Der Inhalt dieser Seite ist nicht auf Deutsch verfügbar Management Research for the Benefit of Companies In an era of multiple crises, where the business environment is increasingly unstable, complex, and unpredictable, companies are faced with the need to enhance their capacity for strategic reflection and critical analysis. The role of management research is to advance knowledge while developing managerial tools that are best suited to evolving contexts. Doctoral research - an essential stage in this process - plays a crucial role in bridging theory and practice. This is particularly true when a thesis is conducted by a practitioner, as it equips companies with actionable insights to address contemporary challenges. The collaboration between a company, a manager-researcher, and a professor creates a dynamic that cultivates both academic rigour and practical impact. This is precisely the foundation of the DBA: a programme that enables managers to conduct doctoral research on a specific managerial challenge, guided by the expertise of an experienced professor. The DBA was established in 1953 by Harvard University in response to demand from practitioners who, while not necessarily pursuing an academic career, sought to engage in in-depth conceptual reflection on managerial challenges encountered in their professional practice. Through the DBA, these managers receive academic support to develop a thesis rooted in their real-world business issues. As explained by EQUAL, an international organisation that brings together the three leading management accreditation agencies (AACSB, AMBA, EFMD) along with around twenty academic associations, the DBA is a doctoral programme distinct from the PhD (known in France as the Doctorat en Sciences de Gestion), primarily in terms of its purpose. This White Paper was initiated in response to the regrettable lack of awareness of the DBA among French companies and its limited recognition by public authorities. Professors Michel Kalika, Chairman of the Business Science Institute, and Jean-Pierre Helfer, Chairman of its Academic Council, launched the initiative and sought the support of FNEGE. As a leading institution dedicated to advancing management education and research in France, FNEGE actively supports initiatives that enhance the quality of programmes offered by its member institutions. In line with this mission, it agreed to support the development of the White Paper. Objectives of the White Paper This White Paper pursues three main objectives: Raising awareness of the DBA – Showcasing its structure, originality, and impact in companies while emphasising its doctoral nature and the value of DBA research for organisations. The goal is to enhance the visibility of the DBA among businesses. Securing official recognition – Advocating for formal recognition of the DBA by relevant public bodies as a doctoral programme in its own right. Providing strategic recommendations – Outlining concrete measures to achieve the first two objectives. These ambitions highlight the strategic role of the DBA in bridging research and managerial practice, as well as its potential to address contemporary challenges. The White Paper includes a comprehensive definition of the DBA and its key characteristics, along with concrete illustrations of its impact. These examples are drawn from DBA theses defended at the ten institutions that contributed to this publication. The final section presents a series of recommendations developed by the contributors to support the growth and recognition of the DBA. It also details the participating contributors and DBA programmes. Kalika, M., Helfer J.-P. (2025) Livre blanc. Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). La recherche en management au bénéfice des entreprises, FNEGE, 86 p.
