Assessment
We are committed to helping you progress in your studies as effectively as possible. The strength of the Executive Doctorate programme lies not only in our research training but also in our monitoring process, which ensures a superior level of input and support from senior academics in your field.
There is a series of four Assessments in Year 1 which are designed to have a practical relevance to students’ research. Students are required to pass all four.
- Assessment I: Critical Review Presentations – the first milestone along the road of turning your initial research topic into a fully-fledged and detailed research plan for your doctorate by identifying the domains of literature relevant to your interest and producing a critical analysis using a structured framework
- Assessment II: Qualitative Analysis
- Assessment III: Quantitative Analysis
- Assessment IV: Scoping Study for a systematic review of literature
Additionally in Year 1, support is provided to enable you to become a critical reader of academic literature and writer of literature reviews, and to engage with academic, policy and practice literatures.
Project Reviews – Supervisory Panel Meetings
At the beginning of the programme you are allocated a Lead Supervisor who takes the key role in supervising your research. The Lead Supervisor is your primary point of contact.
Additionally, during the first year, as your research topic becomes clearer, consideration is given to allocating a Panel Chair and/or Panel Member to complement your panel. The Panel Chair is responsible for the conduct of panel meetings and also for ensuring consistent Cranfield doctoral standards are applied to your work. The Panel Member is likely to provide expertise relevant to your topic, but complementary to your Lead Supervisor. A third Panel Member is most usually needed where the research crosses over two or more disciplines.
In Years 2, 3 and 4 there are a series of Progress Review panel meetings during which the supervisory panels review the project stages. Students are required to present a paper for review by their supervisory panel and providing satisfactory progress is made, the student is allowed to continue to the next stage in the research. The final thesis is examined externally in Year 4. The examiners’ decision to recommend the award of a Doctor of Business Administration is based on the final thesis at viva voce.
Students' views on the supervisory support on the programme:
“Considering I am extremely busy with work and travel, I have a very understanding and supportive supervisor, but I am the one who has to drive the process. It is my responsibility.”
James Jennings
2005-2009 Executive Doctorate student
Partner, Monterey Consultants
“The supervisory relationship is the key. If you don’t have a supportive, credible, capable supervisor, your time in doctoral studies will be very difficult. My panel, the three people who supervise me, are not just supportive, they are bona fide experts in their field. They know how the research and publication process works; they are very helpful in guiding me through the journey.”
Edward ‘Ed’ Barrows Jr
2005-2009 Executive Doctorate student
Vice President, Balanced Scorecard Collaborative/
Palladium Group
Lecturer, Babson College