Studying for a PhD

Making supply chains more sustainable and accountable requires a global view in particular regarding the carrying capacity of eco-systems and simultaneously needs to account for locally and regionally diversified cognitive and cultural patterns and material conditions. Reconciling inter-generational with intra-generational justice and generating a thriving and equitable space for humanity may be conceptualized as directing business and societal development “inside the doughnut” by providing strong social foundation for people to prosper without exceeding any of the planetary boundaries (Source: Oxfam). Tackling this big contemporary challenge may be conceived as joint task for companies, their supply chains, civil society and government organisations as well as citizens. While strategies, capabilities, operations, and processes are to be adapted towards specific actors, their impact assessment calls for a comprehensive perspective, accounting for feed-back loops, trade-offs and systemic repercussions. Exploring multi-facetted research subjects (on micro-, meso- and macro-levels) by taking diverse disciplinary, theoretical, and methodological perspectives, this research hub aims at furthering our understanding of sustainability in supply chains/value chains; based on this, managerial and policy recommendations are formulated that facilitate the normative end of sustainable development.

In the field of sustainable and responsible business, we arguably stand at a critical threshold as the field matures as an area of professional practice. The modern class of corporate responsibility and sustainability (CRS) practitioners works within or across organisations, and faces a number of distinctive institutional tensions, challenges, and experiences. At the time of writing, the Institute for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) estimates that there are 4,000 CR and sustainability professionals in the UK working in CRS roles and a further 25,000 with a significant work-related interest. There are many thousands more worldwide. Some of the core research questions in the area of CRS professionalism are: i) What are the core competencies of the CRS profession? ii) What are the responsibilities of CRS professionals? iii) Are there parallels between professionalism and responsible leadership? iv) How might the CRS profession become institutionalized?

Business Ethics is an interdisciplinary field that covers a vast range of normative issues in the world of commerce. Core questions in this field pertain to how individuals in the business world ought to behave, and what principles they might appeal to in order to negotiate moral dilemmas at work. Issues pertaining to individual virtues and ethical decision-making are in turn surrounded by layers of issues involving organizations and institutions. Thus, business ethics, in the broadest sense, also examines the moral justification and just design of labour arrangements, firms, markets, market regulations, and political oversight in a democratic society and a globalized economy.

The Markets and Democracy research hub covers a focused range of topics, theories, methods and perspectives center on the ethical relationship between consumers, markets and society. Whilst the role of the market is broadly understood as fundamental to the social functioning of liberal market democracies, it is increasingly seen as a conduit for consumer social responsibility and citizenship. Consumers can shop for a more just, equitable and sustainable world by casting their vote in the marketplace. A number of critically informed perspectives can be utilized to investigate how knowledge of social responsibility is constructed and experienced by market and non-market constituents. 

The private sector is viewed as an integral part of the solution to a sustainable world; and yet the nature of business engagement in sustainable development and its impact on amongst other things poverty, transparency, gender equality, decent work, peace and justice, to name but a few remains a big challenge.  The private sector has a role and responsibility to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as enshrined in the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in September 2015.  The Business and Development research hub covers a range of topics, utilising various approaches and methods to theorize the role of business in development and the extent of business creativity and innovation to solve development challenges.  The research projects can either be comparative in nature (i.e. country or sector-based) or industry specific (i.e. extractive, agri-business).