text: In some cases, the distinction is solely administrative. For example, Harvard Business School was not authorized to issue a PhD until 2018. In other cases, the distinction is one of orientation and intended outcomes. The PhD is highly focused on developing original academic knowledge, while the DBA emphasizes applied research. Upon completion, graduates of PhD programs generally migrate to full-time faculty positions in academia, while those of DBA programs re-emerge in industry as applied researchers or executives. If working full-time in industry, graduates of DBA and PhD programs often become adjunct professors in top undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
  Notable persons with a DBA degree
  Jason Altmire, author and former U.S. Congressman
  Henry B. Eyring – 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Former Dean of Stanford School of Business, and President of Rick College. DBA from Harvard University. Harvard Business School
  Robert F. Bruner – Dean Charles C. Abbott Professor of Business Administration and Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia
  Clayton M. Christensen – Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School
  Scott Cowen – president of Tulane University of Louisiana
  Nigel Healey – vice chancellor of Fiji National University
  Yoko Ishikura - Chief Digital Officer, Japanese Cabinet
  Shrikant Jichkar - Indian civil servant and politician