Business leadership is increasingly required to integrate multiple sources of knowledge, understand the perceptions of diverse parties and put human values into action. Executives are challenged to create social, intellectual and economic value for their organizations and for society at large based on rigorous and sound evidence. Recognizing these challenges, the Weatherhead School of Management offers two doctorate degrees in management for working professionals: the Doctor of Management (DM) and the Designing Sustainable Systems track in the PhD in management.
The DM is a three-year lockstep program with an option to pursue the Designing Sustainable Systems track in the PhD in management. DM students’ research projects are evaluated by a faculty review committee over the course of the program at critical research milestones.
Year One
- Identify problem of practice
- Understand & synthesize relevant literature
- Complete conceptual paper
- Initiate qualitative research project
Year Two
- Complete qualitative research paper
- Develop theoretical model
- Initiate quantitative research project
Year Three
- Complete quantitative research paper
- Complete dissertation composed of qualitative and quantitative research projects
- Integrate research projects into dissertation
Additional Year
- Directed independent research
- Attend Research Workshops
- Comprehensive exam
- Proposal Defense
- Dissertation Defense
Is This Program Right for Me?
The purpose of the DM program is to develop thought leaders for the advancement of business and society. A Weatherhead DM student combines a disciplined approach to scholarship with a focus on compelling problems of practice.
Candidates conduct several rigorous studies during the program that introduce them to the theories, practices and techniques of evidence-based management. The DM experience is intended to equip graduates with the requisite skills to apply evidence-based management in their organizations, to apply research to practice, to engage and prepare for self-directed lifelong learning in management research, to continue research dissemination, and to cultivate a broad profile for scholarly teaching. DM students also may apply to the Designing Sustainable Systems track in the PhD in management program, thereby extending their coursework an additional year. This fourth year is dedicated to independent doctoral studies and research workshops that permit students to meet the requirements of a PhD in management offered by the School of Graduate Studies. During both the DM and PhD programs students are required to prepare and submit their research papers to appropriate high-quality academic conferences for review and presentation. A core goal for both programs is for students to make original intellectual contributions while enrolled in the programs.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I intellectually curious?
- Do I enjoy reading and expressing my own ideas in writing?
- Do I get satisfaction from working with concepts and seeing patterns and relationships between ideas?
- Do I believe that important organizational and social issues can be addressed through the development of knowledge?
- Am I receptive to learning through systematic inquiry, both qualitative and quantitative?
- Do I have the motivation to conduct solid research and contribute to applied knowledge?
- Can I contribute to a diverse community seeking to build concepts about how the world works?
- Do I have the drive and time to complete a rigorous, three-year doctoral degree?
Benefit to Participants
Our DM offers experienced executives unparalleled benefits:
- An understanding of managing organizations in the context of broad issues, such as culture and politics, technology and social system design and institutional approaches to problem solving
- A transdisciplinary, integrative, global perspective on critical organizational and social issues
- A unique approach to intellectual inquiry emphasizing the integration of theory and practice
- The opportunity to define and conduct issue-oriented research allowing participants to customize their studies and to contribute to applied management knowledge
- Intellectual development and personal growth as an individual, as an executive and as a contributor to the scholarly community and to society
- A prestigious doctoral degree in management achieved through a rigorous, structured and comprehensive educational experience for the working professional
Value to Organizations
To compete effectively in today’s complex world, organizations require leaders who:
- Engage in thinking and analysis based upon a global perspective and understanding of viewpoints held by diverse constituencies
- Possess heightened issue identification and resolution skills to be applied in business management practice
- Understand interdependencies between organizations and the societies in which they function
- Maintain an active network of peers within and outside of an organization
- Commit to the principles of lifelong learning and personal development in order to enhance their value to an organization
Weatherhead’s unique practitioner-scholar orientation will allow you to:
- Conduct studies and projects on issues, problems and opportunities of significance to your organization
- Test, evaluate and develop a more sophisticated understanding and assumptions about global trends that will affect your organization and community
- Gain perspective on the worldwide challenges and opportunities that will impact the plans, strategies and policies guiding your organization in the long term
Weatherhead DM Blog
Hear from current DM students, alumni, and faculty about recent findings and applied research.
Read the DM Blog
Weatherhead DM Testimonials
