Global uncertainty create complex and unseen management problems. Rapid technological advances and environmental crises are disrupting businesses, industries, and countries. These challenges demand professional and business practitioners equipped with unique skill sets and approaches. To successfully tackle these challenges, we need real-world researchers. These highly skilled business practitioners and professionals are able to apply systematic research to solve complex problems. The Sasin DBA program has been carefully designed to develop such experts. With your time and development in mind, the DBA has been built around three driving principles, which are embedded throughout the program:  

International and inclusive

• Ideal for international participants aiming for a globally recognized qualification without geographic limitations
• Global partners in 22 countries/ territories with Sasin’s unrivaled alumni network across the region

Part-time, blended learning

• Flexibility and the best payoff for the time you invest; requires only about 14 days a year on campus
• Experience the stimulation of group discussion and interaction during residential weekends at Sasin

Research from day one

• Develop your confidence as a real-world researcher
• Make rapid progress with assignments that “plug in” to your research, project, and thesis

Drive transformation through research

• Implement new models and frameworks to co-create value with stakeholders
• Lead transformation, consciously and mindfully

Meet our DBA students and their thesis topics

• Growth Influencing Factors of Southeast Asia, Startups
• Business Model Dynamics: Thai Hotels Response to Covid-19
• Exploring the Business Model Characteristics of Successful Blockchain Games: An Observational Study
• Mind the Gap: Assessment of Interventions to Close Gender Funding Gaps in Southeast Asia’s Startup Ecosystem
• Emerging Value Propositions in Web3 through Co-Creation
• Factors Contributing to Successful Apprenticeship Training Programs (ATPs) in the Thai Modular Building System (MBS) Industry
• The Effect of Sufficiency Economy Components on Transitioning to Organic Farming and the Well-Being of Farmers
• Dynamic Capabilities to Enhance Digital Transformation Management Capabilities – Multi-Case Studies in Process Industries in Thailand
• Micro-Merchants Adoption of Digital Wallets in Myanmar

Meet our thesis mentors

Your thesis topic will be something you are passionate about, and a topic chosen by you, discussed in conjunction with your thesis mentor. Every DBA student has a thesis mentor, who will become a sounding board for your ideas and research approach. Browse the expertise and research interests of Sasin faculty to identify potential thesis mentors.

• Dr. Evan Douglas
• Dr. Harry Jay M. Cavite
• Dr. Krittinee Nuttavuthisit
• Dr. Nghi Truong
• Dr. Pinnaree Tea-Makorn
• Dr. Piyachart Phiromswad
• Dr. Benjamin Ellway

The Sasin DBA program will enable you to build on your existing expertise, deepen your understanding of your professional and business practices, and harness research skills to tackle the complex problems you face. This program gives you the opportunity to step back from your frenetic career, realize your true potential, and build practical contributions for your organization. After completing the Sasin DBA, you’ll approach, investigate, and tackle complex real-world problems with confidence. As a consequence, you’ll be able to lead successful transformation in your industry or profession. You will become a respected expert and a recognized authority in your profession and industry, joining a cohort of thought leaders connected through Sasin’s network.

DBA and Ph.D. are both doctoral level degrees. Both require the completion of a major piece of research and a written thesis, but they differ in terms of their emphasis, career paths, and contribution to original knowledge. A DBA makes an original contribution to practitioner knowledge, to investigating and solving real-world problems. The DBA thesis will involve critical evaluation of literature from a management practitioner perspective. This results in publications in practitioner, application-oriented journals. A DBA is for candidates who want to advance their careers as thought leaders and change agents in their professions or industries and to develop practical research skills in order to investigate, and propose solutions to, complex management problems. Although they may also teach at academic institutions, this is typically not one of their primary roles. A Ph.D. makes an original contribution to academic knowledge or to theory. The Ph.D. thesis is founded on a critical evaluation of academic literature. This results in publications in academic journals, targeted to those in academia. A Ph.D. is best suited to those who wish primarily to pursue a full-time career in academic institutions. Ph.D. and DBA Research Differences: An Example Business Model Generation is a global best-selling book by the creators of the Business Model Canvas. The Business Model Canvas is a one-page visualization tool for building, evaluating, and testing business models, suitable for large corporations, small to medium enterprises, or start-ups. Let’s compare DBA vs Ph.D. projects on the topic of business models A DBA project would, in contrast, start with a tangible problem or real-world scenario. This could be the uncertainty faced by an established company when new competitors adopt new business models, or it could be the intended application of a business model from one industry to another. The DBA project would start with a clear specification of the nature and scope of the real-world problem or scenario. Literature on business models would be examined to identify empirical studies on the application of the business model concept in practice, with a special emphasis on finding examples of successes and failures. The project would probably develop or modify a business model, and then test its feasibility or likelihood of success. The overall aim of the DBA project would be to make an original contribution to knowledge through improved industry or business best practice on business models. A Ph.D. project would probably start by looking at the academic literature on business models to identify current issues being debated and discussed by researchers. This would involve an examination of the literature which preceded the development of the business model canvas as well as more recent literature, including criticisms of the business model and business model canvas concepts. The theory underpinning the business model concept would be examined, as well as cases of its successes and failures, and potential limitations. This analysis of past research would reveal unanswered questions, tentative hypotheses, or gaps in existing literature that could be explored through further investigation. The overall aim of the Ph.D. project would be to make an original contribution to knowledge through an improved or enhanced understanding of the theory (and potentially also practice) of business models.