PhD in Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship

Abstract

Our doctoral programme is designed to train world-class researchers in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, with a strong emphasis on quantitative methods. We combine in-depth knowledge of key topics in the field with rigorous training in econometrics, statistics, and analytical skills. By joining our PhD programme, you will become part of a collaborative and internationally oriented research community.

Our faculty cover a set of clearly defined research areas within strategy and entrepreneurship, and applicants are expected to develop research interests that explicitly align with these areas. The initial coursework provides a strong foundation in both theory and quantitative methods, preparing you to design and carry out empirical studies. In addition, you will be actively involved in the department’s research culture from the very beginning by attending seminars and engaging with faculty. These interactions will support you in developing a focused research agenda that matches your interests, builds on your quantitative skills, and contributes to the department’s research strengths.

Alumni of the PhD programme hold academic positions in renowned academic institutes around the world, including Cambridge, Copenhagen Business School, ETH Zurich, HEC Paris, INSEAD, Kellogg, McGill, University of Georgia, the University of South Carolina, Renmin University, and WHU. 

More information is on the “PhD in Strategic Management” website:

https://www.rsm.nl/faculty-research/departments/strategic-management-and-entrepreneurship/phd-in-strategic-management/

Keywords

Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Strategy Renewal, Exploration–Exploitation, Ecosystems, Decision-Making, Governance, Ownership, Behabioral strategy

Topic

The research expertise of the department is concentrated in the following areas:

Strategic Entrepreneurship and Renewal:

This line examines how organizations engage in strategy renewal and implementation, balance exploration and exploitation, and create and capture value across different organizational stages. Theoretical perspectives include organizational learning, resource-based view, micro-foundations, strategy process, with work spanning both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Our research also explores how organizations scale new initiatives and respond to disruption, with emphasis on leadership challenges and the role of AI in decision-making to sustain profitable growth. Our work also investigates how firms implement knowledge access strategies through alliances and acquisitions, focusing on how these activities enable firms to develop new technological and managerial capabilities. This research is carried out using a variety of research methods primarily emphasizing large-scale archival data and quantitative analyses.

Entrepreneurial Decision-Making and Ecosystems:
This strand focuses on entrepreneurial behavior at the individual, team, and interorganizational levels. Topics include collaboration between incumbents and new ventures within innovation ecosystems, leveraging partnerships and networks to improve R&D efficiency, and the influence of investors and other external actors on entrepreneurial outcomes.

Our research also examines decision-making under uncertainty, including the use of Bayesian reasoning to integrate data and theory. Methods include regression analysis, experiments, Bayesian modeling, and abductive reasoning. Our work in this area also covers how firms learn and protect knowledge while engaging in alliances, acquisitions, and divestitures in international settings.

Ownership and Governance:
This area investigates how ownership and governance structures evolve as strategic choices across the firm life cycle. Projects address governance strategies of new ventures, founder and family exits, the role of intermediate ownership vehicles such as holdings and voting trusts, and the symbolic use of shareholder voting by minority investors. This research is primarily conducted in the form of quantitative archival studies.

Behavioral and Societal Foundations of Strategy:
This theme explores the psychological and social foundations of strategic decision-making. Research in this area examines how managers’ personality traits, heuristics, and biases shape decision-making, how firm performance and executive attributes influence managerial choices, and how investors respond to strategic actions such as acquisitions depending on value creation logics and the framing of announcements. The work draws on behavioral strategy, organizational change, and social psychology literatures, and relies primarily on quantitative methods and archival data.

Approach

The programme emphasizes quantitative methods as the primary research approach. Applicants are expected to have prior knowledge of econometrics and statistics and to be comfortable applying these tools, as they will be required to design and conduct empirical studies using these techniques.

During the first 18 months, PhD candidates complete an intensive set of courses to build the theoretical foundations and quantitative research skills needed to become successful scholars in strategic management. The curriculum provides rigorous training in advanced statistical and econometric methods to deepen and expand candidates’ methodological expertise, while content-oriented courses expose them to foundational works and current debates in the field. After the initial three months of coursework and socialization, candidates choose a supervision team, and within 15 months submit a research proposal specifying research questions, intended contributions, positioning, and methodology. The programme is funded for four years, with the possibility of a one-year extension.

Required profile

This programme is best suited for candidates who are eager to pursue a quantitatively oriented PhD in strategic management and have a working knowledge of econometrics and statistics. Advanced knowledge in these areas is a strong asset. Completing a research master is highly valued, as it provides excellent preparation for the methodological rigor of the programme.

We welcome applications from talented candidates of diverse disciplinary and national backgrounds who are passionate about academic research in strategy. Strong academic credentials and the potential to conduct high-quality research are essential. Analytical skills should be evident in the motivation letter, and proficiency in empirical methods demonstrated through an MSc thesis or relevant research papers (co-)authored by the applicant. While not required, a high GMAT or GRE score is considered an advantage.

Applicants’ research interests should align closely with the department’s research areas as outlined above. This alignment should be clearly conveyed in the research statement, along with how it can be developed into novel quantitative research. Candidates are encouraged to indicate the type of data they envision using and how this would support their proposed research agenda.

Required by ERIM

All application documents required by ERIM can be found here.

Expected output

In the Strategy and Entrepreneurship group, a Ph.D. thesis will typically consist three high quality papers that have either been published or that aim for publication in the field’s leading journals. We have a strong focus on publications in the field’s top journals, such as Administrative Science Quarterly, the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, , Academy of Management Annals, Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, and Journal of Management Studies.

Cooperation

Researchers in the Strategy and Entrepreneurship group regularly attend major conferences and collaborate with renowned scholars from leading business schools around the world. We also encourage PhD candidates to build an international network by attending conferences and other research events, which often lead to

collaborative projects with, and research visits to, leading scholars in the field. Generous funding is available for these activities.

Societal relevance

The Strategy and Entrepreneurship group has a strong ambition to develop and carry out research that matters to managers, practitioners, firms, and (global) society at large. The group actively encourages valorization of research findings through various research-related outreach activities, including publications and seminars for practitioners, executive education, media interventions, and the development of cases and other teaching materials that translate academic knowledge into actionable insights.

Scientific relevance

The Strategy and Entrepreneurship group aims to contribute to ongoing research streams in the fields of strategic management and entrepreneurship as well as to pioneer and define new research areas in these fields.

Employment conditions

ERIM offers fully-funded and salaried PhD positions, which means that accepted PhD candidates become employees (promovendi) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO).

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfil their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Contact information

For questions regarding the PhD application and selection procedure, please check the Admissions or send us an e-mail via phdadmissions@erim.eur.nl.