During Year 3 of the DBA program, candidates participate in a specialization track. The specializations are not required to be aligned with the student's own research topic, but are rather an opportunity to gain further research experience by producing and presenting academic-level work and learning about about cutting-edge research.
Students will have the opportunity to choose one of three specialization tracks, in Phase 2 of their studies:
- Sustainability
- Managing Technology and Innovation
- Managing and Leading People
The specialization tracks will give the students the opportunity to learn from our expert faculty members about cutting-edge research in the specific specialization, and its impact and applications in today's organizations and society.
The specializations are not required to be aligned with the student's own research topic; rather they are an opportunity to enrich the students' knowledge and expertise in important organizational and managerial issues.
The specialization will consist of a series of webinars (8 in total) during year 3 of the program, at the end of which students will work in small groups on a conference paper where they will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and own reflection on the topic with either an academic or a practitioner community.
Specialization in Sustainability
Consistent with Grenoble Ecole de Management's identity as a 'Business Lab for Society', the Specialization in Sustainability offers students the opportunity to focus on complex challenges faced by organizations as well as by the larger society. The aim is to propose innovative solutions for a more sustainable future. This specialization will give an edge to those students who intend to brave today’s challenges on sustainability issues as part of their DBA. Students joining this specialization will have privileged access to the expertise housed within Grenoble Ecole de Management's Chairs 'Energy for Society' and 'Inclusive Sustainability - Territories in Transition'. As part of this DBA specialization, we will provide during the 3rd year of the program, a specifically-designed lecture series on the following subjects:
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Sustainable Finance
- Environmental, Social, and Governmental analysis
- Corporate Governance and Climate Change
- Sustainable Investing
Specialization in Managing Technology and Innovation
Managing Technology and Innovation is at the heart of Grenoble Ecole de Management’s identity and an integral part of its ecosystem. This is evident from the extensive focus on this topic in the various research teams of Grenoble Ecole de Management, some examples of which include the 'Entrepreneurship and Innovation', 'Strategy, Innovation and Society', and 'Marketing Strategy and Innovation' teams. This specialization aims to give students the opportunity to explore a variety of challenges related to technological advances and innovations in recent times, from the human, ethical, and strategic perspectives, and consequently, to develop long-term and replicable solutions for firms and the larger society. As part of this DBA specialization, we will provide during the 3rd year of the program a specifically-designed lecture series on the following subjects:
- Technology Management: Introducing Responsible Uses of Technology
- Human Computer Interaction and Emerging Technologies
- Strategic management with technology and data
- Innovation management
Specialization in Managing and Leading People
Every manager needs to collaborate with people, and while people can be the vector of a firm's inimitable competitive advantage, they may also pose the biggest challenge to managers and firms. In this specialization, you will be exposed to the latest research on how to effectively manage and lead people. This specialization aims to encourage students to explore a variety of people-related issues faced by managers ranging from intercultural diversity to gender issues to issues of ethicality in a constantly changing and evolving world. They will delve into in-depth reflections on alternative forms of organizations and alternative forms of organizing, along with other hot topics such as leadership and followership in a digital era. Students will find much support for their learning journey from Grenoble Ecole de Management's research Chairs on ‘Digital Organization and Society’ and on ‘Women and Economic Renewal’. They will also find mentorship from various research teams, including but not limited to, the 'Alternative Forms of Markets and Organizations' and 'Organizations, Work, Identity, and Careers'. As part of this DBA specialization, we will provide during the 3rd year of the program a specifically-designed lecture series on the following subjects:
- Intercultural and Diversity Mangement
- Leadership in a Digital World
- Millennial Careers
- Alternative Forms of Organizations
- Gender (In)Equality and Women's Careers, etc.
Updated 4/29/2024