As preparation for the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) program offered by Grenoble Ecole de Management (GEM), the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) offers a Masters-level course introducing business theory and research. This Business Research Skills course is offered in advance of each application period to the GEM DBA program.

The course studies the nature, scope, and significance of business theory and research methodologies. Tools and techniques in theory development are explored, such as the development of research questions and literature reviews. Additionally, the course introduces primary and secondary research methods with applications to specific problems; exploring qualitative and quantitative methods for individual investigation; and reporting on current issues within a student’s area of interest.

The Business Research Skills course will be conducted by way of seminar meetings and independent study, drawing upon selected scholarly sources, and individual meetings. Students are required to develop a significant research project proposal which should provide direction for their application to the GEM DBA program. Additionally, students will develop a research proposal summary as part of the proposal’s development, presenting the proposal to the class.

The overarching goal of the course is to prepare students to become discerning critics of business topics and informed users of business research techniques.

The course content is delivered over a schedule of 48 hours, covering topics such as:

1. Define the research problem
2. Conduct a literature review
3. Identify conceptual factors, research variables and understand levels of data
4. Develop purpose/problem statements
5. Develop research questions, hypotheses, central questions, and sub questions
6. Understand and identify quantitative and qualitative research designs
7. Identify statistical methods for data analysis
8. Develop research methodologies
9. Use appropriate manuscript writing procedures (i.e. APA)

Students also receive access to HCT library resources, providing access to a wide range of scholarly information and materials.

Admission requirements to the Business Research Skills course are:

• An MBA or other Master’s degree qualification in management related area
• IETLS score of 6.5 (or above) or other relevant proof of equivalent advanced English proficiency
  (Please note that at present TOEFL test is not accepted.)
• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience
• Completed Application Form

Please submit your application to the DBA Program Administrator (contact data below)

Please direct your queries to dba@hct.ac.ae or Ms. Lakshmi Mohamad, DBA Program Administrator, +971 2-6922653.