dba research topics 2021

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Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Analyzing the Effect of Sponsorship Disclosure on Social Media Influencer Contribution to Engagement in the Test and Measurement Industry , Todd B. Baker

Moral Virtues: A Quantitative Study on the Impact of National Culture on Integrity , Andrew I. Ellestad

The Barriers to Active and Experiential Learning in Accounting Education , Elizabeth Holbrook

Phenomenological Study of African American Female Partners in Top U.S. Corporate Law Firms , Tony Kelly

Career Shock and Voluntary Turnover Intention among Current Employees in the Public Sector , Charlena Miller

Emotional Intelligence, Self-Efficacy, and the Perceived Employability of Traditional Undergraduate Business Students in a Private Midwest Educational Institution , Michele Ryan

Effect of Black- or White-Sounding Name and Impact of Intergroup Contact with Black Individuals on Auditor Judgments , Vanessa J. Tijerina

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Young Adults Who Save for Retirement: A Grounded Theory Study of the Decision-Making Process , Chad Greenwood

How do People Justify not Paying their Taxes? A Study on Moral Disengagement and Tax Evasion , Grace M. Hufff

Identity Work in Aspiring Big 4 Accounting Practice Leaders: Narratives of Personal Reinvention , Michael H. Kinnen

The Impact of Workplace Mentoring on Meaningful Work for People With Workplace Anxiety in the Insurance Industry , Susan L. Nelson

The Impact of Digital Marketing Tactics on the Recruitment of Domestic First-Generation College Students in the Southwest United States , Noelle Seybert

Exploring the Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Workplace Violence , Jared W. Snow

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Onboarding Autism Employees in Technology Industry , Heung-For Cheng

Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Practices on Brand Trust and Purchase Intention in the Wine Industry , Sarah L. Cooley

A New Model of Opportunity Recognition: Linking Individual Agency, Entrepreneurial Action, and the Innovation Process , Eva M. Fast

Financial Literacy and Behavior in Credit Unions: An Exploration of Member Financial Literacy and Financial Behavior in the Credit Union Model , Peter R. Fisher

Predicting the Financial Vulnerability of U.S. Public Charities: A Test of the Tuckman-Chang Model , Alesha L. Graves

The Strategic Response of Nonprofits to Institutional Pressures: An Intellectual Capital , Mario L. Hicks

Ethical Attitudes of Accounting Faculty and Public Accountants , James Karan

An Analysis of the Impact of an Influencer's Perceived Trustworthiness and Content Quality on Their Follower's Travel Intent , Josh C. McNair

Remote Working and Open Offices: A Phenomenological Study of the Factors Impacting Employee Productivity , Frank Murphy

Rural Coopetition: A Consumer Perspective of Marketing Activities Involving SMEs , Cassandra A. Ritzen

Consumer Behavior and Ad-Evoked Effects in Native Ads: The Role of Congruence and Brand Familiarity , Steven Rydin

The Influence of Type of Implicit EWOM on Purchase Intention , Michael H. Starr

U.S. Marine Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars Diagnosed with PTSD: Perceived Employment Barriers Faced by Marines with PTSD Upon Discharge , Marlon G. Ware

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

The Relationship Among Generational Cohorts, Tenure, Job Categories, and Employee Readiness for Organizational Change in a Healthcare Environment: A Quantitative Study , Jerry S. K. Adatsi

Electronic Health Records: Influencing Performance at Critical Access Hospitals , John Bennett

Millennial Students’ Awareness of Retirement Issues, Their Retirement Preparedness and Future Expectations , Krzysztof P. Bryniuk

Assessing the Impact of Transition from Rules-based to Principles-based Accounting in the Recognition of Revenue: A Study of Public Companies listed in the Russell 3000 Index that Elected the Full Retrospective Method of Accounting , Foday Y. Deen-Conteh

The Impact of Buyer Needs on Perceived Trade Show Effectiveness , RJ Fryan

Self-Determination Theory and Pharmaceutical Salespeople: Does Motivational Orientation of U.S.-Based Pharmaceutical Salespeople Influence Sales Performance? , Brandon Gilbert

A Cord of Three: A Phenomenological Study of Linkages in Interdenominational Interactions in Northwest Wyoming as Informed Through Network and Social Exchange Theories , Timothy N. Gray

Management Succession in a Two-Family-Owned Business: A Case Study , Dwight D. Ham

Factors Motivating Leaders to Volunteer: An Examination of Volunteer Leadership in Long-term Post-Acute Care , Christian Allen Mason

Happiness at Work: A Phenomenological Investigation of Clinic Managers , Jorge Melendez

Can Trait Emotional Intelligence Variables of Well-Being, Self-Control, Emotionality, and Sociability Individually or Collectively Predict a Software Development Engineer's Creativity? , Mwoyondishe Jonathan Mvududu

Job Satisfaction Among Faculty Members at CCCU Institutions , Heather C. Vaccaro

Sticker Price Elasticity as Predictor of Tuition Reset Success: A Quantitative Approach , Robert F. Van Cleef

A Narrative Analysis of Virtue Ethics Among Accounting Professors , Gibran N. Zogbi

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Leading Change: Examining the Relationships between Leadership Style, Organizational Culture and Change Readiness in Christian Universities of the State of Oregon , Dale Seipp Jr.

Doctorum Reciproco: Multi-Generational Professionals and Their Sentimentality Towards Reciprocity , Sal Villegas

Identifying City Attributes for Place Branding that Create Strong Self-Brand Connections , Matthew Vollrath

An Empirical Examination of Formal and Informal Institutional Factors’ Influence on Global Food Industry Sustainability Engagement , Kat Yamamoto

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Entrepreneurship Education’s Impact on Entrepreneurial Intention: A Predictive Regression Model of Chinese University Students , Brian A. Lavelle

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

The Link Between Job Satisfaction and the Intention to Leave Among Casino Employees , Oliver Wayne Aho

Exploring Factors that Help Students Feel More Connected to Their Online Instructors , Debra Austin

Scoping Job Enlargement with the Cultural Dimension of Individualism: An Industrial , Mark Wm. Cawman

Exceptionally Employable: A Study of the Value of Contrasting Educational Modalities within Christian Liberal Arts Universities in Preparing Students for Employment Suitability , Sam Heinrich

The Impact of CSR Efforts on Firm Performance in the Energy Sector , Robert Lloyd

Public Company Health Insurers and Medical Loss Ratios: An Event Study of Dates Associated with the Affordable Care Act , Rachelle Quinn

Self-Determination and Human Resource Retention: Employee and Volunteer Motivation to Stay in Rural Oregon Nonprofit Organizations , Nicole Richman

Understanding Business Education: Examining the Effect of the Application of Strategic Learning Among Diverse Business Disciplines , Dan Thoman

Pre-Certification Interprofessional Education: Ideal vs. Reality Patient Safety Curriculum , Edward E. Ward

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Marketing Channel Attitudes of Chinese Business-to-Business Companies: An Empirical Buyer Behavior Study for U.S. Companies Marketing to Chinese B2B Customers , Jonathan Cooley

Corporate Social Responsibility: Sexual Exploitation of Children in the Costa Rican Hotel Tourist Industry , Michelle Flynn Osborne

A Phenomenological Investigation of Factors Leading to Success in Diverting Non-Urgent Emergency Department Use at a Rural Critical Access Hospital Using the Patient Centered Medical Home Model , Paul Gratton

An Investigation of the Trends in Pricing for Christian Higher Education and Its Relationship to Perceived Quality , Richard Holaway

Understanding the Process Small Businesses Use to Capture, Convert, and Integrate Survival Knowledge , Frank Marshall

Encouraging Ethical Behavior in the Workplace by Way of the Classroom: Examining the Use of Social Media in Marketing Ethics Instruction to Influence Millennials‘ Perception of Workplace Ethics , Traci Thomas Pierce

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

The Lived Experience of College Choice , Ryan Ladner

The Management of a Turnaround after an Ethical Breach in a Public Institution of Higher Education , Ashley Stark

Nontraditional Students in Management and Accounting Programs: Investigating the Relationship between Personality and Major Satisfaction in the Community College Setting , Brad Ward

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Empirical Study on the Relationship between Ethical Leadership and Organizational Climate of Innovation , Virlena Crosley

Undergraduate Education Background and Ethical Decision Making , Ian H. King

Understanding Consumers' Thoughts and Feelings about Financial Literacy and How Financial Literacy Affects Their Lives Using the Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) , Belle Marie

Dissertations from 2013 2013

An Exploratory Study of the Role of Values in Microeconomic Decision-Making and the Implications for Organizations and Leaders , Holly A. Bell

Later Life Career Transitions: Exploration of Factors and Turning Points that Influence Career Transitions in Later Life , Estle Harlan

The Role of Creativity in the Ethical Orientation of Oregon CPAs , John D. Porter

Dissertations from 2012 2012

Exploring the background and motivations of social entrepreneurs , Timothy A. Lucas

Dissertations from 2011 2011

Organizational culture and brand : A grounded theory assessment of employees' enablement to live the brand at a best place to work , Tyler Laird Magee

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Are you pursuing a DBA (Doctor in Business Administration) to boost your career? There may be multiple reasons why you’re considering a DBA, but there’s one thing you must remember: it takes a lot of effort and time to complete such degrees.  

You must finish a business management dissertation to pursue this degree. However, it’s essential to perform the dissertation on the most crucial and alarming issues in the sector. But how to decide on the ideal business management thesis topics? 

This may seem like a nightmare to many. If you, too, find this a daunting task, take no worries. Read this article till the end to explore the trending and most pressing dissertation topics for business administration . 

International Business Politics 

Every nation is now connected with one another in terms of business. With the rising number of business houses venturing into global opportunities, comprehending and adapting to the international market is paramount. 

However, it’s not enough to just understand the markets. You should have a proper understanding of the consequences – both political and legal – of this globalization. The good news is there’s a wide range of globalization topics. 

Whether it’s the approach or methodology followed by governments and companies to conduct business in an international context or a complex analysis of the nations’ rising economies, there’s no abundance of business management thesis topics regarding globalization. 

Information Technology (IT) Integration 

The core of any modern, state-of-the-art business is technology. Whether it’s software development, manufacturing, accounting, inventory management, or trading, every business sector now depends on technology. 

Thus, Information Technology (IT) is considered one of the best business administration dissertation topics . You can do your research on how to integrate technology into a business structure effectively, followed by a thorough analysis of its perks and challenges. 

The fact that technology is ever-evolving means you can research a wide range of topics in this area. 

Accounting & Finance 

Accounting and finance is yet another topic on which you can prepare your DBA dissertation. It would be best to delve into the advanced realm of accounting and focus on money and total assets. 

Modern-day businesses now consider the less tangible assets to be crucial for their enterprises. That’s why accounting becomes beneficial for them. 

Plus, if you take accounting and finance as your dissertation topic, you’ll get another benefit – you can pair these two with other issues easily. 

Business Accountability 

Every business enterprise aims to attract new customers and earn more money. But what they need to understand is that there must be an equilibrium between these two via ethical practices. 

People now know what happens when businesses keep their ethical practices aside. They understand the importance of accountability in business – both personally and professionally. 

That’s why you can prepare a dissertation on the latest accountability practices, the ways to keep up with business practices, and so on. 

Final Words 

With this comprehensive guide, you are now aware of the most relevant and modern business management dissertation topics . So, no matter what topic you choose, ensure you give your best to make the most out of your career.

Online PhD in Accounting Degrees – Top Programs Offering Flexible Doctorates

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How to write a strong DBA research proposal

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Recruitment and Business Development Executive Arione McQueenie, answers the questions she most commonly gets asked about how to write a strong research proposal when applying for the Doctor of Business Administration.

As part of your application to the Doctor of Business Administration at Warwick Business School, you must submit a research proposal which outlines what you are interested in researching as part of the programme. This proposal should centre on a specific problem within your organisation that you are looking to tackle using the practical applied research and organisation interventions you will design as part of the DBA.

One of the most common questions I am asked in my capacity as Recruitment Executive for the DBA is ‘what do I include in my research proposal?’ When considering this question, it is important to remember that although the DBA is an equivalent level to a PhD, the focus of the programme is on applied research rather than theoretical knowledge. Therefore, the proposal does not need to be as in-depth or academic as a PhD proposal. To help you get started with your DBA proposal, below are some FAQ’s, 

What topic should I write about in my DBA research proposal?

A DBA project is motivated by a business problem in search of a solution. Your DBA proposal should outline the problem you intend to investigate and why this is important to you and your business.

Does it have to be a problem facing my business?

Ideally, yes. Your research problem needs to be something you are able to actively design and implement interventions for. This means students will most likely conduct their research within their own business, although in some cases they will consider other organisations in an industry they are interested in (for example, in the case of candidates who work as consultants).

What are the key sections / information to include?

A good DBA proposal should include what you are interested in researching, and how you intend to use the academic insights offered by the programme to tackle your specific issue. Ideally, a good proposal should address the following questions:

• What is the business problem or opportunity you intend to investigate?
• Why is this practically and theoretically relevant?
• What is the domain/literature (e.g. strategy, entrepreneurship etc.) within which your problem is situated?
• What does this literature discuss about your problem or opportunity and how it can be addressed?
• Where do you plan to conduct your empirical study and how do you plan to get access to the field site?
• How do you plan to collect your data (e.g. interviews, observation, surveys, etc.)?
• How will practitioners benefit from your research?

How long should it be?

Your proposal should be roughly five pages long. This allows us to understand the feasibility of your research as well as allowing better matching with potential supervisors. You should attach the proposal, along with your CV, to your application. We will be unable to assess your application if the research proposal is not attached and this may delay the admissions process.

Any hints & tips?

Get started writing your proposal as soon as possible, as it is always best to give yourself time for edits and rewrites. However, don’t get too caught up in trying to write the perfect proposal, as this only forms a small part of your application. Remember that your problem and ideas to approaching it will probably change throughout the programme; therefore, you don’t have to have all the answers now.

I would also recommend researching our subject groups within WBS. It is important that your research project falls into one of our areas of interest, otherwise we will not have suitable faculty to allocate as your supervisor.

Next Steps:

The DBA only has one intake per year, in October. You can find more information on how to apply via our website.

If you would like to find out more about the programme, or if your question was not answered above, you can email [email protected]

Arione McQueenie Recruitment and Business Development Executive

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DBA Thesis check ins – Spring 2021

Two DBA candidates review their research for the Geneva Business School Research community

Challenges faced by Barcelona technological startups before and after GDPR implementation

A quantitative analysis will be employed to evaluate the views of 306 people who are responsible or partly responsible for data protection regulations in technological startups such as managers, directors, members of the board of directors, founder employees, data protection officers, chief protection officers, and IT department, among others. The data will be collected through the survey with a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, paired sample t-test, correlation, multivariate analysis, and error test will be used to analyze data.

It is expected to find the challenges that Barcelona technological startups have with GDPR implementation, identify the correlation between several variables, identify new challenges that previous studies have not reviewed and provide recommendations to solve them.

The lack of prior research on GDPR implementation in Barcelona technological startups creates a need for further development in this area of study. The sample limited to people responsible or partly responsible for data protection regulations in one region precludes generalising the findings beyond the study setting.

The study contributes to the ongoing debate and scarce literature on the GDPR implementation by technological startups and proposes an original framework for linking GDPR implementation, factors, and practice.

Victoriano reviewed literature from Portugal and Germany to compare European standards for GDPR implementation and identify limitations in the existing literature. His research questions were broken down to ask:

• What are the key challenges of GDPR implementation on Barcelona tech startups?
• What are the key challenges of GDPR implementation on Barcelona tech startups before coming into force?
• What are the key challenges of GDPR implementation on Barcelona tech startups after coming into force?
• What is the influence of GDPR implementation on Barcelona tech startups after coming into force?

Victoriano will complete his research in 2021.

Legal and Compliance Issues as Impediments to Crypto and Ico Business

Getting regulation right is crucial for the success of ICOs and the business they support. Countries that are faster and more successful in the implementation of ICO regulation will attract more investors. It is therefore necessary to clarify the legal situation of ICOs in order to provide security and certainty for all parties involved and, more importantly, better assess and manage the related costs from y business perspective.

If you are interested in learning more about either of these research projects please reach out to the DBA candidates:

Contact Victoriano

Contact Dragan

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Capstone Form and Style

Walden capstone writing collaborative: introduction to writing the dba doctoral study, introduction to writing the dba doctoral study.

The DBA Rubric and Handbook presents a step-by-step guide to writing each of the sections and subsections of the DBA Docstudy.  This document outlines the expectations for student work.  Reviewing this material should be one of the first steps in beginning the doctoral study writing process.

Next, as students begin preparing to write, they should review the materials related to the DBA Docstudy document and process provided on the Office of Research and Doctoral Services website .  This page contains resources for writing the prospectus, proposal, and final study. In addition, students should download the appropriate template from the Writing Center’s Form and Style DBA Templates page .

To introduce students to writing a DBA Docstudy capstone, here is a description of the main goals and outcomes associated with this process and document:

The goal is to address a specific, defined, and applied business problem

• Students begin by identifying a problem that exists in the business world, then define a specific business problem within that.
• The goal of the document is to address the specific business problem in that specific company and in that industry.
• Subsequent goals of the study are to articulate implications for business practice in the field (how other business leaders, etc., can use the information) AND the implications for social change (who will benefit from the results and how; see more below).

The document addresses a gap—the specific business problem has not been studied before

• After identifying the problem, students should identify/ensure there is a gap, as one of the goals of the study is to contribute to the scholarship in that area. 
• It is important to make sure that the topic/problem has not already been addressed by other researchers.
• The results should make a significant contribution to the student’s chosen area of focus.

The study demonstrates a grounding in related literature and research in the field

• Another goal of the study is to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the subject areas covered in the literature review.
• This is why the literature review is lengthy and exhaustive; it is the student’s demonstration that he/she is an expert in these areas, is familiar with all previous relevant research, and can convey this expertise through writing.

The study is built on basic or applied research

• The study demonstrates knowledge and expertise in the identified research design and interpretation of results.
• The study shows that the student can convey this expertise through writing.

The document advances social change

• A final, Walden-specific and important outcome of the study is that results also make a contribution to social change.  Students need to describe who may benefit from the findings of the study and how they may benefit.
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Research Topics & Ideas: Business

50+ Management Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a business/management-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of  research ideas and topic thought-starters for management-related research degrees (MBAs/DBAs, etc.). These research topics span management strategy, HR, finance, operations, international business and leadership.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the management domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic. 

Overview: Business Research Topics

• Business /management strategy
• Human resources (HR) and industrial psychology
• Finance and accounting
• Operations management
• International business
• Actual business dissertations & theses

Strategy-Related Research Topics

• An analysis of the impact of digital transformation on business strategy in consulting firms
• The role of innovation in transportation practices for creating a competitive advantage within the agricultural sector
• Exploring the effect of globalisation on strategic decision-making practices for multinational Fashion brands.
• An evaluation of corporate social responsibility in shaping business strategy, a case study of power utilities in Nigeria
• Analysing the relationship between corporate culture and business strategy in the new digital era, exploring the role of remote working.
• Assessing the impact of sustainability practices on business strategy and performance in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry
• An analysis of the effect of social media on strategic partnerships and alliances development in the insurance industry
• Exploring the role of data-driven decision-making in business strategy developments following supply-chain disruptions in the agricultural sector
• Developing a conceptual framework for assessing the influence of market orientation on business strategy and performance in the video game publishing industry
• A review of strategic cost management best practices in the healthcare sector of Indonesia
• Identification of key strategic considerations required for the effective implementation of Industry 4.0 to develop a circular economy
• Reviewing how Globalisation has affected business model innovation strategies in the education sector
• A comparison of merger and acquisition strategies’ effects on novel product development in the Pharmaceutical industry
• An analysis of market strategy performance during recessions, a retrospective review of the luxury goods market in the US
• Comparing the performance of digital stakeholder engagement strategies and their contribution towards meeting SDGs in the mining sector

Topics & Ideas: Human Resources (HR)

• Exploring the impact of digital employee engagement practices on organizational performance in SMEs
• The role of diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• An evaluation of remote employee training and development programs efficacy in the e-commerce sector
• Comparing the effect of flexible work arrangements on employee satisfaction and productivity across generational divides
• Assessing the relationship between gender-focused employee empowerment programs and job satisfaction in the UAE
• A review of the impact of technology and digitisation on human resource management practices in the construction industry
• An analysis of the role of human resource management in talent acquisition and retention in response to globalisation and crisis, a case study of the South African power utility
• The influence of leadership style on remote working employee motivation and performance in the education sector.
• A comparison of performance appraisal systems for managing employee performance in the luxury retail fashion industry
• An examination of the relationship between work-life balance and job satisfaction in blue-collar workplaces, A systematic review
• Exploring HR personnel’s experiences managing digital workplace bullying in multinational corporations
• Assessing the success of HR team integration following merger and acquisition on employee engagement and performance
• Exploring HR green practices and their effects on retention of millennial talent in the fintech industry
• Assessing the impact of human resources analytics in successfully navigating digital transformation within the healthcare sector
• Exploring the role of HR staff in the development and maintenance of ethical business practices in fintech SMEs
• An analysis of employee perceptions of current HRM practices in a fully remote IT workspace

Topics & Ideas: Finance & Accounting

• An analysis of the effect of employee financial literacy on decision-making in manufacturing start-ups in Ghana
• Assessing the impact of corporate green innovation on financial performance in listed companies in Estonia
• Assessing the effect of corporate governance on financial performance in the mining industry in Papua New Guinea
• An evaluation of financial risk management practices in the construction industry of Saudi Arabia
• Exploring the role of leadership financial literacy in the transition from start-up to scale-up in the retail e-commerce industry.
• A review of influential macroeconomic factors on the adoption of cryptocurrencies as legal tender
• An examination of the use of financial derivatives in risk management
• Exploring the impact of the cryptocurrency disruption on stock trading practices in the EU
• An analysis of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in academic publishing houses
• A comparison of financial ratios performance in evaluating E-commerce startups in South Korea.
• An evaluation of the role of government policies in facilitating manufacturing companies’ successful transitioning from start-up to scale-ups in Denmark
• Assessing the financial value associated with industry 4.0 transitions in the Indian pharmaceutical industry
• Exploring the role of effective e-leadership on financial performance in the Nigerian fintech industry
• A review of digital disruptions in CRM practices and their associated financial impact on listed companies during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Exploring the importance of Sharia-based business practices on SME financial performance in multicultural countries

Ideas: Operations Management

• An assessment of the impact of blockchain technology on operations management practices in the transport industry of Estonia
• An evaluation of supply chain disruption management strategies and their impact on business performance in Lithuania
• Exploring the role of lean manufacturing in the automotive industry of Malaysia and its effects on improving operational efficiency
• A critical review of optimal operations management strategies in luxury goods manufacturing for ensuring supply chain resilience
• Exploring the role of globalization on Supply chain diversification, a pre/post analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic
• An analysis of the relationship between quality management and customer satisfaction in subscription-based business models
• Assessing the cost of sustainable sourcing practices on operations management and supply chain resilience in the Cocao industry.
• An examination of the adoption of behavioural predictive analytics in operations management practices, a case study of the
• Italian automotive industry
• Exploring the effect of operational complexity on business performance following digital transformation
• An evaluation of barriers to the implementation of agile methods in project management within governmental institutions
• Assessing how the relationship between operational processes and business strategy change as companies transition from start-ups to scale-ups
• Exploring the relationship between operational management and innovative business models, lessons from the fintech industry
• A review of best practices for operations management facilitating the transition towards a circular economy in the fast food industry
• Exploring the viability of lean manufacturing practices in Vietnam’s plastics industry
• Assessing engagement in cybersecurity considerations associated with operations management practices in industry 4.0 manufacturing

Topics & Ideas: International Business

• The impact of cultural differences in communication on international business relationships
• An evaluation of the role of government import and export policies in shaping international business practices
• The effect of global shipping conditions on international business strategies
• An analysis of the challenges of managing multinational corporations: branch management
• The influence of social media marketing on international business operations
• The role of international trade agreements on business activities in developing countries
• An examination of the impact of currency fluctuations on international business and cost competitiveness
• The relationship between international business and sustainable development: perspectives and benefits
• An evaluation of the challenges and opportunities of doing business in emerging markets such as the renewable energy industry
• An analysis of the role of internationalisation via strategic alliances in international business
• The impact of cross-cultural management on international business performance
• The effect of political instability on international business operations: A case study of Russia
• An analysis of the role of intellectual property rights in an international technology company’s business strategies
• The relationship between corporate social responsibility and international business strategy: a comparative study of different industries
• The impact of technology on international business in the fashion industry

Topics & Ideas: Leadership

• A comparative study of the impact of different leadership styles on organizational performance
• An evaluation of transformational leadership in today’s non-profit organizations
• The role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership and productivity
• An analysis of the relationship between leadership style and employee motivation
• The influence of diversity and inclusion on leadership practices in South Africa
• The impact of Artificial Intelligence technology on leadership in the digital age
• An examination of the challenges of leadership in a rapidly changing business environment: examples from the finance industry
• The relationship between leadership and corporate culture and job satisfaction
• An evaluation of the role of transformational leadership in strategic decision-making
• The use of leadership development programs in enhancing leadership effectiveness in multinational organisations
• The impact of ethical leadership on organizational trust and reputation: an empirical study
• An analysis of the relationship between various leadership styles and employee well-being in healthcare organizations
• The role of leadership in promoting good work-life balance and job satisfaction in the age of remote work
• The influence of leadership on knowledge sharing and innovation in the technology industry
• An investigation of the impact of cultural intelligence on cross-cultural leadership effectiveness in global organizations

Business/Management Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a business-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various management-related degree programs (e.g., MBAs, DBAs, etc.) to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Sustaining Microbreweries Beyond 5 Years (Yanez, 2022)
• Perceived Stakeholder and Stockholder Views: A Comparison Among Accounting Students, Non-Accounting Business Students And Non-Business Students (Shajan, 2020)
• Attitudes Toward Corporate Social Responsibility and the New Ecological Paradigm among Business Students in Southern California (Barullas, 2020)
• Entrepreneurial opportunity alertness in small business: a narrative research study exploring established small business founders’ experience with opportunity alertness in an evolving economic landscape in the Southeastern United States (Hughes, 2019)
• Work-Integrated Learning in Closing Skills Gap in Public Procurement: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study (Culver, 2021)
• Analyzing the Drivers and Barriers to Green Business Practices for Small and Medium Enterprises in Ohio (Purwandani, 2020)
• The Role of Executive Business Travel in a Virtual World (Gale, 2022)
• Outsourcing Security and International Corporate Responsibility: A Critical Analysis of Private Military Companies (PMCs) and Human Rights Violations (Hawkins, 2022)
• Lean-excellence business management for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in Kurdistan region of Iraq (Mohammad, 2021)
• Science Data Sharing: Applying a Disruptive Technology Platform Business Model (Edwards, 2022)
• Impact of Hurricanes on Small Construction Business and Their Recovery (Sahu, 2022)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Fast-Track Your Topic Ideation

If you’d like hands-on help to speed up your topic ideation process and ensure that you develop a rock-solid research topic, check our our Topic Kickstarter service below.

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Great help. thanks

Hi, Your work is very educative, it has widened my knowledge. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for helping me understand how to craft a research topic. I’m pursuing a PGDE. Thank you

Effect of Leadership, computerized accounting systems, risk management and monitoring on the quality of financial Reports among listed banks

May you assist on a possible PhD topic on analyzing economic behaviours within environmental, climate and energy domains, from a gender perspective. I seek to further investigate if/to which extent policies in these domains can be deemed economically unfair from a gender perspective, and whether the effectiveness of the policies can be increased while striving for inequalities not being perpetuated.

healthy work environment and employee diversity, technological innovations and their role in management practices, cultural difference affecting advertising, honesty as a company policy, an analysis of the relationships between quality management and customer satisfaction in subscription based business model,business corruption cases. That I was selected from the above topics.

Research topic accounting

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• Doctor of Business Administration
• College of Business Administration
• Graduate Business Programs

Missouri’s first and only AACSB-accredited DBA program offering research concentrations in all areas of business administration.

Accelerate your career without disrupting it.

The UMSL Doctor of Business Administration program gives senior managers the knowledge and applied research tools to solve high-level business problems in their companies or industries. The DBA program helps candidates gain expertise in applied research by improving their methodological and analytical skills, through practical application of academic theory.

UMSL DBA PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

The UMSL Doctor of Business Administration program is a three-year, cohort-based program that offers a flexible format, with limited visits to campus. Over the course of the program, participants make only two weekend trips to campus per term.

UMSL DBA students move through the program in a cohort and meet face-to-face two weekends each semester, then engage and collaborate with faculty and students in the online learning platform for discussions. The first two years cover an array of cutting-edge business and management topics and the third year is spent focusing on the candidate’s dissertation research.

The UMSL DBA is designed to train engaged management scholars in a learning community supported by select internationally renowned faculty with close ties to business and recognized for their research impact and expertise in graduate education.

The UMSL DBA is a member of the Executive DBA Council , an international organization of executive-format doctoral degrees. Dr. Ekin Pellegrini , Founding Director of the University of Missouri - St. Louis Doctor of Business Administration, serves as a Board Member and President-Elect of EDBAC.

DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DBA) vs Ph.D.

The Doctor of Business Administration program provides participants with the skills needed to conduct rigorous research with the objective of applying the findings to real-world decision-making in industry and government. DBA graduates will be equipped for high-level positions in higher education, consulting, or career advancement in their industry.

Download Admission Requirements PDF Guide

Interested in learning more about the UMSL DBA program application process?

Download a free copy of our eligibility and requirements PDF guide.

Important Dates to Know for the Class of 2027

International applicants: Please contact [email protected]

SIGN UP FOR PROGRAM UPDATES

Subscribe to our email list to be the first to know about upcoming events, program announcements and more.

UMSL is the only public university in the region to carry dual AACSB accreditation for its business and accounting programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Connect with UMSL Business

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Our DBA generates pioneering research, valuable knowledge and leading insights into the rapidly evolving world of modern business. Study a professional doctoral degree that enhances executive and professional practice.

At a glance

• One of only eleven programmes globally to have gained the prestigious AMBA accreditation
• Choose from a range of DBA research topics
• Take part in activities run by our Research Centres
• Develop your competency to undertake research
• Gain the advantage of engaging with supervisors right from the beginning and throughout every stage of the programme
• In-country support for South African students

The DBA programme contributes to the research excellence of Henley Business School and theses produced receive commendations from accrediting bodies and examiners alike. Candidates include prestigious competition winners and the quality of the research is regularly praised as being of the highest quality, by scholars with global reputations in their fields. DBA research students are members of our School structure and are encouraged to take part in the Business School’s research centre activities. By conducting original research in their specialist area, candidates are able to further their careers and build expertise to contribute towards growing competitive advantage and differentiating themselves in the marketplace.

What is a DBA?

The Henley DBA is a part-time professional doctoral degree with an international scope and reputation. The programme is designed to enhance executive and professional practice. This is through the application of sound theory and rigorous research into real and complex issues in business and management.

It enhances the capability to develop and apply knowledge and theory, and a key element of the DBA is a programme of Personal Development in the context of rigorous and relevant research.

The Henley DBA will enable you to:

• Develop a sound understanding of the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of your chosen area of research into business and management.
• Have a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic and management enquiry.
• Create and interpret knowledge through original research. Enhance both your performance as a reflective practitioner and your professional practice.
• Develop personal competences to undertake rigorous research at an advanced level. Also, to contribute to theory and practice in business and management.

Who should consider a DBA?

The programme will be of particular benefit to experienced senior executives, consultants, management educators and business school academics.

A DBA from Henley will enhance professional capability and credibility. You will develop networks and provide a firm foundation for further career development, or a major career move. Employers benefit from supporting candidates for the DBA by attracting, developing and retaining key talent and building knowledge for competitive advantage.

DBA and PhDs: Equal but different

The DBA has both rigour and relevance as it contributes to theory and practice in business and management. The DBA typically focuses on research ‘in’ organisations rather than research ‘on’ organisations and is often cross-disciplinary.

Programme Structure Open

The Henley DBA has two distinct stages:

Stage 1 – completion of five compulsory modules:

• Introduction to Academic Research
• Introduction to Research Design and Methodology
• Introduction to Qualitative Techniques
• Introduction to Quantitative Techniques
• Completing your Research - Contribution and Impact
• Personal Development

The first five modules are to be completed within the first 18 months of the programme. Each module has mandatory workshops, normally held on campus in Henley-on-Thames, UK. Whilst the first workshop must be attended in-person, it may be possible to join the other workshops remotely, on request. Each module has a number of assessed assignments.

There are also additional optional modules available via the Graduate School, for example, Advanced Qualitative Methods, Understanding Management and Financial Research, International Business and International Human Resource Management and Long Run Development of International Business Theory. Please note that these modules are subject to change.

Confirmation of Registration – a formal milestone to be completed around Month 18-36 into the DBA.

• Further developing own research area
• Personal Action Research Project
• Doctoral thesis (including a viva voce examination).

Support and Supervision

Core support.

The overall academic content and quality of your programme will be led by the Director of the DBA Programme. The Doctoral Programme Team will support you throughout the process through to graduation.

In joining, you will gain access to the Henley Business School library which has extensive facilities for undertaking research. This includes journals, textbooks, newspapers and online resources, plus previous doctoral theses and research articles. In addition to the physical Libraries at the Greenlands and Whiteknights campuses, you will also be able to access the Online Library via the Business School website. You will have full-text access to thousands of journal articles, company financial data and market research reports.

Supervisors

Throughout the research process, you will have support and guidance from two supervisors. They will guide you through the research process to submission of the thesis for examination at the viva.

Research Topics Open

There are a number of DBA research topics across the various academic disciplines at Henley Business School. These have been organised by research areas. Only proposals that align with one of the categories below will be considered.

Research areas

• Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting
• Finance (ICMA Centre)
• Management (International Business and Strategy)
• Management (Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour)
• Management (Marketing and Reputation)
• Real Estate & Planning

When writing your research proposal, please indicate at the top of the proposal to which topic/faculty member (where applicable) your research outline corresponds, and include your name .

Fees & funding Open

2024/2025 dba fees.

*10% discount for University of Reading alumni for Year 1 and Year 2

**10% discount for applicants with full exemption from taught element (including Henley MSc Business and Management Research graduates) for Year 1 and Year 2.

Applicants may be eligible to apply for funding/student loans:

Doctoral loans – Doctoral and Researcher College (reading.ac.uk)

Student Finance GOV.UK (or please check information in your country of residence)

How to apply Open

Entry requirements.

If you are seeking to enter the DBA programme, you'll normally be expected to hold a Masters degree in the broad area of business or management, together with at least five years' relevant experience.

To apply for the Henley DBA please complete the online application form and provide the required documents. You will need to include one business reference and one academic reference. You will also need to provide a Research Proposal detailing your DBA research topic (2000-3000 words). You should consult the Research Proposal Notes document before writing the Research Proposal and must select a topic from one of the areas shown on the Academic Areas page, as these are the areas of expertise within the Business School.

Please indicate on your Research Proposal under which topic/faculty member (where applicable) your research falls (and include your name) . Topics not listed on the Academic Areas webpages will not be considered.

Alumni Talk Open

Please click on the DBA alumni clips below to further understand why undertaking a DBA at Henley Business School may be right for you and your career.

Dr Sharon Varney

Director of organisational consulting and research practice.

Dr Sharon Varney is a specialist in developing people and organisations. She works at a strategic level and engages at a very human level. Her doctoral research applied complexity theory to explore organisational change and its leadership. Sharon now uses that research to help leaders discover emerging organisational patterns in the midst of change.

Dr Kathryn Hall Newton

“As a branding strategist, I now have a unique point of difference in the marketplace. I am able to add value to branding strategy and marketing research because I have gained leading edge academic insight and rigour through the DBA program which I can combine with my traditional brand management work experience.”

Dr Ben Van Den Assem

Consultant and researcher.

“The DBA has opened up different avenues to explore given my theoretical and practical experience…which positions me well for my next consultancy piece.”

If you have any questions, please contact us by email or by phone.

Visit the South African support office website for Henley's UK DBA.

For the South African support office, please contact Professor Danie Petzer by email.

“Pursuing a DBA with Henley Business School is one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has provided me with invaluable knowledge, skills, and connections, supported by an in-depth personal development journey. ”

“My Henley experience has been such an incredible one, right through from the admission process to my current DBA stage. The learning curve has been smooth due to the awesome learning support. ”

“My DBA experience was extraordinary, in terms of the learning whilst opening up my world to vast opportunities that allowed me to have a real impact in my career while aligning my passion with purpose.”

You might also like

Management (marketing & reputation) phd opportunities.

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The Manchester DBA

The Alliance MBS DBA is 'research in action' - an opportunity to gain a doctoral degree while you continue working.

It offers you the chance to tackle an important, unresolved business and managerial problem in a rigorous and systematic way and to contribute to your organisation’s success while developing academic knowledge and theories.

Become an expert in your field

Research in action Gain a doctoral degree without putting your career on hold, and apply your learning for immediate professional impact.

Experts in many areas Our research spans a wide variety of areas of business and management – from banking and finance to healthcare and fairness at work.

Global perspectives Draw on different global perspectives to enrich your research – our research community represents over 35 nationalities.

Blended delivery A flexible combination of face-to-face teaching, online tuition, supervised research projects and independent study.

Dedicated support We’ll match you with an academic supervisor who shares your passion and has the right expertise to shape your research.

Study with the best Our rigorous admissions process only admits the most motivated, experienced and committed senior talent.

We are not currently accepting applications to this programme

Email the team

About the Manchester DBA

What is the alliance mbs dba.

The Alliance MBS Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme is aimed at senior-level individuals interested in the application of theory to practice. The Alliance MBS philosophy can be encapsulated in our tagline Original Thinking Applied .

Original Your originality is key in developing a research project that addresses new and important problems in business and management.

Thinking You will need to engage in rigorous thinking to work out the theoretical framework structure for your project to meet the high standards of the programme.

Applied Your research project will emphasise the application and impact of your original thinking to guide present and future practice.

Who is the DBA for?

The Manchester DBA is for individuals with substantive business, management and/or policy experience. You must be interested in working on an academically rigorous, bespoke research project that has the potential for influencing management, business and policy practice.

As a potential DBA student you should:

• have 6+ years of senior-level business, management and/or policy experience
• have been involved in substantive and material decision making throughout your career
• be intellectually curious and not interested in simply looking for a quick solution
• be motivated by a desire to understand the cause-and-effect chain that ensures that decisions, when made, have a logical evidence-based foundation for being made
• be driven by the personal motivation that allows you to meet the intellectual and time demands of the programme
• be able to work in a flexible manner throughout the programme, engaging in intensive interaction with academic supervisors while working towards the completion of your research project.

DBA testimonials

Read about the experiences of some of our current students and graduates:

• Dawn Holmes
• Alexander White
• Joanne Ormandy

Watch an overview of the programme

An overview from DBA Director, Professor Timothy Devinney:

DBA programme structure

The Manchester DBA programme is a mixture of online and residential coursework and interaction, combined with a supervisor-guided dissertation project. It is structured over four years with a focus on the coursework components in Years 1 and 2. The programme offers flexibility in that you can supplement, and in some cases substitute, your Alliance MBS coursework with elective modules available elsewhere.

Residentials

There are two four/five-day residentials held in September/October and January/February.

These residentials include components of the course work alongside specialist seminars on topics relevant to your research. They also provide an opportunity to work face-to-face with your supervisory team and other DBA and PhD colleagues. The residentials also include a social element to help build connections with your colleagues.

Core modules

There are four assessed core modules which are all offered in Year 1.

• Evidence Based Practice Research
• Research Theory and Methods
• Statistics and Econometrics
• Qualitative Research Methods

Elective modules

You are required to choose two theory-based modules and one methods-based module. There is flexibility in substituting one for the other based upon the recommendations of the supervisory team. Some of these modules can be taken in Year 1 but most are normally taken in Year 2.

Elective modules can be chosen from a wide range of courses offered by Alliance MBS and The University of Manchester. Some are offered across the term, while others are in concentrated block 'masterclass' formats over the course of a few days.

There are opportunities for you to choose modules outside of Alliance MBS and The University of Manchester with pre-approval from your supervisory team. Most elective modules are assessed, but they can also be audited or evaluated separately by your supervisory team.

Alliance MBS Doctoral Conference

The Alliance MBS Doctoral Conference is a joint DBA and PhD conference that usually takes place over a number of days in May. It provides a mix of student presentations, external presentations, short workshops and the opportunity to interact with other doctoral students, AMBS academic staff and DBA Alumni.

The conference is a required part of the DBA programme and your attendance is compulsory.

You will have a mid-year review by the end of January and an annual review by mid-July.

There are two five/six-day residentials held in September/October and January/February.

There are two core modules in Year 2.

• Literature Review
• Pilot Project

All of your remaining elective modules should be completed in Year 2.

Dissertation research

You will work with your supervisory team on the development and execution of your dissertation project for the majority of Year 3.

You will work with your supervisory team on completing your dissertation project for the majority of Year 4.

You will carry out analysis and writing with the goal of submitting your dissertation viva towards the end of the academic year. Normal thesis length requirements for the DBA are between 60,000 and 70,000 words.

You will have a mid-year review by the end of January and an annual review by mid-July. DBA research themes

DBA research themes

The Alliance MBS DBA has a focus on specific thematic areas. This is done to ensure that you can be involved with others working on similar and related topics that align to the research strengths of Alliance MBS' academic staff. Your research doesn't need to align closely with one of the themes below, but you may get more benefit from the programme if it does.

Accounting and Finance

Managing disruptive technology in accounting and auditing: automation, ai and big data.

• The impact of developments such as automation, artificial intelligence and big data analytics on accounting and auditing.
• Data quality and assurance.

Work in this theme is aligned with the Centre for the Analysis of Investment and Risk .

Keywords: Accounting; Auditing; Technology; Data

Investments and decision making under uncertainty/ambiguity/risk

• Financial investments
• Issues of decision-making
• Issues of ambiguity and uncertainty

The theme will be of interest to colleagues both in finance and accounting and covers a broad range of topics and sectors, potentially reaching all kinds of investments (e.g., financial, infrastructure).

Keywords: Investments; Decision-making; Uncertainty

The role of ESG in individual and corporate financing and investment decisions

• The role of environmental, social and governance issues in the investment and financing decisions of individuals and corporations.
• Spans both asset pricing and corporate finance studies

Keywords: ESG; Investment; Corporate Finance

Management Science and Marketing

Management science.

• Operations and supply chain management
• Information systems and decision sciences
• Big data and data analytics
• Macro issues related to FinTech, platform systems and risk management
• Supply chain sustainability and socially responsible sourcing
• Data analytics for business decision making

Work in this area relates to research at the Decision and Cognitive Sciences Research Centre .

Keywords: Supply Chain Management (incl. Sustainability; Social Responsibility; Industry 4.0); Information Systems; Decision Sciences; Risk Management; Digital Innovation; Digital Transformation; Big Data; Data Analytics; Fintech; Platform Ecosystems; Risk Management

• Transformational marketing
• Social marketing
• Evolving Marketing Management
• Customer and consumer behaviour

Keywords: Digital Marketing; AI/AR; Retail; Services; Value Marketing; Social/Sustainable Marketing; Customer Behaviour; Consumer Behaviour; Business-to-Business Marketing; Marketing Management

Innovation Management and Policy

• Strategy at the firm level
• Strategy and innovation
• Strategy and cognition
• Strategy and evolutionary economics

Work in this theme is related to the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research .

Keywords: Strategy; Innovation; Cognition

Sustainability and innovation

• Environmental sustainability
• Decarbonisation of the economy
• Innovation and sustainability
• Sustainable consumption
• Energy transitions
• Sociomateriality (the intersection of technology, work and organisation)

Work in this theme is related to the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research and the Sustainable Consumption Institute .

Keywords: Sustainability; Decarbonization; Consumption

• Science and technology policy
• The dynamics of scientific and technological research
• Science and technology funding
• Defence policy

Work in this theme is closely aligned with the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research .

Keywords: Science and Technology Policy; Research Evaluation; Dynamics of Research Fields

Innovation management

• Innovation management at firm and industry levels
• Innovation and commercialisation of new technologies
• Innovation and knowledge management
• Digital transformation
• Responsible innovation
• Global sourcing and distribution of innovation

Keywords: Innovation; R&D; Creativity

• Healthcare management
• Healthcare leadership
• Healthcare economics
• Hospital management and operations management

Work in this theme is closely aligned with the Institute for Health Policy and Organisation .

Keywords: Healthcare; Leadership; Management

Regional development

• Understanding regional ecosystems
• The determinants and effects of regional policy
• Infrastructure and economic growth

Keywords: Regional Development; Regional Entrepreneurship Infrastructure.

People, Management and Organisations

International business and global strategy.

• The determinants of firm internationalisation
• The effects of different international strategies on firm performance, innovation and other aspects of firm operations
• Global governance
• Global sustainability
• Global risks and threats
• Functional aspects of internationalisation and multinational enterprise operations

Keywords: International Business; Global Strategy; Global Value Chains; Global Innovation; Global Environment; Global Governance

• The nature of constructive and destructive leadership, as well as its causes and consequences.

Work in this theme relates to work also being done at the Work and Equalities Institute .

Keywords: Leadership; Leader-Member Exchange

Emotions and wellbeing at work

• The causes and consequences of employee wellbeing
• How employees regulate their own and other’s emotions
• Organisational interventions to improve well-being and emotion regulation

Work in this theme relates to work also being done at the Work and Equalities Institute and the Thomas Ashton Institute .

Keywords: Wellbeing; Stress; Emotion Regulation

Workplace safety

• The causes and consequences of workplaces safety.

Keywords: Workplace Safety; Safety Leadership

Personality, proactivity and individual differences

• The nature and effects of personality and individual differences.

Keywords: Personality, Proactivity; Motivation; Creativity & Innovation

Equality and Fairness at Work

• Equal and fair treatment at work
• Workplace discrimination
• Diversity and inclusion

Keywords: Equality; Fairness; Discrimination; Gender; Aging at Work; Bullying & Violence; Personality; Proactivity; Motivation; Creativity & Innovation

DBA entry requirements

The basic DBA entry requirements are:

• A Bachelor's Honours degree (normally equivalent to a UK First Class or 2:1)
• A Master's or MBA degree (a minimum final grade equivalent to a UK 60%; or B; or GPA of 3.0 out 4.0)
• A minimum of 6 years full-time management experience, showing significant career progression
• Spoken and written English-language competency equivalent to IELTS: 7.0 or TOEFL: 623 paper-based (or 106 internet-based). These tests are not required as standard; however, all English language skills are automatically assessed through the nature of the admissions process and you would be advised on an individual basis if you were required to provide further evidence of your competency.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee entry to the programme, but failure to meet them lowers the likelihood of acceptance. In limited circumstances, there is a degree of flexibility on some aspects of the requirements which is at the DBA Programme Director's discretion.

How to apply for the DBA

We are not currently accepting applications to this programme but please complete the  DBA enquiry form  to lodge your interest for us to contact you with updates on the DBA programme in the future.

We are not currently accepting applications to this programme.

Guides for supporting documents

Research proposal

You will be required to provide the following as part of your application to the DBA Programme:

A Meaningful Title (this is outside the word limit)

This should not simply be a long descriptive title, but one that is informative and interesting and catches the reader's attention. It should be under 10-15 words in length and should be clear in reflecting your proposed area of study and, if relevant, the approach you wish to take.

In addition to your title, you should specify 3-5 keywords that enable us to identify which areas your work will fit into. These keywords should align with those given in the DBA research themes above.

An overview of the research (approx. 500 words)

You should state why your research is important, why it has value to both scholarship and practice and how it will make a valuable contribution to business and management practice. You should also specify exactly which of the Alliance MBS DBA thematic areas your work fits into. You can specify a maximum of two thematic areas.

Positioning of the research (approx. 1,500 words)

This should reference the most important texts related to the research, demonstrate your understanding of the research issues and identify existing gaps (both theoretical and practical) that the research is intended to address. You should clearly articulate your research questions, why these are significant and how they make an original and useful contribution.

Research design and methodology (approx. 1,000 words)

You will need to provide details of your proposed research methodology, giving consideration to any data requirements, fieldwork, access issues, etc. for any empirical work.

References (these are outside the word limit)

It is important to reference the content of your work appropriately. Note that work that references the related work of Alliance MBS academic staff is more likely to generate interest in your application.

Proposed timetable of study (this is outside the word limit)

You will need to provide a timetable illustrating how you anticipate undertaking your research, leading to the submission of your thesis within the 4-year timeframe of the DBA Programme.

How the proposed research will create impact (this is outside of the word limit)

You will need to articulate a paragraph on how your research will create impact.

Personal statement

Your statement should present the reasons for applying to the Alliance MBS DBA Programme. You should explain how your background, experience and training qualify you for the rigours of the programme.

Letter acknowledging your time availability to study for the programme

If you are employed, you will need to provide a letter from your employer indicating that they understand that you will be studying for the DBA programme at Alliance MBS. It must acknowledge that time is available to you (in whatever form) to be able to meet the demands of the requirements of the programme, in particular the mandatory residential components in January/February and September/October and the annual Alliance MBS Doctoral Conference.

If you are self-employed or retired please provide a document stating so.

Two letters of reference

These could both be non-academic if you have been out of academia for a long period of time. However, it is generally good to have one academic and one non-academic reference.

The letter writers should, collectively, write something about your:

• intellectual capabilities
• business/management experience
• experience with research and analysis
• ability to work on long timeframe projects

The more they can tailor the letter to aspects of the programme the more valuable the letter is to the admissions committee.

A talk through of the application process

DBA news and student insights

AMBS alumnus awarded prestigious fellowship

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

AMBS alumnus Andrew Buckley has been awarded a Simon Industry and Professional Fellowship to continue his research into innovation in services. >>

Perfect mix for DBA student

Monday, March 22, 2021

Having spent most of her career in the marketing and business data industry Dawn Holmes, who is nearing completion of her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at AMBS, now splits her time between studying, teaching and consulting. >>

DBA studies “invaluable” for Canadian engineer

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

A lot has changed in Alexander White’s life since we last caught up with the Canadian civil engineer and recent Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) graduate. >>

Marketing For The Business Curious: AMBS academics present podcast series

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

We caught up with AMBS academics, Dr Alex Gunz and Dawn Holmes to discuss the launch of their podcast series: Marketing For The Business Curious. >>

Property expert espouses benefits of “extremely rewarding” DBA

Monday, January 18, 2021

As Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the UK and Ireland at global real estate firm JLL Joanne Ormandy is seeing first-hand the huge impact that technology is today having on the sector. >>

View DBA news

"I have been delighted with how the DBA has benefited my professional life. My research led to the development of the Connected Leadership model, which we are now using with clients around the world to help develop leadership practices for the 21st century." Dr Simon Hayward, CEO, Cirrus Research topic: Factors affecting the transition towards distributed leadership

Frontiers | Science News

• Science News

Research Topics

Top 10 research topics from 2021.

Find the answers to your biggest research questions from 2021. With collective views of over 3.7 million, researchers explored topics spanning from nutritional immunology and political misinformation to sustainable agriculture and the human-dog bond .

Research Topics:

1. Infectious disease

• 1,643,000 views
• 29 articles

2. Nutritional immunology

• 768,000 views

3. Music therapy

• 268,000 views
• 44 articles

4. Political misinformation

• 219,000 views
• 11 articles

5. Plant science

• 198,000 views
• 15 articles

6. Sustainable agriculture

• 168,000 views
• 49 articles

7. Mental health

• 136,000 views
• 22 articles

8. Aging brains

• 134,000 views
• 18 articles

Benefits of human-dog interactions

• 229,000 views
• 13 articles

10. Mood disorders

• 102,000 views
• 12 articles

Shape the future of your field

Become a guest editor for an article collection around your own research theme. Benefit from increased impact and discoverability, a dedicated platform and support team, and rigorous peer review for every paper.

Suggest your topic

Post related info

January 17, 2022

Frontiers Communications

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Why it matters

Active people generally live longer and are at less risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some cancers. For people with chronic diseases, physical activity can help manage these conditions and complications.

About one in two adults lives with a chronic disease. Of adults with chronic diseases, about half have two or more.

Only one in four U.S. adults fully meet the physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity. Getting enough physical activity could prevent:

• 1 in 10 premature deaths
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$117 billion in annual health care costs are associated with inadequate physical activity.

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CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity partners with national groups, states, and communities to advance the following priorities:

Active People, Healthy Nation S M is a CDC initiative to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. To reach this goal, CDC works with states and communities to carry out evidence-based strategies to increase physical activity.

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Physical Activity and Your Weight

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McKinsey Global Private Markets Review 2024: Private markets in a slower era

At a glance, macroeconomic challenges continued.

McKinsey Global Private Markets Review 2024: Private markets: A slower era

If 2022 was a tale of two halves, with robust fundraising and deal activity in the first six months followed by a slowdown in the second half, then 2023 might be considered a tale of one whole. Macroeconomic headwinds persisted throughout the year, with rising financing costs, and an uncertain growth outlook taking a toll on private markets. Full-year fundraising continued to decline from 2021’s lofty peak, weighed down by the “denominator effect” that persisted in part due to a less active deal market. Managers largely held onto assets to avoid selling in a lower-multiple environment, fueling an activity-dampening cycle in which distribution-starved limited partners (LPs) reined in new commitments.

About the authors

This article is a summary of a larger report, available as a PDF, that is a collaborative effort by Fredrik Dahlqvist , Alastair Green , Paul Maia, Alexandra Nee , David Quigley , Aditya Sanghvi , Connor Mangan, John Spivey, Rahel Schneider, and Brian Vickery , representing views from McKinsey’s Private Equity & Principal Investors Practice.

Performance in most private asset classes remained below historical averages for a second consecutive year. Decade-long tailwinds from low and falling interest rates and consistently expanding multiples seem to be things of the past. As private market managers look to boost performance in this new era of investing, a deeper focus on revenue growth and margin expansion will be needed now more than ever.

Perspectives on a slower era in private markets

Global fundraising contracted.

Fundraising fell 22 percent across private market asset classes globally to just over $1 trillion, as of year-end reported data—the lowest total since 2017. Fundraising in North America, a rare bright spot in 2022, declined in line with global totals, while in Europe, fundraising proved most resilient, falling just 3 percent. In Asia, fundraising fell precipitously and now sits 72 percent below the region’s 2018 peak.

Despite difficult fundraising conditions, headwinds did not affect all strategies or managers equally. Private equity (PE) buyout strategies posted their best fundraising year ever, and larger managers and vehicles also fared well, continuing the prior year’s trend toward greater fundraising concentration.

The numerator effect persisted

Despite a marked recovery in the denominator—the 1,000 largest US retirement funds grew 7 percent in the year ending September 2023, after falling 14 percent the prior year, for example 1 “U.S. retirement plans recover half of 2022 losses amid no-show recession,” Pensions and Investments , February 12, 2024. —many LPs remain overexposed to private markets relative to their target allocations. LPs started 2023 overweight: according to analysis from CEM Benchmarking, average allocations across PE, infrastructure, and real estate were at or above target allocations as of the beginning of the year. And the numerator grew throughout the year, as a lack of exits and rebounding valuations drove net asset values (NAVs) higher. While not all LPs strictly follow asset allocation targets, our analysis in partnership with global private markets firm StepStone Group suggests that an overallocation of just one percentage point can reduce planned commitments by as much as 10 to 12 percent per year for five years or more.

Despite these headwinds, recent surveys indicate that LPs remain broadly committed to private markets. In fact, the majority plan to maintain or increase allocations over the medium to long term.

Investors fled to known names and larger funds

Fundraising concentration reached its highest level in over a decade, as investors continued to shift new commitments in favor of the largest fund managers. The 25 most successful fundraisers collected 41 percent of aggregate commitments to closed-end funds (with the top five managers accounting for nearly half that total). Closed-end fundraising totals may understate the extent of concentration in the industry overall, as the largest managers also tend to be more successful in raising non-institutional capital.

While the largest funds grew even larger—the largest vehicles on record were raised in buyout, real estate, infrastructure, and private debt in 2023—smaller and newer funds struggled. Fewer than 1,700 funds of less than $1 billion were closed during the year, half as many as closed in 2022 and the fewest of any year since 2012. New manager formation also fell to the lowest level since 2012, with just 651 new firms launched in 2023.

Whether recent fundraising concentration and a spate of M&A activity signals the beginning of oft-rumored consolidation in the private markets remains uncertain, as a similar pattern developed in each of the last two fundraising downturns before giving way to renewed entrepreneurialism among general partners (GPs) and commitment diversification among LPs. Compared with how things played out in the last two downturns, perhaps this movie really is different, or perhaps we’re watching a trilogy reusing a familiar plotline.

Dry powder inventory spiked (again)

Private markets assets under management totaled $13.1 trillion as of June 30, 2023, and have grown nearly 20 percent per annum since 2018. Dry powder reserves—the amount of capital committed but not yet deployed—increased to $3.7 trillion, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth. Dry powder inventory—the amount of capital available to GPs expressed as a multiple of annual deployment—increased for the second consecutive year in PE, as new commitments continued to outpace deal activity. Inventory sat at 1.6 years in 2023, up markedly from the 0.9 years recorded at the end of 2021 but still within the historical range. NAV grew as well, largely driven by the reluctance of managers to exit positions and crystallize returns in a depressed multiple environment.

Private equity strategies diverged

Buyout and venture capital, the two largest PE sub-asset classes, charted wildly different courses over the past 18 months. Buyout notched its highest fundraising year ever in 2023, and its performance improved, with funds posting a (still paltry) 5 percent net internal rate of return through September 30. And although buyout deal volumes declined by 19 percent, 2023 was still the third-most-active year on record. In contrast, venture capital (VC) fundraising declined by nearly 60 percent, equaling its lowest total since 2015, and deal volume fell by 36 percent to the lowest level since 2019. VC funds returned –3 percent through September, posting negative returns for seven consecutive quarters. VC was the fastest-growing—as well as the highest-performing—PE strategy by a significant margin from 2010 to 2022, but investors appear to be reevaluating their approach in the current environment.

Private equity entry multiples contracted

PE buyout entry multiples declined by roughly one turn from 11.9 to 11.0 times EBITDA, slightly outpacing the decline in public market multiples (down from 12.1 to 11.3 times EBITDA), through the first nine months of 2023. For nearly a decade leading up to 2022, managers consistently sold assets into a higher-multiple environment than that in which they had bought those assets, providing a substantial performance tailwind for the industry. Nowhere has this been truer than in technology. After experiencing more than eight turns of multiple expansion from 2009 to 2021 (the most of any sector), technology multiples have declined by nearly three turns in the past two years, 50 percent more than in any other sector. Overall, roughly two-thirds of the total return for buyout deals that were entered in 2010 or later and exited in 2021 or before can be attributed to market multiple expansion and leverage. Now, with falling multiples and higher financing costs, revenue growth and margin expansion are taking center stage for GPs.

Real estate receded

Demand uncertainty, slowing rent growth, and elevated financing costs drove cap rates higher and made price discovery challenging, all of which weighed on deal volume, fundraising, and investment performance. Global closed-end fundraising declined 34 percent year over year, and funds returned −4 percent in the first nine months of the year, losing money for the first time since the 2007–08 global financial crisis. Capital shifted away from core and core-plus strategies as investors sought liquidity via redemptions in open-end vehicles, from which net outflows reached their highest level in at least two decades. Opportunistic strategies benefited from this shift, with investors focusing on capital appreciation over income generation in a market where alternative sources of yield have grown more attractive. Rising interest rates widened bid–ask spreads and impaired deal volume across food groups, including in what were formerly hot sectors: multifamily and industrial.

Private debt pays dividends

Debt again proved to be the most resilient private asset class against a turbulent market backdrop. Fundraising declined just 13 percent, largely driven by lower commitments to direct lending strategies, for which a slower PE deal environment has made capital deployment challenging. The asset class also posted the highest returns among all private asset classes through September 30. Many private debt securities are tied to floating rates, which enhance returns in a rising-rate environment. Thus far, managers appear to have successfully navigated the rising incidence of default and distress exhibited across the broader leveraged-lending market. Although direct lending deal volume declined from 2022, private lenders financed an all-time high 59 percent of leveraged buyout transactions last year and are now expanding into additional strategies to drive the next era of growth.

Infrastructure took a detour

After several years of robust growth and strong performance, infrastructure and natural resources fundraising declined by 53 percent to the lowest total since 2013. Supply-side timing is partially to blame: five of the seven largest infrastructure managers closed a flagship vehicle in 2021 or 2022, and none of those five held a final close last year. As in real estate, investors shied away from core and core-plus investments in a higher-yield environment. Yet there are reasons to believe infrastructure’s growth will bounce back. Limited partners (LPs) surveyed by McKinsey remain bullish on their deployment to the asset class, and at least a dozen vehicles targeting more than $10 billion were actively fundraising as of the end of 2023. Multiple recent acquisitions of large infrastructure GPs by global multi-asset-class managers also indicate marketwide conviction in the asset class’s potential.

Private markets still have work to do on diversity

Private markets firms are slowly improving their representation of females (up two percentage points over the prior year) and ethnic and racial minorities (up one percentage point). On some diversity metrics, including entry-level representation of women, private markets now compare favorably with corporate America. Yet broad-based parity remains elusive and too slow in the making. Ethnic, racial, and gender imbalances are particularly stark across more influential investing roles and senior positions. In fact, McKinsey’s research  reveals that at the current pace, it would take several decades for private markets firms to reach gender parity at senior levels. Increasing representation across all levels will require managers to take fresh approaches to hiring, retention, and promotion.

Artificial intelligence generating excitement

The transformative potential of generative AI was perhaps 2023’s hottest topic (beyond Taylor Swift). Private markets players are excited about the potential for the technology to optimize their approach to thesis generation, deal sourcing, investment due diligence, and portfolio performance, among other areas. While the technology is still nascent and few GPs can boast scaled implementations, pilot programs are already in flight across the industry, particularly within portfolio companies. Adoption seems nearly certain to accelerate throughout 2024.

Private markets in a slower era

If private markets investors entered 2023 hoping for a return to the heady days of 2021, they likely left the year disappointed. Many of the headwinds that emerged in the latter half of 2022 persisted throughout the year, pressuring fundraising, dealmaking, and performance. Inflation moderated somewhat over the course of the year but remained stubbornly elevated by recent historical standards. Interest rates started high and rose higher, increasing the cost of financing. A reinvigorated public equity market recovered most of 2022’s losses but did little to resolve the valuation uncertainty private market investors have faced for the past 18 months.

Within private markets, the denominator effect remained in play, despite the public market recovery, as the numerator continued to expand. An activity-dampening cycle emerged: higher cost of capital and lower multiples limited the ability or willingness of general partners (GPs) to exit positions; fewer exits, coupled with continuing capital calls, pushed LP allocations higher, thereby limiting their ability or willingness to make new commitments. These conditions weighed on managers’ ability to fundraise. Based on data reported as of year-end 2023, private markets fundraising fell 22 percent from the prior year to just over $1 trillion, the largest such drop since 2009 (Exhibit 1).

The impact of the fundraising environment was not felt equally among GPs. Continuing a trend that emerged in 2022, and consistent with prior downturns in fundraising, LPs favored larger vehicles and the scaled GPs that typically manage them. Smaller and newer managers struggled, and the number of sub–$1 billion vehicles and new firm launches each declined to its lowest level in more than a decade.

Despite the decline in fundraising, private markets assets under management (AUM) continued to grow, increasing 12 percent to $13.1 trillion as of June 30, 2023. 2023 fundraising was still the sixth-highest annual haul on record, pushing dry powder higher, while the slowdown in deal making limited distributions.

Investment performance across private market asset classes fell short of historical averages. Private equity (PE) got back in the black but generated the lowest annual performance in the past 15 years, excluding 2022. Closed-end real estate produced negative returns for the first time since 2009, as capitalization (cap) rates expanded across sectors and rent growth dissipated in formerly hot sectors, including multifamily and industrial. The performance of infrastructure funds was less than half of its long-term average and even further below the double-digit returns generated in 2021 and 2022. Private debt was the standout performer (if there was one), outperforming all other private asset classes and illustrating the asset class’s countercyclical appeal.

Private equity down but not out

Higher financing costs, lower multiples, and an uncertain macroeconomic environment created a challenging backdrop for private equity managers in 2023. Fundraising declined for the second year in a row, falling 15 percent to $649 billion, as LPs grappled with the denominator effect and a slowdown in distributions. Managers were on the fundraising trail longer to raise this capital: funds that closed in 2023 were open for a record-high average of 20.1 months, notably longer than 18.7 months in 2022 and 14.1 months in 2018. VC and growth equity strategies led the decline, dropping to their lowest level of cumulative capital raised since 2015. Fundraising in Asia fell for the fourth year of the last five, with the greatest decline in China.

Despite the difficult fundraising context, a subset of strategies and managers prevailed. Buyout managers collectively had their best fundraising year on record, raising more than $400 billion. Fundraising in Europe surged by more than 50 percent, resulting in the region’s biggest haul ever. The largest managers raised an outsized share of the total for a second consecutive year, making 2023 the most concentrated fundraising year of the last decade (Exhibit 2).

Despite the drop in aggregate fundraising, PE assets under management increased 8 percent to $8.2 trillion. Only a small part of this growth was performance driven: PE funds produced a net IRR of just 2.5 percent through September 30, 2023. Buyouts and growth equity generated positive returns, while VC lost money. PE performance, dating back to the beginning of 2022, remains negative, highlighting the difficulty of generating attractive investment returns in a higher interest rate and lower multiple environment. As PE managers devise value creation strategies to improve performance, their focus includes ensuring operating efficiency and profitability of their portfolio companies.

Deal activity volume and count fell sharply, by 21 percent and 24 percent, respectively, which continued the slower pace set in the second half of 2022. Sponsors largely opted to hold assets longer rather than lock in underwhelming returns. While higher financing costs and valuation mismatches weighed on overall deal activity, certain types of M&A gained share. Add-on deals, for example, accounted for a record 46 percent of total buyout deal volume last year.

Real estate recedes

For real estate, 2023 was a year of transition, characterized by a litany of new and familiar challenges. Pandemic-driven demand issues continued, while elevated financing costs, expanding cap rates, and valuation uncertainty weighed on commercial real estate deal volumes, fundraising, and investment performance.

Managers faced one of the toughest fundraising environments in many years. Global closed-end fundraising declined 34 percent to $125 billion. While fundraising challenges were widespread, they were not ubiquitous across strategies. Dollars continued to shift to large, multi-asset class platforms, with the top five managers accounting for 37 percent of aggregate closed-end real estate fundraising. In April, the largest real estate fund ever raised closed on a record $30 billion.

Capital shifted away from core and core-plus strategies as investors sought liquidity through redemptions in open-end vehicles and reduced gross contributions to the lowest level since 2009. Opportunistic strategies benefited from this shift, as investors turned their attention toward capital appreciation over income generation in a market where alternative sources of yield have grown more attractive.

In the United States, for instance, open-end funds, as represented by the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries Fund Index—Open-End Equity (NFI-OE), recorded $13 billion in net outflows in 2023, reversing the trend of positive net inflows throughout the 2010s. The negative flows mainly reflected $9 billion in core outflows, with core-plus funds accounting for the remaining outflows, which reversed a 20-year run of net inflows.

As a result, the NAV in US open-end funds fell roughly 16 percent year over year. Meanwhile, global assets under management in closed-end funds reached a new peak of $1.7 trillion as of June 2023, growing 14 percent between June 2022 and June 2023.

Real estate underperformed historical averages in 2023, as previously high-performing multifamily and industrial sectors joined office in producing negative returns caused by slowing demand growth and cap rate expansion. Closed-end funds generated a pooled net IRR of −3.5 percent in the first nine months of 2023, losing money for the first time since the global financial crisis. The lone bright spot among major sectors was hospitality, which—thanks to a rush of postpandemic travel—returned 10.3 percent in 2023. 2 Based on NCREIFs NPI index. Hotels represent 1 percent of total properties in the index. As a whole, the average pooled lifetime net IRRs for closed-end real estate funds from 2011–20 vintages remained around historical levels (9.8 percent).

Global deal volume declined 47 percent in 2023 to reach a ten-year low of $650 billion, driven by widening bid–ask spreads amid valuation uncertainty and higher costs of financing (Exhibit 3). 3 CBRE, Real Capital Analytics Deal flow in the office sector remained depressed, partly as a result of continued uncertainty in the demand for space in a hybrid working world.

During a turbulent year for private markets, private debt was a relative bright spot, topping private markets asset classes in terms of fundraising growth, AUM growth, and performance.

Fundraising for private debt declined just 13 percent year over year, nearly ten percentage points less than the private markets overall. Despite the decline in fundraising, AUM surged 27 percent to $1.7 trillion. And private debt posted the highest investment returns of any private asset class through the first three quarters of 2023.

Private debt’s risk/return characteristics are well suited to the current environment. With interest rates at their highest in more than a decade, current yields in the asset class have grown more attractive on both an absolute and relative basis, particularly if higher rates sustain and put downward pressure on equity returns (Exhibit 4). The built-in security derived from debt’s privileged position in the capital structure, moreover, appeals to investors that are wary of market volatility and valuation uncertainty.

Direct lending continued to be the largest strategy in 2023, with fundraising for the mostly-senior-debt strategy accounting for almost half of the asset class’s total haul (despite declining from the previous year). Separately, mezzanine debt fundraising hit a new high, thanks to the closings of three of the largest funds ever raised in the strategy.

Over the longer term, growth in private debt has largely been driven by institutional investors rotating out of traditional fixed income in favor of private alternatives. Despite this growth in commitments, LPs remain underweight in this asset class relative to their targets. In fact, the allocation gap has only grown wider in recent years, a sharp contrast to other private asset classes, for which LPs’ current allocations exceed their targets on average. According to data from CEM Benchmarking, the private debt allocation gap now stands at 1.4 percent, which means that, in aggregate, investors must commit hundreds of billions in net new capital to the asset class just to reach current targets.

Private debt was not completely immune to the macroeconomic conditions last year, however. Fundraising declined for the second consecutive year and now sits 23 percent below 2021’s peak. Furthermore, though private lenders took share in 2023 from other capital sources, overall deal volumes also declined for the second year in a row. The drop was largely driven by a less active PE deal environment: private debt is predominantly used to finance PE-backed companies, though managers are increasingly diversifying their origination capabilities to include a broad new range of companies and asset types.

Infrastructure and natural resources take a detour

For infrastructure and natural resources fundraising, 2023 was an exceptionally challenging year. Aggregate capital raised declined 53 percent year over year to $82 billion, the lowest annual total since 2013. The size of the drop is particularly surprising in light of infrastructure’s recent momentum. The asset class had set fundraising records in four of the previous five years, and infrastructure is often considered an attractive investment in uncertain markets.

While there is little doubt that the broader fundraising headwinds discussed elsewhere in this report affected infrastructure and natural resources fundraising last year, dynamics specific to the asset class were at play as well. One issue was supply-side timing: nine of the ten largest infrastructure GPs did not close a flagship fund in 2023. Second was the migration of investor dollars away from core and core-plus investments, which have historically accounted for the bulk of infrastructure fundraising, in a higher rate environment.

The asset class had some notable bright spots last year. Fundraising for higher-returning opportunistic strategies more than doubled the prior year’s total (Exhibit 5). AUM grew 18 percent, reaching a new high of $1.5 trillion. Infrastructure funds returned a net IRR of 3.4 percent in 2023; this was below historical averages but still the second-best return among private asset classes. And as was the case in other asset classes, investors concentrated commitments in larger funds and managers in 2023, including in the largest infrastructure fund ever raised.

The outlook for the asset class, moreover, remains positive. Funds targeting a record amount of capital were in the market at year-end, providing a robust foundation for fundraising in 2024 and 2025. A recent spate of infrastructure GP acquisitions signal multi-asset managers’ long-term conviction in the asset class, despite short-term headwinds. Global megatrends like decarbonization and digitization, as well as revolutions in energy and mobility, have spurred new infrastructure investment opportunities around the world, particularly for value-oriented investors that are willing to take on more risk.

Private markets make measured progress in DEI

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has become an important part of the fundraising, talent, and investing landscape for private market participants. Encouragingly, incremental progress has been made in recent years, including more diverse talent being brought to entry-level positions, investing roles, and investment committees. The scope of DEI metrics provided to institutional investors during fundraising has also increased in recent years: more than half of PE firms now provide data across investing teams, portfolio company boards, and portfolio company management (versus investment team data only). 4 “ The state of diversity in global private markets: 2023 ,” McKinsey, August 22, 2023.

In 2023, McKinsey surveyed 66 global private markets firms that collectively employ more than 60,000 people for the second annual State of diversity in global private markets report. 5 “ The state of diversity in global private markets: 2023 ,” McKinsey, August 22, 2023. The research offers insight into the representation of women and ethnic and racial minorities in private investing as of year-end 2022. In this chapter, we discuss where the numbers stand and how firms can bring a more diverse set of perspectives to the table.

The statistics indicate signs of modest advancement. Overall representation of women in private markets increased two percentage points to 35 percent, and ethnic and racial minorities increased one percentage point to 30 percent (Exhibit 6). Entry-level positions have nearly reached gender parity, with female representation at 48 percent. The share of women holding C-suite roles globally increased 3 percentage points, while the share of people from ethnic and racial minorities in investment committees increased 9 percentage points. There is growing evidence that external hiring is gradually helping close the diversity gap, especially at senior levels. For example, 33 percent of external hires at the managing director level were ethnic or racial minorities, higher than their existing representation level (19 percent).

Yet, the scope of the challenge remains substantial. Women and minorities continue to be underrepresented in senior positions and investing roles. They also experience uneven rates of progress due to lower promotion and higher attrition rates, particularly at smaller firms. Firms are also navigating an increasingly polarized workplace today, with additional scrutiny and a growing number of lawsuits against corporate diversity and inclusion programs, particularly in the US, which threatens to impact the industry’s pace of progress.

Fredrik Dahlqvist is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Stockholm office; Alastair Green  is a senior partner in the Washington, DC, office, where Paul Maia and Alexandra Nee  are partners; David Quigley  is a senior partner in the New York office, where Connor Mangan is an associate partner and Aditya Sanghvi  is a senior partner; Rahel Schneider is an associate partner in the Bay Area office; John Spivey is a partner in the Charlotte office; and Brian Vickery  is a partner in the Boston office.

The authors wish to thank Jonathan Christy, Louis Dufau, Vaibhav Gujral, Graham Healy-Day, Laura Johnson, Ryan Luby, Tripp Norton, Alastair Rami, Henri Torbey, and Alex Wolkomir for their contributions

The authors would also like to thank CEM Benchmarking and the StepStone Group for their partnership in this year's report.

This article was edited by Arshiya Khullar, an editor in the Gurugram office.

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Sarah Harding breast cancer research project is successfully identifying at-risk young women

Sarah Harding died aged 39 after being diagnosed with breast cancer. One of the Girls Aloud singer's final hopes was to find ways of spotting the disease early when it's easier to treat.

By Charlotte Leeming, north of England correspondent

Sunday 19 May 2024 02:43, UK

A groundbreaking breast cancer research project launched in memory of the late Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding is already successfully identifying young women at increased risk of getting the disease.

The BCAN-RAY (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Young Women) was launched a year ago in the singer's name after she died from the disease in 2021 at the age of 39.

While she was having treatment, the star said she was "really keen" for more research into why young women are being diagnosed without a family history of the disease.

One of the singer's final hopes was to find ways of spotting the disease early when it's easier to treat.

The BCAN-RAY is one of the only projects in the world trying to identify which women in their 30s are most at risk.

About 2,300 women under 40 are diagnosed with the disease each year in the UK, according to Breast Cancer Now.

The two-year study is using money from Cancer Research UK, the Christie Charity, and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal - backed by her family and former bandmates.

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It looks at risk factors most commonly found in young women with the disease and will form a model to identify them in future.

Read more: Proteins in blood could warn of cancer seven years before diagnosis New cancer treatment gives hope as diagnoses rise Girls Aloud kick off reunion tour dedicated to Sarah Harding

Anna Housley, 39, from Hale, Greater Manchester, is one of the women taking part in the trial. After being tested last year the mother of two was surprised to find she's at increased risk.

With no history of the disease in her family, she told Sky News: "I'm really grateful that I have been found because now I know that I'm going to be looked after and I can be screened."

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Speaking about the work of Harding, she said: "All I can say really is thanks to her for being such a brave advocate to young women."

The new information means she's now eligible for annual mammograms and medication should she want it.

It's hoped all women will eventually be able to have a risk assessment when they reach 30.

A thousand women in the Greater Manchester area will take part, including 250 with breast cancer who don't have a family history of the disease.

Saliva samples will hopefully help experts identify certain types and patterns of genes that could raise a woman's risk.

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These will be considered with factors such as period timing, breast tissue density, alcohol consumption and use of the pill.

Harding's consultant Dr Sacha Howell from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, who is leading the study, said of the singer: "I think she'd be absolutely thrilled that she was part of this and her legacy is that we will be helping more and more young women like her.

"But what we're all hoping is that by detecting those cancers earlier, they won't unfortunately have that end result that Sarah did, which was to pass away with the disease."

Harding's legacy won't just be her successful music career, it will also be her work in raising awareness around breast cancer and potentially giving many more women in their 30s a future.

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