Directed Learning modules and schedule
Directed Learning Modules for DBA Part 1 (Year 1) Year 1 of the DBA programme involves directed learning aimed at preparing the student to undertake independent research of high quality leading to a doctoral thesis in the field of business science. All compulsory and elective directed learning modules involve private study based on prescribed readings, independent research leading to written assignments, and shared learning through debate at facilitated seminars. There are no formal courses with lectures.
1. Research Methodology
| 1.1 |
Nature of Scientific Research * |
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Professor John Verster |
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Provides an introduction to the foundations of social inquiry and business research. Deals with the nature of scientific knowledge, the world of science and the search for truth. Distinguishes scientific knowledge from everyday knowledge. Deals with objectivity, rationality, causality and ethics in science. Reviews the nature of metascience and the major metatheory traditions and related methodological paradigms in social and business inquiry. |
| 1.2 |
Design and Methods for Quantitative Research * |
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Professor Gert Huysamen |
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Covers the major assumptions and principles underlying quantitative research methodology. Reviews sampling theory and method, types of quantitative research designs, error types in quantitative research, hypothesis testing and statistical inference, data collection procedures, scales of measurement, and reliability and validity. Deals with types of data analysis for complex business research designs, with emphasis on advanced multivariate statistical techniques. |
| 1.3 |
Design and Methods for Qualitative Research * |
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Professor Johann Mouton |
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Covers the major paradigmatic assumptions in qualitative and participatory action research. Reviews major design types in qualitative research, including considerations of types of data used, data collection methods and types of data analysis. Considers types of questions and contexts for qualitative research and deals with requirements for objectivity, validity and rigour. Deals intensively with research design logic for programme evaluations in naturalistic settings. |
| 1.4 |
Transdisciplinary Applied Business Research * |
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Professors Verster and Mouton |
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Considers research challenges in dynamic, real-world business settings and reviews mixed-method, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research designs for dealing with complexity and non-linearity in the business context. |
2. Business Science
| 2.1 |
Macro Environment of Business * |
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Professor Iraj Abedian |
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Appraises key issues in the macro context of business at global and local levels through critical analysis of major theories and perspectives on economic growth, development and competitiveness. Deals with contemporary debate on themes of globalisation, the knowledge economy, inequality and implications for political economy at national level. Reviews national policy responses and options in the South African context and considers business research opportunities and priorities. |
| 2.2 |
Strategic Management * |
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Dr Raj Raina |
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Provides a critical overview of theory and research in the domain of competitive business strategy and strategy formulation at corporate level. Covers the history of academic engagement with the discipline of competitive strategy and reviews major schools of thought and research traditions in the field. Reviews major thrusts in contemporary empirical research and theory building in competitive strategy and seeks to identify needs and opportunities for future research. |
| 2.3 |
Leadership |
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Professor John Verster |
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Encompasses a critical overview of theory and research in the field of leadership, particularly in the context of complex business organisations. Examines research support for major contemporary theories of leadership and validity of central constructs, having due regard to findings from cross-cultural, gender and meta-analytic studies. Considers empirical research evidence for expected outcomes in the case of both strategic and process leadership in real-world business settings. Considers priorities for future research on leadership in the complex evolving South African business context. |
| 2.4 |
Organisation Behaviour and Transformation |
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Dr Mandla Adonisi |
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Reviews empirical research on change and transformation in work organisations, in the light of evolving social and complex systems theory. Central constructs are critically examined and evidence for the efficacy of major models for managing change and leading transformation are reviewed. Considers research needs and priorities with regard to evaluation of programmes of transformation and change in contemporary South African business organisations. |
| 2.5 |
International Business |
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Professor Albert Wocke |
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Provides a critical, contemporary overview of theory and research on the International Firm and its strategy. The field of International Business (IB) is relatively new and distinct from General Business Strategy. The module’s themes include: the theory of the multinational corporation (MNC); cross-border capabilities; country selection for international expansion; mode of entry; and internalization of operations across the MNC (including the management of subsidiaries). Current questions in IB research focus on Emerging Market Multinationals as distinct from Developed Market Multinationals, “Born Global” firms and the impact of MNCs on host countries (spill-over effect)."
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| 2.6 |
Finance |
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Professor Mike Ward |
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Provides a comprehensive and critical review of current trends in the general area of corporate finance. The module’s theme is on sustainable value creation at a strategic level. Selected topics are likely to include: valuation metrics, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and turnarounds, financial entrepreneurship in an emerging market context, the structuring of black economic empowerment transactions, corporate spin-offs and performance management and control. The module assumes some level of financial literacy and makes use of case studies where appropriate. |
| 2.7 |
Innovation |
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Dr Helena Barnard |
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The innovation module provides an overview of some of the debates in the innovation field, and emphasises how changes in the level of analysis affect the nature of those debates. It reviews some of the proxies that are used to measure the very abstract concept of innovation, and reflects on the views of innovation that are embedded in those proxies. It highlights research in contexts where the bulk of innovation takes place behind the technological frontier, for example research that determines boundary conditions for theories that have been derived through the study of leading innovators. |
| 2.8 |
Governance, Risk and Performance * |
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Professor Nick Segal |
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The module explores the interplay, at the levels of executive management and the board, between:
- Corporate governance – the structures, systems and values through which decisions are taken to achieve the organisation’s objectives
- Risk management – identification and management of all the risks, internal and external, the organisation faces in seeking to meet its objectives - Performance management – the processes, criteria, and measures used to guide and monitor progress in achieving the objectives |
* Compulsory Module
| Provisional schedule for DBA 006 Part 1 (Year 1 ) Directed Learning Programme June 2011 – July 2102 |
| Core Modules: Research Methodology |
Proposed Seminar Dates |
Faculty |
| Nature of Scientific Research (NSR) |
|
Professor John Verster |
| Seminar NSR 1 |
Friday, 29 July 2011 |
| Design & Methods for Quantitative Research (D&M4QtR) |
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Professor Gert Huysamen |
| Seminar D&M4QtR 1 |
Saturday, 01 & Sunday, 02 October 2011 |
Merle Werbeloff |
| Seminar D&M4QtR 2 |
Monday, 03 & Tuesday, 04 October 2011 |
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| Seminar D&M4QtR 3 |
Friday, 28 & Saturday, 29 October 2011 |
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| Seminar D&M4QtR 4 |
Friday, 18 & Saturday, 19 May 2012 |
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| Review Seminar D&M4QtR |
Friday, 01 June 2012 |
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| Design & Methods for Qualitative Research (D&M4QlR) |
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Professor Johann Mouton |
| Seminar D&M4QlR 1 |
Thursday, 01 & Friday 02 March 2012 |
Lauren Wildschut |
| Seminar D&M4QlR 2 |
Thursday, 15 & Friday 16 March 2012 |
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| Qualitative Data Analysis Workshop |
Friday, 27 July 2012 |
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| Transdisciplinary Applied Business Research (TABR) |
Friday, 8 June 2012 |
Professor John Verster |
| Professor Johann Mouton |
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| Compulsory Modules: Research Methodology |
Proposed Seminar Dates |
Faculty |
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| Macro Environment of Business (MEOB) |
|
Professor Iraj Abedian |
| Seminar MEOB 1 |
Friday, 19 August 2011 |
| Seminar MEOB 2 |
Friday, 2 September 2011 |
| Governance, Risk and Performance (GRP) |
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Professor Nick Segal |
| Seminar GRP 1 |
Friday, 23 September 2011 |
| Seminar GRP 2 |
Friday, 4 May 2012 |
| Seminar GRP 3 |
Friday, 25 May 2012 |
| Strategic Management (STRAT) |
|
Dr Raj Raina |
| Seminar STRAT 1 |
Friday,18 November 2011 |
| Seminar STRAT 2 |
Friday, 09 December 2011 |
| Seminar STRAT 3 |
Friday, 20 January 2012 |
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| Elective Modules: Business Science |
Proposed Seminar Dates |
Faculty |
| Leadership (LDS) |
|
Professor John Verster |
| Seminar LDS 1 |
Friday, 03 February 2012 |
| Seminar LDS 2 |
Friday, 17 February 2012 |
| Innovation (INO) |
|
Dr Helena Barnard |
| Seminar INO 1 |
Monday,05 March 2012 |
| Seminar INO 2 |
Monday, 19 March 2012 |
| Organisation Behaviour and Transformation (OBT) |
|
Dr Mandla Adonisi |
| Seminar OBT 1 |
Friday, 30 March 2012 |
| Seminar OBT 2 |
Friday, 20 April 2012 |
| International Business (IB) |
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Professor Albert Wocke |
| Seminar IB 1 |
Monday, 02 April 2012 |
| Seminar IB 2 |
Monday, 23 April 2012 |
| Finance (FIN) |
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Professor Mike Ward |
| Seminar FIN 1 |
Monday, 06 February 2012 |
| Seminar FIN 1 |
Monday, 20 February 2012 |
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| Examinations |
Subject |
Dates |
| Paper 1 |
Quantitative Methods |
Friday, 29 June 2012 |
| Paper 2 |
Qualitative Methods |
Friday, 6 July 2012 |
| Paper 3 |
Business Environment and Strategy |
Tuesday, 10 July 2012 |
| Paper 4 |
Elective Modules |
Friday, 13 July 2012 |
| Paper 5 |
Governance, Risk and Performance |
Tuesday, 17 July 2012 |
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| Provisional schedule for DBA 006 Part 2: Phase 1 |
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Dates |
Faculty |
| Research Proposal Launch workshop |
Thursday, 30 & Friday, 31 August 2012 |
Professor John Verster |
| Saturday, 1 September 2012 |
Professor Johann Mouton |
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Professor Gert Huysamen |
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