Is the International Executive Doctorate for me?
The International Executive Doctorate provides a doctoral route for those who:
- are experienced practitioners who already hold an MBA or equivalent Masters Degree
- have
alternative qualifications and extensive managerial experience who wish
to acquire the highest level management qualification whilst remaining
in business
- are looking for a higher level of job satisfaction at a more senior level
motivated to pursue the degree by a desire to stand back from his/her working role, reflect on a critical management issue and carry out in-depth research to solve the issue or problem. The Executive Doctorate makes a contribution to knowledge in the context of practice.
- are looking to set up their own consultancy company
- are looking to underpin existing knowledge with theoretical rigour
The Executive Doctorate is a research based degree, but unlike the PhD the starting point is a practical business issue or problem with which you and your sponsoring organisation are engaged.
The outcome of the research is designed to provide valuable insights to the sponsoring organisation as well as contribute to knowledge of the field of management.
See Current Students to view examples of management issues.
What can I expect to achieve?
The programme is designed to enable you to bring insight and understanding to a critical business issue.
It is an opportunity to stand back from your current situation and reflect - perhaps on the challenge of re-structuring the organisation, or developing a radically different set of organisational capabilities.
Although participants will be highly effective managers already, the Executive Doctorate will provide a new platform for developing thinking and learning abilities beyond those attainable through managerial experience alone.
Specifically the Executive Doctorate will enable individuals to develop five key areas:
- Conceptualising Skills
- Research Method Skills
- The ability to apply concepts to practice
- The ability to reflect and learn from the whole process
- Personal Development
Students' Views:
"Cranfield is an institution that uniquely combines academic rigour with practical emphasis. The programme is very well structured and co-ordinated. I continue to be impressed with the calibre of lecturers and fellow students. My involvement with the programme has reinforced this view."
John Pillay, Consultant, Chaucer Consulting
2006-2010 Executive Doctorate Student
"Very few business schools around the world have world-class centres of research in business performance and supply chain management. In order to advance in my field of interest I looked for a school with that strength which sets Cranfield apart from other universities. The environment provided by the Executive Doctorate programme provides rigorous academic discipline to study the theoretical foundation of performance measurement frameworks."
Maria Rey-Marston , Executive Director, Latin America Logistics Centre; Senior Advisor - Supply Chain Strategy & Performance Management, Newton.Vaureal & Co, Washington, DC
2006-2010 Executive Doctorate Student
“I am close to the end of the third year--the program is going by very quickly. The study is intense, but great. There is a tremendous amount of learning in a compact period of time all of it focused making a contribution to management as you develop as a researcher/individual. You feel like the School has very high expectations for you.”
Edward ‘Ed’ Barrows Jr
05-09 Executive Doctorate Student
Vice President, Balanced Scorecard Collaborative/Palladium Group
Lecturer, Babson College