Executive Doctor of Business Administration (EDBA)

The “Getting Started” program primer is designed to present the principles of an evidence-based approach in the context of management and business, and to introduce doctoral students to the processes and systems at SMU for learning and research. In this four-week course with both asynchronous and synchronous content delivery, students learn the principles of an evidence-based approach in the context of management and business, and are introduced to the processes and systems at SMU for learning management and research.

During this course, students are introduced to the principles of an evidence-based approach to business and management problems in practice. Beginning with the four sources of evidence (academic research, grey literature and local context, stakeholder perspective, practitioner experience), students develop skills to identify and critically appraise each source of evidence.

Building on an EBP approach, students practice techniques of asking effective questions, including frameworks about the kinds of questions, the types of methods that fit different questions, and the structure of questions. Students learn to develop a protocol for creating an answerable question.

Using focused applied practice questions, students are introduced to the 6A framework to analyze problems (ask, acquire, appraise) and generate options (aggregate, apply, assess). Through discussions, leader in practice examples, and lab simulations, students are given the opportunity to diagnosis problems, generate options and scenarios, and build models.

Through lectures, online exercises, and practitioner examples, students learn to identify various sources of organizational data, and assess its quality and limitations. Students also consider the ethical implications of using secondary and primary data sources to guide decisions in organizational contexts.

Through a series of lectures, online exercises, and practitioner examples, students learn to determine ways to select data, model relationships, conduct analysis, and interpret the output. Students receive a refresher of basic statistical analysis techniques (e.g., R, T-tests, regression analysis) and measurement.

Students are introduced to research synthesis, and more in-depth approaches such as systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and meta-synthesis. Students conduct rapid evidence assessments (REAs) working with research assistants and librarians, and learn about the outlets that publish and disseminate findings from these reviews and the ways in which such works can inform policy.

Students use projects from EDBA 7606 to develop knowledge mobilization plans and associated materials, translating academic research into meaningful insights for practitioners. Working with communications specialists, students develop a public presentation or an article for a practitioner-oriented magazine, journal, or research synthesis organization.

Students work with an academic advisor to develop a proposal for an applied research project. The proposal requires defence to a three-person committee, one of whom is SMU external to Sobey School of Business. Proposal submissions include a timeline based on 7609, 7610, and 7611 courses.

Students use the knowledge gained through the program to develop, conduct, and communicate a practice-oriented research project.

Students use the knowledge gained through the program to develop, conduct, and communicate a practice-oriented research project.

A final presentation and defence of project to the committee with an external examiner.