PhD student position in Service Innovation Management

Do you want to take part in a research project that aims to improve organizations' ability to plan and manage the development of new successful combined product-service innovations? We are recruiting a PhD student within the field of service innovation management. The research is conducted in close collaboration with national and international universities and a number of manufacturing companies.

Information about the project
Many traditionally product-focused manufacturing companies are innovating by integrating services to their physical products as a competitive strategy, known as servitization. Servitization is essentially about competing through value propositions that integrate services with product offerings. Servitization is also described as the process of transforming the company from a product centric to a servic logic. However, companies are facing big challenges in this servitization transformation. The research project aims to contribute to increasing companies' capability to develop combined product-service innovations. This is done by focusing on organizational structure and processes, as well as strategy processes.

The PhD project will be conducted in close collaboration with the Center for Service Research at Karlstad University and a number of manufacturing companies. The project will also include international collaboration for example through the ongoing establishment of a ”Nordic Engineering Services Network”, including Chalmers, Karlstad University, DTU (Technical University of Denmark) and CBS (Copenhagen Business School) in Copenhagen, and Aalto University in Helsinki.

Information about the division
The position is placed at the Division of Innovation and R&D Management (IRDM) at the Department of Technology Management and Economics (TME). The research at IRDM focuses on organizing and managing Innovation and R&D activities in large, established organizations. The research is undertaken in collaboration with both private and public organizations and focuses on challenges, mainly of strategic significance, that these organizations are facing. These challenges – often implying innovation challenges in terms of doing differently, call for change and development of ways of working and organizational redesign.

Major responsibilities
The main responsibility for you as a PhD student is to pursue doctoral studies in relation to a specific research topic. This includes two main components: doctoral courses and independent research (under supervision). The latter includes literature studies, research design and planning, empirical studies and communication of results in writing and orally at seminars and conferences. The exact focus and content of the studies will be decided in interaction with the examiner/main supervisor. You are expected to contribute to writing a number of scientific articles based on the results of the research, which will be included in the thesis.

The position also includes teaching at the undergraduate or master's level or performing other departmental duties corresponding to a maximum of 20 percent of the working hours.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

Qualifications
To qualify for this position you need a university degree at advanced (Master's) level in a relevant field of study, including, but not restricted to; industrial engineering and management, product development, innovation management, business administration or similar. The degree consist of at least four years of study (240 ECTS credits), of which at least 60 ECTS credits at advanced level. A specific requirement is that you have completed an independent degree project (thesis) at Master's level, representing at least one term of study (30 ECTS credits). 

To be suitable for the position you should have good interpersonal and social skills, analytical skills and strong communication skills. You need to be fluent in English, both written and verbal. 

Valuable merits:
- Documented skills in applying social science research methods, especially qualitative methods.
- Knowledge about service innovation management.
- Experience from the manufacturing industry.
- Willingness to conduct collaborative research with industry and other universities.
- Experience in project management (including management of own degree project or similar).
- Distinctive ability to write academic texts. 

We believe that you are highly motivated, personally mature and both able and willing to assume responsibility for and pursue the task at hand. You are good at communicating with others and are able to handle complex information and problems, through breaking it down and analysing it as well as synthesizing information from several sources. You tend to look at the broader perspective and to consider the long-term consequences of decisions and actions, but are also able to make proper judgements and set appropriate priorities when needed. 

Application procedure
Learn more and apply on Chalmers website: https://www.chalmers.se/sv/om-chalmers/Arbeta-pa-Chalmers/lediga-tjanster/Sidor/default.aspx?rmpage=job&rmjob=9860&rmlang=SE

Application deadline: 7 November, 2021

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***