Andrey Pavlov

[Full tuition fees and an annual bursary of £20,780 (tax free) for three years for Home or Overseas students.] This fully funded PhD studentship at Cranfield University offers an exciting opportunity to investigate how generative AI is reshaping strategic decision-making, organizational sensemaking, and accountability in modern organizations. Sponsored by Cranfield School of Management, the project is designed for ambitious scholars interested in AI governance, human–AI decision-making, and organizational strategy. The research will explore how AI-mediated strategizing transforms the framing, justification, and execution of strategic issues, addressing urgent challenges of judgement, defensibility, and responsibility as organizations increasingly rely on AI-generated logic and insights. The project is situated within strategic management and organization studies, particularly the strategy-as-practice and process-based research traditions, and engages closely with AI governance and algorithmic organising. It examines how generative AI is transforming core managerial activities, especially strategic decision-making, sensemaking, and accountability, by reshaping how issues are framed, evidence is constructed, and authority is exercised. This research is highly relevant for modern business and management, especially as organizations embed AI into high-stakes decisions. Understanding how to maintain judgement quality, transparency, and responsible governance is critical, particularly in highly regulated and uncertainty-intensive sectors, as well as in organizations operating under intense public and stakeholder scrutiny. The project aims to develop a process model of AI-mediated strategizing that explains shifts in sensemaking, accountability, human–AI collaboration, and the quality and defensibility of strategic decisions. It will also generate practical insights and tools to improve AI-enabled decision-making in organizations. Key research questions include how AI outputs enter decision processes, how they become accepted or contested as evidence, and how responsibility is negotiated when AI materially influences strategic choices. Funding for this studentship includes full programme fees and an annual bursary of £20,780 (tax free) for three years, available to both Home and Overseas students. Applicants should have a first- or second-class UK honours degree, or equivalent, in a related discipline. A research background in strategy, organisation studies, AI, or a related field is particularly welcome. The position is open to Home and Overseas candidates. To apply, complete the online application form at the provided link. After submission, admissions will contact you to request a research proposal. For further information, contact Dr Mehdi Safavi at [email protected].

Fully funded PhD studentship at Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University (UK) in Strategy , focused on how generative AI reshapes organizational sensemaking , strategic decision-making , and accountability . The project is a theory-building, qualitative PhD examining AI-mediated strategizing: how AI-generated outputs enter decision routines, how they are framed and justified, how human–AI collaboration is organised, and how responsibility is governed when AI becomes part of organisational governance and decision-making. Funding: fully funded for 3 years, with a full tuition fee waiver and an annual bursary of £20,780 . Eligibility: applicants should have a first- or second-class UK honours degree, or equivalent, in a related discipline. A background in strategy, organisation studies, AI, or a related field is welcome. Strong qualitative research skills are important, especially process research and interpretive approaches. Prior research experience is advantageous, and applicants must meet Cranfield’s English language requirements where applicable. Supervisory team: Dr Mehdi Safavi and Prof Andrey Pavlov at Cranfield School of Management, with external advisors Dr Omid Omidvar (Warwick Business School) and Prof Vern Glaser (Alberta School of Business). Deadline: 03 June 2026. Start date: 28 September 2026. Interested candidates should review the full advert and application instructions via the provided link and apply before the deadline. Informal enquiries may be sent to [email protected].