Research lines of the Doctoral Programme in Business Management

Strategy and knowledge. Knowledge maps. Knowledge assets and competitive advantage. Competitive intelligence. Impact of knowledge management.

New business models.

New fields of interaction with clients and consumers.

Business models and sports organizations.

Background to and consequences of human and organizational behaviour.

This thesis proposal examines how organisations restructure when they operate through, or compete with, digital platforms: how their business and management models, processes, internal structures, roles, and relationships with customers, suppliers and workers change, and what position they occupy in increasingly intermediated value chains. Proposals may focus on any of three sectors: the primary sector (agri-food marketplaces, direct sales, intermediation and logistics platforms), the service sector (home delivery, mobility, retail, leisure) or the third sector (volunteering, crowdfunding and donation platforms, or food and goods redistribution platforms). Proposals are particularly welcome that analyse the adaptation, integration or dependency strategies of SMEs, producers and non-profit organisations vis-à-vis large platforms; how different generations of managers, workers, consumers and volunteers experience these changes; how organisational models evolve in increasingly regulated contexts; or that adopt comparative approaches across sectors or based on platform data.

Predictors, complementary factors and economic and business results (productivity, exports, innovation, gross margin, work, remuneration) of the technological waves linked to digitization and automation.

Motivations, behaviour, economic and business models and effects of the different forms of sharing (obtaining goods and services, providing work) in peer-to-peer exchanges.

Motivations and responsible behaviour (diverse stakeholders), especially in relation to SME activity, and resulting impacts.

Corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Ethics and fairness in business.

Impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on employment and salaries. Education economics.

Trade, finance and international economic policy.

Changes in international distribution of value added.

International production fragmentation strategies.

Analysis of the role of distance and the company's environment as a determinant of business digitization, value generation and business results. What role does innovation play in relation to productivity and/or business competitiveness.

This research line focuses on studying industrial dynamics, industrial economics, and innovation in companies, with or without a regional perspective. Innovation processes will be analyzed, including the use of patents and their relationship to technological development and business competitiveness. Furthermore, it will assess how these factors impact the evolution of industrial sectors, as well as regional differences in the adoption and diffusion of innovation within the productive landscape.

Building financial capability and entrepreneurship

Financial decisions and capability-building

Collaborative finances and building financial capability.

Design, creation and analysis of simulations and impact on learning processes.

Training in companies (strategies and training plans), use of digital tools, attaining and developing entrepreneurial and professional skills and abilities.

This research line welcomes doctoral projects focused on the design and evaluation of training programmes to enhance organizational performance in the areas of quality management, production and operations. Potential topics include the application of Agile, Lean and Quick Response Manufacturing strategies, the development of work time organization skills, and the implementation of advanced training for operations and production management professionals. Research may also explore the impact of these programmes on workforce productivity, organizational competitiveness, and the alignment of training with strategic business goals.

Innovation, companies and regions.

Analysis of entrepreneurship and innovation in companies. Importance of the entrepreneur's gender and characteristics in the success of their business.

Innovation management. Information and knowledge flows. The role of complex networks. Territorial ecosystems. Science-innovation interaction. Scientific collaboration and big science. Simulation models. Open innovation.

Drivers and factors for creating new businesses.

Analysis of business trends.

Modelling the interplay of immersive experiences in online environments (feelings of being present in the online setting, peak episodes of flow, mental imagery) and consumer engagement.

Impact of brand content and online comments of social media users on online decision-making about brands. 

Adoption of new technologies and marketing.

Analysis of the relationship between client and brand (their journey). Determining factors in strengthening this relationship (at each stage) and consequences and effects in terms of conversion, experience, satisfaction, loyalty and recommendation.

Analysis (from the business side) of the management of client relations. Design and implementation of strategies for gaining clients and increasing their loyalty in the field of inbound marketing aimed at capture and conversion  of leads  and promoters (creation of intangible capital based on brand preference).

Participation in online brand communities, with special attention to creating social capital.

Consumption motivations and experiences in online environments.

Consumption motivations in sharing platforms. State of flux in sharing platforms.

The present proposal examines how digital communities (virtual brand communities, social media, user communities or content creators) enable consumers, users and other stakeholders to gain voice and agency in their relationships with organisations: how they express themselves, organise, build social capital and take part in value co-creation. Proposals may focus on any of three sectors: the primary sector (communities around producers, cooperatives and agri-food brands), the service sector (retail, food service, culture, leisure or digital services) or the third sector (communities of members, donors, volunteers and beneficiaries of social organisations). Proposals are particularly welcome that analyse how different groups, especially those under-represented in traditional channels, use these communities to influence organisations' offerings and decisions; which engagement and participation mechanisms enable or constrain this empowerment; the role of influencers, artificial intelligence and algorithmic visibility; or how organisations respond to these voices.

In this case, the aim is to analyse how organisations, particularly SMEs, connect the physical experiences of their customers or users with relationships maintained through digital channels in order to build lasting ties. Proposals may focus on any of three sectors: the primary sector (farm visits, tastings, fairs and direct sales by producers and cooperatives), the service sector (shops, local retail, food service or events) or the third sector (charity shops, events and campaigns through which non-profit organisations seek to retain members and donors). Proposals are welcome that examine consumer behaviour in omnichannel environments, the determinants of loyalty and of online repurchase or recurring support, digital marketing and customer relationship management strategies, or the commercial digital transformation of these organisations.

Air transport.

Air connectivity in remote regions.

Business and management models of airline companies and airports.

Air freight.

This research line focuses on urban freight distribution and its associated challenges, including locational models, route and fleet optimization, and the management of warehouses and distribution centres. Topics may also explore last-mile delivery solutions, reverse logistics (green logistics), and the integration of innovative technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability in urban logistics systems. Additionally, projects can address the impact of urban logistics on transport networks, city planning, and environmental sustainability, contributing to the development of resilient and adaptable urban supply chains.

This research line welcomes doctoral projects focused on topics related to supply chain management, including the design and optimization of logistics systems in both urban and rural contexts, sustainable freight distribution, reverse logistics (green logistics), and transport systems. Other potential areas include production operations, lean and agile management strategies, information systems for logistics, and quality management. Research in this line seeks to address emerging challenges in logistics and supply chain management, contributing to the development of efficient, sustainable, and innovative practices across industries.

This research line invites doctoral projects focused on improving healthcare logistics to address the unique challenges faced in both urban and rural contexts. Topics may include optimizing supply chains for medical supplies and equipment, designing efficient distribution models tailored to urban density and rural remoteness, and developing strategies for last-mile delivery in underserved areas. Research may also explore the role of emerging technologies such as IoT, AI and drones in enhancing healthcare logistics, as well as sustainable practices in reverse logistics and waste management. Projects under this line aim to contribute to more equitable, resilient and sustainable healthcare systems, improving accessibility and efficiency across diverse geographic and demographic settings.

This research line invites doctoral projects focused on optimizing production processes and operations management. Topics may include production and assembly line design and balancing, work time organization, integrated aggregate planning, and strategic capacity planning. Additionally, research may explore the implementation of Agile, Lean and Quick Response Manufacturing strategies to enhance efficiency, adaptability and sustainability in manufacturing and operations. Projects in this line aim to contribute to the development of innovative practices that address the evolving challenges in production systems, fostering competitiveness and operational excellence across industries.

This line of research examines the sustainable and ethical management of labor in global supply chains, exploring how organizations can ensure fair and safe working conditions while maintaining efficiency and competitiveness. It integrates perspectives from human resource management and supply chain management to design and evaluate mechanisms that promote decent work and social responsibility. Using qualitative, quantitative, and modeling approaches, it analyzes the drivers, governance models, and performance impacts of ethical labor practices. The ultimate goal is to develop conceptual frameworks that take social sustainability into account in supply chain management.

Social sustainability, sustainable employability and the role of the function of human resources management to enable more sustainable and socially-responsible organizations.

Predictors, multidimensional models and economic and business effects of work quality: intrinsic quality, work organization, social relations, work conditions and intensity, health and safety, occupational accidents, risk prevention, extrinsic compensation and life-work balance.

Effects of digital transformation on human resources strategy and practices.

The intersection of HR practices and leadership roles in remote and flexible work arrangements and their impact on organizational effectiveness and employee well-being.

The application of evidence-based practices in HR management to improve decision-making and organizational outcomes.

The dual impact of workplace technology adoption: how it changes internal management systems while simultaneously altering employee roles, behaviours and outcomes.

This doctoral research line focuses on the prevention of occupational risks from an applied, evidence-based perspective, integrating accident investigation, expert reporting, sectoral accident analysis, and advanced risk assessment methodologies. Special attention is given to emerging risks associated with the green and digital transition, including the use of digital tools, data-driven approaches, artificial intelligence, and simulation techniques to support decision-making in occupational safety and health management. The line is particularly suited to research with practical, regulatory, and societal impact across different productive sectors.

Knowledge management systems. Business intelligence. 

Circular economy applied to different production sectors. 

Sustainability within organizations (private, public and third sector), with special emphasis on the primary and related sectors (agro-food) and also the leisure sector. Tourism development and sustainability.

This research line focuses on the transition towards sustainable practices in urban and rural logistics, addressing challenges such as greener infrastructure, efficient urban freight distribution and sustainable rural logistics. Topics may include the adoption of cleaner vehicles, reverse logistics (green logistics) and digital platforms for optimizing supply chains. Projects can also explore behavioural change among stakeholders, the role of public policy in fostering sustainable transport systems, and the integration of advanced technologies such as IoT and AI to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Additionally, this line encompasses the study of companies and organizations operating in these emerging sectors, analysing their contribution to sustainable mobility and logistics systems.

Sustainability and marketing, inclusive digitalization, social environment, social inclusion.