Dear Colleagues
The School of Management at the University of Surrey, UK, offers a PhD
bursary in the field of knowledge
sharing, knowledge networks and organisational change.
Please have a look at the bursary and let me know if you are interested. I
would also be grateful if you could forward this message to anyone who
might be interested in working in the area of knowledge sharing and
organisational change.
Thank you very much indeed.
Best Regards
Olivia

PhD Bursary: Socio-Psychological Perspectives on Knowledge Sharing and
Networks as Drivers for Organisational Change


Important note: Please submit your application with a research proposal to
Ms Kirsten Tatlock. Please see the red section in page three and four for
the requirements for a research proposal. Applications will be accepted
until the end of April.


Particulars of the bursary

The PhD bursary is in the field of knowledge networks and knowledge sharing
as drivers for organisational change. The project will involve the
exploration and impact of socio-psychological factors on knowledge sharing
and the effectiveness of knowledge networks to initiate organisational
change. Several researchers have argued for the pursuit of cooperative
strategies such as networks as a means of creating new knowledge and skills
that will facilitate change outside the firm’s boundaries (e.g., Hamel,
1991; Lyles, 1994; Prahalad & Hamel, 1990). However, despite the emphasis
on knowledge transfer and the pursuit of cooperative strategies as an
important motive for and facilitator of learning and organisational change,
the lack of theoretical integration and empirical research leaves many
questions unanswered. The current project therefore will address the issue
of knowledge transfer, learning and change within knowledge network
arrangements, proposing a framework that addresses both structural and
social psychological factors, such as identity processes, influencing the
processes within a network relationship. The project proposals should
provide a theoretical framework on which the field study will be based, a
set of research questions (not more than five) that the study will seek to
answer and the methodological approach that the project will adopt
(including ease of access that the applicant may have in each national
context).

Essentials:

Critical and analytical thinking and communication skills that are suitable
for the doctoral study,

A good undergraduate and postgraduate degree in a related area of social
sciences - transcripts should be provided as evidence,

Familiarity with the subject area, the proposed methodological approach and
sector(s) of study,

Preparedness to work as a teaching assistant at the University of Surrey,
School of Management (training will be provided prior to teaching taking
place),

Linguistic and methodological skills to carry out qualitative interviews in
English (for international students, evidence in the form of
internationally recognised linguistic exam results). You should be
competent at a level that you can teach in English, as the bursary is tied
to a teaching fellowship.

Desirables:

Work experience relevant to the proposed research.

Skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Supervision team:

 Dr Olivia Kyriakidou and Professor Michael J. Riley

Bursary and Fees:

a. The bursary pays for the tuition fees to the European Union/ UK level
for three years. Applicants from non-EU members have to seek the difference
between EU/non-EU rates from other agencies.

b. The bursary covers a payment of £12000 per year (paid in regular
instalments) for three years (subject to successful progression of the
doctoral project each year). This bursary would be divided amongst the
following categories:

Home/EU tuition fees
Demonstrating duties (180 hours/annum at £9.50/hour)
Expense account (for conference, seminar, travel and research expenses)
Stipend (a regular payment towards living expenses)

c. The bursary covers UK/EU fees, not overseas fees.  The fee for an
overseas student would be £7380 per annum as opposed to £2870 per annum,
(for EU/UK students, current rate). As the bursary covers the fees for the
latter category, the student has to find through other means the difference
between these two figures, (i.e. £4510 per annum).

d. This difference can be funded either by the student/the student's family
or by an additional scholarship.  The School of Management is only offering
the subject-specific bursaries at the moment, (one of which is the present
bursary).  The University only offers two scholarships towards funding the
discrepancy, the ORS and the URS.  The URS would not be available to us as
we are offering the bursaries-URS funding is only available when no other
form of funding is made available.

e. Therefore, if a non-EU citizen is short listed, an application will be
made by the School of Management to the Overseas Research Student Awards
Scheme (ORSAS) to cover this difference. Students from non-EU countries are
strongly advised to seek this difference from funds in their countries.

Note:

If you are able to finance your study through other independent sources,
you need to indicate this in your application form. If you do not need a
bursary and would like your application to be considered for acceptance to
the doctoral study, please also indicate this clearly in your application
form.

Application forms and other information:

Please find below the links to the application form and relevant
information about study at the University of Surrey.

MPhil / PhD Application Form:
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/dynamic/research.pdf

If the applicants have any queries relating to their overseas status, (visa,
work permits, health services etc), they must contact the University's
International Office:
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/International/

Admission, registration and fee information can all be found by clicking on
the various pages on the following website:
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/dynamic/postgraduate.html

Complete the relevant application form and submit a research proposal
related to the chosen research topic. Application forms and guidance on the
preparation of a research proposal are available from the Research
Secretary.
The research proposal should accompany the completed forms and take the
following format (approximately 1,000 words in all):
  Statement of research idea you wish to pursue
  Possible research methods to be employed
  Sources of data and information to be used
  Bibliography/reference material on current research in the field
  Contribution that your research would make in the area concerned
  Other evidence which might support your application
This proposal will be critically analysed by potential supervisors before a
response can be provided so care should be taken over its preparation. It
plays an important part in the admittance process and should allow
reviewers to evaluate your ability to conceptualise a research problem.

You need to include a covering letter with your application explaining
which bursary you are applying for.


Once you complete your application forms please do NOT send them to me,
send your completed forms to Ms Kirsten Tatlock:

MISS KIRSTEN TATLOCK
Postgraduate Secretary - Research & Part-Time Masters Programme
School of Management
The University of Surrey
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Tel: +44 (0)1483 68 6343
Fax: +44 (0)1483 68 6301

Deadline and other bursaries:

The deadline for this bursary is end of March. Early applications are
keenly encouraged. University of Surrey, School of Management will
advertise this bursary and several others in http://www.jobs.ac.uk soon.
Please register your interest with this site to receive updates of academic
job/studentship/bursary information from UK universities.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or the postgraduate research secretary
Ms Kirsten Tatlock for further questions that are not answered by this
email or in the links specified here.

I look forward to reading your applications.

Good wishes,



Olivia Kyriakidou


Dr Olivia Kyriakidou
Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour
University of Surrey,
School of Management
Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH
Room 7 AZ 04
Direct line: 00 44 1483 686348
Fax: 00 44 1483 686301 (shared fax)