2 PhD candidates Social Entrepreneurship, value chain innovation and societal change (1.0 FTE)

Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) offers two PhD positions focusing on radical social innovations in the value chain. 

1)        The study of social enterprises creating radical innovations in their value chain (SEPhD 1)

The core focus of this research will be on (the impact of) the innovative role that social enterprises can play in changing the value chain in the interest of the business and of society:
a.        as vehicles for radical innovation in that value chain,
b.        which addresses predetermined social issues,
c.        as part of their mission, roll-out, scaling or replication,
d.        including a focus on the impediments in their implementation, and
e.        taking into account outputs and outcomes in terms of (conditions for) radical innovation.

This study calls for a theoretically robust, multidisciplinary approach aimed at providing results that are relevant for social enterprises targeting radical change in their value chains. Bearing in mind the abovementioned elements, the study is open to a variety of research avenues.

2)        The study of radical innovations in the global chocolate value chain to realise 100% slave free chocolate and the role of Tony’s Chocolonely in this process (SEPhD 2)

Tony’s Chocolonely is a Dutch social enterprise producing a range of responsibly produced chocolate products – consisting of a wide variety of chocolate bars, small chocolates, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate milk. The company is crazy about chocolate and serious about people. Its mission is to produce 100% slave free chocolate and abolish slavery in the production of chocolate altogether in the industry. Tony’s Chocolonely believes it “can transform the global chocolate trade into a 100% slave-free industry”. One of its principles is to buy the cocoa beans directly from farmers in, inter alia, Ghana and Ivory Coast on a fair-trade basis.

Realising Tony’s Chocolonely’s mission requires joint action, to which the study of the company’s policies, practices, and activities aimed at creating radical change in the value chain is essential. To be credible to competitors, Tony’s Chocolonely needs to demonstrate that its way of working not only contributes to achieving its social mission, but also results in market-rate financial returns. In-depth research into the conditions and the processes enabling (or preventing) slave-free production and distribution of cocoa, is therefore quintessential. The explicit focus on Tony’s Chocolonely’s contribution to the production and distribution of slave-free cocoa requires, inter alia, a case-study approach.

This PhD study will be conducted in close collaboration with Tony’s Chocolonely and will include – inter alia – research in Ghana and/or Ivory Coast. In addition, the company’s Chief Chocolate Officer will be actively supporting and overseeing the research.

The successful candidates will preferably start their PhD as from 1 September 2017.