Research into management at the school tackles a very broad range of subjects, covering all sub disciplines within the faculty. The department is currently enjoying significant investment ndash adding to already excellent facilities and attracting more leading academics to the fold. Specific research strengths include organisational studies, operations management and strategy, entrepreneurship, and marketing and consumer research.

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There is also a growing trend of research into sustainability issues in management, and the department is home to one of only two research centres in the uk that focuses on service as a major topic. These are some of the topics we are currently researching: top bosses are expert storytellers who tell versions of the same four stories to keep ahead of the game, experts have found. Professor mairi maclean rsquo s research team has discovered that four powerful messages are built into the often subtle and sometimes self deprecating stories leaders tell about themselves. Professor maclean said: ldquo inequalities of power and status require greater justification at times of economic crisis. In telling of how they give back to society, they present themselves as socially sensitive and rounded individuals who care about others. Ldquo operations management is like breakfast ndash the most important meal of the day! rdquo he rsquo s currently researching the topic within micro businesses, and specifically within two separate networks of micro businesses, operating in the uk shellfish industry. The first, a network of independent fishermen who search and gather shell fish cockles using highly mechanised dredgers operate in the thames estuary.

The second group, again independent operators dredge for shellfish oysters , by hand, under sail in the fal estuary in cornwall. It means i get to communicate with interesting people from all over the world rdquo , explains dr ian hipkin. Senior teaching fellow in management at the school, who is currently involved in exciting research into strategy and technology policy in conflict and developing countries. Dr hipkin is one of a very small group of academics conducting research in this area. The key issue for organisations in all sectors is that they face conditions of enormous, and ongoing, change. Instead, companies and organisations have to develop capabilities that will enable them to compete in very volatile conditions.

Such capabilities do not come about by chance but are as a result of specific strategies being put in place. This is where the role of operation strategy, professor steve brown rsquo s main area of interest, is vital. It is when the right strategies are in place that organisations can become world class. How do firms develop the in service support skills ndash also known as lsquo servitization rsquo ndash in complex procurement projects, such as hospitals, ships, aircraft? this is one area of interest of professor mickey howard.

He rsquo s studying the temporal dynamics between manufacturing and public/private organisations, as they adopt an extended, through life approach to such projects ndash and looking at what capabilities are needed for organisations to make the necessary changes. The last two decades has seen the growth of social movements that, in the absence of government action, have sought to lsquo re organise rsquo markets so they are more aligned to perceived social goals. Before joining the university, paul barton had a long and distinguished career as an event manager, before an industrial accident forced him to shift tack. Now an events management and events consultant to the business school, his research and teaching is focused on events project management, and encouraging better communication between local authorities and the events industry. Paul believes there needs to be a more level platform as to how local authorities interact with events and events companies ndash some want to attract events to their area, while others treat them as a nuisance. Paul believes events now deserve the right to be recognised more for what they are ndash proficient, professional, innovative communication tools which, if used correctly and treated with respect, can add enormous value to a village, town, city, country and society. Lindsay stringfellow is currently researching small businesses and entrepreneurship, and the role that social and other forms of capital have on their performance.

Professional service firms in fields such as law and accounting are of a particular interest. Her research draws upon social network theory and theories of capital developed in social science fields such as sociology. The social theory of pierre bourdieu, for instance, is drawn upon to understand the dynamics of the transforming professional fields and the positions occupied by small practitioners within it. She believes that learning helps to create adaptive, resilient communities ndash and she is exploring innovative ways to engage people in learning.