Business Administration Department

Doctor of Business Administration

It is no longer sufficient to work harder and faster. Business needs new and innovative approaches in today’s changing market. The opportunities have never been greater than now for entrepreneurs to start new businesses that build on today’s technology revolution. To address the need for strategic leaders and entrepreneurs for this dynamic environment, International Technological University (ITU) Business Department offers the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) Program in Strategic Innovation.

The DBA in Strategic Innovation is a professional doctoral program intended for executives, entrepreneurs, managers, consultants, business and technology educators who seek that competitive edge by using and enhancing leading approaches to business innovation and entrepreneurship. ITU’s “Residency ” model of study in the DBA program encourages students to stay fully engaged in their careers with brief intense residencies for work with ITU’s well-recognized industry-based faculty members and fellow doctoral students during in-class seminars and team projects, which are combined with online collaboration and coursework between residencies. This approach brings together advanced practitioners from the US and around the globe for immersive experiences in Silicon Valley, studying, networking and participating in Silicon Valley’s unique culture of innovation. 

Program Overview

The DBA in Strategic Innovation delivers a powerful program designed to advance each student’s knowledge in the following areas:

  • Evidence-based business problem solving
  • Strategic and innovative thinking
  • Applied, industry-focused research and practice
  • Business analytics approaches using big-data and Artifical Intelligence
  • Organizational and team leadership skills and effective communication approaches

ITU’s Residency Format

Blended learning is critical for professional learners, as it gives them flexibility and control over the time, place and pace of learning. Their ITU doctoral study experience is enhanced through immersive, meaningful on-campus interactions with faculty, peer groups, and interactions with key Silicon Valley leaders through visits and informal get-togethers. These on-campus residencies also offer opportunities to take advantage of key ITU resources such as library, student and technology support, and university and Silicon Valley professional events and networking.

Quick Links

Program Structure

Degree Requirements Credits
Course Work 39
Culminating Experience (CE) 9
Contribution to the field of business research *
Residencies (4) *
Total 48

  • The DBA in Strategic Innovation program may be completed in a minimum of three (3) years and a maximum of eight (8) years.
  • To be awarded the degree of DBA in Strategic Innovation, you must successfully complete forty-eight (48) credit hours including the following:

1. COURSEWORK
Thirty-nine (39) credit hours of coursework
(i) Core Courses (6 courses for a total of 18 credit hours)
• DBUS 800 Quantitative Research Analysis I (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 801 Quantitative Research Analysis II (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 802 Qualitative Research Analysis I (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 803 Qualitative Research Analysis II (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 804 Data Analytics I (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 805 Data Analytics II (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 806 Peregrine APA Write & Cite (0 credit hours)

(ii) Innovation Specialization Courses (3 courses for a total of 9
credit hours)
• DBUS 810 Financial Engineering and Innovation (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 811 Innovation and Digital Transformation (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 812 Strategy for Disruptive Innovation (3 credit trial)

(iii) Research Interest Courses (2 courses for a total of 6 credit hours)
• DBUS 700 Behavioral Marketing, Digitization and Decision Making (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 701 Innovation in Business Transformation and Entrepreneurship

(iv) Key Competency Courses (2 courses for a total of 6 credit hours)
• DBUS 820 Theoretical Frameworks in Strategy Research (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 821 Research Design (3 credit hours) 

 

2. CULMINATING EXPERIENCE (CE)
Nine (9) credit hours of Culminating Experience (CE)
Candidates must choose one of the following three (3) doctoral capstone courses. Each of these courses is trial in terms of academic rigor.
• Doctoral Capstone Research (DBUS 901), OR
• Doctoral Capstone Project (DBUS 902), OR
• Doctoral Capstone Publishable Papers (DBUS 903) (3 publishable papers)

Each capstone course consists of three (3) sections for a total of 9 credit hours.
• DBUS 901 – 1 Doctoral Capstone Research 1 (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 901 – 2 Doctoral Capstone Research 2 (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 901 – 3 Doctoral Capstone Research 3 (3 credit hours)
OR
• DBUS 902 – 1 Doctoral Capstone Project 1 (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 902 – 2 Doctoral Capstone Project 2 (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 902 – 3 Doctoral Capstone Project 3 (3 credit hours)
OR
• DBUS 903 – 1 Doctoral Capstone Publishable Papers 1 (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 903 – 2 Doctoral Capstone Publishable Papers 2 (3 credit hours)
• DBUS 903 – 3 Doctoral Capstone Publishable Papers 3 (3 credit hours)
Each of these courses requires the candidate to work on his/her doctoral proposal.

3. CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF BUSINESS
RESEARCH SEMINARS AND/OR CONFERENCES

Contribution to the field of business research:
(a) Seminars and/or Conferences

• DBUS 710 Special Interest Seminars and/or Conferences (0 credit hours)

(b) Comprehensive Candidacy Portfolio (CCP)

• DBUS 711 CCP Panel Presentation I (0 credit hours)
• DBUS 813 CCP Panel Presentation II (0 credit hours)
• DBUS 822 CCP Final Panel Presentation (0 credit hours)

4. RESIDENCIES
The DBA program requires four (4) residencies for a total of six (6) weeks as follows:
(a) Residency 1: At the beginning of Term 1 of Year 1.
(b) Residency 2 and 3: At the end of Term 3 of Year 1 and 2, and at
the beginning of Term 1 of Year 2 and 3; and
(c) Residency 4: At the end of Term 3 of Year 3.

Program Highlights

Comprehensive Candidacy Portfolio (CCP)

The CCP represents students’ academic and professional preparation and growth towards their Culminating Experience (CE). This includes a comprehensive description of their doctoral and professional experience. This will be accomplished through working on their courses, special topics, seminars, conferences, research and work experiences. 

Seminars and Conferences

Attending and/or Presenting at Seminars and Conferences adds value to the development of students’ CCP and CE. The added benefit is networking with professionals and academics who share similar interests. This can be extremely helpful in refining the student’s doctoral research or Applied Innovation Project. Such avenues also provide other ideas for further research and prepare students to respond confidently to challenging questions at their CE defense. Students can attend seminars and conferences in their home country or in the US. However, it is recommended that students attend at least 1 conference or seminar per term (at least four, prior to CE).

Residencies

The DBA in Strategic Innovation program requires completion of three (3) in-person residencies for a period of two (2) weeks each. The residencies will be conducted at the ITU campus in the heart of Silicon Valley in the United States. The immersive residencies present a unique opportunity for students to interact personally with fellow students, senior industry-leading faculty, and Silicon Valley leaders through informal dinners and networking events.

The residencies are structured as follows
[see program roadmap]

The first residency will serve as an orientation to introduce students to the DBA program, their faculty members and fellow doctoral students. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their ideas and brainstorm with faculty about their contribution to the field of business research, and begin planning their Culminating Experience (CE).

In the second residency, students will have the opportunity to review and present the progress of their work on group assignments and their contributions to the field of business research. In addition, students will work on developing their Applied Innovation Project or research proposal and test their ideas with faculty and fellow students. During these residencies, students have the opportunity to visit iconic Silicon Valley companies and meet informally with Silicon Valley innovators and leaders.

In the final residency, candidates will have the opportunity to defend their final doctoral capstone (Applied Innovation Project, or Dissertation research, or the three publishable papers) to their Doctoral Committee. At the end of this residency, ITU will host a celebration of the program’s completion.

 

Admission Requirements

  •  Click here for Admission Requirements.

 

 

Who
should apply

At ITU, you will be able to take advantage of:

  • Seasoned industry experts, who come from companies like NASA, HP, and Pfizer.
  • A program designed to teach you the practical skills needed to supplement your education, and maximize your career prospects.
  • Flexible night and weekend class schedules, and online course offerings that allow you to continue your career while furthering your education.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOS)

Upon completion of this program, graduates will:

PLO #1: Appraise the theoretical knowledge and relate it to use in business practice. [Mapped to ILOs 3, 6]

PLO #2: Relate appropriate research methodology to evidence-based business decision-making. [Mapped to ILOs 1, 2, 5, 7]

PLO #3: Devise competencies for managing technology, innovation, and organizational change. [Mapped to ILOs 1, 2, 5, 7]

PLO #4: Identify strategies to solve business challenges within a global context. [Mapped to ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 7]

PLO #5: Formulate original research, which includes research design, tools and structure. [Mapped to ILOs 3, 5, 6]

Assessment reports: