your thesis supervisor is teaching and doing research in your area of interest he or she is the one who will recommend new directions in reading and theory development critique your work and support you in your thinking and efforts he or she will advise you concerning standards as well as your readiness to stand for final oral examination your thesis supervisor can give you opportunities to assist him in his or her own research adding to your experience and possibly resulting in co-authorship of scholarly articles your choice and management of a thesis supervisor will make your academic career in the dba international more productive satisfying and rewarding pedagogical approach you are at the centre of the dba international what you bring is your personality your experience and perspective the practical challenges and opportunities you face in your work and your knowledge creativity and energy what we provide is our expertise and knowledge our long experience in creating a supportive learning environment in which you can develop your own ideas and interests we back you up challenge you guide you and provide the environment where you can stretch and develop a large part of this is done through action learning from the beginning in the first set of modules you will be immersed in an action learning environment this means that following a brief introduction to its principles and methods subsequent learning activity will take place using action learning methods the goal is fourfold first to ensure that discussions of theory and methods are grounded in the practical and intellectual problems which you bring with you second to bring you and your classmates diverse perspectives and personalities to bear on these issues third to put you in a position where your capabilities of communications and persuasion are

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8 tested and improved and finally to lay the social foundations for the internet based action learning which will support your individual study on your return home as part of your application you will have prepared two statements the first is motivational why are you interested in pursuing a dba the second is substantive what research questions interest you and what might your thesis topic be discussions of theory will start from these statements it is the role of the first module faculty to guide you from your practical and intellectual concerns to the streams of research literature which inform and contextualize them it is the role of the action learning coach to facilitate a critical but supportive discussion it is the role of the action learning set to bring their varied reading and experience to their discussions of your work and to critique your thinking together the faculty the coach and the als work to move you from a topic that fascinates and motivates you to a research question framed by a body of theoretical literature rigorously thought through and ready for investigation but action learning is emotional and behavioural as well as intellectual it aims to develop your personal capacities and professional effectiveness as well as intellectual capabilities the dba international will at each workshop series engage you in what we call intervision the objective of intervision is to develop your personal capacities and effectiveness by examining your habits of character focusing on specific work situations intervision is invaluable for improving performance and outcomes the emphasis is on reflection helping you think through how you can become more effective and professional in your work interactions faculty and online resources as a dba international student the resources of both sheffield business school and business school netherlands are at your disposal diverse faculties with international reputations are there to advise and assist you for a blended programme of distance learning combined with onsite workshops online resources are of critical importance both the institutes have substantial holdings and make them available to their students online the online learning facilities are also first rate sheffield business school s blackboard system will be deployed in support of both the action learning sets and the modules delivered at the onsite workshops each module has a site containing background material core and supplementary readings a discussion board and other resources and members of each action learning set communicate and interact through its own customizable site.

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9 information and enrolment admission requirements for admission to this programme applicants will be required to possess an mba or a masters qualification in a relevant area and have at least five years experience in a professional capacity with significant responsibility or in a senior management role or be the managing director/chief executive officer of a small to medium size enterprise or be in an equivalent position be pursuing or have pursued a significant career in professional or business areas that fall within the research interests of the sheffield business school or the faculty of business school netherlands and display evidence of the potential to do doctoral level work and have written and verbal fluency in english for non-native english speakers a minimum toefl mark of 600 on the paper based test or 250 on the computerized test or a 7.0 on the ielts standard is required exceptionally consideration may be given to applicants without a masters degree who hold a good first degree in a relevant discipline have exceptional work experience demonstrated by professional advancement can demonstrate continued education and professional development since graduation application and selection procedures to discuss enrolment procedures for this programme please contact internationaldba@bsn.eu the admissions committee will process the application within one month of its receipt and you will be informed by mail for your acceptance to the programme information for more information about the dba international programme please contact the programme manager of sheffield business school or business school netherlands while specific questions need to be addressed to the programme managers at the offices of the two institutions you are invited to visit our locations to get a feel for what we do and who we are sheffield business school city campus howard street sheffield t +44 0 114 225 2820 sbs@shu.ac.uk business school netherlands de raadskamer herenstraat 25 buren t +31 0344 579 030 internationaldba@bsn.eu

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11 the partners sheffield hallam university sheffield hallam university is renowned for its modern facilities dynamic approach to teaching and learning and high levels of student support with 28,000 students and 3000 staff it is one of the uk s largest and most progressive universities over the last 10 years we have invested over £ 115 million in our teaching and learning facilities and we have excellent libraries and computing facilities our e-learning system is one of the most extensive and advanced in the country providing access to resources and support when and where you need them the faculty of organisation and management has a national and international reputation for delivering postgraduate and professional management development programmes with over thirty years experience in research and teaching in business and management our vision is to be a creative and enterprising community for learning and practice to develop and share knowledge and skills that make a positive difference to organisations and their management our purpose built multimillion pound building has the latest in information technology and learning facilities we work in close partnership with professional bodies and both public and private organisations these relationships ensure that our academic activities are tightly tied to practical management organisational and business problems the faculty is involved in a diverse range of pure and applied research covering most areas of business and management for more information about our research centres please visit www.shu.ac.uk/faculties/om/gradschool business school netherlands business school netherlands was established in 1988 in the belief that traditional executive education programmes failed to meet the training and development needs of business managers we are the first european institution to become affiliated with the world institute for action learning in 1991 we began to offer our dutch language dba using the action learning methodology business school netherlands is the market leader in mba training in the netherlands with an annual mba student intake of over 200 students this leadership position is recognised by intermediar the independent dutch ranking body and publication this body has ranked our mba curriculum 1st in the netherlands in the last three of their biannual rankings the quality of our programmes and our action learning approach to executive education have been the foundation for our development and expansion we now have executive education programmes in several languages and in other european countries as well as africa and asia our english language international action learning mba® is our flagship programme as we continue to develop an international community of action learners besides its degree programmes business school netherlands also offers special skills and management development courses and short courses customized to meet the requirements of specific clients these programmes are closely integrated with our clients needs and goals and place heavy demands on faculty capabilities to ensure that we are always abreast of the latest developments in management theory and practice and that we are able to meet the demands of our clients we maintain relationships with a broad array of academic and professional faculty drawing on expertise as it is needed rather than tailoring programmes to a fixed set of resources means that we are always ready to effectively and efficiently meet the next challenge for more information about our programmes please visit www.bsn.eu/english.

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information the sheffield business school at sheffield hallam university and business school netherlands are combining their strengths to offer the dba international programme the dba is aimed at the practicing manager of consultant we believe that a scientific approach and attitude are fundamental to solving business problems through this joint programme we offer the international student a unique combination of resources and experience dedicated to developing their capabilities sheffield business school city campus howard street sheffield t +44 0 114 225 2820 sbs@shu.ac.uk business school netherlands de raadskamer herenstraat 25 buren t +31 0344 579 030 internationaldba@bsn.eu

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