DB FPX 8400 Assessment 2

Professional Development Framework

Student Name

Capella University

DB-FPX8400 Your DBA Journey

Professor Name

Date

Professional Development Matrix

Professional Development Journal

• Course 1. First Course (required)

The initial offering of the DBA program offered me an introduction to the field of Knowledge and Scholarly Thinking. The sphere is concentrated on the development of intellectual skills (critical thinking, creativity, conceptualization, and scholarly reasoning) (Hughes et al., 2020). I realized my areas of possible development in the field by considering how I tackle complicated issues and choices during my work. Through what I have been taught in the course, I realize that I am capable of developing to adopt scholarly thinking as a way of thinking, rather than as a skill.

Throughout my career, I tend to make decisions by just going into my intuition, but the course made me realise the importance of taking my time to investigate assumptions and use my critical thinking mechanically. The discovery shows that I have an evident opportunity to develop: introducing the concept of scholarly practices, including reflective thinking, theory-based reasoning, and intellectual humility into my leadership and strategy development. Ontological humility and the ability to take criticism without defensiveness were the hardest sections of the course. Critical thinking tasks were the simplest part of the course because they required the process of information analysis and judgment of various opinions when taking the assessment.

The methodology is consistent with the focus of Jakubik (2022) on the necessity of the analytical and evaluative development of higher education in order to tackle the overwhelming problems.  I identified the tasks as being intellectually stimulating and more fitting to my strengths, thus making them feel more accessible and engaging. It is not only that the opportunities enhanced my knowledge of what was being taught but also my trust in academic discussion. I considered it quite tricky consistently using assumption-related decision-making, particularly when operating under strict deadlines.

Being creative and innovative in solving problems, particularly in strategic planning, is my most important strength. One more strength is my reflection on the course of action and improvement of my method. Nevertheless, I should practice cognitive flexibility and theory-to-practice translations. I will keep on building these competencies in order to become a successful DBA scholar-practitioner.

Subdomain 1: Scholarly Writing and Communication

Goals

1. Enhance academic writing clarity and coherence by mastering APA and scholarly tone within 3 months.
2. Submit at least one article for publication in a peer-reviewed journal within the next 9 months.
3. Develop advanced skills in presenting complex ideas concisely to academic and business audiences within 6 months.

Plan with Timeline

• Months 1–3: Attend writing workshops and complete academic writing exercises weekly.
• Months 4–6: Work with a mentor to refine writing and give presentations to peers for feedback.
• Months 7–9: Finalize and submit article for publication.

Strategies to Stay Motivated

• Join a writing accountability group.
• Set weekly writing targets and track progress.
• Celebrate milestones like peer feedback or submission.

Network Support

• Helpers: Faculty advisor, writing center staff, and DBA peers.
• Barriers: Time constraints due to work obligations.
• Mitigation: Schedule writing sessions early in the morning and block calendar time weekly.

Subdomain 2: Data-Driven Decision Making

Goals

1. Learn advanced business analytics tools (e.g., SPSS, Tableau) within 6 months.
2. Apply data interpretation to solve real business problems by Month 7.
3. Present one data-driven case study to leadership or academic peers by Month 9.

Plan with Timeline

• Month 1–3: Complete online courses in analytics and participate in simulations.
• Months 4–6: Practice using tools in mock projects or on-the-job problems.
• Months 7–9: Create and present a full case study using real or simulated data.

Strategies to Stay Motivated

• Pair up with a study partner for weekly check-ins.
• Link each new skill with its real-life application at work.
• Track progress in a digital learning journal.

Network Support

• Helpers: IT department, data analysts, and DBA classmates with quantitative strengths.
• Barriers: Colleagues are resistant to data transparency.
• Mitigation: Use neutral language and frame analytics as helpful, not critical.

Subdomain 3: Ethical Leadership and Responsibility

Goals

1. Understand and apply ethical theories to business scenarios within 4 months.
2. Facilitate at least one ethics-focused discussion or training at work by Month 5.
3. Create a personal code of leadership ethics and integrate into a leadership portfolio by Month 6.

Plan with Timeline

• Month 1–2: Read ethics texts and participate in related forums or courses.
• Months 3–4: Write case analyses and practice ethical decision-making.
• Month 5–6: Organize and lead one ethics seminar or workshop.

Strategies to Stay Motivated

• Reflect on personal values and link them to leadership goals.
• Keep a journal to document ethical dilemmas and insights.
• Reward self after key milestones (e.g., workshop delivery).

Network Support

• Helpers: HR personnel, organizational ethics officers, mentors.
• Barriers: Supervisors who prioritize profits over ethics.
• Mitigation: Emphasize the long-term value of ethical leadership and cite industry examples.

Specialization & Future Plans

The specialization that I have selected of leadership fits well with my professional achievements and career objectives in the long run. As a person with experience of leading strategic initiatives and working in cross-functional teams, I understand leadership as a role as well as a duty to make a difference to organizational culture and performance.

The specialization will enable me to expand on that experience through enhancing my knowledge on transformational leadership, ethical decision making and change management which can directly be applied in my objective of moving up to executive leadership position or consulting in complex business settings.

Employer Expectations vs. Personal Expectations

The employers are anticipating DBA graduates to possess high standards of analysis, making decisions based on evidence, and capable of being innovative through research and strategic thinking. The requirements are largely in line with my personal objectives, which are to participate in a scholarly way of thinking about real-world business issues, and guide sustainable change.

Nonetheless, there are also certain areas in which the expectations might differ, namely, the focus on short-term outcomes as opposed to the long-term inquiry and thought. Whereas it is common in organizations to appreciate rapid implementation, the academic process stimulates a more intensive analysis and questioning. Instead of a challenge, I see the issue as a chance to transform the academic thinking into the business requirements and providing a needed but intelligent results.

Course 2. Leadership (recommended)

Specialization

Goals

Course 3. HR (recommended)

Expectations of DBA Graduates

Course 4. Strategy (recommended)

In this course, you will start thinking about the next domain, Advocate for Change. Reflect on what this domain means and how it could impact your work.

Course 5. Teaching (required)

In this course, you will develop the Advocate for Change domain. Read the materials provided in your course. Choose from the recommended competencies, or create ones that focus on areas you would like to develop. Then create goals that will help you progress toward the competencies.

Specialization 1 (recommended)

In this course, you will reflect on how many of your Advocate for Change goals you have acted upon. You will describe the impact you’ve experienced on the goals you have acted upon. If you have not acted on your goals, you will make a plan to start working on them.

Specialization 2 (recommended)

In this course, you will start thinking about the next domain, Personal Effectiveness and Professional Identity. Reflect on what this domain means and how it could impact your work.

Specialization 3 (required)

In this course, you will develop the Personal Effectiveness and Professional Identity domain. Read the materials provided in your course. Choose from the recommended competencies, or create ones that focus on areas you would like to develop. Then create goals that will help you progress toward the competencies.

Specialization 4 (recommended)

In this course, you will reflect on how many of your Personal Effectiveness and Professional Identity goals you have acted upon. You will describe the impact you’ve experienced on the goals you have acted upon. If you have not acted on your goals, you will make a plan to start working on them.

Specialization 5 (recommended)

In this course, you will start thinking about the next domain, Applied Research Competencies. Reflect on what this domain means to you and how it could impact your work.

Advanced Doctoral Course 1 (required)

In this course, you will develop the Applied Research Competencies domain. Read the materials provided in your course. Choose from the recommended competencies, or create ones of your own, that focus on areas you would like to develop. Then create goals that will help you progress toward the competencies.

Advanced Doctoral Course 2 (recommended)

In this course, you will reflect on how many of your Applied Research Competencies goals you have acted upon. You will describe the impact you’ve experienced on the goals you have acted upon. If you have not acted on your goals, you will make a plan to start working on them.

Advanced Doctoral Course 3 (recommended)

In this course, you will start reflecting on the overall process of developing and implementing your Professional Development Framework. Think about what you have learned during this process. Consider what parts of your framework you have been able to use successfully and what parts need some revision.

Advanced Doctoral Course 4 (required)

In your final course, you will review the complete developmental framework you have created. Think about the agency you feel you have in trying to change the structures in which you work to help you develop as a doctoral professional, and whether the framework has helped you to gain more agency.

You will include your final reflection on your professional development in your capstone project under PART 2: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK.

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