PhD Grant Proposal
PhD Grant Proposal
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Job Description
Circularity and digitalization in B2B a qualitative/quantitative approach
The Circular Economy is often described with reference to the works of the Ellen McArthur Foundation. The most recent definition states that CE is: a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance reuse refurbishment remanufacture recycling and composting (EMAF 2025).
The circular economy has been identified as a key element of sustainable development (The European Commission 2020; Bocken et al. 2017). Geissdoerfer et al. (2017) consider it a condition or a beneficial relation or a tradeoff for sustainability (p. 767). The circular economy has been variously described as an economy (Knight et al. 2025) a logic (Parida et al. 2019) a paradigm (Geissdoerfer et al. 2017) a concept (Mathews & Tan 2011) a practice (Frishammar & Parida 2019; Fanzo et al. 2023; Korhonen et al. 2018) an approach (Fanzo et al. 2023) or a system (Sairanen et al. 2024).
The circular economy has been encapsulated in various frameworks including the 3R (reduce reuse recycle ) 4R (reduce reuse recycle recover); 5R (rethink recover repair reuse recycle) as well as more extensive frameworks (refuse rethink reduce reuse repair refurbish remanufacture repurpose recycle recover) (Sihvonen and Ritola 2015; van Buren et al. 2016; King et al. 2006; Brennan et al. 2015; Ghisellini et al. 2016). These different R frameworks are considered core principles of the circular economy.
Circular economy practices have been analyzed in relation to consumer behaviors such as intentions to purchase circular products (Coderoni & Perito 2020) behaviors required in a circular economy (Hazen et al. 2016; Machado et al. 2019) and factors influencing the acceptance and adoption of circular products and services (CamachoOtero et al. 2020; CalvoPorral & LvyMangin 2020). In the B2B context research has primarily focused on supplier companies behaviors such as circular business models (Fehrer & Wieland 2021) circular supply chains (AarikkaStenroos et al. 2022) value propositions (Frishammar & Parida 2019; Ranta et al. 2020) and the nature of circular offerings (Spring & Araujo 2017). More recently a customeroriented perspective on circularity has been studied by Sairanen et al. (2024) who investigated the value perceived by business customers in circular offerings.
The role of digital technologies in the circular economy within a B2B context is an emerging area of interest (Kio et al. 2022; Okorie et al. 2018). Research has shown that CE leverages digital technologies to enhance knowledge of resource location condition and availability (Antikainen et al. 2018 p. 45) to support more efficient processes within companies (Kerin et al. 2019) and to facilitate intercompany collaboration in servitization business models. For example Ertz et al. (2022) examine how various digital technologies contribute to product life extension. Huang et al. (2022) explore blockchain applications in circular supply chains. Karuppiah et al. (2024) analyze the role of emerging digital technologies in establishing circular supply chains. Kristoffersen et al. (2020) advocate for the concept of a smart circular economy and present a framework for integrating digital technologies to support circular economy adoption in companies.
Building on this background the purpose of this doctoral work is to investigate circularity (as a subset of sustainable practices) in the businesstobusiness context with a specific focus on how digital technologies are associated with circular practices of business companies and the types of narratives (Lazarevic & Valve 2017; Leipold et al. 2021; Schoggl et al. 2020) that develop to support the cohabitation of circularity and digitalization.
The methodology of this research will involve both qualitative and quantitative methods. The PhD candidate will be responsible for:
- Conducting a literature review on circularity and identifying key theoretical perspectives on how sustainable practices develop in businesses
- Justifying the need to collect various sources of (big) data on circularity in B2B
- Defining a mixedmethod research design to analyze these data;
- Identifying the main strategic orientations of B2B companies concerning circularity practices
- Analyzing the role of digital technologies in the development and support of circularity practices within B2B firms
- Identifying the different narratives that sustain these roles.
The candidate is expected to hold a Master of Science in business and management studies to master qualitative research and to be also motivated by quantitative methods. An expertise in data science is a plus for this job candidates without data science knowhow should be interested in collaboration with data scientists and in learning the basics of quantitative data analysis.
The PhD candidate will work under the cosupervision of Prof. Catherine Pardo () Professor of Marketing and Prof. Jean Savinien ( ) Associate Professor of Data Science and of Mathematics at emlyon business school within the graduate school in management studies at the University of Lyon.
ABOUT EMLYON
emlyon business school trains makers in other words people able to explore alternative futures by placing the hybridization of skills and social & environmental responsibility at the core of its training programs.
Scientific researchis at the very heart ofemlyonbusiness schoolsstrategyto contribute to business and society. It is the innovative cornerstone of the schools past and present success and shall remain so in the future. It is a key aspect of the schools added value providing the foundation for itsinternational credibility and reputation. Research expands thecuriosity skills and knowledgeof ourfaculty membersand in turn benefits our program researchstrengthens theFacultys abilityto achieve its mission. Moreover our research enables the school to provide its partners with a critical and systematic thinking combined with the very latest knowledge and realworld impact.
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For a cleaner and more competitive Europe. Retrieved from:
Employment Type
Full-Time
Key Skills
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