Open PhD in Organization and Management Theory

Updated: about 1 year ago
Deadline: 15 Jan 2023

Abstract

Organizations are everywhere. All key societal challenges and changes are ultimately coordinated by and through organizations. As such, the study of organizations is crucial to our understanding of contemporary societies and economies. As societies are evolving, so are our organizations and the role they are expected to play. How can we make sense of how organizations persist and change in today’s volatile world? How do new forms of organizing emerge in response to today’s challenges? How do important social aspects such as history or identity play a role in contemporary organizations? How are organizations socially evaluated and loose/gain legitimacy? At RSM, and the department of Organization and Personnel Management, we have an eclectic program with state-of-the-art and impactful research in relation to these kinds of questions. Researchers that are part of this program take an explicit macro perspective on this issue, meaning that they start from the organization or organizational field level as the main unit of analysis. Otherwise, researchers are highly diverse and, as a group, encompass a wide variety of theoretical perspectives and research methods.

We are currently looking for a passionate and motivated PhD candidate to be part of this exciting research program. We provide an encouraging and supportive environment where you can explore and develop your own research interests within the broad contours of our program. As such, the specific focus of PhD projects and supervisory faculty team will be co-determined by the PhD candidate and faculty involved in the research program. This leaves the PhD candidate with significant scope to develop any project that is meaningful to their own development as long as it starts from a macro perspective and can be supported by a supervisor with relevant expertise in the area of interest. Two research areas within this broad research program are delineated to reflect the current research focus of the department. These areas are highlighted to serve as inspirational examples, rather than to provide a definitive list of research topics.


Keywords

Organizations, persistence, change, community, cooperatives, contestation, scandals, legitimacy, conformity, communication, creativity, craft, authenticity, ideology, values, power and politics, time, history, institutional theory, international business, social movement theory, social evaluations,


Topic

Organizational change and persistence

Organizational persistence and change co-exist and co-constitute one another and include various accompanying processes. For example, change is often accompanied by contestation as the status-quo is often preferred by some while challenged by others. Alluding to the past, history, legacy, tradition, and the role of time often underlie and enable organizations’ persistence. Concepts such as conformity, creativity, innovation and identity, hint to both persistence and change and are thus central to investigating how and why organizations, organizational forms, organizational populations, and organizational categories persist and change. At the department of Organization and Personnel Management, we have faculty that have specialized research streams related to this broad topic. This includes research on communicative processes underpinning change; the underlying interests, values, and norms which provide powerful impetus for change and related contestation; the role of ideology in organizational change and persistence and, time, history and temporality in the study of organizations.

Alternative forms of organizing

Academic thinking on organizations has traditionally been dominated by examples from a relatively narrow range of organizations and organizing models; those that have come to define the success of capitalist economies in the West during the 20th century. Yet, the organizational world is incredibly diverse, and it is important to recognize that different organizations and organizing models are fitting for different kind of purposes. This is particularly important as today’s challenges can often not be solved by 20th century solutions. At the department of Organization and Personnel Management, we have faculty that have specialized research streams related to this broad topic. This includes research on the role and functioning of cooperatives, the distinct nature of and challenges faced by social enterprises, the revival of craft and craft principles in advanced society, how novel ideas, innovations, or creative products, transpire, and the conditions for organizational success across different political regimes.


Approach

By its nature, the study of organizations is interdisciplinary which is reflected both in the theoretical domains/disciplines that inform it as well as the required methodologies. Consequently, the research methodology is determined by the research question(s) and theoretical perspective(s) as well as the research context. Thus, a broad range of methodologies can and should be considered/chosen and we encourage our PhD candidates to acquaint themselves with a variety of methods so that they can develop themselves as all-round researchers. This means that we equally support state-of-the art quantitative and qualitative research and encourage candidates to combine different data sources and methods (potentially ranging from big data and machine learning to in-depth ethnographic research) throughout their PhD. In other words, an exploration of the different methods to select and master would be an integral part of the PhD project rather than being predetermined at the outset. It is thus expected that a PhD student is willing to potentially master a variety of methodologies, building on the experience and guidance of the supervisor(s), and the resources available within RSM/Erasmus university and beyond.


Required profile

The candidate should be first and foremost curious and inquisitive about the (social) world around her/him. Curiosity and the drive to answer questions are the basic requirements of a good researcher. In terms of prior training, it is preferred that the candidate has a master’s degree and background in social/behavioral sciences and/or a management field and already have some research experience. It is important to have an excellent command of English (comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing) as it is the language of scientific inquiry. Analytical skills, intrinsic motivation, an open-mind, and strong interest in the study of organizations from a macro perspective, are expected of candidates for this position.

For any questions concerning this PhD opportunity please contact Tal Simons: [email protected]

Please note that we will consider only complete applications (including all test scores - GMAT/GRE and IELTS/TOEFL).

Candidates applying for this position are required to include a sample of academic written work (e.g., thesis) in their application.


Expected output

The PhD project is funded for up to five years and should yield at least three (top) journal publications (erim journals list ). Targeted outlets include journals such as the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, Organization Science, Organization Studies, Journal of Management, etc. Results/papers will also be presented at international conferences, such as the annual meetings of the Academy of Management (AoM), the European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS), and smaller specialized conferences. Furthermore, careful planning should also yield data for work beyond the dissertation papers such that upon completing the PhD, subsequent projects can be relatively quickly embarked on.


Cooperation

The relevant supervisors have a strong international network of collaborators and colleagues that can be called upon to host research visits of PhD students, assist with specific needs (e.g., friendly reviewer), and serve as external committee members. Furthermore, the department and school have regular seminar speakers and research visits by renowned international faculty, providing further opportunities to get acquainted with, and establish international collaborations. In general, a strong ethos of cooperating towards achieving high-quality PhD training exists within the department, between relevant faculty across RSM departments as well as with the broad professional network. Examples of institutions PhD students supervised by the relevant faculty recently visited include MIT, Michigan State University and WU. Besides these, recent PhD students supervised by other department members include visiting at Duke University, University of Maryland, Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Toronto.


Societal relevance

Given organizations’ pivotal societal and economic role as described above, scientifically sound research, research that contributes to resolving (theoretical) problems and puzzles, and the deep contextual knowledge that is developed during a PhD project, will also have its specific societal relevance. The Rotterdam School of Management supports dissemination of findings to the wider society in various ways (e.g., discovery ).


Scientific relevance

The PhD projects will be predicated on sound theoretical and methodological bases and aim to contribute to theory development and advancement per the relevant perspectives taken. It would also be expected to contribute to a greater understanding of a particular context, such as a particular industry, type(s) of organizations, etc. Clearly, the specific scientific contributions the project will make are contingent on how the project is shaped by the PhD student, nonetheless since the general research domain outlined above is central to current Organization and Management Theory research, similarly the PhD project is expected to significantly inform the relevant theories/concepts.


Literature references & data sources

Please consult the webpages of the faculty related to these themes: George Hendrikse, Rouven Kanitz, Jochem Kroezen, Anastasia Sergeeva, and Tal Simons (see: https://www.rsm.nl/research/departments/organisation-and-personnel-management/faculty/ ) for further information on their expertise and research.


Employment conditions

ERIM offers fully-funded and salaried PhD positions, which means that accepted PhD candidates become employees (promovendi) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO) .


Contact Information

For questions regarding the PhD application and selection procedure, please check the Admissions or send us an e-mail via [email protected] .


Erasmus Research Institute of Management

ERIM is the research institute of management at Erasmus University Rotterdam, founded by Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) and Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), both of which excel in their research and teaching programmes. The level and international character of their research and teaching programmes has put both schools at the forefront of academic excellence. They offer a diversified portfolio of accredited teaching and research programmes, ranging from pre-experience MSc to postgraduate Masters and executive development, and from fundamental research to applied research and business support, which are renowned throughout the world. RSM is one of the few schools worldwide that holds a triple accreditation from the AMBAs, EQUIS and the AASCB, and is positioned among the top European business schools. The scientific staff of both schools plays a major role in the schools’ interaction with the international business community.

ERIM distinguishes itself by the high-level and international character of its research and has repeatedly been ranked among top 3 research institutes in Europe. ERIM’s key aims are top-quality academic research with impact both on academia and managerial practice, and the advancement of international academic careers and high-level support for both research and doctoral education. For more information about ERIM please visit [link:https://www.erim.eur.nl].



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