As a PhD candidate you will conduct research on the project “Embracing ‘Industry 4.0’? Change agents and open digital technology implementation”, a joint research project between the Institute for Management Research of Radboud University and the Faculty of Business, Management and Law (FEM) of HAN University of Applied Sciences.
 
Present technological developments in manufacturing firms’ digitisation, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and 3D printing, accommodate radical new ways of customer participation, along with process, service and business model innovations.
 
Dedicated change agents are crucial for driving the implementation of these new technologies and managing the required organisational change and innovation. In the current literature, change agents’ work environment is largely restricted to the firm. Following renewed and growing attention devoted to openness across domains, this research project aims to broaden this perspective and investigate open technology implementation: the process through which change agents draw on (co-created) resources and expertise from their business ecosystem to support technology implementation within their firm.
 
The project will investigate change agents’ practices and their effects, including how they address potential open implementation dilemmas. The focus lies on digital technologies often associated with progressive labels like ‘Industry 4.0’. The project benefits from close collaboration with a valorisation panel and is connected to an international research network. A longer version of the research proposal is available upon request.
 
Your task will be to conduct research, predominately through applying qualitative research procedures, to write scientific articles, and to complete a PhD thesis in time. You will also participate in conferences, workshops and other scholarly and valorisation activities, and contribute to teaching at HAN. You will be formally employed by Radboud University.

• a Master’s degree (obtained before October 2019), preferably a Research Master’s degree, in business, organisation studies, sociology, or a related field;
• academic excellence, as demonstrated by grade transcripts and CV;
• relevant research experience and an interest in translating research ideas and findings for the benefit of non-academic stakeholders (e.g. managers and policymakers);
• a solid understanding of qualitative (comparative) research procedures;
• excellent command of written and spoken English and proficiency in Dutch;
• the ability to work both independently and as a team player;
• the ability to finish your PhD thesis in time, i.e. strong skills in project management, flexibility, proactive behaviour and excellent academic writing skills.

• employment: 0.8 - 1.0 FTE
• the gross starting salary amounts to €2,325 per month, and will increase to €2,972 in the fourth year (P scale)
• in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• duration of the contract: 4 years (1.0 FTE) or 5 years (0.8 FTE)
• you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract)
• you will be classified as a PhD Student in the Dutch university job-ranking system
• you will be able to make use of our Dual Career Service where our Dual Career Officer will assist with family related support, such as child care, and help your partner prepare for the local labour market and with finding an occupation

 
Intended starting date is 1 October 2019.

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Nijmegen School of Management
The Nijmegen School of Management (NSM) is an academic centre of research and higher education at Radboud University, focusing on institutional and managerial issues concerning complex organisations in both the public and private domain. It contains seven disciplines: Business Administration, Public Administration, Political Science, Economics and Business Economics, Social and Political Sciences of the Environment, Human Geography, and Spatial Planning. The NSM strives for a multidisciplinary approach whenever possible. The NSM employs 265 FTEs, of whom 75% are academics. The NSM currently has approximately 4,500 students.
 
You will be part of the Institute for Management Research (IMR) at Radboud University. The IMR aims to create knowledge for society and carries out state-of-the-art research into complex problems of governance and management in order to explain the causes of these problems, and to use that knowledge to create potential solutions. Within IMR you will be part of the research hotspot Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Business Ecosystems.
 
HAN University of Applied Sciences has 35,000 students divided over two campuses (Arnhem and Nijmegen). HAN University’s Business faculty offers degrees in the fields of economics and management and has around 10,500 students and employs 600 FTEs. You will be part of the HAN Business faculty’s Business Development and Co-creation (BDC) research centre. The BDC has a multidisciplinary approach thanks to its ties with the professional field, which has a leading role in defining the research questions. Within BDC you will be part of the Smart Business research group, which is closely linked to the Smart Region, HAN University’s key research area, which focuses on creating an innovative and entrepreneurial region.
 
Further information on Institute for Management Research
Further information on HAN University of Applied Sciences