Netherlands: Marie Curie PhD Fellowship

Deadline: 31 Jan. 2013

Understanding Corporate Front-runners in Sustainable Innovation

Rotterdam School of Management

This Early-Stage Researcher position is part of a new project Innovation for Sustainability – “I4S” funded under the EU “Marie Curie Action: Initial Training Networks. Project supervision at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) will be provided by Prof. Gail Whiteman, Prof. Jan van den Ende and Dr Steve Kennedy. Further available positions across eight universities within this network can be found at;http://www.eabis.org/projects/project-detail-view.html?uid=42

This PhD position shall focus upon research with corporate front-runners of sustainability. Whilst meeting the demands of Corporate Sustainability remains a new and novel task for most companies, for some it has now long formed part of their everyday thinking and corporate strategy. These sustainability front-runners have become relatively experienced at Sustainable Innovation (SI) and are using it to great effect to meet both environmental and social challenges and achieve commercial success.

This position shall address the following research questions: What organizational processes trigger, enable and create barriers for transformative sustainable innovation? How does the goal of sustainability affect, modify or change internal innovation processes? Are the patterns of sustainable innovation unique to this area? What governance mechanisms appear to be most effective in facilitating sustainable innovation within firms? To what degree can a general conceptual framework for sustainable innovation be developed?

The research methodology will consist of in-depth case study analysis of 2-3 associated business partners, including a 4-10 month secondment at the WBCSD whereby co-supervision will be provided by Mr Peter Bakker. The approach of the study will primarily be qualitative using methods such as in-depth interviews, document analysis, and participant observation. ESRs will have the opportunity to interact, observe, and participate in firm-level innovation discussions and projects.

How to apply

The call for application is open until the position is filled but no later than 31^st January 2013.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Steve Kennedy, skennedy@rsm.nl.