Stage 1 · 1-Day AIRI
AI Readiness & Assessment Index: a focused two-hour group session to evaluate organisational readiness, gaps and priorities.
Strategic leadership / doctoral pathway
Executive DBA AI & Design Thinking
An applied doctorate centred on a real organisational problem. Turn executive experience into AI-driven intellectual capital.
- Duration
- Up to 18 months
- Model
- 1 AI Project. 1 DBA Journey.
- Validation
- 3-week AI sandbox / pilot
- Format
- Hybrid, for working professionals
With The Thames International University, Paris, France.
Overview
About the programme
The Executive DBA is a leadership and applied-inquiry programme for experienced decision-makers who want to convert significant organisational challenges into defensible AI-enabled solutions, supported by design thinking, research evidence, experimentation and strategic impact.
Who should enrol
Senior executives, entrepreneurs, public-sector leaders, board and policy advisers, consultants and functional specialists who can frame a consequential organisational problem and obtain access to data, stakeholders or a case environment. Indicative profile: around 10 years or more of leadership or professional experience, subject to admissions review.
Study journey
Indicative 18 months journey
Months 1–3
Frame
Leadership question, AI readiness, organisational setting, research purpose and ethics.
Months 4–7
Design
Evidence review, design thinking, methods, data suitability and an AI solution blueprint.
Months 8–11
Validate
Guided sandbox / pilot, feedback, controls and evaluation of technical and user evidence.
Months 12–18
Defend
Write up findings, interpret impact, refine recommendations and undertake the final defence.
Compulsory AIDT practical sequence
Compulsory AIDT practical sequence
Stage 2 · 2-Day Solutioning
AI Design Thinking with blueprint development: one two-hour guided session each day to narrow and specify the solution.
Stage 3 · 3-Week Sandbox
One two-hour coached session each week supporting development, deployment and pilot evaluation in a controlled environment.
Curriculum
Detailed coverage
- 01
Strategic AI & sector foresight
AI economics, industry disruption, regulatory signals, organisational opportunities and strategic problem selection.
- 02
AI readiness & systems diagnosis
People, processes, data, capability, risk, operating model and use-case prioritisation.
- 03
Human-centred design thinking
Stakeholder interviews, journey maps, root-cause analysis, concept design and adoption barriers.
- 04
Applied inquiry & research design
Research question, relevant literature, methodology, sampling, evidence quality and research ethics.
- 05
AI systems & model evaluation
Data preparation, model selection, generative and predictive methods, testing, bias, explainability and security.
- 06
AI blueprint & sandbox / pilot
Solution architecture, success criteria, controlled deployment, user feedback and technical validation.
- 07
Intellectual property & scaling
IP ownership, licensing, governance, business models, valuation logic and commercialisation options.
- 08
Doctoral synthesis & defence
Findings, original contribution, limitations, recommendations, documentation and oral defence.
Evidence of learning
What you submit and take forward
- Organisational problem and research proposal
- AI solution blueprint
- Sandbox / pilot evidence portfolio
- Final doctoral report and defence
An AI blueprint, pilot evidence, a substantive doctoral project and a roadmap for organisational adoption or further development.
Award title, credit value, admission requirements and recognition are confirmed by the awarding institution.
Talk to CEAI
Enquire about Executive DBA (AI & Design Thinking)
Ask about entry requirements, the next intake and fees.