Lorraine’s research on the four-year part-time Doctorate in Business Administration explores one-to-one and interpersonal dimensions of collaboration in a Middle Eastern business context
Before starting a DBA Lorraine Crowley had completed a MSc in Operations and Supply Chain Management, and a Diploma in Supply Chain Management Green Belt Lean SCM.
I was drawn to research because: I'm curious about the inner workings of international business practices and the human lived experience.
My advice for anyone considering a DBA at the moment is: Take time to appreciate and enjoy the process of learning, the outcome will eventually be met.
Why I would recommend studying in Waterford/WIT: The institute provides a strong sense of community and belonging through an interpersonal and diverse cultural environment, be that studying on campus or remotely. There are excellent support mechanisms in place (i.e. one-to-one communication with faculty members, technological facilities such as Moodle, libraries and labs, access to a wide-range and diverse network of established researchers) that ensure students have full visibility to manage all administration and educational aspects of their studies. Faculty members and supporting staff are collaborative, collegial and respectful.
The title of my DBA is: Exploring the social processes of individual to individual collaboration in Bahrain's oil and gas sector
Supervisors: Prof Felicity Kelliher & Dr Patricia Bowe
In layman's terms my research is about: This research explores one-to-one and interpersonal dimensions (i.e. relational paradigm) of collaboration in a Middle Eastern business context. The study identified close connections among individuals of wide networks (i.e. closed diverse social networks) as integral to business relationships in this context. Social capital and social networks innate to the Middle East also play a significant part in doing business in this environment.
I love research because: It is an opportunity to delve deep into the individual lived experience and unearth small but significant nuggets of knowledge that may in the future help other practitioners and researchers in the same domain. I thoroughly enjoy the process of planning and undertaking fieldwork, and learned through the DBA, these ever evolving processes are terribly uncertain and exciting in equal measure.
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