BUSINESS EXCELLENCE IN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTS LAB
Scientic Supervisor / Contact Person
Name and Surname
Paloma ALMODÓVAR
ORCID (link)
Researcher ID (link)
Localization & Research Area
Faculty / Institute
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Department
Business Organization Department
Research Area
Economic Sciences (ECO)
MSCA & ERC experience
Research group / research team hosted any MSCA fellow?
No
Research group / research team have any ERC beneficiaries?
No
Research Team & Research Topic
Research Team / Research Group Name (if any)
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE IN GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTS LAB (BEGEL)
Website of the Research team / Research Group / Department
Brief description of the Research Team / Research Group / Department
The research team, led by Dr. Paloma Almodóvar, specializes in Strategic Management, International Business, and Organizational Behavior. The group is part of the Department of Business Organization at UCM, one of the leading academic institutions in Spain, with a strong commitment to excellence in research and international collaboration.
The group has an extensive and recognized research trajectory, with numerous publications in highly ranked journals such as the Journal of World Business, Journal of Business Research, International Business Review, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of International Management, the Journal of Technology Transfer and the British Journal of Management, among many others.
The team's research is particularly concerned with understanding how organizations build and deploy capabilities to adapt to the fast-paced changes generated by globalization, digitalization, and societal challenges.
Dr. Almodóvar is also Associate Editor of the European Management Journal and has supervised numerous Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD theses, with a proven record of mentoring young researchers towards successful academic careers.
The group offers a collaborative, international, and dynamic research environment suitable for postdoctoral researchers aiming to contribute to topics at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and organizational change.
The group has an extensive and recognized research trajectory, with numerous publications in highly ranked journals such as the Journal of World Business, Journal of Business Research, International Business Review, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of International Management, the Journal of Technology Transfer and the British Journal of Management, among many others.
The team's research is particularly concerned with understanding how organizations build and deploy capabilities to adapt to the fast-paced changes generated by globalization, digitalization, and societal challenges.
Dr. Almodóvar is also Associate Editor of the European Management Journal and has supervised numerous Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD theses, with a proven record of mentoring young researchers towards successful academic careers.
The group offers a collaborative, international, and dynamic research environment suitable for postdoctoral researchers aiming to contribute to topics at the intersection of strategy, innovation, and organizational change.
Research lines / projects proposed
The research agenda of the team is structured around two interrelated thematic areas:
1. Corporate Strategies and Innovation
This area focuses on how firms design and implement corporate-level strategies to compete, innovate, and adapt in complex and international environments. Current projects include:
• Strategic Agility and Artificial Intelligence
Investigating how firms develop strategic agility as a dynamic capability to respond to environmental turbulence, with a particular focus on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables—or constrains—strategic agility. The research explores how AI capabilities (technological, human, and organizational) shape firms’ ability to sense changes, make fast strategic decisions, and reallocate resources effectively to sustain competitive advantage.
• International Business and Innovation
Exploring how international strategies—such as entry mode selection, international new ventures, and cross-border learning—drive innovation and performance. The research investigates how firms leverage global expansion to access knowledge and enhance dynamic capabilities.
• Mergers, Acquisitions, and Strategic Alliances
Analyzing how various forms of corporate cooperation—such as M&As and strategic alliances—contribute to innovation, restructuring, and competitive positioning in both domestic and international settings.
2. Organizational Behavior and Digital Work Transformation
This area examines how people and organizations adapt to ongoing technological and social shifts in the workplace. Ongoing projects include:
• Work-Life Balance, Well-Being, and Organizational Change
Investigating the implications of hybrid and remote work models, mental health challenges, and evolving HR practices on employee well-being, organizational culture, and strategic responsiveness.
• Artificial Intelligence and Human Resource Management
Studying how the adoption of AI is transforming Human Resource Management—through automation, role redesign, and enhanced employee experience. This line explores the strategic, ethical, and inclusive implications of AI integration in the workplace.
These research lines reflect the group’s integrative approach to understanding how organizations respond to global strategic, technological, and human challenges, with a strong focus on competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable organizational performance.
1. Corporate Strategies and Innovation
This area focuses on how firms design and implement corporate-level strategies to compete, innovate, and adapt in complex and international environments. Current projects include:
• Strategic Agility and Artificial Intelligence
Investigating how firms develop strategic agility as a dynamic capability to respond to environmental turbulence, with a particular focus on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables—or constrains—strategic agility. The research explores how AI capabilities (technological, human, and organizational) shape firms’ ability to sense changes, make fast strategic decisions, and reallocate resources effectively to sustain competitive advantage.
• International Business and Innovation
Exploring how international strategies—such as entry mode selection, international new ventures, and cross-border learning—drive innovation and performance. The research investigates how firms leverage global expansion to access knowledge and enhance dynamic capabilities.
• Mergers, Acquisitions, and Strategic Alliances
Analyzing how various forms of corporate cooperation—such as M&As and strategic alliances—contribute to innovation, restructuring, and competitive positioning in both domestic and international settings.
2. Organizational Behavior and Digital Work Transformation
This area examines how people and organizations adapt to ongoing technological and social shifts in the workplace. Ongoing projects include:
• Work-Life Balance, Well-Being, and Organizational Change
Investigating the implications of hybrid and remote work models, mental health challenges, and evolving HR practices on employee well-being, organizational culture, and strategic responsiveness.
• Artificial Intelligence and Human Resource Management
Studying how the adoption of AI is transforming Human Resource Management—through automation, role redesign, and enhanced employee experience. This line explores the strategic, ethical, and inclusive implications of AI integration in the workplace.
These research lines reflect the group’s integrative approach to understanding how organizations respond to global strategic, technological, and human challenges, with a strong focus on competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable organizational performance.
Key words
Application requirements
Professional Experience & Documents
Interested researchers must have a PhD at the time of the call deadline. Applicants should demonstrate a solid background in management. Experience with quantitative or qualitative methods research is highly valued.
To be considered, candidates must submit the following documents:
• Curriculum Vitae (max. 5 pages, including a list of publications)
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page, explaining alignment with the research group and proposed topic)
• Short research proposal summary (max. 1 page)
Evaluation will consider academic excellence, methodological rigor, motivation, and potential fit with the hosting team.
To be considered, candidates must submit the following documents:
• Curriculum Vitae (max. 5 pages, including a list of publications)
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page, explaining alignment with the research group and proposed topic)
• Short research proposal summary (max. 1 page)
Evaluation will consider academic excellence, methodological rigor, motivation, and potential fit with the hosting team.
One Page Proposal
You can attach the 'One Page Proposal' to enhance the attractiveness of your application. Supervisors usually appreciate it. Please take into account your background and the information provided in Research Team & Research Topic section to fill in it.
Submit an application
Forms