Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Management

Learn more about the programme

The PhD qualification or the Doctorate of Philosophy is widely regarded as the most prestigious and highest level of qualification awarded in academia. The PhD has a long-established reputation dating back to the 12^th century. In the present day, the PhD still holds its value with PhD holders representing approximately under 0.1% of the worldwide population. In addition to being widely respected and prestigious, the PhD equips students with the research, practical and theoretical skills to work effectively in academia or industry.
Therefore, the Metropolitan School of Business Management (MSBM) in collaboration with its partner universities is proud to offer the PhD programme.

Duration: 3 Years
Total ECTS: 180

SUPERVISION AND MONITORING

PhD students joining the Metropolitan School of Business Management (MSBM) are on a 3-year programme. However, a slight variation in the timeline is expected.

Once on the PhD programme, you will already be aware of your Principal and Second Supervisors that will be allocated based on subject specialisation. All students will be appointed a Departmental PhD Coordinator – who will exercise general academic and pastoral oversight of PhD students at MSBM, including your induction, supervision, progression and examination.

Students will be expected to meet their supervisors at least once a month. Students will be required to complete, sign and submit a meeting record which will be counter-signed by the supervisory team. The completed meeting records need to be emailed to [email protected]. These meeting records will be filed and presented in staff meetings to assess whether the student has demonstrated a sufficient level of progress to be considered for a Viva exam. Progress of all students is monitored by a Thesis Committee consisting of your Principal Supervisor, Second Supervisor and the Departmental PhD coordinator. Students will be expected to meet with the Committee once at the end of the 1st year and once at the end of the 2nd year to demonstrate satisfactory progression. Students will be expected to submit a literature review draft at the end of the 1st year and present key findings from the literature review. Students are expected to submit a draft of the findings and analysis chapter by the end of the 2nd year, where they are expected to present key findings from the chapter. The Thesis Committee meetings are expected to last between 30-60 minutes.

PROGRESS OF PROGRAMME

The PhD programme will be divided into two segments. The first segment will consist of taught modules, and the second segment will be focused on the research and write-up leading to the submission of the PhD thesis. It should be noted that both segments will run in parallel to each other. You will be expected to attend all the taught modules while working on your Extended Research Proposal (ERP), followed by the literature review chapter draft.

Segment 1

The taught modules provide systematic continuous support in relation to the candidate’s skills and knowledge developed throughout their study. It allows candidates to reach a level playing field in terms of providing the foundation for doctoral-level research and knowledge of the related fields.

In the later part of the year, the student is to apply knowledge and understanding of research methodology to an actual pilot study and overall thesis proposal and to reflect on their own performance as a researcher.

Module Content

Each module covers a two-month period. Each module has 2 webinars attached to it. This is to provide students with an overall picture of how the component parts are related and the specific timings of key events. This includes research proposal and upgrade of Registration.

The modules study in stage 1 takes place over a 12-month period and:

Provide the basis of continuous support for you to develop the skills and knowledge that form the basis of the research to be undertaken.
Allow you to develop your thinking, reflection and writing skills and reflect on Management and business theory and practice.
Form a development path that builds on each other to allow the research to be part of the process from the outset.
Provide detailed formative and summative feedback that builds on each other.
Through the assessments, which are built-in, not bolted-on, to the research project you are undertaking, work on key aspects of your research from day one.

Segment 2

It should be noted that Segment 2 will run in parallel to Segment 1, where the key milestones within Segment 2 are provided below.

YEAR 1

(0-3rd month) Extended Research Proposal (ERP): In the first few months, students will be required to submit an ERP, which will involve students demonstrating a contribution to knowledge, outline of research methodology and structure in terms of chapters related to the PhD thesis.

(3rd-12th month) Submission of Literature Review Chapter(s) Draft: Students will be required to write a contextual review on areas related to the research focus and a critical review of related studies as part of the literature review/background write-up.

(30-60 minutes at the end of 1st academic year) Thesis Committee Meeting: To progress into Year 2, it will be mandatory for students to submit a literature review draft by the end of the academic year and satisfy academic staff at the Thesis Committee meeting via a presentation. In the case of failure, students will be granted the opportunity to convert the literature review chapter draft into an MPhil thesis within a 6 month period to qualify for an MPhil qualification.

YEAR 2

(0-3rd month) Submission of Research Methodology Chapter Draft/Ethical Approval: Students will be required to write up and submit a draft of the research methodology chapter while waiting for ethical approval from the academic staff to conduct the empirical research.

(3rd-6th month) Data collection and analysis: Students will be authorized to conduct the empirical research, where they will be expected to transcribe and analyse the retrieved data during this stage.

(6th-12th month) Submission of Findings and Analysis Chapter(s) Draft: Students will be required to submit a draft of the findings and analysis chapter by the end of the academic year, which will be subject to review by the academic staff.

(30-60 minutes at the end of 2nd academic year) Thesis Committee Meeting: The student will present the key findings from the findings and analysis chapter to the academic team to demonstrate their progress in the PhD programme.

YEAR 3

(0-3rd month) Submission of Discussion Chapter Draft: Students will be expected to submit the discussion chapter within the first 3 months, which will consist of demonstrating a contribution to knowledge as well as the realization of the research aim and objectives.

(3rd-6th month) Submission of Conclusions and Recommendations Chapter Draft.

(6th- 9th month) Submission of Introduction Chapter Draft.

(0-12th month) Final write-up: Year 3 will be an opportunity for students to review and update chapters while writing up and awaiting feedback for other chapters.

(During the 12th month) Final submission: Students will be required to submit the final draft of a 60,000-80,000 word thesis document which will be examined by an internal and external examiner.

(6-8 weeks after final submission) Viva Exam: This meeting will involve a meeting between the internal and external examiners with the PhD student where there will be a senior member of staff acting as chair for the Viva. Additionally, one of the PhD supervisors will be allowed to attend the viva as a silent/non-participating attendant.

Student Grievances and Complaints
If you have any concerns about your supervision, progression, etc, please discuss these with the Departmental PhD Coordinator at the earliest possible opportunity.

If you feel that a member of staff has unfairly treated you in any way, please raise it first with that member of staff. If that is inappropriate, then see the Departmental PhD Coordinator, who can also advise on any difficulties (personal, financial, medical or academic) affecting your studies.

RESEARCH ETHICS

It is your responsibility to make sure that you have ethical permission in place in the form of ethical approval by academic staff before performing research where this is required. Please refer to the research ethics page on the MBSM website for more information.

RESEARCH INTEGRITY

Being a researcher involves a high level of ethical standards and integrity in one’s work and interactions with others. MBSM takes integrity very seriously and misconduct in research can be very damaging for individuals and the institution as a whole.

This module provides the most critical information about the study course and assignment submission.

Navigating the MSBM Study Portal

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Course Structure and Guidelines

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VIDEO - How to Avoid Plagiarism in Your Writing

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Harvard Referencing Style Guide

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How to Summarise - Assignment Guide

Downloadable material to advance your understanding of this module.
Summarising, Paraphrasing, Quotation for your Assignment

Downloadable material to advance your understanding of this module.
Official Title Pages – Assignments

Downloadable material to advance your understanding of this module.

This module will equip students with the qualitative and quantitative principles to undertake research at the doctorate level. The research principles will include a review of theoretical principles informed by Research Philosophy and Research Approach along with empirical research principles involving Research Strategy, Data Collection Method and Data Analysis Method. Additionally, students will be equipped to make appropriate judgements based on ethical practices during the PhD research.

Research Philosophies and Principles
VIDEO - Overview of the Research Onion

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Selecting a Research Topic
Searching and Reviewing Literature
VIDEO - How to write a Literature Review

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Developing conceptual Framework

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
PDF - How to create a Conceptual Framework

Downloadable material to advance your understanding of this module.
Research Strategy and Design
Research Methods I

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Research Methods II

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
PDF - How Observation is Used As a Research Method

Downloadable material to advance your understanding of this module.
Research Methods: Data Analysis

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Research Proposal and Writing Up
Research Ethics

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
QUIZ - Advanced Business Research Methods

Put your knowledge to the test with this quiz. Read each question carefully and choose the response that you feel is correct.

This module will aim at the management of human beings in a complex organisation; recruiting, selecting, training, promoting & motivating human beings. Increasing personal loyalties & managing personnel to elevate individual contribution, increasing quality & lowering operational costs.

Dynamics of Human Resource Management
Enhancing Human Resource Management Competencies
Human Resource Management as a Strategic Partner
Concepts in Managing and Utilizing Human Resources
Optimizing Organizational Productivity and Performance Management
Advanced Human Resource Management

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The course presents conceptual frameworks and models which will assist students to analyze competitive situations and strategic dilemmas and gaining insight into strategic management. This course will provide a synthesis of previous course materials within the business programmes. Lectures are supplemented with case studies.

Concepts in Strategy Evaluation
Understanding the Strategy Formulation
Concepts in Implementing Strategies
Business Analysis Case Studies
Understanding Business Analysis
Strategic Management and Business Analysis

Put your knowledge to the test with this quiz. Read each question carefully and choose the response that you feel is correct.

The course aims at helping PhD candidates develop an appreciation for the intellectual growth of business as a discipline. Students will have an opportunity to view the historical growth of the field from an economic to a behaviourally-based discipline. By studying multiple articles on each topic, students will gain an understanding of the way academic knowledge is developed as well as being exposed to contemporary social science methods.

The Development and Complexity of the Organisation Theory
Advanced Discussion on Rational and Natural Theorists
Marketing as a science, advance marketing theory, and philosophical thoughts
Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches in Finance
Current Research Perspective In Business Theory
Advanced Business Theory

Put your knowledge to the test with this quiz. Read each question carefully and choose the response that you feel is correct.

The objective of this course is to provide the principles of asset valuation and financing in competitive global financial markets. The course is organized around the three main ideas in Finance: The time value of money, Diversification and risk, Arbitrage and hedging. The time value of money is a basic determinant in the valuation of assets such as bonds, stocks, futures, and options. The classes on diversification and risk provide a thorough grounding in the trade-off between risk and return given by modern portfolio theory. In discussing arbitrage and hedging, we demonstrate how to hedge market risk, interest rate risk, and foreign exchange risk. This involves using futures and options.

Global Financial Management Landscape
Understanding Exchange Rate System
Understanding International Equity and Debt Markets
Understanding the Dynamics of Foreign Direct Investment
Country Risk Analysis, International Banking and Trade Finance
Global Financial Management

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Theoretical statements of individual and group behaviour in organizations will be examined in this course. Student presentations and discussions will include detailed treatments of organization design, change, and reorganization, as well as inter-organizational relationships.

Understanding Leadership Processes

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Understanding Organisational Structure

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Dynamics of Teams and Groups in an Organisation

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Organisational Context and Contemporary Organisational Behaviour

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Dynamics of Individual Behaviour in an Organisation

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Organizational Behaviour

Put your knowledge to the test with this quiz. Read each question carefully and choose the response that you feel is correct.

This module captures the essence of research in advanced theory and practice of business management that include areas such as Analysis of modern management theories, Development of organizations, Dynamics of organizational behaviour and relationship to effective administration in addition to the Models of communication, motivation, and leadership.

Exploring the Legacy of Pioneering Management Thinkers
A Historical and Theoretical Overview of Management and Social Responsibility
Advanced Critical Theory, Critical Management Studies, and Critical Realism

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Advanced Theoretical Foundation of Organizational Behaviour and Change Management

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Advanced Theory of Quality Management

Self-paced pre-recorded learning content on this topic.
Quiz-Advanced Management

Put your knowledge to the test with this quiz. Read each question carefully and choose the response that you feel is correct.

Here, in this segment, you will produce an academic standard research report. This segment will last nominally for two years.

All MSBM courses are accredited by the relevant partners and awarding bodies. Please refer to MSBM accreditation in about us for more details.

Students need to have a Masters qualification with a minimum Merit (60%) pass.
Students are required to submit an up to date CV.
Students need to submit a brief Research Proposal (500 words) consisting of the sections of Background (brief literature review), Research Rationale (what is the contribution to knowledge from the proposed research study and why is it important?), Aim and Objectives and Research Methodology (follow Saunders’ Research Onion layers).
1 professional and 1 academic reference is required.
Bachelor's and Master's degree certificates and transcripts.

Weekly write up webinars and monthly supervisor meetings will be held to offer better coordination between the student and the supervisor and to achieve the optimal level of professionalism in writing the research report.

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