Change and Resilience

Content and Objectives of the Doctoral Program

Through the deliberate integration of approaches from engineering, the humanities, law, information sciences, and psychology, the doctoral program Change and Resilience of the Department of Business and Markets fosters holistic perspectives on innovative research questions and the generation of new insights. How can the potential of change be harnessed? And how can resilience — understood as the ability to absorb disruptions — be conceptualized and developed?

These questions are addressed in three research groups within the Department of Business and Markets:

• Development of key factors and work design in times of change – focusing on the human being as the central object of inquiry.
• Uncertainty, resilience, and institutional change – focusing on systems.
• Value Chain and Operations Management – examining change and resilience from the perspective of process chains and business operations.

Building on these research areas, the structured doctoral program Change and Resilience aims to equip doctoral candidates with the methodological and disciplinary competencies necessary for conducting independent research projects. The program enables candidates to define their specific research questions and select appropriate research methods. The ability to engage in scholarly discourse is strengthened through the dissemination of research findings in publications and participation in academic conferences, thereby fostering integration into the scientific community. Close supervision within the framework of the doctoral program helps candidates to plan and carry out their projects efficiently within the intended timeframe while also taking potential risks into account. Teaching activities and working with students enable candidates to develop their communicative and didactic skills.

Target Groups and Admission Requirements

The program is primarily aimed at graduates of master’s degree programs with a clear focus on economics or business, in particular business administration, economics, business education, business psychology, industrial engineering, business law, and business informatics.
There are also interfaces with social and behavioral sciences, so that graduates of psychology, sociology, the humanities, and law with a strong economic focus are likewise welcome.

To be admitted as a doctoral candidate in the department and to participate in the doctoral program, applicants must meet at least the following requirements:

• a degree that entitles to pursue a doctorate according to § 67 (4) of the Higher Education Act,
• a qualified degree in an economics-related program with a minimum grade of good (2.4) or equivalent,
• a convincing doctoral project that fits the program (see also short exposé template)
• supervision by a professorial member of the department and proposals for a complete supervision team (see also Confirmation of Supervision)

Admission as a doctoral candidate is decided by the doctoral examining committee.

Structure of the Program

The doctoral program is designed for a period of three years and consists of mandatory and elective components. Throughout the program, doctoral candidates acquire a variety of methodological and theoretical approaches as well as interdisciplinary perspectives that they can apply and further develop in their individual research. In addition, networking and interdisciplinary qualification opportunities provide multiple options for preparing for a career both within and outside academia.

Events Offered within the Doctoral Program

Lecture Series 2025

Online
Further information and registration details

Doctoral Colloquium

The colloquia are held in person as part of the department’s annual meetings and retreats. Contributions may be submitted within the general registration process for these events.

1st Young Researcher Summit (Digitalise_SWF)

Joint event of the Department of Business and Markets, including the Doctoral Colloquium
University of Applied Sciences Südwestfalen | Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences
18 September 2025 | Venue: University of Applied Sciences Südwestfalen (Campus Soest)

Event on Research Methods

Method Workshop Systematic Literature Review
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Lier (University of Applied Sciences Südwestfalen)
9 May 2025 | 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Online

Subject-Specific Events

In preparation …

Documents for Enrollment and Admission