Management
The management area by its nature encompasses a broad set of potential research levels and topics that doctoral students may pursue. A common thread is developing knowledge that can enhance organizational effectiveness. Within management, Ph.D. students are generally admitted formally to study human resources, strategic management, or organizational behavior. They may focus on a single area or bridge multiple management specialties; they may also develop international expertise. Ph.D. students learn from faculty who are actively involved in research and professional service activities. Faculty and students frequently collaborate on research projects that lead to co-authored presentations and publications.
A list of faculty research interests and areas of expertise is of necessity a lengthy one. A sampling of current research interests and projects includes: Employee cooperation and extra-role voluntary behaviors, research methodology and statistical analysis, ethical decision making and ethical issues in organization contexts, work design, meaningfulness in work, tacit/propositional knowledge dialectics, foundations of social science, firm capabilities and knowledge transfer (with a focus on the Chinese automotive industry), organization development and change, employee creativity and innovation (multi-level perspectives), self-efficacy, well-being and work, career management, the impact of HR systems on firm performance, alternative reward systems, personality and work outcomes, corporate governance and business in Latin America, determinants of team leader emergence, personality determinants of compensation preferences and work satisfaction; characteristics and career paths of information technology workers, the effects of top managers on organizational actions, organizational choices of foreign market entry modes and structures of multinational corporations, total quality and customer focused operations, and market evaluations of a firm’s intangible assets. Faculty profiles that provide additional information on current projects, activities, and areas of expertise follow.
Faculty ProfilesProgram RequirementsAll students admitted to human resources, organizational behavior, or strategy fields are required to complete the following mandatory coursework.
Required Coursework- BUS 901: Research Issues in Business Administration (four semesters)
- BUS 902: Teaching Seminar
- BUS 915: Seminar in Organization Behavior
- BUS 916: Seminar in Organization Theory
- BUS 917: Advanced Managerial Economics or an equivalent course
OR
ECON 700: Survey of Microeconomics or an equivalent course - BUS 920: Probability for Business Research or an equivalent course
- BUS 921: Statistics for Business Research or an equivalent course
- BUS 995: Philosophy of Science
Most students typically will select the specific area to which they are admitted (human resources, organizational behavior, or strategy) as their concentration. However, an aspirant, with the assistance of his or her faculty advisor and the area faculty, may propose an interdisciplinary area of concentration that is a combination of the traditional business disciplines of accounting, information systems, finance, human resource management, marketing, decision sciences, organizational behavior, and strategic management. An aspirant may also propose an interdisciplinary area of concentration that includes emphases such as international business, law, and economics. The aspirant must take at least five advanced courses in the area of concentration. These courses may include those offered outside the School of Business.
Supporting Areas
Coursework in the area of concentration is supplemented and strengthened by study in one or two supporting areas. A supporting area is one that supplements and complements the area of concentration. The aspirant will satisfy the supporting area requirement by taking at least four advanced courses in the supporting areas (at least two courses in each of two supporting areas, or at least four courses in one supporting area). Courses recommended for preparation for the qualifiers may not be included in satisfying the supporting area requirement.
Research Methodology
For successful qualifier assessment, the student’s program of study should include adequate preparation in research methodology.
Qualifier Assessment
Sometime during the third semester (excluding summers) of the aspirant’s program, the Qualifier assessment Team (QAT) will meet and determine whether the aspirant should continue in the doctoral program. The QAT will do so holistically after taking into account the performance of the aspirant in courses taken, and the research and teaching skills of the aspirant.
Comprehensive Exam
As an aspirant for the Ph.D. in Business Administration, the student must successfully pass a comprehensive written-oral examination in the area of concentration.
Dissertation Proposal Defense
The aspirant shall prepare and successfully defend a research proposal at an oral examination before the Dissertation Committee. The objective of the oral examination is (a) the evaluation of the potential contribution of the proposed research, (b) the adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed research methodology, and (c) the aspirant's ability to successfully complete the proposed research. Copies of the dissertation proposal will be delivered to members of the dissertation committee, and also made available to other interested faculty members and Ph.D. students, at least one week prior to the date of the oral examination. It is strongly recommended that the candidate present the proposed dissertation research topic in BUS 901 prior to scheduling the oral examination.
Dissertation Defense
The committee for the final examination shall consist of at least five members (the members of the Dissertation Committee plus other members of the graduate faculty recommended by the chair of the Dissertation Committee and approved by the Research/Ph.D. Team). At least one of the members must be from a department other than the aspirant's major department; this member represents the Graduate School and must be a regular member of the graduate faculty. After the final oral examination has been successfully completed, the Dissertation Committee shall grade the written dissertation “Honors” or “Satisfactory.” If the candidate fails the final oral examination, he or she may be allowed to repeat the examination upon the recommendation of the Dissertation Committee and the Research/Ph.D. Team.
Proposed Timeline- Year 1-2: Coursework and Comprehensive Exams
- Year 3: Dissertation Proposal
- Year 4: Dissertation Defense
Over the past several years, our PhD graduates have been placed at schools such as Bryant College, Clermont France, Illinois State University, Iowa State University, University of Cincinnati, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, Ohio State University, University of Redlands, and US Military Academy-West Point. For a complete listing, follow the Alumni links below).
Organizational Behavior Alumni Human Resources Alumni Strategic Management Alumni 
