PhD Investigating Modern Organizational Structures & Decision-Making through experimental approaches

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Belonging to the best research universities of Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

Faculty of Economics and Business
The Faculty of Economics and Business offers an inspiring study and working environment for students and employees. International accreditation enables the Faculty to assess performance against the highest international standards. It also creates an exciting environment of continuous improvement. FEB's programmes, academic staff and research do well on various excellence ranking lists.

FEBRI, the graduate school and research institute of the Faculty of Economics and Business has available:
One PhD: Investigating Modern Organizational Structures and Decision-Making through experimental approaches

Project description
How are strategic decisions shaped by organizational structures? What are the effects of modern organizational structures like flat hierarchies that provide autonomy or technology-enabled self-coordination (platforms, AI) on the decision-making environment within organizations and individuals' decision-making? We aim to study these questions from the Carnegie perspective on decision-making that centers on the interplay between organizational context and the individual (cognitive biases, motives, emotions). Empirically, we combine experimental methods with secondary data analysis.

Organisation
The PhD position is embedded in the research programme Innovation & Organization of FEB’s Research Institute. We offer a truly international environment (our working language is English and we currently employ more than 15 different nationalities). The project will be supervised by Dr. Marco Kleine, Dr. Pasi Kuusela, and Professor Dr. Floor Rink. The supervisory team has a track record of publishing in leading academic journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Organization Science, and Strategic Management Journal.

The ideal candidate is ambitious, highly motivated and wishes to make a career in research at a leading university. He or she has a thorough training in analytical/quantitative skills, speaks and writes English fluently, has an international orientation, and has obtained excellent results in the master phase.

The PhD candidate should have a background (MSc, research master) in strategic management, organization theory or a related field (economics, psychology, sociology, political science) with a keen interest in experimental methods and behavioral/psychological aspects of organizational decision making.

The full-time appointment is temporary for a period of four years, under the condition of a positive assessment at the end of the first year. The gross monthly salary is € 2,770 euro, which increases yearly to a maximum of € 3,539. Based on the gross salary you will receive an additional 8% holiday allowance each year in May, and an additional 8.3 % end of year bonus in December. PhD candidates contribute 20% of their time to teaching in years 2-4.

An assessment may be part of the procedure, consisting of psychological tests and an interview.

Starting date: Preferably per September 1, 2024.