Part-time PhD program RESORG Nijmegen School of Management

Since September 2010, the Nijmegen School of Management (NSM) at the Radboud University
Nijmegen offers a part-time PhD program entitled ‘The Responsible Organization' or RESORG.
This program is a four-year course for people who work and simultaneously want to pursue a
PhD. Its focus is on fundamental and applied research on changing responsibilities of
organizations and enterprises in the light of the increasing importance of issues of sustainability,
trust and transparency. The program will revolve around the idea of multiple value creation for
different stakeholders simultaneously. This text presents the main components of the PhD
Program RESORG.

Motivation
Society is changing rapidly. Complex social and organizational problems are leading to many
transformations. The relationship between business and society is changing fundamentally. The
challenge of running a sustainable and responsible business is high on most corporate agendas.
As a result, new demands are made on companies. These demands translate into issues
concerning reputation, identity, value chains, responsibilities and risks. Often, it is unclear how
the roles, responsibilities and functions of a business must be defined and implemented within
these developments and changing requirements. The search for answers to these new
requirements and expectations provides a variety of fundamental questions. A singular approach
from a traditional and dominantly business/economic perspective has proven insufficient to meet
these challenges. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that companies need to find innovative ways
for developing responses to this changing landscape.

Nijmegen School of Management

The Nijmegen School of Management (NSM) of the Radboud University Nijmegen presents
itself as a center of scientific knowledge and research of organizational, management and design
issues of contemporary organizations in the public and private sphere. The NSM conducts
research, publishes books and articles, both scientific and popular, and is an active contributor to
the public debate on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Additionally, the NSM
organizes conferences and research seminars to spread knowledge and promote discussion. It is
the NSM’s ambition to provide a valuable contribution to society.

Changing demands, change in value creation.

The NSM operates from a human-oriented and integrated perspective on business. Its education
and research are aimed at providing an innovative contribution to changing organizational
responsibilities, both now and in the future. Its central focus is on how sustainability and
organizational responsibility can be effectively realized while taking into account the varying,
and sometimes conflicting, perspectives of different stakeholders. We call this multiple value
creation. Multiple value creation goes beyond the three P's of People, Planet and Profit, to also
include the actual realization and justification of this value creation. Many companies have

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already started to implement this, but struggle with creating multiple values in their organization
in a sustainable and responsible manner. Not surprisingly, there is a growing need for new
solutions and insights. The search for answers that matter, calls for the launch of new,
fundamental and applied research. It is of great importance to society to meet the demand for
more graduates educated in these issues. The NSM takes its responsibility in this matter and
offers the dual PhD program under the heading of RESORG precisely for that reason.

NSM and the RESORG research program

Within the Nijmegen School of Management, a wide variety of researchers is actively working
on questions regarding sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), identity,
transparency, accountability, gender, strategy and organizational structures. These themes and
related studies are brought together in a central research program called 'The Responsible
Organisation' (RESORG).

The RESORG program focuses on four major research areas:

• Organizing and implementing multiple value creation;

• Relationships, alliances and institutional arrangements;
• Building accountability and reliability;
• Analysis and management of internal and external stakeholder configurations.

These research areas provide a clear overview of the research (and teaching) issues the NSM
stands for. Research as a whole is focused specifically on why and how organizations (both
profit and non-profit) shape their responsibility simultaneously on an economic, social and
ecological level, within their organization.

Part-time PhD RESORG

The Nijmegen School of Management (NSM) is looking for candidates working in either a profit
or non-profit organization, who have the ambition to pursue a PhD in the field of 'The
Responsible Organisation"(RESORG). The PhD program focuses on research into the changing
and new demands of organizations around the broad themes of organizational responsibility and
sustainability. Potential candidates will need to have a number of years of appropriate
professional experience, affinity with corporate responsibility and a degree at Master level
(obtained at a Dutch or foreign university). During the intake, candidates will be evaluated on
whether they have the (potential) qualities to conduct academic (PhD) research, sufficient time to
conduct this, and the basic skills to write and publish about their findings. Candidates in the
program will be asked to develop and pursue an individual research topic related to one of the
four research areas of the RESORG program.

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A short overview of the advantages of the PhD program
1. Successfully completing the program will result in an internationally recognized academic
title, enhancing the career prospects of the participant.
2. The support offered to each candidate will include scientific supervision and customized
training, offered by Dutch lecturers and supervisors, with input from visiting professors.
3. The aim of the program is to make research and education relevant to the candidate’s
occupation. This will ensure that results and findings will not only emerge at the end of the
research, but that the research has an added value, over the four years of doctoral research,
relevant to the candidate.
4. Candidates will receive continuous supervision by their thesis supervisors to encourage the
successful and timely execution of their research and dissertations. No costs will be charged for
this supervision.
5. The program’s design creates ample learning opportunities between candidates, academics and
third parties, thus encouraging the emergence of vibrant learning communities around RESORG-
issues.
6. Access to a variety of scientific disciplines and associated researchers of the NSM will ensure
a unique, multidisciplinary approach.

The purpose of the RESORG program as a whole is to create a (dual) training and supervising
structure for external PhD students, such that a candidate can achieve a fully defensible
dissertation in four years. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

Procedure

Intake of candidates
The intake of potential candidates will consist of three steps, both written and oral, and will be
conducted by the program director, assisted by a full or associate professor. This intake is aimed
at ensuring that the entry level of participants is up to standard and will enable the creation of an
academic ‘level playing field’. During the intake, attention will be paid to the (potential) qualities
of the candidates to conduct research, academic writing skills, publish capabilities and to the idea
for research that the candidates provide in their application form.

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The intake procedure1:
• After applying through the application form, a candidate’s application will be checked on
whether he or she can be formally admitted to the program. If the candidate can be admitted, he
or she will receive an invitation for an introductory appointment.
• Based on the introductory meeting and the first idea that the candidate has for his or her
doctoral research, the candidate will be prompted to write a brief pre-proposal within a limited
time span.
• This pre-proposal will form the primary subject for a second interview in the presence of the
program director and one or more professors involved in the RESORG PhD Program. On the
basis of this interview, a decision will be made as to the potential admission of the candidate.

Time Investment
In the RESORG PhD program, a candidate will be expected to conduct his or her research for
two to three days a week. Following admission, the candidate’s first year in the program will
primarily be devoted to education and, simultaneously, developing the candidate’s own research
idea. The candidate will be individually supervised in this process by potential (co-) thesis
supervisors and supported by a series of multi-day seminars on the university campus in
Nijmegen. The program will mainly be focused on issues such as academic writing skills, doing
a literature review, research methodology and methods and theory of science. Additionally, state-
of-the-art developments around RESORG issues will be taught and discussed. Education will be
provided by lectures and professors from the NSM and other internal and external guest speakers
(from the Netherlands and abroad). The RESORG program will be conducted entirely in English.

Duration
Ideally, the overall PhD program will last four years and end with a full academic dissertation-
defense ceremony at the Radboud University Nijmegen. Given the intensity of the program, the
aim is to start the second edition of the program with a diverse group of, at maximum, 15
candidates, from the Netherlands or abroad.

Program
The first year program is mainly devoted to education, in the form of a series of seminars, and
the development of the candidate’s individual research proposal. In specific cases, writing and
submitting a funding application will also be part of this year. The research proposal will be
developed through attending several seminars and the personal supervision of each participant.
During the first year, the candidate will have to conduct an individual review of literature and
possibly some exploratory research. Additionally, the candidate will be asked to write at least
one article in this first year and submit this for publication, with close involvement of the
1
Selection of candidates will take place based on qualifications for the program. The
participating universities and their employees do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion,
gender, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, or disability

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participant’s primary thesis supervisor. The end product of the first year program will be a
research proposal and the defense of this proposal before a committee. The NSM will provide a
(flex) workspace, supervision, 0-hour contract and access to facilities (Library, Internet, etc.).

Education
The first year course consists of eight to ten multi-day seminars, conducted in English.
Participation in these seminars is mandatory. Topics covered in the seminars will be, among
others, scientific theories, methodology and the practicalities of doing research. Further, theories,
perspectives, approaches and concepts regarding RESORG issues will be examined and
discussed. Lecturers will come from the Radboud University Nijmegen, as well as other
universities, in order to rapidly process "state of the art" knowledge and insights. Participants can
then use this knowledge in developing their research proposal. After the first year, three or four
topical seminars will be organized each year to maintain and strengthen the bond between the
candidates themselves and the NSM. Barring exceptions, all seminars will be held on the campus
of the Radboud University Nijmegen.

Below you find an overview of the different subjects that will be addressed during the program:

Methodology
(1) Philosophy of Science
(2) Introduction to Research Methodology
(3) Introduction to data collection and -analysis
(4) Intervention methodology
(5) Design of your own Research

Skills
(6) Library Skills
(7) Academic Writing
(8) Managing a PhD
(9) Sponsoring
(10) Presentation Skills

Theory
(11) Introduction to changing responsibility and accountability in business
(12) A compact history of RESORG based on Great Thinkers (e.g. Mary Parker Follet, Freeman,
Gro Harlem Brundtland etc.)
(13) Multiple stakeholders (1st, 2nd and 3d generation)
(14) Policies and possibilities (National, EU and other)
(15) Strategies (policy, business) and new institutional arrangements
(16) Accounting, codes and standards
(17) Organisational change, transition and transformation

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Presentation of the research design
The first year will be concluded with an individual presentation of the candidate’s research
proposal before the scientific committee. In this presentation, the research proposal will
primarily be assessed on its theoretical foundation, adequate methodological choices and
feasibility of the research. Additionally, the candidate’s article and, if relevant, the status of the
funding application will be examined. Passing this interim review is an expression of the
committee’s confidence in the realization of the research proposal within a period of three years.
The candidate will then spend the following three years of the program conducting his or her
proposed research. Should the committee not be convinced by the research proposal during the
interim review, the candidate might be advised to discontinue their participation in the RESORG
PhD program. Consequently, admission to the first year of the program does not automatically
guarantee admission to the full three year PhD program or a doctoral promotion!

After the first year

Following a positive advice by the scientific committee, each candidate will be assigned two
thesis supervisors who will guide the candidate for the subsequent three years in developing and
conducting his or her proposed research. This process should result in a doctoral dissertation that
will be defended during a public ceremony at the Radboud University Nijmegen. The supervisors
will be selected based on their expertise in the area of research, their availability and the
candidate’s personal preference. Aside from contact during the seminars and in regular
correspondence, candidates and their supervisors will meet several times a year, at moments
arranged in mutual agreements with the candidate.

Guarantee of dedication, not promotion

The aim of the RESORG PhD program is for candidates to complete the program in four years,
with the actual defense ceremony taking place in the fifth year. Nomination for a promotion and
appraisal of the dissertation will be conducted according to standard procedures of the Radboud
University (http://www.ru.nl/phd/phd/doctoral_regulations/). The education, supervision and
lectures are all structured towards realizing this goal. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

Research Community
Participants in the RESORG program are obliged to join the RESORG PhD Association. This
association has the goal of organizing support activities by, for and with program participants.
RESORG PhD Association will organize at least 4 meetings a year for all the participants

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Supervisors
Every supervisor is employed either as professor or associate professor at the Radboud
University Nijmegen. Aside from their activities in research, teaching and supervision, all
supervisors are directly or indirectly involved in some aspect of responsible and sustainable
business practices, both within and outside organizations. Each thesis supervisor is willing to
supervise at least one candidate during the first year and actively participate in educational
activities during the seminars. This construction is aimed at realizing a close interaction between
candidates, subjects and advisors.

Faculty professors involved in the program are (in alphabetical order):

Yvonne Benschop, Rene ten Bos, Beate van der Heijden, Paul Hendriks, Hans van Kranenburg,
Kristina Lauche, Allard van Riel, Michiel Schoemaker, Jac Vennix, Ed Vosselman.

Faculty lecturers involved in the program are (in alphabetical order):

Marcel van Birgelen, Inge Bleijenbergh, Caroline Essers, Andreas Grossler, Stefan Heusinkveld,
Jörg Henseler, Bas Hillebrand, Cvsilla Horvath, Jan Jonker (Program Director), Hubert
Korzilius, Wil Martens, Pascale Peeters, Erik Poutsma, Etienne Rouwette, Roel Schouteten, Max
Visser, Gerrit Willem Ziggers.

Planning
The second edition of the part-time PhD RESORG program will start September 1, 2011. The
presentation and defense of the individual research proposals will take place within the academic
year 2011-2012. The actual presentations before the science committee are expected to be held
late June 2012. All meetings are held on the campus of the Radboud University in Nijmegen,
barring exceptions.

Budget
The fee to participate in the first year of the RESORG PhD program is 8500,- Euro. This amount
may be paid in three installments; 3500, - Euro before the start of the program and twice 2.500, -
Euro during the year. No payment is involved for participation in the remaining three years,
provided candidates have been accepted for this part of the program. Participants will receive no
payment during the promotion process.

Participants are also obligated to join the RESORG PhD Research Community. The RESORG
PhD Association will organize at least 4 meetings a year for all the participants The annual fee of
joining the RESORG PhD Research Community is 750,- Euro per person.

The contribution fee to participate in the program is non-refundable.

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Application
When you want to apply for the intake of the RESORG PhD program, please fill out the
application form at: www.ru.nl/fm/resorg/intakeform

For more information, please contact:

Jol Beset
Secretary RESORG PhD Programme
Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen – Radboud University Nijmegen
Phone number: +31(0)24 – 3611925
Fax: +31 24 - 3611841
E-mail: j.beset@fm.ru.nl
Postal address: P.O. Box 9108, 6500 HK NIJMEGEN – The Netherlands

Or

Dr. J. (Jan) Jonker

Program Director PhD School RESORG
Phone number: +31 24 - 3612028
Fax: +31 (0)24 - 3611933
E-mail: j.jonker@fm.ru.nl
Post adres: P.O. Box 9108, 6500 HK NIJMEGEN – The Netherlands

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