for W3c validation
We’re serious about contributing research that extends our practices in social technologies and the future of work. 
That’s why we’ve partnered with the University of Sydney Business School to offer a PhD scholarship to work on a joint project in the fields of workplace application of social technologies and the future of work.
Driven by the emergence and proliferation of new social and digital technologies, the organisation of work is undergoing significant changes. While often perceived as disruptive, social technologies offer many opportunities to explore meaningful ways in which work can be re-organised, in particular in knowledge-intensive professions and innovation processes. As an independent consultancy group, a commitment to authentic research within our client contexts is a critical element that informs our solutions which is underpinned by our methodological approach focused on user experience design practices and the application of design thinking strategies within organisational contexts.
The exciting opportunity to participate in a rigorous research project of this nature will enable our team to contribute to the broader industry knowledge base and provide our clients with further leading edge thinking that Ripple Effect Group has become known for. The senior management team will be working closely with the candidate to provide access to ongoing client projects, industry insights from our current research projects and general guidance.
Eligibility
This is an ideal opportunity for current workplace practitioners who are looking to differentiate themselves with a high quality academic research qualification, while maintaining and enhancing their business experiences.
The successful candidate will be based in the Discipline of Business Information Systems (BIS) within the University of Sydney Business School. The BIS discipline forms a regional hub that is internationally recognised for its innovative business education, industry engagement, and high-impact research. Colleagues in the discipline share a passion for genuine collaboration with the business community through qualitative, interpretive approaches to investigating a wide range of phenomena of organising with IT.
The scholarship is for a research student interested in topic areas such as enterprise social networking and new ways of knowledge working; the role of digital capabilities and skills, networks, crowdsourcing and community-building in the organisation of work; knowledge management in the age of social media and bring-your-own (BYOD) device environments; mobile, flexible and activity-based work; workplace application of wearable technologies, and organisational responsiveness and employee empowerment.
The applicant should have a strong Honours 1 or 2A degree (or equivalent) or Masters-level degree. Although any disciplinary background is in principal acceptable for this scholarship, we encourage applications from graduates in Information Systems, Organisation Studies, Management, Humanities and Communication Studies. The research work will require skills in approaches and methods such as interpretivism, ethnography, case study research, and qualitative data analysis methods. Candidates will receive research training through the Business School’s research training program.
The successful applicant will also need to meet the academic entry requirements and follow the procedures for enrolment in the University of Sydney Business School Higher degree by Research program. Candidates must commence by March 2016 (Research Period 2).
Next steps
Applications close 4th September, to avoid missing out, review the full details of the scholarship and application process published on the University of Sydney research opportunities site.
Still have questions, or want to discuss your eligibility? Contact Associate Professor Kai Riemer on +61 2 9053 9036 or by e-mailing kai.riemer@sydney.edu.au.
The team at Ripple Effect Group are looking forward to sharing their experiences and stimulating some great conversations to support this role – take action towards establishing your professional expertise now!
