DBA Blog Posts

DBA stands for Database Administrator. They help companies with their database needs, such as overseeing database updates, troubleshooting, security, and storage. It’s an in-demand profession and enjoys lucrative pays in multiple industries. But precisely what is the average DBA salary in India? The Database Administrator career presents decent job prospects. Those aspirants willing to become a DBA (Database Administrator) should learn skills like problem-solving, communication, analytical skills, etc., to ensure a successful career. A Database Administrator has a complete understanding of Microsoft’s Structured Query language server. They use the software to store and analyze data which would help an organization. He is the one who is responsible for the storage, design, analysis, maintenance, and security of the databases. The duties and responsibilities of the Database Administrator vary from organization to organization; however, certain basic responsibilities remain the same which are listed below: 1)    Developing a diverse range of databases 2)    Maintenance and optimization of database performance 3)    Preventing unauthorized access and ensuring security 4)    Backup and restoration of databases 5)    Troubleshooting different problems related to database management 6)    Data management, data customization, analysis, and quality check 7)    Software installation and regular maintenance 8)    Plan the structure and storage of different data warehouses 9)    Adhering to data management policy 10) Authentication and recovery of database repositories Database Administrators is one of the most sought-after careers in India and the world as organizations are going digital which calls up for security and backup. A DBA must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology. It is even better if they have industry experience. Achieving advanced certifications help them to obtain admirable database administrator salary from esteemed organizations. Note that certification specializing in different database management systems is not mandatory but helps them elevate their career graph. Besides educational requirements, many leading employers recruit only those DBAs with 3-5 years of experience. We’ll find the answer to that question in this article. We’ll also discuss the job description of the Database Administrator, factors that influence DBA salary, and how you can become a professional in this field. Let’s get started.  One-Of-Its-Kind Program That Creates Skilled Software Developers. Apply Now! What is the Average DBA Salary in India? The average DBA salary in India is around ₹ 5 Lakh Per Annum. Their salary starts from nearly ₹ 3 Lakh Per Annum and goes up to ₹ 15 Lakh Per Annum. It’s one of the most sought-after roles, and there’s a massive demand for database administrators in the country as well. You can expect to get an average of ₹ 45,000 as a bonus and ₹ 20,000 under profit sharing.  IT companies have a huge demand for database administrators. And it has only increased in recent years. Like many other tech jobs, a database administration salary depends on numerous factors as well. Here are some essential factors that influence a database administrator’s salary Source: Payscale.com DBA Salary in India: Based on Location According to Payscale, Database Administrators earn around 19% more than the national average. Professionals in Gurgaon and Hyderabad also enjoy higher than average pay. However, we can’t say the same for DBAs working in Mumbai and New Delhi. In Mumbai, DBAs have reported earning around 10% less than the national average. For Delhites, the difference is lesser, but still, it’s less than 4% of the national average. Your location has a significant impact on your salary in this profession.  Several cities in India offer admirable database administrator salary. Generally, DBAs employed in Bengaluru, Karnataka earn higher salaries than the national average. DBAs employed in Chennai, Tamil Nadu receive a higher salary than in other cities in India. Those DBAs employed at Pune, Maharashtra obtain a higher salary than the national average, but it’s comparatively lower than that offered in Bengaluru. Source: Payscale.com DBA Salary in India: Based on Experience Experience is easily one of the most influential factors for a job. DBAs with less than one year of experience earn around ₹ 3 Lakh per annum. Those who are early in their careers (one to four years of experience) can expect to receive around ₹ 4.2 lakh per year.  Currently, mid-career Database Administrators earn an average of ₹ 8.4 lakh per year. They are professionals with around five to nine years of work experience. DBAs with experience of more than ten years but less than 19 years earn around ₹ 12 lakh per year. And those with more than 20 years (or more) of experience earn an average of ₹ 11 lakh per year.  As you can see, the more experience you have in this sector, the higher would be your pay.  Source: Payscale.com DBA Salary in India: Based on Skills Another influential factor is the skills you have. Some essential skills that impact your salary as a DBA include SQL, Oracle, communication, and several others. We have discussed the vital skills in detail later in this article.  With high expertise and experience, you can get promoted to the role of Senior Database Administrator. The average salary of Senior DBAs is ₹ 10 Lakh per annum and goes up to ₹ 20 Lakh per annum.  Source: Payscale.com DBA Company Salary To become a Database Administrator, one has to obtain at least a bachelor’s degree in information science or computer science for most of the entry-level positions available in the company. Based on the complexity and size of the organization, he can also go for a Master’s Degree and complete different courses that are available for upskilling. Several platforms are available which help professionals upskill their data analytics skills such as upGrad, and Udemy. Coursera, etc. They earn a pretty good amount of income for living a good life. A Database Administrator’s salary ranges anywhere between 3.1 LPA to 9.6 LPA, with an average salary of 5.6 LPA. Different Tech based companies in India such as Wipro, Capgemini, Cognizant, Ibm, Tech Mahindra, etc. recruit Database Administrators. A Database administrator with less than three years of experience earns an average of about 3.7 LPA. A median level database administrator with an experience of about 4 to 6 years earns about 7 LPA on average in India which goes on to increase based on the seniority level and experience Different factors such as the company size, experience, location of the company, educational qualification, skills, etc., affect the salary that a database administrator earns. Database Administrator’s salaries and perks increase with an increase in their experience and expertise level. They are in high demand and the career growth as a Database Administrator is about to increase more in the coming years. DBA Job Description A Database Administrator has the responsibility of managing the database software properly so the client can access them quickly when necessary. They use software to save and organize data, and they ensure that it’s available to the user. A DBA also has to make sure that the company database remains safe from threats and would work with a cybersecurity professional (or team) to follow the required measures. Constant access, traffic, and searches could damage the database, so a DBA has to make sure that the company servers remain efficient. Organizations maintain databases for multiple purposes. They could have a customer database that stores the details of their customers (who they are, how frequently they buy, etc.). Similarly, they could have a database to store all the financial transactions and their details. A prominent responsibility of a DBA is to keep these pieces of information accessible all the time. They also ensure that the company’s data professionals (data analysts and others) can find the required information efficiently.  For example, the company of the DBA might want to use cloud storage. The Database Administrator would then store the required data in a cloud and keep it available.  They also have to monitor the system’s performance and take action when necessary. They usually work with a team of developers, managers, and analysts, so they need excellent communication skills as well. We can summarize the responsibilities of a Database Administrator in the following points. Read: Full Stack Developer Salary in India DBA (Database Administrator) Responsibilities Create database structures Modify database structures according to requirements Identify their client’s needs and administer databases accordingly. Maintain the database and update its permissions Merge old databases to create new ones Backup and restore data to avoid any loss.  Keep the database accessible.  Maintain the efficiency of database systems and mitigate errors Solve database-related problems Here is a comprehensive list of their responsibilities:  They ascertain that the Data integrity is properly managed since it secures data against unauthorised use. They also manage data relationships to guarantee data consistency. DBAs oversee data extraction, transformation, and loading called ETL. It refers to the competent import of a huge amount of data from multiple systems within a data warehouse environment. After the database is executed, they must supervise databases to detect any performance issues. In case a system component makes the processing sluggish, the DBA might have to alter the software configuration or increase hardware capacity. DBAs develop backup and recovery plans and processes conforming to industry standards. The crucial component in database security is deploying employee access. DBAs determine who gains access and what type of access they have. Moreover, they prepare a subschema to regulate database accessibility. DBAs support the developers in adding new applications or modifying existing ones without overloading the server. One of the common job responsibilities of DBA is opening new database user accounts. They allocate user access and also review troubleshooting systems. DBAs may have to attend meetings with senior managers to guarantee the timely fulfilment of tasks. They must oversee the final inspection of systems. This is included as a part of their responsibility in the database administrator salary. There are two common specializations in this field: System Database Administrators Application Database Administrators The former is responsible for the technical and physical aspects of a database. The latter, on the other hand, focuses on problem-specific databases such as customer service solutions. System DBAs usually have a background in system architecture, whereas the Application DBAs have an understanding of multiple programming languages.  How do you become a DBA (Database Administrator)? The average DBA salary in India quickly makes it one of the most lucrative professions. So you might begin to wonder, ‘How do I become a Database Administrator?’ Typically, companies require a candidate to possess a bachelor’s degree in computer science along with a specialization in database administration. Some companies require a candidate to have a background in Information Technology (IT). In some cases, a degree is not sufficient, and so you need to have the necessary skills (certifications) to give your career a head start.  How is the Workplace of a DBA?  DBAs usually work with services firms and computer systems design firms such as data-processing companies and ISPs (Internet Service Providers). DBAs also work in large companies that use databases for better data management. As a Database Administrator, you can get jobs in finance companies as well as insurance companies because both of them need to keep extensive records of their clients.  Retail companies also employ DBAs to keep records of their customers, products, and employees. Another primary sector that requires the expertise of Database Administrators in the healthcare sector as they need to keep track of their patients, payroll, and inventory. Software companies such as IBM and Oracle also employ DBAs.  Certain DBAs manage databases for retail companies, which helps them to keep track of the customer’s shipping information and payment information. DBAs can work for companies like healthcare businesses and manage systems comprising patients’ medical records. Also read: Data Scientist Salary in India Essential Skills for a DBA As we mentioned earlier, one of the most influential factors in determining database administration salary in India is the skills a candidate has. To get the best pay, you should have the in-demand skills. Here are the most prominent skills one should have as a Database Administrator: DBA is, after all, a tech job. Database Administrators need to have several tech skills to perform their tasks effectively. They need to be familiar with multiple technologies and should be able to use all of them according to their project’s requirements. Acquiring the following skills takes time and effort. Also, remember that different companies prefer different skills according to their unique needs.  Oracle Oracle is a relational database framework, and it allows easy access to datasets. It helps you in organizing datasets and integrating information into various platforms for better accessibility and ease. Oracle can work almost all of the prominent solutions such as UNIX, Linux, Windows, and Mac OS.  Considering the versatility and exceptional skill it demands, the oracle database administrator salary is high. It is cross-platform, and its network stack enables secure communication of databases present on different platforms. Apart from that, Oracle is ACID-compliant too, ensuring that the data remains safe and reliable. It’s one of the most popular solutions for database administration; that’s why learning about it is imperative to become a DBA. If you learned it, there are high odds of obtaining a decent oracle database administrator salary. Linux Linux is an open-source operating system that can control various computer systems such as supercomputers as well as smartphones. You can download it for free and access its coding hacks to create platforms for your client. Linux allows you to build databases that are compatible with multiple systems and technologies. By learning Linux, you’ll be able to create databases for this operating system and avail its features such as high security and flexibility. The knowledge of Linux helps DBAs in the following ways and increases the odds of fetching a decent database administrator salary. Perform installations and configurations of Oracle databases on Windows and Linux OS to aid the development department with product compatibility certifications. Allows using UNIX/Bash Scripting for the general Linux administration. Helps in creating a quick provisioning process that automatically installs Oracle and develops Oracle databases in a Linux platform. Helps design, customise, implement, and tune UDB, DB2, and IMS databases and elements on the Linux/AIX platform. SQL SQL stands for Structured Query Language, and you’ll use it to manage relational databases. It is a standardized programming language which enables us to perform multiple operations on the data present in database management systems (DBMS). You should be familiar with Microsoft SQL, IBM DB2 and Oracle Database. Your job might require you to build websites by using MySQL or create relational connections through Transact-SQL. That’s why learning this skill is vital for this role. DBAs must learn any query languages to manage and query the data in the database. It helps DBAs eliminate the manual tasks involved in relating the tables. Depending on the organization, they may use Oracle, SQL Server, MS SQL, or any other query language. The knowledge of SQL from a database administration perspective assists developers in providing administrative support to the Business Objects server and SQL server databases. They can better administer development, quality analysis, and production in the SQL databases/servers in a clustered environment. The Oracle DBA salary in India is high for skilled DBAs who can implement SQL analytic statistics models, for instance, tuning and query optimization. Moreover, they can analyze and optimize MS SQL Server production/Development databases. Learn more: SQL Developer Salary in India Data Analysis As a Database Administrator, you’ll be working with many data analysts. Knowledge of data analysis will help you substantially in this regard. You should know how to inspect, collate, and interpret datasets. It will also help you translate your findings of complex datasets into beautiful and understandable graphics to inform your clients better. You should know how to perform an analytical interpretation, as well. After you learn data analytics, you can perform many operations with databases.  MS Access It’s a fundamental technology to learn as a data administrator. It’ll help you in reporting, referencing, and performing data analysis effectively. Microsoft Access can translate metadata sets into searchable datasets. DBAs use MS Access to prioritize the relationships present between datasets and the connected material.  UNIX UNIX is a multitasking, multi-user, and portable operating system interface written in C (a popular programming language). UNIX has provided the foundation for most Chrome, Android, and Mac systems. Learning this operating system would help you in working with multiple database management systems. The knowledge of Unix helps DBAs in the following ways and increases the chances of obtaining a decent database administrator salary. Helps prepare complex UNIX scripts to support database administration functions and applications. Helps provide the UNIX system administration and database administration. Helps automated database administration tasks through UNIX shell scripting. Allows working with the UNIX Administrator to plan and execute the optimum disk utilization and system storage for the database applications. HTML HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language and is the primary language for creating websites. It is responsible for the structure of a webpage, and learning about it will help you in connecting your databases with sites easily. Developers use HTML to create interactive web apps and solutions. You should be familiar with this programming language as it’s widely popular. Apart from the tech skills we’ve discussed, you should also focus on developing several soft skills such as communication and a problem-solving mindset. As most DBAs work with teams of developers and data professionals, they need to know how to communicate effectively. Having problem-solving skills will make your job much more comfortable, and you’d work more efficiently.  Other important skills DBAs should have: Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills Good communication Teamwork and negotiation skills Good organizational skills Understanding of the database design principles and major data manipulation languages The ability to work under pressure and fulfil tight deadlines A commitment to ongoing professional development The ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with customers and coworkers Business understanding of IT business requirements The ability to stay abreast with new technology developments Working knowledge of information legislation like the Data Protection Act The ability to stay calm and methodical when crises like server outages occur The ability to quickly and efficiently troubleshoot a database, especially in complex software applications and server hardware faults The ability to create professional reports fulfilling clients’ requirements and knowledge of creating customized reports. Also check out: DBMS Project Ideas For Beginners Become a Database Administrator You must’ve seen how lucrative database administration salary is in the current industry. There’s a high demand for DBAs in the country as well. So, it’s the perfect time to become a DBA and give your career a healthy head start.  If you are interested to learn more about DBMS, Full-stack management and need mentorship from industry experts, check out upGrad & IIIT Banglore’s PG Diploma in Full-Stack Software Development.

Different types of companies and non-profit organisations make use of strategic management to meet their goals and objectives. It is an umbrella term used to describe different facets of management, like planning, organising, and executing business strategies. It also involves the evaluation of the existing company policies to understand the limitations and devise ideas to improve the company’s efficiency. If you want to understand what is strategic management, you are at the right place! This article will shed some light on strategic management, its types, and the implementation process. It will also help you understand the importance of strategic management in organisations.  What is Strategic Management? Strategic management manages an organisation’s resources to meet its goals and objectives. It involves different aspects like setting the objectives for the company, analysing the competitive and internal environment, and developing strategies to strike a balance among all three. It also involves formulating different strategies that help the company in remaining relevant.  There are different approaches to strategic management. While some organisations believe in a prescriptive approach to strategic management, another set believes a descriptive approach is more suitable. When businesses take a prescriptive approach, they come up with an outline of how strategies should be developed. On the other hand, a descriptive approach focuses on implementing the strategies. What is Strategic Management Process? The strategic management process involves five critical steps. Let’s have a look at each of these steps in detail: Identifying the Direction Before creating any strategies, deciding on the common objectives the company must strive to achieve is important. Once you have a clear vision and know the purpose of incorporating an organisation, you can set your goals without hassle.  A business has both long-term and short-term goals. Firstly, decide on your long-term goals. You can create short-term goals in the same direction based on your long-term goals. It is important to bring all the important stakeholders together for the goal-setting process. During this phase, the company must also decide on its vision and the mission it is trying to accomplish in the long run.  Analysing the Resources in Hand Before you formulate any strategies to implement strategic management, you must have an overview of the resources you have at your disposal. If there is a resource shortage, you should devise a plan to arrange those resources.  In this step, you must also analyse the external and internal forces that impact your business. The analysis will give you a better picture of where the organisation stands today and where it needs to go in the future. You can use different analytical tools like SWOT analysis to analyse without hassle.  Curating Strategies Once you have the analysis results with you, you can start creating the strategies for the company. These strategies will outline a path for the company to meet different business objectives. You need to define an action plan that caters to all the long-term and short-term objectives of the company.  You also need to plan the resources to help you implement the strategies. You need to identify the key stakeholders who will help you curate and implement the strategies.  Implementation When you curate the strategies, you must define the steps to implement them. You must ensure that all your human resources are well-aligned with the company’s strategy so that they can contribute efficiently to implementing the strategies.  Communicate all the strategies clearly to all the important stakeholders to help bring all the core competencies into action. Implementing strategies is a continuous process, so you should design the flow of events accordingly.  Check out our free courses and upskill yourself. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Strategies The evaluation stage is considered the final stage of strategic management. Post the strategy implementation, you need to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented strategies. You should develop a metric to test the application of different strategies. Simultaneously try to identify the strategies that are not working so that you can replace them with better alternatives.  Businesses operate in a dynamic environment, so your strategies must remain relevant. Sticking to proven, relevant strategies in different business environments and developing strategies designed to meet the company’s current needs would be best.  Types of Strategic Management Tools Different strategic management tools aid you in implementing strategic management throughout the company. These tools are designed keeping the dynamic business environment and the pertinent business needs in mind. Let’s have a look at some of these tools that come in handy.  SWOT Analysis SWOT is an acronym that stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The analysis helps you in factoring both the external and the internal elements that affect a business. The strengths and weaknesses talk about the internal factors that are at play in a company, while the external factors include opportunities and threats.  While the internal factors fall within the purview of the company’s control, external factors are not under the company’s control. Choosing a facilitator who can complete the activity is important to conduct a SWOT analysis. Now, you have to identify the strengths of the company. Once you chalk out the strengths, try probing deeper into systems and processes to determine the company’s weaknesses. Learn DBA Courses from the World’s top Universities. Earn Doctorate from top universities to fast-track your career. Balanced Scorecard The balanced scorecard method is another popular tool for carrying out strategic management. You can use this method to understand which elements of your business could be made better with the company’s intervention. Here, the performance evaluation is carried out by dividing the process into four heads, known as legs. These legs include: Learning and growth: The company’s human resource department oversees this leg. They will help you understand the type of training already given to the employees so you can plan the next set of activities accordingly.  Business processes: To assess the product quality or the services offered, you need to evaluate your business process. A full-scale review will give you an overview of effective the processes are.  Customer perspectives: Knowing what customers think about your product shows you what they think about its quality, pricing, and other things that customers can buy. Therefore, understanding customer perspectives is important.  Financial data: You must obtain all the important financial data from your accounting personnel and try to understand important metrics like sales, revenues, and sources of income.  Porter’s Five Forces Model Porter’s Five Forces Model is one of the most popular strategic management tools. Michael Porter, a coveted researcher from Harvard Business School, designed it. As per the model, five forces govern the competition of the company. These five forces include the following: Risk of entry by potential competitors: It talks about companies currently not part of the industry but has a fair chance of entering it anytime soon. Rivalry among current competitors: The existing rivalry among the current competitors is also a huge threat to the company’s profitability. Bargaining power of the buyers: Buyers are the end-consumers of the products. The final sale of the product depends on the choice of the buyer. Bargaining power of the suppliers: When considering the input price, it is important to factor in suppliers’ power.  The threat of substitute products: While substitutes are not the same as your product, they can replace it.  Importance of Strategic Management Strategic management assists firms in recognising possibilities that occasionally present themselves in addition to preparing them for market competition. Businesses also learn about potential threats that could harm them in the long run. Companies can successfully navigate obstacles and expand by developing and implementing plans step-by-step. The following points also highlight what is the purpose of strategic issue management.  The organisation’s past strategy will guide future decisions made by the organisation. Plans are created considering current market trends, giving organisations a competitive edge in a shifting market. It aids in selecting effective people and recognising their work, enabling them to advance alongside the organisational progress. Process, workforce, and strategy coordination ensure that strategies align with corporate objectives. Benefits of Strategic Management There are several benefits of implementing strategic management in an organisation. Some of these benefits are as follows: Gaining a competitive advantage When you implement strategic management, your company gets a competitive edge. Strategic management ensures that the business is ready for the dynamic environment.  Meeting all the goals With strategic management, achieving the short-term and long-term goals of the company becomes easier. It helps you devise steps to achieve a particular goal effectively and efficiently.  Providing a sustainable growth It has been demonstrated that strategic management improves organisational performance, which promotes the organisation’s growth.  Building a cohesive organisation Company-wide objective implementation and communication are essential components of strategic management. A company where employees work together to pursue a goal is more likely to succeed in that endeavour Building awareness Strategic management entails planning for the future of the business. Managers continuously practising this will be better knowledgeable about market trends and difficulties. They will be more equipped to deal with issues in the future by putting strategic planning and thinking into practice. Conclusion Strategic management is a very important facet of running a business. To better understand it, you can enrol in the Executive Doctor of Business Administration by upGrad. The course is launched in collaboration with the Swiss School of Business & Management, Geneva. The course lasts 36 months, and you must dedicate 10 hours every week. This course is ideal for working professionals who are in any managerial role.

Business intelligence (BI) refers to a set of technologies and strategies for evaluating business information and transforming it into actionable insights. These insights lead to strategic business decisions. Business intelligence software (also called BI software) is a tool intended to analyse business data to understand an organisation’s positive and negative aspects effectively. Alternatively, these tools accept business data and present them in user-friendly views like dashboards, reports, graphs, and charts. Hence, the users obtain an in-depth acumen about the state of the business and its performance. Moreover, these tools facilitate business users to access various types of data, including current, historical, in-house, third-party, unstructured, and semi-structured data. As the global business intelligence software market is set to reach USD 34.16bn by 2028, the significance of BI tools and software is evident across organisations, leveraging it to overcome diverse challenges faced across business domains.  Why Use Business Intelligence Software? Here are all the reasons why business intelligence software are being utilised by organisations. Facilitates data-driven decision-making Evaluate the company’s performance Determine actionable insights Provides real-time data availability Enhanced business operations visibility Provides industry-specific use cases and benefits Let’s explore the details of the top 8 business intelligence software that streamline your business decision process. 1) Microsoft Power BI This BI software helps organisations to manipulate, access, and analyse massive amounts of data to understand the working mechanism profoundly. Consequently, it leads to more cognizant business decisions. It is renowned for its wide assortment of features like data visualisation, dashboards, reporting, collaboration data modelling, and smooth integration with all relevant Microsoft products. Its data modelling functionality lets users build relationships between various data sources and accomplish precise calculations. 2) Pipedrive This BI tool helps organisations make the most of their sales efforts. It helps them track progress, set their sales pipelines, optimise, and develop cutting-edge sales business intelligence reports. It lets you customise workflows and data fields per your evolving business processes. Its built-in tools facilitate the booking, scheduling and managing of appointments with the sales team. Consequently, those tools help start-ups to make a powerful first impression. Pipedrive perfectly integrates with Mailchimp, Asana, Trello, and Slack. It offers instant alerts through email. Moreover, you can formulate strategies and restore broken processes with granular reports. Check out our free courses and upskill yourself. 3) QlikSense If your organisation aims to gain the maximum advantage of its stored data, it must use QlikSense. It does so by analysing data and the organisation’s performance and proposing improvements. Its associative data model helps users connect and discover data relationships from various sources. Subsequently, it easily obtains data insights. The non-technical users can use its drag-and-drop functionality to prepare and customise their dashboards and reports independently. Some of the advanced features of QlikSense are ETL capability, model building (data management), and predictive analysis. Learn DBA Courses from the World’s top Universities. Earn Doctorate from top universities to fast-track your career. 4) Zoho Analytics This BI software lets users quickly analyse data and build intuitive dashboards. Its AI-driven assistant provides insightful reports to solve users’ queries. Some of its outstanding aspects include real-time monitoring, data analytics, embedded analytics, Natural Language Processing (NLP), customised reports, and a drag-and-drop interface. Its integrated business analytics help you to analyse data from different business apps. NLP, machine learning, and artificial intelligence technologies significantly improve its analytics efficiency. Furthermore, you can access its various visualisation options, i.e., pivot tables, charts, KPI widgets, summary views, and custom-themed dashboards. You get prompt alerts through Slack, Email, and Microsoft Teams channels. Moreover, it offers customer support through phone, chat, and email. 5) Tableau If you are looking for easy-to-use BI software, you can use Tableau. With just a few clicks, you can analyse data ingested from various data sources. Consequently, you can discern patterns and profoundly infer their data. It is one of the reliable open source BI tools as it economically uses data and facilitates better business outcomes with visual analytics, data storytelling, and fully-integrated data management. Its drag-and-drop interface helps you easily prepare insightful data visualisation reports. Consequently, you can easily share reports with your clients or colleagues. Some of its exceptional aspects are multiple data sources, customisation and collaboration, the ability to cluster data relationships, intuitive dashboards, and accurate calculations. 6) Oracle Analytics Cloud A superior level of technical know-how is not required to use this tool. It is an easy-to-use, customisable tool that helps you to analyse datasets to gain insights and make informed business decisions exhaustively. Its all-inclusive set of tools helps you to deduce and share data insights. It addresses all aspects of the analytics and reporting process, including data planning, modelling, visualisation, and collaboration. The tool keeps you connected with the automatic delivery of analytics and supervises business performance anywhere, anytime. Some of the admirable aspects of this tool are flexible data storage, a broad assortment of data sources, real-time collaboration and reporting, and the use of artificial intelligence in data analysis. 7) NetSuite Quickly analyse your organisation’s performance across all business domains using NetSuite. This easy-to-use tool assists you in learning trends and insights to enhance your business. Moreover, it offers data analytics and real-time reports. Its embedded analytics help organisations conduct actionable analyses to streamline their overall business operations. It backs all decisions with timely and precise information. You can embed NetSuite into DevOps CI/CD flows and DataOps processes. The included algorithms, test behaviour, and algorithms are fully customisable. You can access various connectors related to APIs, RDBMS, SaaS, Flatfiles, and business applications. It offers customer support through Contact Form and Chat. You can explore multiple ready-to-use validation templates. 8) Dundas BI In terms of flexibility and availability of built-in tools, Dundas BI is one of the best open source BI tools. Its all-inclusive platform supports data visualisation, advanced analytics, and governance capabilities. With access to geographic maps, basic charts, gauges, and heat maps, you can access various functionalities related to reporting and visualisation. It lets you seamlessly collaborate with your clients, partners, and team members. Its seamless collaboration abilities help you to effortlessly share reports in just a few clicks. Moreover, Dundas BI is renowned for including various data connections that help you to achieve complex analytics. It helps you to develop and analyse intuitive dashboards, scorecards, reports, and more. You can deploy the tool as the principal data portal for the organisation or embed it into a prevailing website as a custom BI platform. You can use it on Linux and Windows. It flawlessly integrates with FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Freshdesk, Slack, Zendesk, Magento, Shopify, and BigCommerce. The supported compliance standards are GDPR and CCPA. You get immediate alerts through Pager and Email. Other features include plenty of chart options, various sources and connectors, data visualisation through maps, an intuitive interface, and decent customer support. Takeaway All the business intelligence tools own their loyal user base and a verified track record of offering solutions for data analysis. Defining your organisational goal in the context of data analysis helps you easily choose the most suitable business intelligence software. Before choosing the one for your organisation, ensure the employees have the relevant knowledge and skills to utilise the most of the tool. Using business intelligence software is a wise decision to streamline your business operations. Also, standing out as a specialist in the business administration domain with a Dr. title is an outstanding achievement in itself.  upGrad’s Executive Doctor of Business Administration can help you achieve outstanding this outstanding feat in no time! Offered under the expert guidance of the Swiss School of Business and Management, this program features bestselling business administration specialisations, including Data Science, Business Analytics, Marketing, HR, Machine Learning, Healthcare Management, and Finance.  This 36-month course imparts demanding skills along with extraordinary upGrad benefits like EduQua Certified, ACBSP Accredited, One-on-One Thesis Supervision, SSBM Alumni Status, International Academic Support, and doubt resolution, equipping candidates with all the assistance they need. These benefits make upGrad their finest choice to acquire a doctor in business administration degree.

A Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is a terminal professional degree to provide graduates with cutting-edge business abilities. The DBA degree is intended for talented individuals who aim to advance their research and analytical abilities in the business sphere. It is equal to a Doctorate in Business Management. The DBA curriculum typically lasts 3 to 5 years and includes the completion of a dissertation. Core courses, optional courses, and dissertation research are the three primary components of the program curriculum.  In this blog, we will review the DBA program’s topic list and curriculum. Eligibility for DBA Let’s briefly take a look at what are the requirements to apply for a DBA program. A Bachelor’s degree in any concentration from an accredited institution Master’s degree from an accredited institution; this can be optional A significant work experience to easily transition into this research-based higher education Many colleges and business institutions in India offer the DBA degree, including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), the Indian School of Business (ISB), the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, and many more. DBA program graduates in India can pursue employment in academia, consultancy, research, or top-level management roles in corporations. Exploring DBA Curriculum Here we will get to know about some subjects and syllabi that are commonly included in DBA programs. Some core courses are: Research Methods – The principles of study design, data gathering, and analysis are covered in this course. Students learn how to formulate research questions, pick suitable research methodologies, and use statistical tools to evaluate data. Leadership and Management – This course covers the theory and practice of leadership and management. Students learn about different leadership styles, communication strategies, and decision-making processes. Strategic Management – This course covers the development of organisational strategies in a global business environment. Students learn about the various tools and techniques used to analyse business environments, identify opportunities, and develop strategies for long-term success. Organisational Behaviour – This course covers the study of human behaviour in organisations. Students learn about the theories and concepts that explain how people behave in the workplace and how organisations can manage human resources effectively. Marketing Management – This course covers marketing principles and their application in business management. Students learn about consumer behaviour, market research, product development, and promotion strategies. Dissertation Research – The dissertation research component of a DBA program is designed to allow students to conduct original research in a specific area of business management. Students work closely with a faculty advisor to develop and execute a research project that contributes to the body of knowledge in their field. The dissertation research component generally includes the following stages: Literature Review: Students thoroughly examine existing research on their subject to discover knowledge gaps and research opportunities. Research Design: Students develop a research plan that includes their research questions, methodology, and methods for data analysis. Data collection: Students employ several research methods to collect data, including surveys, interviews, and observations. Data Analysis: Students analyse their data using statistical methods to discover patterns and trends. Dissertation Writing: Students write a dissertation that compiles their research results, conclusions, and recommendations. Check out our free courses and upskill yourself. Doctor of Business Administration subjects and popular specialisations Some of the popular specialisations for a Doctorate of Business include: Technology Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs in technology studies are designed for senior professionals who want to make a difference in the field of business and technology. Unlike the PhD program, which focuses on research, the program is intended to advance practice in the field. The DBA in Management and Technology is an executive doctoral program that prepares students for careers in advanced business consulting or academia. Entrepreneurship DBA in Entrepreneurship and Business Management equips students with the skills they need to run their businesses successfully. The program focuses on advanced decision-making skills and techniques while honing critical thinking skills for local and global business new venture planning and decision-making.  Accounting A Doctorate in accounting is an option that may be pursued in several ways. It includes accounting theory as well as morals and best practices. It is noteworthy to remember that while both DBA and PhD programs are doctorate programs that offer expert knowledge and terminal degrees, they differ in their areas of emphasis. A DBA focuses solely on business concepts, but a PhD may be more appropriate for people interested in research and academics. Social Impact A specialisation in social impact enables learners to develop in-depth expertise in their choice of concentration while customising the academic preparation required to lead transformational social change within any sector. The course teaches the fundamentals of business and social impact and provides evidence-based strategies to achieve sustainable social impact.  Supply Chain A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Supply Chain Management is a terminal degree that equips students with vocational knowledge for top-level jobs and provides them with skills to compete in a global business environment. Students familiarise themselves with the systems required to categorise and identify sources of material and personnel and to guarantee adherence to the highest global standards within supply chains.  The DBA in Supply Chain Management specialises in Global Operations and Supply Chain Management, which prepares students to be leaders among global professionals. The program is designed for working adults who are executive-level professionals interested in deepening their engagement with management. Learn DBA Courses from the World’s top Universities. Earn Doctorate from top universities to fast-track your career. Human Resource Management Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Human Resource Management is a doctoral degree program that prepares students to lead at the highest levels of business. The DBA in Human Resources offers a unique approach to online learning using a mix of case studies, research and experiential exercises. Students will explore topics like the changing nature of work, employment law and regulations, compensation and benefits management, recruitment and selection strategies, training and development programs, performance management systems, and more. Healthcare management A Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) in Healthcare Management is a degree program designed to help students perform applied research and transform mature learners into leaders. The program focuses on advanced decision-making skills and techniques while honing research and writing skills required for high responsibility in academic and business environments. DBA in Healthcare Management program graduates can pursue administrative or leadership positions in the healthcare industry. They can also expand their skill set or pursue higher-level organisational roles. International Business The program offers an advanced study of global trade, the international business environment, and global management. In addition to extensive coursework in international business, students are required to develop a cognate or area of functional specialisation.  DBA vs PHD: What’s the difference? Before advancing in their careers, aspirants must know the difference between a PhD in Business and a Doctorate of Business Administration programme. The below table and the image will give you a clear idea: Attribute DBA PhD in Business Focus Applied research and real-world business issues Theoretical research and academic scholarship Emphasis Practical application and problem-solving Intellectual curiosity and original research Research Applied research focused on solving real-world business problems Theoretical research focuses on expanding the body of knowledge Dissertation Emphasises practical problem-solving and real-world applications Emphasises original research and contribution to the academic literature Curriculum A balanced mix of coursework and research Emphasises research and scholarship, with minimal coursework Career Goals Business leadership, executive-level consulting, and applied research Academic research and teaching, with some consulting or industry work Program Length Typically 3-5 years Typically 4-6 years Admission Criteria Emphasises work experience and practical skills Emphasises academic achievement and research potential How upGrad Helps upGrad offers a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program from top B-schools around the world, including the DBA from Swiss School of Business and Management (SSBM) and DBA from Golden Gate University (GGU). The DBA program is designed for working professionals looking to transition into the C-suite or become experts in their domain of choice. upGrad’s doctorate in business management course subjects include: Research Methodology and Quantitative Techniques Strategic Management Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Entrepreneurship and Innovation Financial Management Marketing Management Human Resource Management Operations and Supply Chain Management Business Ethics and Sustainability Leadership and Organisational Behavior Global Business and International Trade Information Technology Management Project Management The DBM program is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in business and management concepts as well as the abilities and information required to carry out in-depth study in the area. Conclusion Earning a Doctorate in Business Administration can lead to higher salaries and better career prospects for individuals seeking senior management positions in academia or industry. Graduates can pursue careers as Management Analysts or C-Suite Executive Professionals, depending on their area of specialisation.

Devising Digital Strategy for Businesses: What is it and Why is it Important? In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses and organisations must have a well-defined digital strategy to remain competitive and relevant. With a CAGR of 16.5% during the forecast period, the worldwide market for digital transformation is predicted to increase from $469.8 billion in 2020 to $1,009.8 billion in 2025.  As more and more people are turning to the internet to research products and services, make purchases, and connect with others, it’s clear that the digital landscape has become a crucial part of our daily lives.  According to Statista, the global inventment in digitalisation is anticipated to nearly double between 2022 and 2025, rising from 1.8 trillion to 2.8 trillion dollars. Following the ascending trends, devising a digital business strategy is crucial for organisational success. Join  DBA courses online from the World’s top Universities to fast-track your career. Let’s explore the importance of digital strategies and check out some actionable tips for creating and implementing a successful digital strategy. What is a Digital Strategy? An organisation’s digital strategy determines how to use digital technologies and channels to accomplish its goals. It involves a systematic approach to identify digital opportunities, allocate resources, and develop tactics to execute the plan effectively.  A digital business strategy can include various elements, such as – Website design and development, Social media marketing, Search engine optimisation (SEO), Email marketing, Mobile marketing, and more.  The ultimate goal of a digital business strategy is to enable organisations to use digital technologies to –  Connect with the target audience, Build brand awareness, Generate leads, Increase conversions,  Grow their business. What does it include? The specifics of a company’s digital strategy may vary depending on its industry, size, and growth objectives. However, many of these strategies often include the following elements: Source Advertising Advertising is a crucial part of digital strategy, using paid channels to reach the target audience. Tactics such as pay-per-click (PPC), display, social media, and video advertising are commonly used. It enables organisations to promote their products and services, increase brand awareness, and generate leads to drive business growth. Digital Marketing Digital marketing is an essential component of digital strategy encompassing various tactics like SEO, content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, and more. It helps organisations establish brand awareness, generate leads, and drive conversions by engaging with their target audience through digital channels. Customer Interaction Customer service teams may deliver a pleasant user experience by having open channels for client feedback and involvement. Customers’ interactions might also provide crucial information for targeting particular demographics or improving products. According to a study, 67% of customer interaction will be done digitally by 2030; hence implementing an optimised digital strategy predicts a fruitful future for organisations.  SEO SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is a crucial component of any digital strategy as it helps improve a website’s ranking on search engines. This increases organic traffic, visibility, and credibility, resulting in better engagement and conversions. E-Commerce E-commerce is an essential component of a digital strategy that enables businesses to sell products or services online. E-commerce platforms provide an efficient and convenient way for customers to shop, while businesses benefit from increased reach, reduced overhead costs, and improved customer engagement and retention. Learn digital marketing courses online from the World’s top Universities. Earn Masters, Executive PGP, or Advanced Certificate Programs to fast-track your career. Reasons Why Having a Digital Strategy is Important According to Foundry, organisations are going to spend approximately $16.5 million on digital transformations over the coming years. To understand why companies all over the world are adopting this strategy, let’s understand the benefits of digital strategy: Increased reach and visibility A well-designed digital strategy can help businesses reach a wider audience and increase their visibility. This can be achieved by optimising digital channels such as search engines, social media, email marketing, and mobile apps.  Improved customer engagement Digital technologies can help businesses engage with customers more effectively by providing personalised and relevant content, 24/7 customer support, and easy access to products and services. Greater efficiency and cost savings Digital technologies automate processes, streamline workflows and reduce the need for manual intervention, resulting in increased efficiency and cost savings.  Enhanced data collection and analysis Digital technologies can provide businesses with access to vast amounts of data that can be analysed to gain insights into customer behaviour, market trends, and performance metrics. This information can be used to make informed decisions and optimise business processes. Increased agility and responsiveness Digital technologies can help businesses respond quickly to changing market conditions, customer needs, and competitive pressures. Businesses can leverage social media to monitor and respond to customer feedback in real-time, allowing them to adapt quickly to customer preferences and expectations. Improved innovation and competitiveness Efficient digital strategies can provide businesses with new opportunities to innovate and differentiate themselves from competitors. They can use emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality to create new products and services that meet evolving customer needs and preferences. Better alignment of business goals and digital initiatives A well-designed digital strategy can help businesses align their online initiatives with their overall business goals, ensuring that investments in digital technologies and channels focus on achieving specific outcomes that drive business growth and success. Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Digital Strategy If you’re looking for a detailed study on how to create a digital strategy, here are some steps that will help you –  Define your business objectives The first step is to define your business objectives to analyse how digital channels can help you achieve them. These objectives can include increasing sales, generating leads, improving brand awareness, or entering new markets. With your objectives in place, you can revisit the digital strategy and understand if your goals were met.  Identify your customer Next, identify your target audience and understand their behaviours, preferences, and needs. This information can be used to develop content that resonates with them. Exploring different channels to reach and appeal to your customers is important.  Conduct a digital audit Run a digital audit of your existing digital assets, including your website, social media profiles, email marketing campaigns, and paid advertising campaigns. This will help you identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. Develop a content strategy Developing a content strategy that aligns with your business objectives and target audience can include creating insightful blog posts, videos, infographics, and other types of content. Choose digital channels Choose the digital channels that will be most effective for reaching your target audience and achieving your business objectives. This can include social media, search engine optimisation, email marketing, and paid advertising. Allocate budget Allot budget and resources to implement your digital strategy effectively. This can include staff, technology, and advertising spending. Measure and refine Utilise key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of your digital strategy and refine your approach based on the data. This will help you optimise your digital marketing efforts over time. Best Digital Marketing Courses Online Advanced Certificate in Brand Communication Management - MICA Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication - MICA Performance Marketing Bootcamp - Google Ads from upGrad To Explore all our courses, visit our page below. Digital Marketing Courses How to Implement a Digital Strategy? Set clear goals: Define specific and measurable goals aligning with your business objectives. Conduct research – Understand your target audience’s needs, preferences, and behaviour. Develop a comprehensive plan: Develop a plan that outlines the tactics and channels you will use to achieve your goals. Create engaging content: Develop high-quality and relevant content that resonates with your target audience and supports your overall objectives. Optimise your website: Optimise your website for search engines, mobile devices, and user experience. Leverage social media: Use social media to engage with your audience, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to your website. Measure and analyse results: Use analytics tools to track and analyse the performance of your digital strategy and use insights to refine and optimise your approach. Stay updated: Stay up-to-date with the latest digital trends and technologies, and be prepared to adapt your strategy to meet evolving customer needs.  In-demand Digital Marketing Skills Advertising Courses Influencer Marketing Courses SEO Courses Performance Marketing Courses SEM Courses Email Marketing Courses Content Marketing Courses Social Media Marketing Courses Marketing Analytics Courses Web Analytics Courses Display Advertising Courses Affiliate Marketing Courses Key Takeaway Whether you are a business owner or a marketing professional, a digital strategy is one thing you need the most to catalyse your business’s growth. Businesses can effectively leverage digital technologies to reach their ultimate objectives by following a step-by-step guide to creating a digital strategy. We hope this article will help you make the right choice and effectively transform your business digitally.  The best way to establish winning digital strategies is to stay up-to-date with evolving market trends, and upGrad’s Doctor of Business Administration in Digital Strategy program can help learners to achieve the same! This 36-month-long program fuels working professionals with in-demand digital strategies to smoothly transition into C-suite roles. Candidates opting for this globally-recognised course are open to exploring research opportunities across diverse verticals, creating studies with valuable impact on the real world.  Strive beyond the boundary of your corporate job and achieve growth with upGrad! You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!   Digital Marketing Free courses to Learn Influencer marketing free course Introduction to advertising free course Influencer marketing right free course SEO basics free course SEM basics free course Email marketing free course Social media marketing introduction free course How to leverage user generated content free course Content marketing free course Fundamentals of marketing free course Brand marketing masterclass free course Popular Digital Marketing Blogs Beginners Guide to YouTube Marketing : Complete List How to Monetize Your YouTube Channel? Top 5 Actionable Steps The Complete Guide on setting up a LinkedIn Company Page Everything You Need To Know About Digital Marketing A Complete Guide to Digital Marketing Strategy: What it is and How to create it? Digital Marketing Tutorial: A Step-by-Step Guide To Become an Expert Future of Digital Marketing: How It Goes From Here Importance of Digital Marketing: Top 10 Reasons Your Business Needs it Digital Marketing Challenges: How to Win Amidst the Challenges in Digital Marketing

Strategic management is the process of making decisions and taking actions that will shape and guide a company’s future. It involves setting goals, developing plans and policies, and allocating resources to achieve these goals. Strategic management aims to create and maintain a competitive advantage for the company. Businesses of all sizes and industries must have a strategic management plan in place, as it helps them to stay competitive and adapt to changes in the market. What is Strategic Management? Strategic management is a continuous process that involves analysing a business’s internal and external environment, setting objectives, and developing and implementing plans to achieve those objectives. The process of strategic management includes four steps: Situation analysis This step involves analysing the internal and external environment of the business to identify opportunities and threats. This includes analysing the company’s strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and threats in the market. Strategy formulation This step involves setting goals and developing plans and policies to achieve them. This includes identifying a target market, creating a value proposition, and determining the resources needed to execute the plan. Strategy implementation This step involves putting the plan into action. This includes allocating resources, creating action plans and timelines, and communicating the plan to all relevant stakeholders. Strategy evaluation This step involves monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of the plan and making adjustments as needed. This includes evaluating progress against goals and identifying areas for improvement. Importance of Strategic Management for Businesses  Strategic management is essential for businesses as it allows them to identify and capitalise on opportunities, as well as mitigate risks. It also helps companies to stay competitive by identifying and adapting to changes in the market. According to a Harvard Business Review study, companies with a formal strategic management process are three times more likely to outperform their peers. Furthermore, with the ever-changing market conditions and dynamic business environments, it’s imperative for businesses to have a proactive approach towards strategic management. This enables them to be prepared for any eventualities and capitalises on opportunities as they arise. Also, having a well-structured strategic management plan enables an organisation to align its resources, processes and people towards a common goal, thereby improving overall efficiency and effectiveness. A Brief History of Strategic Management The concept of strategic management has been around for centuries, with roots dating back to ancient military strategy and tactics.  However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the term “strategic management” was first coined and began to be studied as a distinct field of business management. Since then, the field has evolved significantly, with new theories and models being developed to help organisations navigate the complex and constantly changing business landscape. Different Types of Strategic Management There are several different types of strategies that businesses can employ in the field of strategic management. These include: Corporate strategy This type of strategy is used to manage a company’s overall direction and performance. It is centred around diversification, mergers, and acquisitions, nurturing how a business will grow and create value through these methods.  Business strategy This type of strategy is used to manage a specific business unit or product line. It is focused on how a business will compete in a specific market through its product development and competitive positioning.  Functional strategy This type of strategy is used to manage specific functions within a business. It aims to create value by optimising the performance of individual functions through process improvement and outsourcing.  Operational strategy This type of strategy is used to manage day-to-day operations. It is focused on creating value by optimising the performance of individual processes through capacity planning and logistics.  What is Strategic Leadership? Strategic leadership is the process of using a combination of leadership skills and strategic management to achieve long-term organisational goals. The goal of strategic leadership is to create a shared vision and align the organisation’s resources to achieve that vision. A strategic leader is someone who can inspire and motivate their followers to work towards a common goal while also making the tough decisions necessary to achieve that goal. One example of a strategic leader is the former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch. Welch was known for his focus on efficiency and ability to create a sense of urgency within the organisation. He implemented a strategy of “workout,” which focused on streamlining operations and cutting costs. This strategy resulted in significant cost savings for the company and helped position GE as a leader in the industry.  Another example of a strategic leader is the former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs. Jobs was able to create a culture of innovation within Apple and was instrumental in the development of products such as the Macintosh computer and the iPhone. Strategic leadership is not just limited to CEOs and top executives. It can be found at all levels of an organisation. A team leader, for example, can be a strategic leader by creating a shared vision and aligning the team’s resources to achieve that vision. A front-line manager can be a strategic leader by making the tough decisions necessary to improve the team’s performance. Types of Strategic Leadership Strategic leadership is the process of using a combination of leadership skills and strategic management to achieve long-term organisational goals. Just as there are different types of strategies in strategic management, there are also different types of strategic leadership. These include: Transformational Leadership This is characterised by leaders who inspire and motivate their followers to not only achieve their goals but also to exceed their own expectations. Transformational leaders focus on creating a shared vision and building a sense of community within the organisation. They also encourage creativity, innovation, and risk-taking. Transactional Leadership The leaders following this approach focus on maintaining the status quo and achieving specific, measurable goals. Transactional leaders set clear expectations and hold their followers accountable for meeting them. They use a system of rewards and punishments to motivate their followers to achieve the desired outcomes. Servant Leadership This type of leadership is characterised by leaders who prioritise the well-being and development of their followers. Servant leaders focus on building strong relationships, creating a positive work environment, and empowering their followers to achieve their full potential. They lead by example and put the needs of their followers before their own. Authentic Leadership Leaders who practice this are true to themselves and their values. Authentic leaders lead with integrity and honesty and consistently align their actions with their beliefs. They are transparent and open in their communication and inspire trust and respect from their followers. Visionary Leadership Leaders characterise this type of leadership with a clear and compelling vision for the future. Visionary leaders inspire their followers to think big and work towards a common goal. They are able to inspire and motivate their followers to make sacrifices in the short term for long-term success. As you can see, each of these different strategies is unique and plays a vital role in achieving the company’s objectives. Understanding the different types of strategic management and their components is crucial for organisations to make informed decisions and stay competitive in the market. Conclusion Evidently, Strategic Management, as well as Strategic Leadership, form vital components of any successful business strategies in today’s day and age. These approaches are responsible for keeping businesses stay competitive and adapting to the constantly changing business landmark. As an aspiring management student, you should have clear ideas about these types of leadership, when these work, and how one differs from the other.  upGrad’s Global Doctor of Business Administration from SSBM program is an excellent way to learn more about strategic management. The program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to become successful leaders in the business world. With a focus on practical, real-world applications, the program is perfect for professionals looking to advance their careers in strategic management. You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!

Who is a Business Manager? A business manager is responsible for controlling and directing the personnel and activities within a company. There is no one particular job description for a business manager since it is basically an umbrella term used to signify the various management positions responsible for overseeing an organisation’s day-to-day operations. Therefore, needless to say, the business manager role also varies according to the company or the business type.  Nonetheless, some of the basic qualifications that are expected of every manager include good decision-making skills, excellent leadership, and communication skills.  This article will explore all about business managers, the various types of business managers, their roles and responsibilities, as well as the eligibility criteria. So, without further ado, let’s get started! Types Of Business Managers As stated earlier, the business manager roles and responsibilities vary according to the type of business. Nevertheless, the basic three types of roles that exist are highlighted below. Office Managers As the title suggests, office managers are responsible for overlooking a company’s day-to-day operations, including creating production schedules and handling various aspects of project management.  Operations Managers Slightly different from office managers, operations managers are the ones who take care of a company’s human resources department. Some of the most common tasks they perform include overseeing the hiring process, settling grievances (if any) of the current employees, enhancing business productivity, and revising company policies.  Sales Managers A sales manager is a person who oversees the entire sale department of an organisation. They are responsible for boosting employee participation and profit, bringing in new leads for the sales team, and collaborating with other departments of the company, such as the marketing team.  Roles And Responsibilities Of Business Managers The following list contains some of the basic business manager roles and responsibilities.  Strategise and implement ways to increase business productivity. Collaborate with the team lead to manage and expand the business. Design daily operation programs to meet the day-to-day objectives. Supervise different aspects of product management, such as billing, budgets and collection. Create effective plans to increase sales. Collaborate with the marketing department to analyse the competitive market and strategise effective pricing plans. Provide invaluable insights on the compilation of monthly, quarterly and annual reports. Supervise the hiring and training of new employees to streamline the workforce. Eligibility Criteria to Become a Business Manager Here are some of the most important eligibility criteria you need to fulfil to become a business manager. However, please note that these are just some basic requirements, as the qualifications might differ across various industries. Must possess excellent leadership skills. Should be able to facilitate smooth verbal and nonverbal communication. Must have three years of experience, or more, in business management or any other similar role. An in-depth understanding of the current market trends. Ability to deal with financial and budgeting processes. Some organisations might also require you to have a Bachelor’s degree in business, management, or any other relevant field, alongside a strong knowledge of database and information systems software.  How To Become A Business Manager Apart from the aforementioned eligibility criteria, there are also a few areas you need to work on, to become a successful business manager. With that being said, here is a list containing some of the crucial points you need to keep in mind before applying for the business manager position.  Secure A Relevant Degree A bachelor’s degree in business management or any other similar field is usually expected of every person who wishes to apply for this role. Certain companies might even require you to have a Master’s degree for managerial positions. Therefore, look for universities that offer similar programs. The Executive Doctor Of Business Administration offered by upGrad is currently one of the most beneficial programmes offered by SSBM, specifically for working professionals.  Develop Your Skills An ideal business manager must possess strong leadership and communication skills, thereby motivating employees to deliver their best. Therefore, in order to be successful in this field, strengthening relevant soft skills is imperative. Additionally, you should also master all the tools and techniques of business management. Focus on any particular area of management, and try to gain as much experience and knowledge as possible. Concentration in a field is bound to offer you an edge over your competitors. Gain Relevant Work Experience Another important factor to keep in mind is that your resume should constitute not just your educational or work history but also relevant work experience that aligns with your professional objectives and development. Obtain substantial experience in the relevant field through internships, boot camps, and part-time employment to seek an upper hand during recruitment.  Acquire An MBA Degree An MBA degree with a concentration in business management works as an additional charm, especially for those pursuing higher-paying jobs. This also creates a positive impression in the recruiter’s mind that you’re willing to upskill yourself at all times, taking you one step closer to landing a lucrative job offer. Professional Network Building a professional network is extremely important in any industry. It helps individuals to enhance the scope of their influence and also get to connect with diverse people in their sector. One way to do this is by attending company events, participating in online communities, or joining organisations at work.  Personal Brand Creating a personal brand is also crucial for becoming a successful business manager. It highlights your organisational values, as well as your professional identity. The first step towards creating a personal brand is establishing a brand statement and then adding your unique skill sets and area of expertise.  Is Business Management Worth It? Business management is considered a great career choice is its rapid growth. Management positions allow individuals to work autonomously, involving various tasks that need to be completed on a day-to-day basis. According to research conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in management occupations is expected to witness a 5% growth by the year 2029.  Business management might not be the first choice for many people since it involves managing various areas. Some might even find it challenging. Nonetheless, it is extremely rewarding and can be an excellent career choice if you put your mind to it. Like all other sectors, business management also comes with its fair share of challenges and responsibilities. However, it also opens up vast opportunities to choose from. Infact, this field is often said to be one of the most lucrative careers with exceptional advancement opportunities.  The average annual salary of a business manager in India is INR 7.4 lakhs, based on experience and skill level. The average salary for an entry-level business manager is INR 3 lakhs, while the average salary for an experienced senior business manager can reap up to INR 24.7 lakhs per annum.  Let’s take a look at some of the relevant roles in business management and their offered salaries.  Roles Average Salary (per annum) Assistant office manager INR 4.1 Lakhs Assistant store manager INR 3.7 lakhs Shift manager  INR 2.8 lakhs Sales support manager INR 8.18 lakhs Project manager INR 12.5 lakhs Conclusion The business management job description demands some of the most skilled and versatile professionals in the industry to apply for the role. As an entry-level candidate, the best you can do is upskill yourself with in-demand technical and soft skills and obtain significant practical experience for accurate implementation.  A solid credential is essential when applying for a business manager role, and upGrad enables you to possess the same with its Executive Doctor of Business Administration program. Offered under the guidance of the Swiss School of Business & Management, Geneva, this course is best suited for business professionals aiming to transition into C-suite roles.  Enrol now and kickstart your journey to achieve new heights with upGrad! You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!

DBA, also known as a Doctor of Business Administration, is a degree specifically designed for individuals who want to pursue higher-level roles across various industries. Before we delve into the various career options available post-DBA degree, let’s look at what exactly it refers to and its advantages.  Understanding DBA To put it simply, a DBA is a professional degree that helps you open doors for personal and professional advancement in business. The typical duration of a DBA course is three years. It is quite rigorous and requires individuals to have relevant academic experience in order to qualify for this course.  For the convenience of the applicants, the DBA degree is also available both online, offline, and in hybrid mode. According to research, as much as 85% of professional DBA graduates have claimed that this degree has helped them enormously in their career, either through a promotion or a career change. Thus, you can well imagine its demand in today’s competitive world.  Advantages of Earning a DBA degree Enhance Your Leadership Skills DBA applicants are trained in transferable skills and leadership qualities that significantly increase their chances of reaching professional and personal goals. Furthermore, this degree offers an in-depth knowledge of the latest management techniques and research methods, giving that much-needed boost to your career.  Flexibility You can go for a part-time DBA programme or an online DBA programme, especially if you are a working individual. Online and part-time DBA programs are extremely flexible and suit the hectic schedules of working professionals who aim to upskill while actively participating in their professional lives.  Exciting Career Paths A DBA degree allows you to explore various exciting career opportunities, from marketing brand managers and business unit accountants to high-profile positions in the healthcare industry. Furthermore, most of these roles come with lucrative and additional benefits, making it worthwhile! Jobs You Can Get After DBA Here is a list of some of the best jobs in business management you can opt for after earning your DBA degree.  1. Business Consultant The first one to make it to the list of 5 top business administration jobs is the role of a business consultant, which is also known as a management consultant or management analyst. To put it simply, a business consultant mainly has to supervise two significant areas- review of past plans and presenting future plans. Additional responsibilities of a consultant might also include making minute observations about the organisation and recommending the best practices based on the data they have collected.  Eligibility Criteria The person needs to possess relevant data analysis skills and maintain effective communication across all areas for their clients to make well-informed decisions. A DBA degree might be handy for this role if you wish to excel at both responsibilities. Growth Opportunities According to a recent estimate by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the business consultant role is expected to witness a 14% growth within 2020-2030. The average annual salary of business consultants in India is INR 9.2 lakhs. 2. Organisational Development Manager Organisational Development Manager is yet another exciting career opportunity that you can check out after completing your DBA. The main responsibility of an organisational development manager is to train individuals or teams in the process of making developmental plans for the organisation they are working for. This includes selecting the necessary training opportunities that sync with the company’s objectives, assessing the staff development budget, and supervising the existing training programs. Eligibility Criteria In order to qualify for this role, you must have excellent verbal and nonverbal communication skills. You should be up-to-date with the latest multimedia management tools and methods. Candidates must also possess effective management skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office and other related software.  Growth Opportunities According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the role of development managers is expected to grow by 11% between 2020 and 2030. The average annual salary of Organisational Development Managers in India is INR 8.3 lakhs. 3. Project Manager The role of a Project Manager is the perfect career choice, especially for those who love to motivate others to work, learn and grow together. The responsibilities of a Project Manager include supervising the various company projects, collaborating with team members to ensure growth, setting goals and milestones, and assessing the projects at various stages.  Eligibility Criteria To get selected for the role of a Project Manager, you need to have excellent communication and time management skills. Furthermore, you are also required to have a minimum of 3 years of experience in any related role. Growth Opportunities According to research conducted by the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the role of a project manager is expected to witness a 9% growth within the years 2020-2030. The average annual salary of Project Managers in India is estimated to be INR 12.5 lakhs. 4. C-Level Roles Candidates with a Doctor in Business Administration degree and relevant experience are always the first choice for C-level roles, such as Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operations Officer. C-suite executives’ main responsibilities include overseeing a company’s major aspects, such as budgeting and project management.  Eligibility Criteria Before applying for these positions, a few criteria must be met. Since both are fully technical roles, you need in-depth knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science. Therefore, if you wish to pursue this career, you might want to look out for DBA programmes that specialise in business intelligence. Growth Opportunities Currently, there is a huge demand for these positions in the business world, and it is expected to witness 8% growth within the years 2020-2030 with exceptionally lucrative opportunities. 5. Logistician Another exciting career option that you can look out for after completing your DBA degree is the role of a logistician. A logistician is a person who oversees the full cycle of a product, starting from allocating the materials required for its manufacturing up to the stage when it finally reaches the customers. Furthermore, they are also required to perform troubleshooting tasks and come up with ideas that will effectively reduce the cost of a company while also improving efficiency.  Eligibility Criteria In order to qualify for this role, you must have a degree in Supply Chain Management, Transport Management or any other related field. You should also have relevant work experience in logistics if you wish to land a higher-paying job. Growth Opportunities Out of all the job roles mentioned so far, logistician is the only one expected to witness a huge growth of as much as 30% within the years 2020-2030. The average annual salary of a logistician in India is estimated to be INR 4,5 lakhs. Other Career Paths To Pursue Apart from these five, you can pursue other business administration careers. Some of them include, Professor For those interested in flourishing in the academic field, teaching is the best profession. You get to pass on your knowledge and skills to the next generation of business leaders. Furthermore, you can also apply for part-time or adjacent faculty positions while simultaneously looking for work in other areas.  The common responsibilities of a professor include managing a classroom, creating a syllabus, and designing assignments and lessons. The reason why DBA graduates are the perfect candidates for this role is that they have subject expertise as well as the determination and patience to narrate the intricacies of their specialised area of interest.  Entrepreneur With a DBA degree, you can experience the real-time application of current business trends and innovations. For this reason, many graduates choose to start their own businesses instead of working for others. A DBA degree equips students with all the necessary foundation skills that are required to create a successful business.  Human Resource The basic responsibilities of Human Resource managers include managing the employees of a particular company, conflict resolution, as well as overseeing the hiring process. They also collaborate with other teams to come up with various plans and strategies for creating various policies for the company and ensuring that all the employees fully understand them. DBA graduates are the perfect fit for this role since they have all the necessary advanced management skills to meet highly specialised HR needs.  Average Offered Salaries Post DBA Here are the average salary details for various careers post-DBA degree completion in India. Roles Average Salary (Per Annum) Business Consultant INR 9.2 lakhs Organisational Development Manager INR 8.3 lakhs Project Manager INR 12.5 lakhs C-suite roles (CEO) INR 29.9 lakhs Logistician INR 4,5 lakhs Professor INR 10.4 lakhs Entrepreneur INR 8.25 lakhs Human Resource Director INR 27.7 lakhs Conclusion The endless list of career opportunities post-DBA projects how valuable the degree can be to offer you an edge over other candidates. While DBA is said to be a rigorous course, the benefits post its completion are worth it. You can easily bag one of these careers by working your way through the required skills and credentials! On the other hand, if you’re seeking a leading DBA course to add value to your resume, upGrad’s Doctor of Business Administration from Golden Gate University can be an excellent choice! The course comprises six concentrations, enabling candidates to opt for their field of choice. Each concentration is curated under the mentorship of industry professionals, assisting candidates in honing in-demand skills.  You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!

Doctor of Business Administration, also known as DBA, is a relatively new degree designed specifically for individuals who want to expand their knowledge of business practices and pursue education further. Before we delve deeper into DBA’s nuances, let’s get to know its history first.  The very prestigious Harvard Business School first offered a Doctor of Business Administration course in the early days of the 1950s. Since then, it has gained significant momentum among professionals who want to explore the different innovative solutions to some of the most common challenges faced by the business world. With the Indian entrepreneurship ecosystem skyrocketing to reach an unreal prominence globally, obtaining a degree as coveted as DBA can be a huge step towards establishing yourself in the dynamic business world. Let’s explore everything one needs to know about DBA, its significance in the market, the courses covered under it and the potential opportunities awaiting skilled candidates in the domain.  What is a Doctor Of Business Administration? Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is currently considered one of the highest postgraduate degrees, especially in academic management education. Simply put, a DBA is a follow-up course to an MBA, Master of Business Administration. It is a professional degree, meaning that if you wish to apply for this course, you need relevant experience and knowledge in business management.  Unlike most other degrees, like MBA or PhD in Business Administration covering general business management topics, a DBA targets individual areas of study. Their main focus is on the latest research and theories related to business. Thus, you can imagine this degree has a very niche audience.  Why Should You Opt For A DBA Degree? Before we discuss some of the standard topics that are usually included in most DBA programs, let’s look at some of the important benefits you can obtain from pursuing this degree.  Advanced Skills and Techniques With the right DBA course, you get to enjoy a first-hand experience with the latest innovative techniques and acquire advanced skills, which are beneficial, especially when applying for a job. Recruiters always look for candidates with in-demand knowledge and innovative skills, and that’s where a DBA graduate shines.  Furthermore, DBA courses can be quite rigorous, and as stated earlier, it attracts a very niche audience base. Therefore, when you flaunt your degree in your resume, it will automatically create a positive impression in your recruiter’s mind, thus taking you one step further to gaining employment.  Stand Out From the Crowd DBA is a perfect choice for those who want to make it big in business management or leadership. Most DBA programs specialise in providing executives with advanced research skills and techniques required for strategic decision-making and planning.  Furthermore, it also gives you a certain edge over other candidates, which will undoubtedly prove beneficial, especially when competing against hundreds of applicants at a job interview.  Multiple Career Options Yet another reason why you should opt for a DBA degree is that, with this course, you get to explore various career options across different fields, such as education, business, government or even healthcare. If you are interested in continuing your academic career, you also get the chance to apply for a researcher or consultant position. Thus, the options are endless. All you need to do is make a well-informed decision based on your preferences.  Look at the diverse career options available after a candidate completes their DBA program. Economist Chief Financial Officer Professor Chief Executive Officer Business Consultant Human Resource Director Logistician Organisational Development Manager Entrepreneur Lucrative Career Lastly, companies are always looking for candidates with strong educational backgrounds. The more qualifications you have, the better your chances are of securing a senior-level position. Thus, adding a DBA degree to your resume will not only help you create a positive impression on the recruiter’s mind but also increase your chances of landing a high-paying job. Many big companies across the world usually are known to provide a six-figure package to candidates who meet these qualifications.  Let’s look at the average salaries offered to diverse roles obtained after completing DBA. Roles Average Annual Salary (INR) Economist INR 700,073  Chief Financial Officer INR 3,501,051 Professor INR 1,000,467 Chief Executive Officer INR 2,992,503 Business Consultant INR 1,048,585 Human Resource Director INR 2,774,412 Logistician INR 611,745 Organisational Development Manager INR 1,311,313 Entrepreneur  INR 600,000 Topics Covered in DBA The following list contains some of the standard topics that are usually covered by most DBA programs. It is important to note that many DBA programs usually let the candidates incorporate specific areas they want to include in their research, thus creating a built-in concentration to meet all your needs.  Accounting Accounting is usually one of the most common topics that you can find in most DBA programs. It covers areas of research that are required for being an analyst or chief financial officer, such as investments and taxes. Healthcare Leadership This mainly focuses on the different systems, laws and regulations currently followed by the healthcare industry.  Finance This includes in-depth knowledge of all the different types of the latest tools used by the finance industry for modelling and analysing.  Business Management This includes a study of the different methods for managing people and projects or implementing the necessary changes, especially beneficial for those who wish to apply for roles such as executive or consultant. How To Select The Right DBA Specialisation? Choosing the right DBA programme can be a bit tricky if you do not conduct your research well. For example, if you are a working professional hoping to apply for a DBA course, you can always opt for online DBA programs. That way, you can align your professional and personal goals. Here are a few DBA specialisations: Entrepreneurship International Business Human Resource Management Marketing Leadership Project Management  Accounting Healthcare Management Alternatively, you can also attend physical courses if you prefer face-to-face sessions over online DBA programs. Furthermore, there are also quite a few schools available that provide a mix of both online and physical, a hybrid mode of study for their applicants.  However, making a choice for your DBA specialisation must rely on certain factors you must reassess before selecting.  Duration of the Programme Typically, the duration of a proper DBA programme should be three years since, unlike MBA, it is a full doctorate program targeting practitioners. Therefore, if you come across programmes that offer a less time frame, then you might need to reconsider.  Design of the Programme Another aspect to look out for is the design of the programme and what is its main focus. The ultimate aim of a DBA degree is to train students on the nuances of conducting research properly. This includes literature review, data analysis, data collection methodologies, and writing up, among others. Research seminars and social events are also organised to help the students hone their skills. Therefore, if you are looking for professional network development, you should definitely choose a programme that prioritises all these areas.  Longevity and Alumni Testimonials Last but not least, looking out for longevity as well as alumni testimonials are also important since a DBA programme is a long-term investment. One way to check these is through social media platforms and official websites. The longer the programme has existed, the more assurance you get of its quality.  Conclusion With this, we come to an end with the Doctor of Business Administration. Hopefully, this has cleared all your doubts and queries regarding what exactly DBA is, why it is important, and the various points to keep in mind while choosing the right DBA.  While opting for cheaper DBA programs can be quite tempting at times, DBA is a research-based course; hence you might need to look out for other factors apart from money. A low-price DBA might not be able to fulfil all your needs and demands. Therefore, make your decision very wisely.  To assist you with your search for a prominent DBA online program, upGrad brings you the Global Doctor of Business Administration course powered by the Swiss School of Business and Management, Geneva. Along with a catalogue of in-demand specialisations like Data Science, Machine Learning and Marketing, the program leverages top-class faculty to ensure candidates inherit innovation directly from industry experts.  Take a step towards your dream with upGrad, and apply now! You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!