Finance: Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Students are provided with a foundation for academic and professional success specific to Walden University and to the requirements for successful participation in the Doctor of Business Administration degree program. The topics covered in this course include change management, crisis management, innovation, and disruptive technology. Students engage in discussion and analyze scholarly literature related to these topics, their personal and professional experiences, and areas of academic interest from a practitioner approach and from a social-change-agent viewpoint. The focus of the course assignments is on the practical application of writing and critical-thinking skills and the promotion of professional business practice and academic excellence. Through their assignments, students emphasize their personal and professional development, including the completion of a personal SWOT analysis and professional development plan.

Successful business leaders create a positive organizational culture based on personal ethical behavior, ethical expectations, training, and transparency. Business leaders use a range of leadership styles, including transformational, transactional and servant leadership, based on the organizational situation. Regardless of leadership style, one thing that business leaders have in common is the ability to identify and develop leadership strategies that lend to the success and sustainability of their business. In this four-module course, students cover a wide range of different topics on business leadership. Students focus on the practical application of APA writing, critical thinking, and the integration of professional leadership practice at the doctoral level as they develop sustainable solutions from the perspective of a business leader. Students examine the relationship between leadership and management, evaluate the impact and utility of leadership styles assessments, and analyze different leadership styles. Additionally, students evaluate and investigate various leadership theories, sources of power, and motivation theories to gain a better understanding into the nature and practice of leadership. Students evaluate and assess ethical dilemmas, organizational stress, and craft an organizational strategy to shape a successful business culture. They assess current articles, engage in online discussions, and complete application assignments based on organizational culture, ethics, strategy, stress, and leadership theories.

Students in this DBA strategy course concentrate on the creation and implementation of business strategies that maximize competitive advantage in the marketplace. Students develop an understanding of why and how individuals and business organizations work together creating sustainable businesses in the global marketplace. They apply models for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of business organizations and identify opportunities and threats resulting from forces shaping the marketplace. Students focus on practical business applications of writing, critical thinking, and classroom engagement in a combination of essay discussions, research assignments, and writing papers to analyze, develop, and defend ideas for strategic and innovative business solutions for sustainability.

In this course, independent scholars are introduced to quantitative and qualitative frameworks for inquiry. Quantitative designs covered include correlation, experimental and quasi-experimental, survey, and causal-comparative designs; qualitative designs include case study, phenomenology, grounded theory, and ethnography. Independent scholars work toward acquiring substantive, foundational knowledge of the philosophy of science as they construct, use, and critique concepts and theories. They learn to produce knowledge for practice as they examine ethical, social, and political aspects of conducting research. Demonstrating knowledge and the ability to solve problems, independent scholars engage in course assignments that emphasize the practical application of writing and critical-thinking skills and the integration of professional practice at the doctoral level.

In this course, independent scholars have the opportunity to extend their research and general analysis skills as they further explore qualitative research methodology and design types—with emphasis on case-study research designs—that they may incorporate into their own doctoral study. Independent scholars learn to focus their analysis on efforts to improve the quality of business practice. They also focus on how to think in an action-oriented manner, as if they were business consultants, so that their own doctoral study work could be applied in action. Finally, they engage in an iterative process of writing their own prospectus application, incorporating feedback from peers and the course instructor.

In this course, independent scholars develop skills in descriptive statistics, statistical inference, and quantitative techniques, including t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation, multiple linear regression, and nonparametric methods (i.e., two-way contingency table analysis). They use quantitative data analysis and data-management techniques, and they learn to utilize SPSS software for data analysis. This course is not intended for independent scholars to become fully grounded in statistical methods; rather, they learn appropriate questions to ask about data analysis as well as how to defend their use of specific techniques in professional practice.

International finance is a branch of economics that considers how capital investment is undertaken globally and how financial markets and global trade influence investment opportunities. Independent sholars taking this seminar course are provided with an overview of the historical context of globalization. Included in the discussions is an in-depth analysis of how organizations, emerging markets, and society benefit from globalization. Independent scholars examine how organizations manage risk in a global environment. Scholars also explore barriers to globalization. Independent scholars accomplish course objectives by examining foundational literature and theories, seminal works, and established models in the field of international finance. They also formulate an original research topic and synthesize findings and conclusions based on their literature review for a comprehensive and critical understanding of the discipline.

Entrepreneurial finance is designed to help managers make accurate investments and business decisions in entrepreneurial settings. In this seminar course, students explore the development of a small business from startup to financial security. They examine the process and various sources of funding, including partnerships with venture capitalists, conventional sources, and initial public offerings. Most importantly, students explore how to construct funding as well as the trade-offs and benefits for each model. They analyze entrepreneurial equity and how to negotiate any agreement with funding sources. Students accomplish course objectives by examining foundational literature and theories, seminal works, and established models in the field of entrepreneurial finance. They also identify additional resources and disseminate research conclusions to their peers.

Recent cases of corporate greed, bankruptcy, and fraud, as well as the collapse of the housing market and its fallout in the investment community, have prompted the need for new regulatory responses; these include laws, such as Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as well as whistleblower protection programs. Independent scholars in this seminar course examine these new ways of doing business in today's sociopolitical climate from a legal perspective, including identification of opportunities for new research in business law and compliance. They formulate an original research topic and assess the potential impact of their findings on the fields of business law and compliance. They also give and receive feedback through critiques for and by peers. Independent scholars accomplish course objectives by examining current information, such as foundational literature and theories, seminal works, and established models in the fields of business law and compliance. 

The purpose of this course is to assist doctoral independent scholars in making steady progress toward the DBA degree. Independent scholars use this course as a forum for ongoing exchange of ideas, input, and feedback with peers and their doctoral study chair. They engage in a variety of activities, providing the tools needed to complete the doctoral study capstone successfully. They gain practice with various research methods and data-gathering techniques; determine best practices; explore the various resources, including the Walden Library, Writing Center, and Research Center; and prepare a draft and final version of their doctoral study prospectus, which is required to proceed with the final doctoral study. Note: The instructor of record for a section of the course is the chair of the independent scholar's doctoral study committee. Section participants are independent scholars who work with faculty members at various stages of their doctoral study.

In the final doctoral study, independent scholars demonstrate their ability to examine, critique, and synthesize knowledge, theory, and experience so that new ideas can be tested; best practices identified, established, and verified; and theoretical, practice, or policy constructs evaluated and advanced. In all cases, independent scholars engage in rigorous inquiry that results in new knowledge, insight, or practice, demonstrating efficacy in the world of business and management. Through this course, independent scholars gain assistance in working through the process of the doctoral study. They design personal best practices for completing their study within a designated context. They also select their committee members, with whom they establish and maintain strong working relationships and on whom they rely to mentor and approve their proposal and final study. Ultimately, independent scholars completing the doctoral study make a fresh contribution to the field of practice in the professional business environment.Students take this course for a minimum of 5 terms (two 8-week terms per semester) and are continuously enrolled until completion of their Doctoral Study with final Chief Academic Officer (CAO) approval.To complete a doctoral study, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the Chief Academic Officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred.

This course is part of Walden's commitment to help prepare students to meet the university's expectations for writing in courses at the doctoral level. In this course, students write a short academic essay that will be scored by a team of writing assessors. Based on the essay score, students will be guided toward any further recommended or required writing support needed to meet writing proficiency standards. This required course is free. Students will be enrolled automatically in it after they complete their first term of their doctoral program.