Professor Michel Kalika, President and Founder of the Business Science Institute, an institution that awards a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA), discusses the evolution of the DBA market. Founded ten years ago, the Business Science Institute observed that, unlike today, there were very few DBAs in France at the time, even though this degree is more common in the Anglo-Saxon world. Today, the DBA market is expanding rapidly, with the emergence of many new players.
Michel Kalika explains this development by three main reasons. Firstly, there is a need for managers to differentiate themselves. With masters' degrees and MBAs becoming commonplace, it is becoming necessary to have an additional diploma to stand out from the crowd, especially in large organizations and in the consulting professions. As the traditional doctorate is not adapted to the needs of managers, the DBA is emerging as a relevant solution to this need for differentiation.
Secondly, recent crises (health, climate, geopolitics) have called into question the knowledge accumulated over the decades. There is therefore a need to create new management knowledge, which cannot be based solely on the work of academics. The creation of management knowledge must result from the interaction between practitioners, who are in contact with the field, and academics, who contribute theoretical models and methodologies. As a result, many managers, often around the age of 45, want to take a step back and contribute to the creation of knowledge by collaborating with academics.
The third reason is more personal. At some point in their career, managers may feel a need for personal fulfillment, to surpass themselves, and to give new meaning to their activity. The DBA enables them to take a step back and reflect in depth on a career that has spanned 15 to 20 years. These reasons explain why the DBA market is growing, responding to increasing demand, and why more and more institutions are offering this diploma, contributing to its expansion.
Michel Kalika also addresses the question of how the DBA enhances the value of doctoral studies. He points out that, paradoxically, the DBA is restoring value to the doctoral title. Unlike traditional theses, the DBA is perceived as a generator of impact and managerial recommendations, which makes it particularly relevant in the current context. He insists on the importance of being aware of this evolution and fully seizing the opportunities offered by the DBA, which represents a major societal and managerial challenge for economic competitiveness.
In conclusion, Michel Kalika highlights the growing role of the DBA in the educational and professional landscape, emphasizing its importance for managerial differentiation, the creation of new knowledge and personal fulfillment. The development of the DBA market bears witness to its relevance and potential impact on economic competitiveness and the value of the doctorate title.
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