UMUC

Graduate School of Management and Technology

Course Description – DMGT (Doctoral Studies in Management)

DMGT 600 Foundations of Doctoral Studies (3)

An overview of doctoral studies in management. Topics include the purpose and context of the doctoral degree program; the role and value of research and statistical analysis in the practice of management; and key concepts in management, leadership, change and organizational theory. Degree requirements and the dissertation process are explored. Exercises, including the development of an individual journal, are used to evaluate skills in critical thinking, argumentation and writing expression.

DMGT 800 Foundations of Management Theory and Strategic Thinking (6)

A comprehensive foundation in the history of management and the structure and function of organizations. A new way of understanding and managing operational and strategic issues in public and private organizations in the face of accelerating social, economic and technological changes is provided. Topics include organizational theory, strategic thinking and strategic management, theories of decision making, leadership, organizational culture and management in a postindustrial society. Problem-solving, application and evaluation skills are used to analyze the theories and practices of current and emerging organizational challenges and opportunities. The goal is to be able to critically assess the ideas of others and defend one’s own ideas through the application of scholarship.

DMGT 810 Leadership, Enterprise Change and Virtual Management (6)

A study of leadership—not just for survival but for sustainability— in environments where external pressure for change is the dominant feature. Discussion examines change and leadership issues in varied industries, as well as one’s own organization, by identifying and analyzing theories and concepts, assessing the applicability of classic works and current perspectives, testing ideas using case studies and developing various scenarios and strategies. Topics include the knowledge and abilities needed for managing change, such as improvisation and reinvention; the roles and skills needed at all levels for leading in new organizational models involving virtual teams; and the impact of change (particularly frequent change) on individuals and organizations. The goal is to recognize the link between leadership, change and organizational resilience and apply the lessons.

DMGT 830 Research Methods I (6)

An applied study of how to design, interpret and critique both quantitative and qualitative research. Methods are grounded in the philosophy of science to provide a solid foundation that will support the identification and analysis of researchable questions. At least one qualitative and one quantitative methodology is studied. Assignments include short analyses representative of the different methodological traditions.

DMGT 835 Research Methods II (6)

A practical study of critical analysis techniques, applied to both foundational and contemporary management scholarship. Analyses are conducted in the critical realist tradition, in which objectivity arises from the continued scrutiny and critique of published research by peers. Assignments include comprehensive analyses of published management research and encompass critique of initial assumptions, conceptual frameworks, methodological choice, design and execution, and conclusions.

DMGT 845 Global Business (6)

The study of global business issues that determine a firm’s success by discussing region-specific, nation-specific, industry-specific, and firm-specific factors. Topics include global strategy, organizational structure and control, regional trading groups, marketing, international ethics, sustainability, social responsibility, economics and the impact of technology. Included are the cultural forces and values that have an overall impact on the firm and its industry that operate in a transnational environment.

DMGT 850 Innovation and Sustainable Development (6)

A study of how technological innovation drives the long-term competitiveness of global organizations. The objective is to acquire skills in developing conceptual frameworks for managing sustainable organizational growth in both private and public sectors. Focus is on critically evaluating the actors and factors for technological innovation and developing concepts for managing technological innovations to improve the creation and delivery of new goods and services in a productivity-based international competitive environment. Discussion covers issues related to technology resources, technological capacities, capabilities and competencies, and technology strategies for sustained competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Decision-making roadmaps are developed and applied to ensure that technological and socioeconomic/ethical/legal considerations are integrated for desired results.

DMGT 890 Dissertation Part I (4)

This course guides each doctoral student in developing a dissertation topic, completing a literature review and constructing a conceptual framework for the topic. A concept paper that comprehensively explicates the chosen topic is completed.

DMGT 891 Dissertation Part II (4)

This course continues the dissertation process with each doctoral student refining the conceptual model by applying the research methods previously studied in the program. An analytical paper, which has been critiqued by an expert panel, and includes revisions to the concept paper, is completed.

DMGT 892 Dissertation Part III (4)

This course provides each doctoral student with the opportunity to extend the previous research and to identify management practice implications for the chosen topic. An integrative paper that combines the first two parts of the dissertation is completed.

DMGT 899 Continuing Registration (1)

Continuing refinement of the dissertation to prepare for final submission and defense.