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Are you interested in academic research, and looking to make an impact on business as well as society? Do you enjoy diving deep into real-life problems of companies, while keeping a keen eye on scientific contributions? Would you like to be part of a vibrant research community in Amsterdam and Zurich? Then we have just the right position for you! The Amsterdam Business School is looking for a highly motivated PhD student who will study the process, challenges, and outcomes of firms implementing purpose-driven renewal strategies.

Are you interested in academic research, and looking to make an impact on business as well as society? Do you enjoy diving deep into real-life problems of companies, while keeping a keen eye on scientific contributions? Would you like to be part of a vibrant research community in Amsterdam and Zurich? Then we have just the right position for you! The Amsterdam Business School is looking for a highly motivated PhD student who will study the process, challenges, and outcomes of firms implementing purpose-driven renewal strategies.
A corporate purpose is the fundamental reason for a company’s existence beyond profit and describes how a company seeks to contribute to solving problems of people and planet. For firms that authentically integrate purpose, it acts as an organizational constitution that guides strategy, operations, and culture. While start-ups often begin with a clear purpose, larger and more complex organizations struggle to maintain clarity and focus. In an effort to navigate geopolitical tensions, regulatory shifts, technological disruption, and evolving stakeholder demands, large established firms are increasingly formulating a purpose-driven renewal strategy. Research suggests that purpose-driven firms may experience stronger employee engagement, competitive differentiation, innovation capacity, and long-term value creation. However, attaining such strategic benefits depends on how well the purpose is integrated in the firm’s core processes and endorsed by management and employees. For large established firms, which typically face significant inertial forces, this remains a persistent challenge. The goal of this research project, therefore, is to understand how firms go about implementing and measuring their purpose-driven renewal, and what are the consequences for competitiveness and longevity of the organiztion, as well as on the wellbeing of internal and external stakeholders.
This research effort is a collaboration between the Amsterdam Business School and the ZHAW School of Management and Law, linking a PhD from the Amsterdam Business School with an Innosuisse funded research project at the ZHAW School Management and Law (Switzerland). A consortium of four large, established, Swiss-based firms have committed to support as research context: Clariant (chemicals), Johnson & Johnson (healthcare), Bank Cler (financial), and Deloitte (management consulting and financial practice). The PhD project will perform an in-depth qualitative and quantitative research in, and with at least one of, these firms. Possible research questions with a high potential for scientific contributions as well as practical relevance include:

A corporate purpose is the fundamental reason for a company’s existence beyond profit and describes how a company seeks to contribute to solving problems of people and planet. For firms that authentically integrate purpose, it acts as an organizational constitution that guides strategy, operations, and culture. While start-ups often begin with a clear purpose, larger and more complex organizations struggle to maintain clarity and focus. In an effort to navigate geopolitical tensions, regulatory shifts, technological disruption, and evolving stakeholder demands, large established firms are increasingly formulating a purpose-driven renewal strategy. Research suggests that purpose-driven firms may experience stronger employee engagement, competitive differentiation, innovation capacity, and long-term value creation. However, attaining such strategic benefits depends on how well the purpose is integrated in the firm’s core processes and endorsed by management and employees. For large established firms, which typically face significant inertial forces, this remains a persistent challenge. The goal of this research project, therefore, is to understand how firms go about implementing and measuring their purpose-driven renewal, and what are the consequences for competitiveness and longevity of the organiztion, as well as on the wellbeing of internal and external stakeholders.
This research effort is a collaboration between the Amsterdam Business School and the ZHAW School of Management and Law, linking a PhD from the Amsterdam Business School with an Innosuisse funded research project at the ZHAW School Management and Law (Switzerland). A consortium of four large, established, Swiss-based firms have committed to support as research context: Clariant (chemicals), Johnson & Johnson (healthcare), Bank Cler (financial), and Deloitte (management consulting and financial practice). The PhD project will perform an in-depth qualitative and quantitative research in, and with at least one of, these firms. Possible research questions with a high potential for scientific contributions as well as practical relevance include:
You will be appointed by the Amsterdam Business School and your main task is to pursue and complete a PhD thesis within the appointed duration of four years.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Formal requirements:
Task-related requirements:
Additional requirements:
We offer full-time employment for the period of 4 years with a probationary period of 18 months, preferably starting from 01.09.2025 (in total, the contract will be for four years, fully funded). A substantial part of the research (40%) will be conducted at the ZHAW School of Management and Law, in collaboration with the participating companies of the Innosuisse research project. The UFO profile ‘Promovendus’ (PhD student) applies to this position. This position is classified in scale PR. This means a gross monthly salary between € 3,059 and € 3,881 for full-time employment (38 hours per week), excluding holiday allowance (8%) and year-end bonus (8.3%). The salary scale depends on competences and work experience.
The collective bargaining agreement of Dutch universities applies.The UvA has an extensive package of fringe benefits, including:
You will be appointed by the Amsterdam Business School and your main task is to pursue and complete a PhD thesis within the appointed duration of four years.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Formal requirements:
Task-related requirements:
Additional requirements:
We offer full-time employment for the period of 4 years with a probationary period of 18 months, preferably starting from 01.09.2025 (in total, the contract will be for four years, fully funded). A substantial part of the research (40%) will be conducted at the ZHAW School of Management and Law, in collaboration with the participating companies of the Innosuisse research project. The UFO profile ‘Promovendus’ (PhD student) applies to this position. This position is classified in scale PR. This means a gross monthly salary between € 3,059 and € 3,881 for full-time employment (38 hours per week), excluding holiday allowance (8%) and year-end bonus (8.3%). The salary scale depends on competences and work experience.
The collective bargaining agreement of Dutch universities applies.The UvA has an extensive package of fringe benefits, including:
Education and research at UvA Economics and Business (EB) covers a wide range of fields that includes economics, data science, business administration, business analytics, accountancy, control, econometrics, finance and entrepreneurship. This is organised in 2 Schools: the Amsterdam Business School (ABS) and the Amsterdam School of Economics (ASE). Over 7,000 students are enrolled in our UvA Economics and Business programmes and around 500 employees provide education and support. At our Strategy & International Business section, managers in organisations are considered the central actors. Our areas of expertise in both research and education are sustainability, stakeholder management, digital transformation, and innovation strategy. The section is committed to providing high-quality education at all levels, from undergraduate (BSc) to PhD level and Executive Education.
Education and research at UvA Economics and Business (EB) covers a wide range of fields that includes economics, data science, business administration, business analytics, accountancy, control, econometrics, finance and entrepreneurship. This is organised in 2 Schools: the Amsterdam Business School (ABS) and the Amsterdam School of Economics (ASE). Over 7,000 students are enrolled in our UvA Economics and Business programmes and around 500 employees provide education and support. At our Strategy & International Business section, managers in organisations are considered the central actors. Our areas of expertise in both research and education are sustainability, stakeholder management, digital transformation, and innovation strategy. The section is committed to providing high-quality education at all levels, from undergraduate (BSc) to PhD level and Executive Education.
Do you recognize yourself in the profile and are you interested in the position? We are curious to hear from you and look forward to receiving your cover letter and resume. For questions about the position please contact Pushpika Vishwanathan via [email protected]
Also important!
Do you recognize yourself in the profile and are you interested in the position? We are curious to hear from you and look forward to receiving your cover letter and resume. For questions about the position please contact Pushpika Vishwanathan via [email protected]
Also important!





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