Management Development and Doctoral Research

This paper examines the relevance of doctoral research to one part of the management development process, and to the nature of management action in general. The paper suggests that many of the features associated with the research process are being lost to potential management develop ment programmes through lack of perceived relevant routes. A proposal for a new award of Doctor of Business Administration, recently considered by the Council of National Academic Awards, has focused attention upon the potential doctoral research offers for improved and extended manage ment development programmes. The decision not to proceed with a new award on the reasonable grounds that proliferation of awards is not an appropriate response has underlined the real problem of a lack of aware ness of the contribution PhD research can make to Management Develop ment, which this paper addresses.