Enquiries: Dr Jill MacBryde, Department of Management Science, jillian.macbryde@strath.ac.uk; Applications to: Alison Kerr, alison.kerr@strath.ac.uk)

Deadline: 1 September 2013

Funding: UK/EU fees are covered, plus an annual stipend of £13,762.

Research: Applications are sought for a PhD candidate to join a multi-disciplinary team within the new Workplace Innovation Centre at Strathclyde Business School. The background to the work is the recognition that many Scottish Manufacturers are moving away from trying to compete on the basis of low-cost operations and low prices – and instead offer something more, such as innovative products, flexibility, service, quality etc. However whilst companies are changing their “value proposition” to external customers, internally many are struggling to change their resources, processes, activities and capabilities. To date very little work has been done to gain an understanding of the workplace innovation taking place within manufacturing firms to move them to this “high value” mode of operation. This research seeks to fill a number of gaps in knowledge, namely:

• How are companies innovating within their organisations to facilitate a move towards High Value Manufacturing?
• What factors facilitate and/or impede workplace innovation?
• How can the impact of workplace innovation be measured?

The research will be undertaken in the context of Scotland and will contribute to the Workplace Innovation Centre’s over-arching objective of developing workplaces in Scotland through enhancing leadership, workforce utilization and development, innovation and enterprise. It will draw on an emerging body of literature around employee led innovation, workplace development interventions, capability development and entrepreneurial activity.

This project will give the student a great opportunity to work with an interdisciplinary team and to make linkages across Strathclyde and numerous industry sectors. The Centre has a strong industry focus and commitment from an external steering group.

Requirements: We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates from an operations management, HRM or innovation background.

To apply click on the ‘Apply’ button below.