PhD versus DBA: Let’s debunk the myth once and for all

A doctoral degree is the highest award one can receive from a university. There are various types of doctoral degrees depending on the country in which you study and the discipline you choose to pursue. The most known degrees are DSc (Doctor of Science) and PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

The ways to earn a doctoral degree can also differ. Most commonly, the candidate has to write a doctoral thesis to receive an award. It must make a novel and original contribution to knowledge, using the scientific method. In some cases, publishing a series of journal papers can also fulfil this requirement.

Regardless of the format, by the end of a doctoral degree, it is expected that the candidate can conduct research independently (without supervision). Most programmes will require candidates to have an MSc in order to be accepted in a doctoral programme.

More recently, discipline-based doctorates were offered by universities. This is the case with EngD or DEng (Doctor of Engineering), EdD or DEd (Doctor of Education) as well as DBA (Doctor of Business Administration).

They all have to meet the same criteria as mentioned before. However, not surprisingly, discussions about their equivalence with PhDs and DScs are common, as are the myths that one is better than the other.

One apparent myth across colleges is that the DSc is a higher degree than a PhD, based on the assumption that DSc theses are more rigorous when it comes to the scientific method or make a more significant contribution to knowledge.

Within the management discipline, the community is also vulnerable to a myth that a PhD is better than a DBA degree.

Rigorous research

So, why would a myth that a PhD is better than a DBA exist in management circles?

We argue that this may be caused by the incorrect notion that a DBA is a continuation of an MBA degree.

The MBA and MSc are both postgraduate qualifications at masters level, but they are different degrees from a research perspective. MBAs aim to increase breadth of knowledge while MScs focus on depth when it comes to a research problem.

That does not (or should not!) happen between DBA and PhD degrees. Both candidates will have to understand research methods and develop expertise in a field of knowledge, and according to research, there is no significant difference between the theses produced by PhDs and DBAs.

According to USNews.com: “Pursuing a DBA is very beneficial, but candidates need to research very closely the various programmes offered because they vary considerably in cost, structure, reputation and rigour and unfortunately there are some very weak programmes in the marketplace today.”

This holds true not just for DBA programmes; it is also true for any doctoral programme.

Reducing the theory-practice gap

Despite this myth, top business schools, particularly those requiring more practitioner input in their teaching and research, are currently hiring both PhD and DBAs.

Business schools are judged not only by the quality of their research, but also by their teaching, business engagement and impact on the ‘real’ world.

DBAs can be a key piece to address demand-led research problems, increase engagement with business and translate research into impact by changing organisations’ practices.

John A Parnell highlights that PhDs focus on constructs with limited attention to context, whereas DBAs focus on context. Contextual knowledge is the greatest challenge for PhDs, writes the author.

Additionally, the DBA can bring to the universities a reduction in the gap between theory and practice.

The equivalence of DBAs with PhDs is captured by the following signifier from the UK’s Quality Assurance Authority (QAA): “All UK doctorates, regardless of their form, require the main focus of the candidate’s work to demonstrate an original contribution to knowledge in their subject, field or profession, through original research or the original application of existing knowledge or understanding.”

Just like PhDs, DBAs can create and discuss knowledge between practitioners and academics, facilitating eclectic impacts, according to Carley Foster et al.

The authors go on to say that research generated by DBAs is therefore in a winning position to contribute significantly to universities’ research-practice dialogue and education.

Accreditation

In a study done by Pina et al, 2016, the authors unearthed that PhD and DBA programmes were treated equivalently by accrediting bodies, such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programmes and the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, nationally and regionally.

Similarly, MacLennan et al found no substantial variations in research methodologies, sample sizes and basic versus applied research types between the PhD and the DBA programmes.

In practice, the lines between a DBA and a PhD can often be blurred. Several holders of PhD degrees become practitioners in industry and influential academic contributions are made by DBA holders, as the likes of C K Prahalad or C M Christensen show.

However, the authors claim that the dominance of PhDs in business schools is still seen because PhDs were introduced first and have been the standard until now.

As we evolve towards impact-seeking research, DBAs are certainly an accepted credential for faculties and business schools and will become of strategic importance.

For the candidates themselves, we believe the applied nature of DBA research gives them ample choices to continue a career in industry as a more reflective practitioner or to make a complete move to the world of academia, making rigorous and relevant contributions to theory, practice and policy making.

Raji Sivaraman is principal of ASBA LLC and an adjunct professor at Montclair University, United States. A pracademic, she helps US/Singapore companies with strategic planning/overseas start-ups and is a consultant for non-profit organisations. Breno Nunes is a reader in sustainable operations management, Aston Business School, UK.

This article is a commentary. Commentary articles are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of University World News.