PHD SPECIALISATION
Research in the Strategy area of the PhD Programme is concerned with the foundation of sustainable and superior firm performance.
Introduction
Research in the field of strategic management stems primarily from two intellectual traditions. One stream of thought is rooted in economics and uses insights about firms and industries gleaned from neoclassical, evolutionary and institutional economics as a basis for understanding business strategy. The other tradition combines strategy and organisational theory, and focuses on the study of the leadership and management of organisational processes that generate superior enterprise strategies.
The Strategy area boasts a strong faculty representation in both of these intellectual traditions. It thus provides a diverse research environment in which PhD students are exposed to a stimulating breadth of theory and evidence.
Faculty expertise and research interests
- Resource-based views of the firm
- Industry and competitive analysis
- Interactions between product and financial markets
- Mergers, acquisitions, alliances and corporate strategy
- Strategy and organisation of multi-national companies
- Corporate governance and strategic leadership
- Technology strategy and innovation
A great privilege of being part of INSEAD is the fact that it’s an endless fountain of youth in terms of academic inspiration.
Gabriel Szulanski
Professor of Strategy
Chair, Strategy Area
PhD in Strategy, INSEAD (1995)
INSEAD doctoral students also come into contact with other esteemed scholars who have contributed significant work at the intersection of strategy, knowledge and innovation through an interview series organised in conjunction with the Annual Strategy Management Society (SMS) Conferences. This is part of the requirement for the ‘Foundations in Strategy and Organisation’ class.
What we’re looking for
Students come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds: economics, engineering, information systems, technology, business and management. Some come direct from undergraduate studies, while others have industry experience. Having some research and methodology skills is helpful. Since the PhD programme is inherently interdisciplinary, working across areas is encouraged. Strategy PhD students are currently conducting research across the areas of Organisational Behaviour, Entrepreneurship, and Technology and Operations Management, among other fields.