Summary
Highlights
A DBA is practitioner-oriented, preparing individuals for industry roles, while a PhD is theoretically focused, aiming for careers as professors or researchers. The main distinction lies in the post-degree emphasis on writing and publishing.
A DBA involves smaller, manageable projects not primarily focused on publishing in major journals. It's more rigorous and theoretically oriented than an MBA, but not designed for business school professorships like a PhD.
DBA programs are increasing in popularity globally, often under various names like Executive DBA or Doctorate of Management. Harvard's DBA is an outlier, structured more like a PhD program. The different naming conventions are to distinguish between research-focused PhDs and practitioner-oriented DBAs.
The growing popularity of DBAs stems from a demand for more rigorous degrees than an MBA. While an MBA focuses on hands-on business, a DBA offers a broader, theoretical understanding of business concepts and their limitations, providing a bigger picture and oversight.