MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
APPLIED DOCTORAL STUDY

Evidence · Behaviour · Responsible practice

Doctor of Applied
Neuroscience
in Management

Understand behaviour. Examine evidence.
Inform responsible management practice.

Applied doctoral research for experienced professionals investigating the cognitive and behavioural dimensions of organisational life.

A non-clinical, management-focused doctoral degree.

MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
APPLIED DOCTORAL STUDY

Scientific insight. Managerial relevance.

Understand the human dimensions of management.

The Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Management connects applied doctoral inquiry with the realities of decision-making, leadership and organisational life. It is designed for experienced professionals who want to examine cognitive and behavioural research critically and translate appropriate findings into responsible management practice.

A clear non-clinical remit

The Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Management is a non-clinical, management-focused doctoral degree. It does not provide medical, therapeutic or diagnostic training, or authorise clinical practice.

Interpret evidence critically

Assess the quality, limits and relevance of neuroscientific and behavioural findings. Distinguish well-supported insights from popular claims and neuromyths.

Examine decisions and behaviour

Investigate cognition, emotion, motivation, attention and bias in managerial settings, without reducing complex organisational questions to explanations about the brain alone.

Develop a practical contribution

Build evidence-informed frameworks and recommendations that address a defined management question, with attention to ethical implications and contextual limits.

MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
APPLIED DOCTORAL STUDY

Your doctoral journey

From question to contribution.

Progress through defined research milestones with individual faculty guidance and academic review. Your inquiry remains anchored in a professional or organisational context.

01 · Prepare

Develop research design and academic writing through Research Skills I and II. Engage critically with relevant foundations in cognitive psychology, behavioural science and applied neuroscience in management.

02 · Frame

Refine a management question, conceptual approach and appropriate methodology. Academic approval of the proposal marks entry into the research stage.

03 · Investigate

Gather and interpret evidence within organisational, consulting or professional settings through an appropriate research design, with attention to research ethics and the limits of inference.

04 · Synthesise

Develop an integrated doctoral manuscript connecting your findings with management scholarship, contextual interpretation and practical recommendations.

05 · Present

Present your completed research, findings and professional implications before the Review Committee.

MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
APPLIED DOCTORAL STUDY

Evidence and ethical responsibility

Research grounded in organisational life.

Possible areas of inquiry include cognitive bias in managerial decisions, stress and recovery in working life, trust and team dynamics, learning and change, and the responsible use of behavioural insights. These are starting points for discussion, not a prescribed list of projects.

Evidence before claims

Evaluate the methods and limitations of the research you draw upon. Findings from one setting do not automatically establish what will work in another.

People before techniques

Consider consent, privacy, fairness and the ethical implications of influencing behaviour in organisations.

Management as the context

The aim is an applied contribution to management practice, not a medical diagnosis, clinical intervention or claim to laboratory expertise.

Who this programme is for

Experienced managers, executives, HR and organisational development professionals, management consultants and executive coaches seeking a rigorous, non-clinical approach to understanding behaviour and decisions at work.

Illustrative research questions

Decision-making under pressure

How do perceived stress and cognitive bias shape managers’ decisions during organisational change?

Explore through interviews and decision diaries, interpreted using relevant cognitive and behavioural research.

Trust and team learning

How does psychological safety influence whether team members question assumptions and learn from mistakes?

Investigate through a team case study combining interviews, observation and appropriate survey measures.

Examples for discussion; final topics and methods are subject to academic and ethical review.

MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
APPLIED DOCTORAL STUDY

Area professors

Leadership, behaviour
and critical inquiry.

The Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Management draws on complementary perspectives in leadership, human behaviour, philosophy and ethical reasoning.

Dr. Donald York

Professor of Leadership Studies
Dean of Student Development

Dr. York combines leadership scholarship with a professional background in critical care and healthcare education. He is a graduate of McGill University and Saint Paul University, federated with the University of Ottawa. His interests include organisational culture and group dynamics. As an active master’s and doctoral supervisor and dissertation reviewer, he brings a people-centred perspective to research and student development.

View faculty profile →

Dr. Norman Madarasz

Professor of International Relations & Philosophy

Dr. Madarasz brings an international perspective to political philosophy, ethics and geoeconomic relations. A widely published scholar with doctoral training at the University of Paris, he has supervised master’s and doctoral research across a range of questions. His work connects critical inquiry with the ideas and relationships shaping business and society in a changing world.

View faculty profile →

MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
APPLIED DOCTORAL STUDY

Research in Practice

Human insight.
Real organisational contexts.

Meet two members of Monarch’s community connecting behavioural insight with leadership and management practice.

Sally Duxfield

New Zealand · Student
Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Management

An executive performance coach with over four decades of experience, Sally explores how leaders learn and adapt under pressure. Her research interests connect stress, recovery and experiential learning with better decision-making and sustained leadership performance.

Dr. Marlene González

United States / Venezuela · Graduate
PhD in Business Research / DBA (Organizational Neuroscience)

A Monarch dual-doctorate graduate with over three decades of leadership experience, Marlene examines how identity, emotional regulation and organisational context shape leadership transitions. Her research connects organisational neuroscience with inclusive, evidence-informed management practice.

MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
APPLIED DOCTORAL STUDY

Plan your next step

Professional flexibility.
Academic purpose.

Admission and individual assessment

Applicants normally hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution. Experienced professionals with a bachelor’s degree and substantial leadership responsibility may also be considered. Exceptional professional achievement or recognised professional certifications may be assessed at the Dean’s discretion. Admission is subject to academic review of readiness, intended inquiry and supervisory fit.

Study alongside your work

This doctoral program may be completed fully online, including the doctoral defence. No relocation is required. Candidates may select an in-person doctoral defence when offered by Monarch. Asynchronous study includes individual faculty guidance and optional doctoral workshops in Switzerland. Rolling admissions allow starts on the first day of each month, subject to admission.

Master-in-Passing recognition

Successful completion of all requirements for the Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Management confers the Master of Arts in Business Research in passing upon award of the doctorate. The corresponding Master-in-Exit is subject to applicable requirements, academic review and approval; it is not automatic.

Tuition and registration

The standard 24-month and extended 48-month pathways are minimum registration periods, not guaranteed completion times. Tuition remains payable throughout active registration. Review the current Tuition Policy and tuition table for payment arrangements and separate fees.

Applicant Resources · Contact Admissions · Apply to the programme

MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
APPLIED DOCTORAL STUDY

Monarch Business School