Postgraduate Research: Odhrán Investigates Digital Startups in Spain
Odhrán McIntaggart is a first year PhD Management student whose research focuses on digital startups scaling globally.
Odhrán completed his BA (Hons) in Mathematics & Music degree at Newcastle University before moving on to study an MSc in Marketing at theSchool.
Why did you decide to study a PhD at the School?
After I graduated from my Master’s in Marketing, I was approached by my tutor, Adam Frost, about a funded PhD opportunity within the School. He encouraged me to apply and here I am!
Tell us about your research?
I am researching the process of how digital startups scale globally through the lens of dynamic capabilities. This theory helps to understand how these firms generate a sustainable competitive advantage within a turbulent environment. I will be focusing on the enablers and constraints during this process and how the home ecosystem impacts it. I plan to study this in Spain as they have recently passed a set of laws which are set to completely reshape the startup ecosystem and therefore should provide a great case study for my research.
How do you see your research being applicable in the world of business?
This research is very applicable to the real world. Scaling is the next phase in the startup’s life cycle, and its important as sustainable growth can be the cure for most things that go wrong within a startup. The global aspect of the study is also important as trading internationally can increase the lifespan and revenues of a company, mitigate against the impact of economic recessions in the company’s home country, increase employment and provide many more benefits.
What is your favourite part of studying a PhD at the School?
I love the freedom that the PhD gives me in both my educational career and my personal life. Being able to study a topic that I am really interested in is so rewarding and to be able to study this in my own time and in my own way is very fulfilling. The opportunities that the PhD has opened up for me are already incredible and I am really looking forward to seeing how things progress over the next 2.5 years.
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