Combined study

4 years

prof. Ing. et Ing. Stanislav Škapa, Ph.D.

Chairman :
prof. Ing. et Ing. Stanislav Škapa, Ph.D.
Councillor internal :
prof. Ing. Vojtěch Koráb, Dr., MBA
prof. Ing. Mária Režňáková, CSc.
doc. Ing. Marie Pavláková Dočekalová, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Alena Kocmanová, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Vojtěch Bartoš, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Miloš Koch, CSc.
doc. PhDr. Iveta Šimberová, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
doc. Ing. Petr Pirožek, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Zuzana Dohnalová, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jiří Kraft, CSc.

The Company Management and Economics doctoral programme aims to educate experts highly qualified for research in the field of company management, for teaching and doing research at universities, and work in international organizations, domestic and global companies.
Emphasis is put on acquiring deep and systematic knowledge and understanding of theories and mastering modern methods and procedures applicable to economics as a field of science, next on adopting advanced methods for research in economics, company management, and on developing expertise in econometrics.
Students concentrate on their own research, finding solutions to research problems focusing on comprehensiveness and theoretical background of the solutions found. An integral part of students' activities is publishing the research results, their interpretation and subsequent presentation taking different forms (presentation at research forums, at scientific conferences, writing paper, conceiving and presenting research projects, etc.), but above all, writing and defending a dissertation.

A graduate in Company Management and Economics has acquired highly specialized, systematic knowledge of theories, concepts, and methods in the field of company management and economics, which is among the best on an international scale, thus enhancing the engineering expertise and skills, as well as deep and systematic knowledge and understanding of advanced mathematical and statistical methods of quantitative and qualitative data analysis including deep and systematic knowledge of the methods and procedures of scientific work.
Graduates will find jobs of highly qualified experts in research organisations as heads of research and development teams and can also teach and do research at universities, in international organizations, at domestic and global companies.

The study requirements for students of the Company Management and Economics programme can be found in individual curricula.
The key required subject is the Methodology of Science and Research Work in Economics and Management, which is offered in cooperation with the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The programme's main objective is to teach the students how to do research, to improve their knowledge and practical skills needed for scientific work, as well as to teach them how to write a good dissertation.
The first year also includes the Economics III course aiming to improve the use of analytic tools needed in micro-economy, particularly concerning the analysis of the supply part of market mechanism with special emphasis on mathematical models, acquainting the students also with alternative approaches to demand and supply forming. In the macro-economy part, emphasis will be laid on the theory of exogenic an endogenic economic growth and the theory of state policy, improving the students' capabilities to apply the acquired knowledge in the context of company management. The second year includes the required Academic Writing course to develop the students' communication skills needed to describe their research and general academic genres while improving their stylistic skills typical of academic writings.
In the second year, students are required to choose one of the below listed courses to augment their expertise and skills needed for writing a quality dissertation.
• Theory of Management;
• Sustainability and Circular Economics;
• Information Management;
• Marketing Theory;
• Business Management Theory;
• Theory and Practice of Financial Management;
• Methods of Economic Management of Enterprises;
The required courses and the one optional chosen are then completed by an exam.
Since an individual curriculum must include research activities based on the dissertation focus, starting in the first year, the following research outcomes are required (Research outcomes I-IV):
• In the first year a student must have at least one publication (a contribution to a domestic/international conference proceedings or paper published in a reviewed journal) corresponding to the dissertation focus, having the structure of a research paper with a co-authorship of at least 80%. The student will receive a credit for the fulfilment of this condition from his or her supervisor.
• At least one publication is required in the second year, too, (paper in a Jimp or JSC type journal or a contribution to Defendant-type conference) with a co-authorship of at least 80%. The student will receive a credit for the fulfilment of this condition from his or her supervisor.
• At least one publication is required in the third year (research paper in a Jimp or JSC type journal) corresponding to the dissertation topic with a co-authorship of at least 80%. The student will receive a credit for the fulfilment of this condition from his or her supervisor.
• In the fourth year, too, a doctoral student is expected to publish at least one research paper in a Jimp type journal related to the dissertation focus written by the doctoral student alone, or several papers with a co-authorship totalling 100%. The student will receive a credit for the fulfilment of this condition from his or her supervisor.
The required research outputs as defined above strongly support the internationalization element since the fulfilment of the publishing requirements (particularly in the third and fourth years) is only possible if the papers published are written in English.
Because of the strong accent of the doctoral study on research with outcomes reflected in the dissertation, required is also a presentation of the dissertation research focus to help assess the setting of the dissertation objective, the progress of work on the topic chosen, the expected research contribution of dissertation as well as the research methodology. The student will receive a credit for the fulfilment of this requirement from his or her supervisor.
In order to improve the quality of dissertations, doctoral students must present a "small defence of dissertation" at the supervising department. This defence should help assess the dissertation scientific contribution, the research methodology, and the fulfilment of the main and partial goals of the dissertation. The student will receive a credit for a successful presentation from his or her supervisor.
An integral part of each individual curriculum is the obligation to complete a Foreign Internship - Study Stay in the third or fourth year abroad at a university or research organisation whose research focus is the same as or related to the one of the dissertation. The stay should contribute to the development of the student's expertise and skills in the given problem area, help him or her establish international contacts, broaden his or her experience and provide him or her with opportunities to engage more closely in the scientific community dealing with problems related to the dissertation focus. The length of the stay is one semester. The student will receive a credit for a completed stay from his or her supervisor.
In students of the combined study mode, the stay abroad may take the form of on-the-job stay at a company or institution working on problems related to the dissertation focus.
The student will receive a credit for a completed stay from his or her supervisor.
As an important part, an individual curriculum for a full-time doctoral student will include teaching practice needed to enhance the presentation skills. As a rule, this teaching practice in the first four semesters includes 4 lessons a week on average. For students in the combined study mode, such practice is replaced by their publishing activities with at least one publication (a paper in a type Jimp journal or a contribution to a type D conference proceedings with a co-authorship of 100 % or several publications with the co-authorships totalling 100%. The student will receive a credit for the fulfilment of this requirement from his or her supervisor.
Doctoral students of the combined study mode are not required to appear at the supervising department on a regular basis, however, they have to attend the courses offered, consultations, and other events related to the individual curriculum following instructions by the supervisor.

The Company Management and Economics doctoral programme is offered on the basis of individual curricula set up by supervisors in cooperation with the students. An individual curriculum covers four academic years providing the student with the expertise and skills needed for doing research. A draft of each individual curriculum must be debated and approved by the Doctoral Committee. When conceiving a doctoral study, emphasis is laid upon:
• curriculum / study;
• independent scientific and research activities related to the dissertation focus;
• internationalization supported by stay abroad;
• teaching practice;
The key part of an individual curriculum is the division of the study and completion of the required theoretical and optional courses. The first year includes two required courses:
• Methodology of Science and Research Work in Economics and Management (prof. Ing. Vojtěch Koráb, Dr., MBA)
• Economics III (doc. Ing. et Ing. Stanislav Škapa, Ph.D. person in charge and teacher 60%, doc. Ing. Zinecker Marek, Ph.D., teacher 40%,)
One required specialised course is taught in the second year:
• Academic Writing (doc. PhDr. Milena Krhutova, Ph.D.)
Next, students may choose one required optional course that enhances the expertise and skills necessary for writing a good dissertation. These are the below courses:
• Theory of Management (doc. RNDr. Anna Putnová, Ph.D., MBA);
• Sustainability and Circular Economics (prof. Ing. Alena Kocmanová, Ph.D.);
• Information Management (doc. Ing. Miloš Koch, CSc.);
• Marketing Theory (doc. Ing. Vladimír Chalupský, CSc., MBA, person responsible and teacher 50%, doc. Ing. Vít Chlebovský, Ph.D. teacher 50%);
• Business Management Theory (doc. PhDr. Iveta Šimberová, Ph.D.);
• Theory and Practice of Financial Management (prof. Ing. Mária Režňáková, CSc.);
• Methods of Economic Management of Enterprises (doc. Ing. Tomáš Meluzín, Ph.D.);
Each required theoretical or optional course is completed by an exam.
Since an individual curriculum must include research activities based on the dissertation focus, starting in the first year, research outcomes are required.
Because of the strong accent of the doctoral study on research with outcomes reflected in the dissertation, required is also a presentation of the dissertation research plan to help assess the setting of the dissertation objective, the progress of work on the topic chosen, the expected research contribution of dissertation as well as the research methodology.
In order to improve the quality of dissertations, doctoral students must present a "small defence of dissertation" at the supervising department. This defence should help assess the dissertation scientific contribution, the research methodology, and the fulfilment of the main and partial goals of the dissertation.
An integral part of each individual curriculum is the obligation to complete a Foreign Internship - Study Stay in the third or fourth year abroad at a university or research organisation whose research focus is the same as or related to the one of the dissertation. The stay should contribute to the development of the student's expertise and skills in the given problem area help him or her establish international contacts, broaden his or her experience and provide him or her with opportunities to engage more closely in the scientific community dealing with problems related to the dissertation focus. The length of the stay is one semester.
In the combined study mode, the stay may take the form of an on-the-job stay at a company or institution with a student working on problems related to the dissertation focus. Students staying abroad must also prove their language skills. The student will receive a credit for a completed stay from his or her supervisor.
As an important part, an individual curriculum for a full-time doctoral student will include teaching practice needed to enhance the presentation skills. As a rule, this practice in the first four semesters includes 4 lessons a week on average. For students in the combined study mode, such practice is replaced by their publishing activities.
Next, an individual curriculum includes other, no less important, activities improving a student's research profile. These are in particular applications for grants (such as Junior Projects as part of Specific Research), participation in domestic and international conferences.
The structure and content of a doctoral student's curriculum are part of the BUT Apollo information system.

The Company Management and Economics doctoral programme is intended for graduates in economic Master's programmes.

1. AI-driven Innovations in Servitization

   Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative tool for manufacturers looking to shift their business model towards servitization, focusing on outcome-based services rather than solely products. To build scalable and profitable services, manufacturers must leverage the extensive opportunities that AI provides. The aim of the topic is to map the possibilities of using AI in service innovations provided by manufacturing companies.

   Tutor: Kaňovská Lucie, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Financial constraints factors and their impact on default risk of SMEs

   The limited variability of financial sources of small and medium enterprises (SME) limits their investment activities and by that limits the growth and the enhance the default risk. The nexus between financial constraints factors and the default risk represents a scientific gap.

   Tutor: Karas Michal, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Financial Transactions and Their Taxation

   The OECD's project against BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) has established standards that have had significant impacts in the area of financial transactions. The aim of the thesis will be to assess the existing standards along with the systematization of the existing rules and subsequently to create a methodological guide for tax management in this area.

   Tutor: Brychta Karel, doc. Ing. Mgr., Ph.D.

4. Intangible Assets and Their Taxation

   The OECD's project against BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) has established standards that have had significant impacts in the area of intangible assets, which importance has been continuously growing. The aim of the thesis will be to assess the existing standards along with the systematization of the existing rules and subsequently to create a methodological guide for tax management in this area.

   Tutor: Brychta Karel, doc. Ing. Mgr., Ph.D.

5. Non-market options for valuation of debt instruments at fair value

   In the absence of market data, fair value valuation via the income approach is possible. The gap remains the possibility of taking into account the risk of failure within cash flows or the discount rate, especially with the optional approach.

   Tutor: Karas Michal, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

6. Specifics of Human-AI Partnership and Innovative Work Behaviour

   The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies has brought tremendous opportunities and challenges for organisations. As AI continues to be more and more integrated into the workplace, the concept of human-AI partnership is becoming increasingly important, a partnership that involves humans working alongside AI systems to enhance productivity, decision-making, and overall performance. The main aim of dissertation will be to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) influences today’s world of work and the impact of AI on employees. And further to propose a model of an effective Human-centered - AI partnerships i order to enhance innovative work behaviour within organizations.

   Tutor: Konečná Zdeňka, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

7. Sustainable Business Models

   The aim of the research is to develop sustainable business models.

   Tutor: Pavláková Dočekalová Marie, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

8. Territorial servitization in choosen industry

   To get insights into servitization adoption across geographic regions, manufacturing organisations, transformation and transition pathways, barriers and enablers. Collaborative, territory-based manufacturing firms typically maintain high levels of productivity and innovation.

   Tutor: Kaňovská Lucie, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

9. The importance of servitization and smart (digital) servitization of companies in terms of sustainable development

   The reasons leading companies to the servitization strategy have recently been supplemented with society-wide global trend of striving for sustainable development. The aim of the topic is to map the significance of servitization and smart servitization of companies in terms of sustainable development.

   Tutor: Kaňovská Lucie, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

10. The Political Economy of Disintegration: Assessing Economic Consequences in terms of Small and Medium Entrepreneurship

    This research aims to identify key factors, which might be critical when considering the current tendencies of disintegration from the perspective of SMEs based the Czech Republic.

    Tutor: Zinecker Marek, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

11. Use of Digital Tools to Support Companies' Marketing Strategies

    Research focused on the composition and extent of the use of digital tools to support the creation and implementation of marketing strategies in companies.

    Tutor: Chlebovský Vít, doc. Ing., Ph.D.