What to Expect From Doctoral Research in a DBA Program
For many professionals considering a Doctor of Business Administration, or DBA, the idea of doctoral research can feel intimidating.They may have completed graduate-level coursework, written papers, or analyzed business cases before, but doctoral research requires a different level of focus, depth, and originality.
In a DBA program, students are not simply asked to summarize what they already know. They are expected to develop original, publishable-quality research that contributes to the broader scholarly conversation while remaining connected to real-world business practice.
According to Dr. Jacqueline J. McCoy, Discipline Chair for the DBA program at Concordia University Chicago, doctoral research asks students to “move beyond just summarizing or expressing our knowledge.” Instead, students develop a study that examines business problems, collects data, and offers insights that build on existing theory and practice.
That distinction is important. Doctoral research is not only about completing a final project. It is about learning how to investigate meaningful problems with purpose, structure, and depth.
How Doctoral Research Is Different From Previous Academic Work
Many DBA students enter the program with prior academic experience. They may already have a master’s degree, such as an MBA, and they may be comfortable with graduate-level reading, writing, and discussion.
Doctoral research, however, requires students to go further.
At this level, students are expected to contribute something original. Rather than restating existing knowledge, they identify a focused business problem, connect it to scholarly literature, collect and analyze data, and develop insights that may help advance both theory and practice.
Dr. McCoy describes the work as “very narrow and very deep.”
That narrow focus is one of the defining features of doctoral research. A student may begin with a broad area of interest, such as leadership, employee engagement, technology adoption, customer satisfaction, or organizational change. Over time, that broad interest must become a specific research problem that can be studied carefully and meaningfully.
This process helps students develop research skills they can continue applying beyond the dissertation.
Moving From an Idea to a Research Topic
DBA students are not expected to arrive on day one with a fully developed research topic.
Instead, the process begins early in the program and develops over time. Many students enter with a general understanding of the challenges they see in their industry, organization, or profession. The goal is to help them turn that professional awareness into a researchable problem.
Dr. McCoy explains that this work begins “on day one.” Students start asking key questions such as:
- Who is experiencing the problem?
- What is happening?
- What are the business results?
- Why does the issue matter?
- How does the problem affect performance, profitability, leadership, or organizational outcomes?
- How does the topic connect to existing scholarly literature?
These questions help students move from a general idea to a more meaningful and focused research direction.
For working professionals, this approach can be especially valuable because it allows them to begin with issues they already understand from experience. The challenge is not simply choosing a topic that sounds interesting. The challenge is shaping that topic into a focused study that matters professionally and contributes to the field.
Why the Research Topic Needs to Matter
A strong doctoral research topic should be more than academically acceptable. It should matter to the student.
Dr. McCoy emphasizes that DBA students are encouraged to develop a topic that “matters to them professionally” while also connecting to scholarly literature and adding meaningful insight.
That balance is central to applied doctoral research.
A DBA student’s research should be grounded in real-world relevance, but it also needs to be supported by scholarship. Students learn how to explore what researchers already know, identify where gaps or opportunities exist, and develop a study that can contribute to the conversation.
This process gives students a more disciplined way to investigate the problems they care about most. It also helps ensure that their final research is not too broad, too general, or disconnected from practical business concerns.
Understanding the Dissertation Process
The dissertation is often one of the most intimidating parts of doctoral study. The idea of conducting an original research project can feel overwhelming, especially for students balancing work, family, leadership responsibilities, and coursework.
Dr. McCoy acknowledges that the process is hard, but she also emphasizes that students are not left to figure it out alone.
The DBA research process follows a structured path. Students build research skills over time, receive feedback, revise their work, and continue narrowing their focus as they move toward the dissertation stage.
This matters because doctoral research is cumulative. The early coursework, discussions, residencies, assignments, and feedback all help prepare students for the final research project.
Students are not simply completing isolated assignments. They are building toward the ability to conduct and present original research.
The Role of Purpose in Doctoral Research
One of Dr. McCoy’s strongest pieces of advice for DBA students is to stay connected to their purpose.
From the beginning of the program, students are asked to consider why they want to pursue doctoral study. That “why” becomes especially important when the research process becomes difficult.
As Dr. McCoy explains, “The DBA cannot be just about finishing a project or gaining a title.” Instead, it should be about using experience, research, and personal gifts to solve problems that matter and serve others.
That sense of purpose can help students stay grounded when the work feels complex or overwhelming.
A DBA requires persistence. Students may need to revise their research questions, rethink their approach, respond to feedback, and continue refining their work. Remembering the purpose behind the research can help them stay engaged through those challenges.
How Faculty Support Students Through the Research Process
Doctoral research may be demanding, but it is not meant to be completed in isolation.
Dr. McCoy describes the DBA experience as supportive, close-knit, and personalized. Faculty work together to help students move through the process, especially as they approach the dissertation component.
That support can make a significant difference. Students benefit from guidance as they narrow their topic, connect their work to the literature, develop research questions, and prepare for the later stages of their study.
The dissertation phase can become especially individualized. As students move deeper into their research, the experience may feel more like one-on-one mentorship than a traditional classroom environment.
This type of support is important because doctoral research requires both independence and guidance. Students are responsible for their own work, but they also need faculty feedback, structure, and encouragement as they develop as researchers.
Staying Engaged When the Process Feels Overwhelming
Feeling overwhelmed during doctoral research is common, especially when students begin thinking about the scope of the dissertation.
Dr. McCoy’s advice is direct: stay engaged.
Staying engaged means continuing to participate, ask questions, respond to feedback, and make progress even when the process feels challenging. It also means returning to the reason the student started the program in the first place.
When students revisit their purpose, they are often better able to keep moving forward.
Practical ways to stay engaged may include:
- Keeping up with course discussions and assignments
- Asking questions early instead of waiting
- Revisiting the original reason for pursuing the DBA
- Staying open to feedback and revision
- Breaking the research process into manageable steps
- Connecting the topic back to real professional challenges
- Using faculty support throughout the process
Doctoral research is rigorous, but it becomes more manageable when students remain connected to the process rather than pulling away from it.
Building Research Skills for Long-Term Impact
The goal of doctoral research is not only to complete a dissertation. It is to develop research skills that students can continue using in their careers.
Dr. McCoy notes that students are expected to master research skills so they can apply them to future projects. That long-term value is one of the reasons doctoral research can be meaningful for working professionals.
After completing a DBA, graduates may use those skills to:
- Investigate business problems more effectively
- Support evidence-based decision-making
- Lead organizational change
- Consult with organizations
- Publish research or thought leadership
- Teach or mentor others
- Continue contributing to their field
In this way, the dissertation is not just an academic milestone. It is part of a larger transformation from experienced professional to applied researcher.
Doctoral Research With Real-World Purpose
Doctoral research in a DBA program is challenging, focused, and deeply purposeful. It asks students to move beyond what they already know and develop original research that contributes to both scholarship and business practice.
For working professionals, that process can be powerful. It allows them to take the problems they see in the real world and study them with greater depth, structure, and evidence.
A DBA student may begin with a broad idea or a professional challenge. Through coursework, residency, faculty support, feedback, and persistence, that idea can become a focused research study with practical value.
For professionals who want to use research to solve meaningful problems, serve others, and contribute new insight to their field, the doctoral research experience can be one of the most valuable parts of earning a DBA.
To learn more about Concordia University Chicago’s doctoral business programs, explore the DBA in Strategic Leadership and Innovation or DBA in Innovation in Health Care Management.
You can also review admission and tuition information to understand next steps.
Related Articles:
How a DBA Supports Career Growth Through Applied Research
What Working Professionals Can Expect From a DBA Program
A New Focus on Practice-Driven Doctoral Programs at Concordia University Chicago
