In a context marked by multiple crises, where the business environment is unstable, changing and unpredictable, businesses need to strengthen their ability to think and take a step back. However, management research’s mission is to advance knowledge while offering managerial tools best suited to changing contexts. Doctoral work, key moments of research, plays an essential role in this process. This is all the more true when a thesis is led by a practitioner, because it allows companies to overcome contemporary challenges. The trio formed by a company, a manager-researcher and a professor constitutes a natural guarantee of success. It is in this perspective that the DBA fits, which allows managers to prepare a thesis relating to a specific managerial problem under the supervision of an experienced professor.

As specified by Equal, an international organization which brings together the three main management accreditation agencies (AACSB, AMBA, EFMD) and around twenty academic associations, the DBA is a doctoral program which is distinguished from the PhD (doctorate in Management Sciences in France) mainly by its purpose.

The reason for this White Paper finds its origin in a regrettable virtual ignorance of DBA in companies in France and a lack of recognition on the part of public authorities.

FNEGE was asked to provide its support for the initiative of this White Paper initiated by Professors Michel KALIKA and Jean-Pierre HELFER. Strengthened by its position as a “House of Management” and keen to promote approaches aimed at strengthening the quality of the programs offered by its members, FNEGE has agreed to join in this idea.

The establishments that contributed by providing illustrations of the impact of DBAs are, in alphabetical order:

• Business Science Institute
• The CNAM
• Ecole des Ponts Business School
• Emlyon Business School
• Grenoble School of Management
• Grenoble IAE-INP, Grenoble Alpes University
• Iaelyon School of Management, University Lyon 3 Jean Moulin
• IAE Nice, University of Côte d’Azur
• ICN Business School
• International University of Monaco, IUM
• TBS Education, formerly Toulouse Business School
• Paul-Valéry University Montpellier 3

This White Paper pursues three main objectives:

Make the DBA known: present its format, its originality and its impact in companies, while informing the public about the doctoral nature of the program and the impact of the research carried out by DBAs for organizations. This aims to increase the awareness of DBAs among companies;
Have the DBA recognized: obtain official recognition of the program by the competent public authorities as a doctoral program in its own right;
Formulate recommendations: propose concrete measures to achieve the two previous objectives.

These ambitions reflect the strategic importance of the DBA in strengthening links between research and managerial practice, as well as in its potential to respond to contemporary challenges.

A presentation webinar will take place on March 24 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.