A.J.K. (Krijn) Turkenburg MSc

The aim of this PhD project is to build theory on the concept of ‘purpose’ in organizations. The theoretical claims will be empirically studied in organizational and entrepreneurial contexts. In the first essay I delineate notions of the focal concept in existing literatures and provide a conceptual definition, to ultimately arrive at a theoretical typology of ‘purpose’. In the second essay I focus on the cross-level dynamics and alignment of ‘purpose’ in a case study of a large incumbent organization. In the third essay I focus on how ‘purpose’ informs leaders how to deal with multiple aims in hybrid organizations in a case study of a social enterprise. By building theory about ‘purpose’ and empirically studying it in different business contexts, this project will add to organization theory in management literature and will offer managers insights how to embed a sense of ‘purpose’ in their organizations.