The 

Structure of a 
DBA Thesis

Dr Nii Amoo (PhD)
n.amoo@doctoratehub.com
The Structure of a DBA Thesis

Any time we talk about structure a number of issues immediately arises

Lets explore some of them:

 Your structure could be the selling strength of your thesis.

 The content is closely related to the structure.

 The audience should be considered in structuring the thesis.

 Is a DBA thesis structure different from a PhD?

 Are there specific formats that Laureate/UoL favour?

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The importance of structure in an academic work 
(a Doctoral Thesis)

 Is key to giving the reader a clearer understanding of your work.

 Is a like a roadmap for the reader illuminating your story or contribution.

 Should lead the reader to exact places where questions about your work can be
answered.

 In that case the Table of Content in a thesis should carefully and expertly done.

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The importance of structure in an academic work 

Questions to be addressed by the thesis structure

1. What is the purpose/rationale/relevance of the thesis?

2. What existing knowledge is there about your topic/ subject?

3. How does your research methods/design compare to your field of study?

4. What are the original findings – what are their wider significance?

5. How has your thesis achieved its aims and objectives?

6. What are the recommendations, limitations and further research areas?

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Structure of an academic work ‐ Sequence of Chapters
A parsimonious view!

1. Introduction.

2. Literature Review.

3. Methodology.

4. Results and Findings.

5. Discussion.

6. Conclusion.

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Structure of an academic work ‐ Sequence of Chapters
An expansive/comprehensive view 6. Findings presentation and evidence of 
1. The Introduction. empirical work.

2. Subject/topic area background information. 7. The analysis of the last 2 points (5 and 6) 

3. Necessary theoretical background. above.

4. Critical review of the extant literature  i.e.  8. Discussion of point 7 in relationship to 

other researchers work,  points 3 and 4.

findings/conclusions. 9. Conclusions and recommendation/s, 

5. The study design, approaches,  limitations and areas for future studies.

methodologies used – and its justifications  10. Provide a reflexive account of the study 

and limitations. supporting the conclusions and research 
approach. 6
The main building blocks of a DBA Thesis

1. Problematisation process – identification of clear organisational issue/s that can 

benefit from scholarly and practitioner action for its resolution.

2. Engaging and working with literatures.

3. Gathering and working with evidence.

4. Undertaking and working with action.

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The main building blocks of a DBA Thesis
Problematisation Process 

 An identification of clear organisational issue/s.

 It should benefit from scholarly and practitioner action.

 Should be able to use the scholarly literature in the problematising process.

 Articulate these very clearly in the introductory part of the thesis.

 Be ready to show how your discussions/conclusions refer back to this part of the
thesis.

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Engaging and working with 
Literature

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The main building blocks of a DBA Thesis
Gathering and working with Evidence

 Discussion of what data is necessary for the project, and what methods will be
appropriate to gather that data.

 Explanation of the gathering of relevant data, and quite possibly a critique of the
compromises and limitations in that data gathering.

 Evaluation and sensemaking of the data gathered.

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The contribution?

The first person, second person and third person action research proposes that a thesis
should make a difference to:

1st Person: the individual student’s practice.

2nd Person: their organisation’s practice and performance.

3rd Person: a wider professional, functional, organisational or executive community’s

thinking and practice.

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Structure of a DBA Thesis ‐ Sequencing of Chapters
Laureate/Liverpool View

See page 29 of 
DBA thesis 
handbook, 
September 2017

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Structure of a DBA Thesis (1)
Laureate/Liverpool View

1. A coherent argument built on evidence and reasoning. It is not a series of outlines of

others’ writing or assertions by the thesis author.

2. Emerges from your research and managerial activity. It need not cover all of your
reading, research and actions.

3. It will rarely prove generalisable new knowledge.

4. Rather it seeks to highlight the particularities of actionable knowledge.

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Structure of a DBA Thesis (2)
Laureate/Liverpool View

5. It seeks to explain, evidence and justify a doctoral practitioner’s: 

 Learning from experience, 

 Development of a new way of practicing their job, 

 Understanding of a particular line of academic theory within a particular 
working context,

 Evaluation of action taken in the light of outcomes and academic thought. 

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Structure of a DBA Thesis (3)
Laureate/Liverpool View
6. An introduction to the working context and managerial or organisational issue that needed
to be addressed. Explain your role and why this was an issue of concern to you.

7. A literature review chapter of careful discussion of other people’s ideas that shaped your
thinking, research or action plans. This will, therefore, include some or most of the following:

 What are the important and relevant debates?

 Why have you focused on a particular area of literature and not other possibilities?

 Who has influenced your thinking and action plans?

 What alternative writers or ideas were available, and why did you choose those you did?
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Structure of a DBA Thesis (4)
Laureate/Liverpool View
8. What research methodology and methods of enquiry were considered appropriate 
for the information needs of the management/ organisational issue being addressed. 

9. The story of what you did, what happened and what was found. 

10. Implications for you or your organisation’s managerial/executive action.

11. Conclusions regarding actionable knowledge. 

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Structure of a DBA Thesis (5)
Laureate/Liverpool View
12. Other elements of a thesis might include: 

• Reflection on your learning from the project and research. 

• Empirical investigation, where research led to recommendations, of how those 
recommendations might be implemented in a particular working context. 

• Conclusion as to the evaluation of the managerial/executive action undertaken in 
the thesis project. 

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Structure of a DBA Thesis – my view!
Quality of Abstract 
The abstract should be brief and explicit, summarising the key aspects of the thesis.

Reference should be made to the context of the research and the theoretical
framework, the methodology employed, the findings; and finally how the thesis
contributes to actionable knowledge that can bring changes in your organisation.

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Structure of a DBA Thesis – my view!
Introduction and background
Identification and Formulation of the Research Aim and Objectives, Terms of Reference and
Delimitations:

The research aim/objective must be unambiguous and clearly outline the purpose of the
research.

A rationale should be provided in relation to the literature; and in this regard you should have
a section clearly presenting and discussing the case and relevance of the study. Please note,
most of the material for this case and relevance section may come from your literature
review.

Terms of reference should outline the processes of the research project, demonstrating how
the research aim will be achieved. The introduction should be relatively detailed but also brief,
setting the scene for the reader and signposting the thesis as a whole.
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Structure of a DBA Thesis – my view!
Theoretical Development and Literature Review
The literature review should outline, discuss and critique the key sources that relate to
the research. Any gaps in the literature should be highlighted, showing how the thesis
research fits into these.

The adequacy of the review will be based on the range and quality of the sources
used, the collection of secondary data relevant to the terms of reference, undertaking
a critical evaluation and underlying assumptions in the scholarly material.

There should be analysis and critique of material rather than straightforward

acceptance.

There should also be relevant secondary research data related to the proposal and the
appropriateness and topicality of references used.
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Structure of a DBA Thesis – my view!
Methodology, Design and Implementation of the research (1)
Research Philosophies; Methodologies; Methods and Techniques; primary and
secondary data collection; and analysis:

The thesis should show details of the methodologies available for such a study; the
methodology and approaches eventually used; sound justification for using the
particular methodology used; and a discussion of the advantages and limitations of
the approach.

The methodology will vary according to the type of thesis undertaken. However, it
must be appropriate to the problem being investigated.

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Structure of a DBA Thesis – my view!
Methodology, Design and Implementation of the research (2)
It is important in such a chapter to start with discussions on Research Philosophies –
Ontology; Epistemology; etc.

What is your view of the world – are you a realist or a relativist; will you will study this
problem as a positivist or constructivist, or will you adopt a Mixed Method as a
pragmatist and take a pluralist view?

In writing this chapter, please refer to your learning in both your Module 4
(Management Research – Quantitative & Qualitative Methods) and Module 6 (Action
Research Action Thesis).

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Structure of a DBA Thesis – my view!
Discussion and Synthesis of Findings
Extent and Clarity of Analysis, Discussion and Synthesis of Findings

The thesis should present and discuss the research findings.

It is essential to draw together the literature and empirical data in order to evaluate
the project’s findings.

The quality of the thesis is premised on the synthesis of findings relative to the
proposal and situation evaluation of models/concepts/ideas in the light of the data,
recognition of limitations to the research findings and the rigour of the
development/analysis of the material.
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Structure of a DBA Thesis – my view!
Conclusions/Recommendations
Conclusions should draw on the evidence, arguments and facts set out in the body of
the report. There should be no new material.

Recommendations, should be appropriate to the problem being studied, should follow

from the conclusions.

Importantly, the recommendation should show how the thesis contributes to

actionable knowledge that can bring changes in your organisation.

Because the thesis is likely to be scrutinised minutely, students must convince the
readers that the work, including conclusions and recommendations are firmly rooted
in the research undertaken. Any recommendation made or conclusion decided needs
to be drawn from evidence gathered and analysed.
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Structure of a DBA Thesis – my view!
The Action Thesis Reflection Bit
Report on the implications for you or your organisation’s managerial/executive action 
regarding the actionable knowledge of the thesis.

This includes:

 A reflection on your learning from the project and research.

 Empirical investigation, where research led to recommendations, of how those 
recommendations might be implemented in a particular working context. 

 Conclusion as to the evaluation of the managerial/executive action undertaken in the 
thesis project.
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Thank you

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