Capella University

DB8750: Seminar: Strategy and Innovation Literature Review

A study guide to DB8750, the six-credit seminar where DBA students write the literature review for their individual capstone project.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

DB8750 is the literature review seminar for students in the strategy and innovation specialization at Capella University.

According to the catalog, students write synthetic reviews of the literature supporting their topic, their planned technique for collecting data, and the framework, theory, concept or model that grounds their project.

The review is graded and also reviewed by multiple approvers: the catalog says capstone literature review approval is required to move beyond the course. That makes it a high-stakes document that is easy to under-plan.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityCapella University
Code and titleDB8750 Seminar: Strategy and Innovation Literature Review
Credits6 (quarter credits)
PrerequisiteDB8740
TransferCannot be fulfilled by transfer
Key requirementLiterature review approval from multiple approvers

What DB8750 Covers

The catalog describes three strands that the review must support:

StrandWhat the review should show
Your topicWhat is known about the problem and what is still missing
Data collection techniqueWhy the technique you plan suits this kind of question
Framework, theory, concept or modelHow the scholarly lens grounds the project

Key Ideas Explained

Synthesis Versus Summary

A synthetic review organizes sources by idea. Each paragraph makes a claim, supports it with several sources, and notes where they agree or differ.

Illustrative example: Instead of "Smith (2019) found X. Jones (2020) found Y.", write "Studies report that X is associated with Y (Smith, 2019; Jones, 2020), although results differ in smaller firms, which this project addresses."

Search Strategy

Record the databases, search terms and date limits you used. A transparent search makes your review easier to defend and to update later.

Structure by Theme

Typical themes are topic, framework and method. Short introductions and summaries at the start and end of each theme keep the reader oriented.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Assignment typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Literature review draftsSynthesis and coverageWrite theme by theme and cite several sources per claim
Source matrix or search logRigor of searchRecord each search and each source's key points
Revisions after reviewResponding to feedbackUse a comment-by-comment response table

Where Students Get Stuck

Planning Your Term

StageDo thisOutput
StartOutline themesHeading structure
SearchingRun and log searchesSource matrix
DraftingWrite theme by themeFull first draft
ReviewEdit for synthesis and APASubmission draft

Approval timelines are set by Capella, so build in time for at least one round of revisions.

Building the Review: A Sample Outline

Students often ask how long each part should be. Your template and rubric decide that, but the outline below shows a reasonable order for a review covering the three strands in the catalog.

PartPurposeContent
IntroductionOrient the readerThe problem, the search method and how the review is organized
Topic literatureShow what is knownThemes in studies on the problem, with conflicts and gaps
Framework literatureGround the projectOrigins of the theory or model, how others have applied it, criticisms
Method literatureJustify data collectionHow similar studies collected data, and strengths and limits of the technique
Summary and gapLink to your projectWhat the literature leaves open and how your project responds

Within each part, keep paragraphs to one idea. A typical paragraph states a claim, gives two or three supporting sources, notes any disagreement, and ends with a link back to your project.

Finish with a reference check. Count the in-text citations against the reference list, confirm years and spellings, and make sure every source you describe is one you actually read. Mismatches are among the easiest comments for an approver to make and the easiest for you to prevent.

Paragraph Check

Read the first sentence of each paragraph in order. They should outline your argument. If they read as a list of authors, regroup by idea and lead with the claim instead.

Common Writing Problems and Fixes

ProblemWhy reviewers flag itFix
Long quotationsShows less of your own analysisParaphrase and cite; quote only key phrases
Unexplained termsReader cannot follow the argumentDefine once with a source
Missing method sourcesTechnique looks arbitraryCite studies that used and critiqued it

Study Tips for DB8750

How We Help with DB8750

Send your outline, template, drafts and feedback. We can prepare a custom review, check your synthesis and structure, or edit for clarity and APA 7 formatting. See our literature review help guide for more.

GradeEssays is independent of Capella University. Our work is a study and reference aid; you complete and submit your own work under Capella's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, include free revisions within the scope of your original request, and are refunded in full if late.

Get Your Literature Review in Shape

Share your draft and approver comments. A research writer edits for synthesis and APA, or prepares a model to study.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prerequisite for DB8750?

DB8740.

How many credits is DB8750?

Six quarter credits.

What approval is needed?

Capstone literature review approval from multiple approvers to move beyond the course.

What should the review cover?

Your topic, planned data collection technique and the framework, theory, concept or model grounding the project.

Can DB8750 be transferred?

No.

What comes after DB8750?

DB9801 Proposal Writing lists DB8650, DB8750 or DB8850 as a prerequisite.