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The DBA Dissertation Guidebook: The steps toward writing your DBA
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The DBA Dissertation Guidebook: The steps

toward writing your DBA masterpiece
Research article, Guidebook and Overview by Dr. Tali Rezun

Abstract
To write a DBA dissertation a high-level commitment and dedication is required. Writing a DBA dissertation cannot be
compared to MBA study where there is a group effort involved. Success of writing a DBA dissertation depends 100%
on the author and his or her dedication, self-discipline, motivation and passion to his or her research topic. This article
was created to help and guide new DBA students through DBA proposal, Literature overview, Methodology and
Findings and Discussions chapters.

Keywords: DBA dissertation, doctor of business administration, DBA proposal, literature review, methodology,
findings and discussion

Introduction Proposal should not be more than 40 pages long and

A DBA (i.e. doctor of business administration) is one of
the most advanced and prestigious degrees in business
education. Usually a DBA is an upgrade to an MBA (i.e.
master of business administration) for individuals that
need to continue their education. DBA programs
provide professionals and executives, with advanced
research skills and wider perspective needed to manage,
lead, plan or research. DBA graduation reflects
individuals’ highest level of commitment for continual
learning, leadership, management excellence, personal
and professional development.
should clearly reflect the contribution to knowledge or
professional practice, detailed plan of the proposed
research and specific idea. The proposal must elaborate;
(1) the study title; (2) purpose; (3) research problem; (4)
research objectives or hypotheses related to the
problems; (5) literature overwide (about 5 pages); (6)
defining culture; (7) study justification; (8) methods and
sample; (9) limitations, delimitations and assumptions;
(10) operational definitions of key terms, and; (11)
references. The proposal must be admitted and approved
by the supervisory committee.

Time Frame
The foreseen time-frame for writing a DBA dissertation
is four years, but it all depends on different variables; (1)
time dedicated to the project; (2) time for the research
needed; (3) ability to access digital literature databases,
and; (4) availability of the faculty. It is possible to finish
the dissertation earlier, but extreme dedication is
needed.
DBA Proposal
The beginning phase of the DBA study begins with
dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal consists
of first three chapters and APA-style references list.
DBA Structure
The DBA dissertation usually consists of the following
sections; (1) title page; (2) abstract; (4) dedication page
(optional); (5) acknowledgments page (optional); (6)
table of contents, including List of Tables and List of
Figures pages; (7) dissertation body; (8) reference list,
and; (9) appendices (optional).
DBA Chapters
DBA dissertation consists of four, sometimes five
chapters, depending on the study.
• Chapter one - foundation of the study; (1)
background of the problem; (2) problem
Identifying key quality factors of a small hotel: Article researching Business Success Model of a High-quality Small Hotel in Ljubljana
statement; (3) purpose statement; (4) nature of
the study; (5) research or interview questions;
(6) theoretical or conceptual framework; (7)
operational definition, and; (8) assumptions
and limitations.
• Chapter two - literature review; (1) selection
of review literature, and; (2) conceptual
frameworks, business modelling and potential
models (optional).
• Chapter three - research method; (1) research
methods; (2) research questions; (3) data
collection methods and analysis; (4) case
examples, and; (5) data collection.
• Chapter four - findings and discussion; (1)
implication for theory; (2) implication for
managers; (3) limitations of the study, and; (4)
recommendations for future study.
Chapter one
Chapter one covers the introduction and background of
the problem the study is addressing. More importantly
the chapter one addresses applied research, identify and
solve an applied business problem and presents
empirical arguments. The goal of chapter one is to
engage and intrigue the reader to continue reading,
generate the interest for the study and provide the initial
dissertation framework for understanding the entire
research.
Chapter two
Chapter two stands for review of the professional and
academic literature where theoretical/conceptual
framework must be reported. The approach is usually
defined by the dissertation purpose. For example, if the
study is developing a theory or a model, Grounded
approach is used. The chosen review literature must be
as close as possible to dissertation topic and any key
variable literature must also be included. The literature
review must be organized according to topic, method
and theory. Comprehensive up-to-date topic overview,
forms the study foundation and proves the exhaustive
topic research.
Purposes for writing a Literature Review
According to LeCompte & colleagues, (2003, p. 124),
conducting a literature review shows means of
demonstrating authors knowledge about particular
subject of study, including vocabulary, theories,
methods and history. Gall, Borg, and Gall (1996)
pointed out that the literature review plays a vital part
also in:
2
• delimiting the research problem,
• seeking new lines of inquiry,
• avoiding fruitless approaches,
• gaining methodological insights,
• identifying recommendations for further
research, and
• seeking support for grounded theory.
According to Hart (1998), there are additional reasons
for reviewing the literature:
• distinguishing what has been done from what
needs to be done,
• discovering important variables relevant to the
topic,
• synthesizing and gaining a new perspective,
• identifying relationships between ideas and
practices,
• establishing the context of the topic or
problem,
• rationalizing the significance of the problem,
• enhancing and acquiring the subject
vocabulary,
• understanding the structure of the subject,
• relating ideas and theory to applications,
• identifying the main methodologies and
research
• techniques that have been used, and
• placing the research in a historical context to
show familiarity with state-of-the-art
developments. (p. 27)
Literature online sources
E-sources for academic literature; (1) JSTOR; (2)
SAGE Journals; (3) EBSCOhost; (4) ProQuest; (5)
ScienceDirect; (6) Web of Science, and; (7) Google
Scholar
DBA writing tips
Writing assist (adopted from Walden University):
• Voice: Try to use active voice: “I conducted
intensive dissertation research. “
• Voice: Try to avoid writing in the third
person: “I have done the extensive research
behind literature review”
• Citation of previous studies: “According to
previous studies (e.g. Bothe, 2013; Barefoot,
2014 …), researchers determined that online
high-quality content has a positive effect on
business performance.”
• Verb tense: In the DBA proposal, the future
tense is used, but when presenting the results,
Identifying key quality factors of a small hotel: Article researching Business Success Model of a High-quality Small Hotel in Ljubljana 3

the past tense is used to describe completed How to choose appropriate quantitative
research. approach (designed by: Phillip Adu, Ph.D.)

1. Relationship between variables?

Word Choice (adapted from University of Houston-
1. Yes – Correlational Design
Clear Lake): Types
- Relationships between two variables?
• Author is neutral: comments, describes, 1. Yes – Basic Correlational Design
illustrates, notes, observes, points out 2. No – Predictive Design
• Author implies: analyses, assesses, concludes, - Relationships between multiple variables?
1. Yes – Predictive Design
finds, predicts, speculates
• Author argues: contends, defends, holds, 2. No – Difference between groups and Group
maintains, insists, disputes Comparison?
1. Yes – Manipulate the independent variable?
• Author disagrees: disparages, bemoans, 1. No – Causal comparative design
complains, deplores, laments, warns 2. Yes – Use group control?
• Author agrees: admits, concedes, concurs, 1. No – Pre-experimental design
2. Yes – Randomly assign participants?
grants, agrees, states 1. No – Quasi Experimental Design
2. Yes – True Experimental Design

Chapter three
Adapted from: Rockinson-Szapkiw, A. J. (2013) Developing a
Chapter three or research method and design, provides Quantitative Research Plan: Choosing a Research Design. Retrieved
from Design https: //www. youtube.com/watch?
extensive examination and justification of the study v=UywO2XuFuBA#t=2437
nature, research design and data collection. Chapter
three also includes elaboration of data collection
instruments, data collection techniques, data
organization techniques, data analysis, study validity Chapter four
and study reliability.
Chapter four is a chapter of findings presentation. In
chapter four, tests, tables, variables, statistics, answers
to research questions and results are presented.
How to choose appropriate qualitative Description is presented of how findings confirm,
approach (designed by: Phillip Adu, Ph.D.) disconfirm or extend knowledge in the study topic
comparing to the literature review. Detailed discussion
1. Collect participant story or capture a group of participants stories about professional practice application must be written,
and retell their stories? explaining the potential study impact on professional
1. Yes – Narrative Approach
2. No – Capture participant experience? business practice. The study findings implication of
1. Yes – Phenomenological Approach social change towards improvements for individuals,
2. No – Develop an explanation, model or theory? communities, organisations, institutions or societies
1. Yes – Grounded Theory Approach
must be pointed out and recommendations for action
2. In-depth study of well-defined case or
phenomenon using multiple data sources? highlighted.
1. Yes – Case Study Approach
2. No – Explore a phenomenon by studying
a group or people in their natural
environment? Dissertation Oral Defence
1. Yes – Ethnographic Approach
The DBA oral defence is a formal process, where the
final dissertation defence takes place before the
Adapted from: Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry and committee members lead by the committee chairman. In
Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (3rd). Thousand some cases where committee members are from other
Oaks, CA: Sage
countries, a videoconference is a viable solution. The
dissertation is presented in the form of power point
presentation by the student. Following the successful
oral defence, committee approves the dissertation and
sign the DBA approval sheet.

Example of oral defence presentation: Company

Generated Problem-Solving Content on Social Media
(SM) and Online Brand Equity: Designing and Testing
Identifying key quality factors of a small hotel: Article researching Business Success Model of a High-quality Small Hotel in Ljubljana
a Model for Its Effectiveness – DBA defence
presentation (pdf)
Technology
“The biggest challenge lies in literature organisation
needed to complete literature review (e.g. citations,
quotes, written existing materials for specific topic).
Literature content organisation can be done manually
(i.e. photocopying the chosen segments and arranging
them like a puzzle to complete the big picture), or it can
be done digitally” (Rezun, 2019).
According to many scholars, it is best to dedicate an
office to this purpose, but with all the technology
developed, the dissertation writing process can be
almost completely digitalised, thus the office
dependency no longer exists.
“I have used new technology and digitalise literature
review process completely. The new digital pen
technology enabled me to cut the pieces of content
needed from downloaded digital literature, and put them
together forming literature review framework” (Rezun,
2019).
Rezun, T (2018). DBA dissertation (i.e. Company
Generated Problem-Solving Content on Social Media
(SM) and Online Brand Equity: Designing and Testing
a Model for Its Effectiveness), was written using the
following technology:
• Microsoft Surface Pro 3
• Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Pen
• Windows 10
• Drawboard PDF
• Acrobat Reader
• Windows 10 - Snipping Tool
• Mendeley - references management software
APA Style
APA style stands for American Psychological
Association and its commonly used writing style and
format in academic documents such as DBA
dissertations and scholarly journal articles. According to
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association, the guidelines were developed to help with
reading comprehension in the social and behavioural
sciences for clarity of communication, and for “word
choice that best reduces bias in language”
4
Conclusion
“Writing a DBA dissertation transformed me personally
and professionally. It gave me patience, opened my
mind to new research, new business solutions and new
perspectives. After working four years with scholars and
academics, the DBA process sculptured and defined me
as a person and lifted my business talent to a higher
level.” (Rezun, 2019)
References
"APA Style". Washington, DC: American
Psychological Association. Retrieved October
27, 2011.
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry and
Research Design: Choosing Among Five
Approaches (3rd). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017). Qualitative
inquiry and research design: Choosing among
five approaches. Sage publications.
Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996).
Education research: An introduction (6th ed.).
White Plains, NY: Longman.
Hart, C. (1998). Doing a literature review: Releasing
the social science research imagination.
London: Sage.
LeCompte, M. D., Klinger, J. K., Campbell S. A., &
Menke, D. W. (2003). Editor’s introduction.
Review of Educational Research, 73(2), 123-
124.
Rockinson-Szapkiw, A. J. (2013) Developing a
Quantitative Research Plan: Choosing a
Research Design. Retrieved from Design https:
//www. youtube.com/watch?
v=UywO2XuFuBA#t=2437
Rezun, T (2018). Company Generated Problem-
 Identifying key quality factors of a small hotel: Article researching Business Success Model of a High-quality Small Hotel in Ljubljana
Solving Content on
Social Media (SM) and Online Brand Equity:
Designing and Testing a Model for Its
Effectiveness, A dissertation submitted in
partial fulfilment
for the degree of Doctor of Business
Administration (DBA)
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC:
American Psychological Association. 2010.
ISBN 978-1-4338-0562-2.
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5
Bios
Dr. Tali Rezun is Slovenian, of Slovenian and
Jordanian origin. Born in Ljubljana in 1978, he started
his entrepreneurial career at the age of 18 and grew his
business organically until this day. Dr. Rezun
specializes in various fields of tourism, management,
leadership, online brand marketing and Blockchain
technology. In 2012, Tali finished his EMBA and later
in 2018 his Business Doctorate (i.e. DBA) specializing
in online brand development, SEO and Social Media
Marketing under the domain of Cotrugli Business
School, where he also enjoys the title of a lecturer.
Currently Dr. Rezun acts as supervisory board member
in Naton HR group, publishes articles associated with
his expertise, serves as projects consultant and appears
as a guest speaker to the media. (https://talirezun.com/,
contact@talirezun.com)