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Introduction to Writing the DBA Doctoral Study

The DBA Rubric and Handbook presents a step-by-step guide to writing each of the sections and subsections of the DBA Docstudy.  This document outlines the expectations for student work.  Reviewing this material should be one of the first steps in beginning the doctoral study writing process.

Next, as students begin preparing to write, they should review the materials related to the DBA Docstudy document and process provided on the Office of Research and Doctoral Services website.  This page contains resources for writing the prospectus, proposal, and final study. In addition, students should download the appropriate template from the Writing Center’s Form and Style DBA Templates page.

To introduce students to writing a DBA Docstudy capstone, here is a description of the main goals and outcomes associated with this process and document:

The goal is to address a specific, defined, and applied business problem

  • Students begin by identifying a problem that exists in the business world, then define a specific business problem within that.
  • The goal of the document is to address the specific business problem in that specific company and in that industry.
  • Subsequent goals of the study are to articulate implications for business practice in the field (how other business leaders, etc., can use the information) AND the implications for social change (who will benefit from the results and how; see more below).

The document addresses a gap—the specific business problem has not been studied before

  • After identifying the problem, students should identify/ensure there is a gap, as one of the goals of the study is to contribute to the scholarship in that area. 
  • It is important to make sure that the topic/problem has not already been addressed by other researchers.
  • The results should make a significant contribution to the student’s chosen area of focus.

The study demonstrates a grounding in related literature and research in the field

  • Another goal of the study is to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the subject areas covered in the literature review.
  • This is why the literature review is lengthy and exhaustive; it is the student’s demonstration that he/she is an expert in these areas, is familiar with all previous relevant research, and can convey this expertise through writing.

The study is built on basic or applied research

  • The study demonstrates knowledge and expertise in the identified research design and interpretation of results.
  • The study shows that the student can convey this expertise through writing.

The document advances social change

  • A final, Walden-specific and important outcome of the study is that results also make a contribution to social change.  Students need to describe who may benefit from the findings of the study and how they may benefit.