Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): Roles and Responsibilities

A DBA degree is a terminal degree in business administration. It is the highest acquirable business administration qualification. The course provides advanced high-level training to candidates in various business governing principles. 

It is designed for experienced professionals who want to go beyond business theory and apply knowledge to real challenges. DBA graduates often move into roles like consultants, senior executives, or academic mentors.  

But what are their roles and responsibilities in these senior roles? In this blog, we will discuss the Doctor of Business Administration roles and responsibilities across different work areas. So, keep reading for further insights. 

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What is the Role of a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)? 

The key role of a Doctor of Business Administration graduate is to act as a connecting link to join research and business practice. They utilize their research and analytical abilities and couple them with their leadership strategy orientation for problem solving and management in the organization they work in. 

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What are the main roles and responsibilities of DBA graduates? 

A DBA is all about bridging the gap between theory and real-world business. You can think of a Doctor of Business Administration as a targeted degree that trains you to solve real problems, not just study them. DBA graduates often work on strategy, innovation, and improving business performance. They dive deep into challenges, analyze data, and come up with solutions that actually work in practice. 

Is a DBA a professional or academic degree? 

The DBA is a professional degree in the sense that it is more focused on applying research to solve business and administration problems. This is why it is designed in a way to target executives or professionals who want to advance their career further. Being a professional degree, a doctor of business administration course focuses on imparting business analytical skills that can be used on real-life business problems.  

Wondering if DBA is the right fit for you? Read: Who Should Pursue a DBA in 2025? Benefits, Career Opportunities, and Eligibility Explained 

How is the role of a DBA graduate different from an MBA graduate? 

Being a qualification one step ahead of MBA, the role of a Doctor of Business Administration graduate can differ from that of an MBA graduate. Let’s see how: 

Can a DBA graduate work in both corporate and academic fields? 

Yes, a DBA graduate can work in both corporate and academic fields. The DBA degree enables you to take on leadership, consulting, as well as strategy roles in corporate organizations. It also allows you to step into academia where you can teach, supervise research or partake in applied studies. This makes the applicability of a DBA degree quite vast, as learnings from this practical-oriented degree allow you to work across different fields.

What Are the Responsibilities of DBA Graduates in Academia? 

Now, let’s take a look at what are the doctor of business administration responsibilities within academia: 

Can DBA graduates teach at universities? 

 Yes, Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) graduates can take on teaching roles at universities. They can take on lecturing positions in business programs or in course son executive education. Their industry experience allows them to provide students with practical industry insights driven from their real experience in businesses. 

Do DBA graduates supervise research projects like PhD faculty? 

Doctor of Business Administration degree holder can supervise research projects but their focus is more on the research and practical part of research projects, unlike PhD faculty who also focus on theory. DBA graduates can supervise projects and applied research to help guide students in their business case studies and dissertations. But the academic research supervision responsibility stays under PhD faculty.  

Can a DBA graduate publish research papers? 

Yes, a Doctor of Business Administration graduate can publish research papers. They specialize  in applied research and can contribute to the field of business and management through their insights. Through this, they can further solidify their business  expertise and gain credibility in their network. They can publish their work in industry journals or present at conferences and meetings. 

What Are the Responsibilities of DBA Graduates in Industry? 

Doctor of Business Administration graduates take on responsibilities beyond just management in industry. They drive strategy, guide leadership, and apply research-based insights to solve complex business problems across industries. Let’s understand their role further. 

What are the corporate roles of DBA graduates? 

In companies, DBA graduates look at problem from a perspective of designing solutions for them and these solutions are driven from actual business insights. The corporate roles of DBA graduates involve the following: 

• Lead strategic planning and guide long-term business growth 

• Manage change and oversee major transformation projects 

• Direct operations to improve efficiency and performance 

• Solve problems with practical and research-backed solutions 

Can DBA holders take up C-suite roles? 

Yes, professionals with a Doctor of Business Administration qualification can advance to C-suite roles. They can use their skills in analysis, research and strategy building to prove themselves as worthy candidates for these top positions. With their leadership, DBA holders can impact company growth.  

Do DBA graduates work as consultants? 

Yes, Doctor of Business Administration graduates are quite qualified to work as consultants. They can pan into management consulting, strategic planning, or organizational transformation, where they can combine deep analysis with practical recommendations. 

What industries hire DBA graduates the most? 

DBA graduates are in demand across industries like finance, IT, healthcare, manufacturing, education, and government. In fact, any sector that values strategic decision-making and research-driven leadership can benefit from the expertise that DBA holders bring to the plate.  

Know more here: What is the Scope of a DBA in India & Abroad?

How Do the Roles of DBA Graduates Compare with PhD Holders? 

How are the roles of DBA graduates different from PhD graduates? 

Although both DBA and PhD are advanced doctoral-level degrees, the roles of graduates from these degrees differ. Take a look at the following table to understand how: 

Is a DBA more industry-focused than a PhD? 

Yes, a Doctor of Business Administration is more industry-focused as compared to a PhD. The very purpose of a DBA degree is to enable professionals to engage in practical-driven learning through skills in applied research, leadership, and solving real business problems. This prepares them to secure executive and consulting roles. On the other hand a PhD is more academic research-oriented and focuses on contributing to existing literature, policy and academia. It better prepares for roles in teaching and research.  

Can a DBA replace a PhD in academic roles? 

A Doctor of Business Administration cannot replace a PhD in academic roles and settings but it can act as a PhD is highly regarded in the academic scene. However, a DBA degree can allow you to get roles in business schools or even supervise business research projects.  

Which has better career opportunities: DBA or PhD? 

Determining which has career opportunities between a Doctor of Business Administration and a PhD highly depends on the roles you want to aim for. Let’s present a career opportunities comparison between these two degrees: 

Wrap Up 

Through this text, you must have acquired a fair idea of a doctor of business administration roles and responsibilities. Having clarity about the roles and responsibilities of a DBA graduate will help you understand how their role is useful across business sectors.   

As businesses evolve, the role of a DBA graduate also demands staying ahead of changing trends. With continuous learning, leadership development, and applying fresh research insights, you can ensure that you remain relevant in driving strategies and shaping organizational growth. 

And if you would like to receive some expert guidance to start your career, you may book a free 1:1 counseling session with us!

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References:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/admissions/doctor-of-business-administration-dba-program-cutting-edge-career-choices-101649247336549.html
https://www.jrfadda.com/exams/phd/phd-salary-in-india/