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University of
Strathclyde
Business
School
PIONEER Winter 2013
BALANCING ACT
Meeting those seemingly conflicting objectives
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
School cultivates
connections with major
industry players
FLYING THE FLAG
Our students show
their talents around
the world
news news
SBS makes IMPORTANT
business school, particularly in the
contents Centre for Corporate Connections,
where we are working with William
welcome
Professor Susan Hart,
Dean, Strathclyde
Grant on the MBA 25 programme.
We have achieved some
significant results in our research
strides in sustainability
Business School
work. We are involved in the BS has published its competition, at Texas Christian
Enterprise Research Centre with s first report detailing University in Fort Worth.
Aston, Warwick and Imperial the progress we have • We have focused on research
orking in partnership should which we feed back into the classroom business schools – Professor Sara made in becoming more that delivers social and
w always be a two-way process. and research programmes, enhancing Carter has been appointed as an sustainable in our approach to environmental good, through
06 That is a commitment all of
us – staff and students – give as we
the students’ experience and learning
with up-to-the-minute, business-in-
associate director of the new £2.9
million centre which launched
developing enterprising and
internationally focused
projects on skills utilisation,
carbon capture and the impact
seek to build alliances locally, nationally action thinking. in January this year. At the same students, since signing up to of care personalisation on
News and internationally. Our students engage proactively time, Professor Paul Stewart the UN Principles of voluntary sector workers.
06 RIGHT CONNECTIONs Our programme of executive with each other and their peers in the department of Human Responsible Management • The Centre for Corporate
We continue to build education is at the heart of this on different programmes and at Resource Management was Education (PRME) in 2010. Connections has also played its
links with major commitment and we continue to grow business schools around the world via delighted to announce his bid had In the past three years the part in improving our links with
players in business and strengthen powerful relationships international business competitions won a prestigious grant of €4.6 school has made huge progress industry. With the creation of
with industry, commerce and and challenges. million as part of the Marie Curie in living up to the principles, the Strathclyde Business Fellow
09 Raw Materials government. Our students continue to shine in International Training Network: making some key changes to our Network in 2012, we have been
and raw nerves This year, for example, has seen attaining prestigious Saltire Internships Changing Employment aims to map own sustainability policies and able to forge links with senior
Initiative addresses the Babcock MBA launched, a internationally and corporate the changing nature of employment incorporating these values into leaders, while also teaching them stakeholder management in an industry figures – many of
sensitive supply issues three-year corporate programme with experience in this way definitely in Europe. This is an ambitious and the education we provide with how to live more sustainable lives international context. whom are MBA or executive
participants from the UK, South Africa pays dividends – one of our students large-scale research project that SBS things such as: in general. • Through the Hunter Centre for education alumni, to help us
and Germany. The Iberdrola MBA in who completed an internship with is proud to head up. • By redeveloping our • With a commitment to the Entrepreneurship, our students shape the next generation of
the Global Energy Industry launched the Edrington group in 2012, for Management Science Management Development teaching of the values of global have also been able to develop business leaders.
also, with participants from UK, Spain, example, has now been recruited to academics were part of a winning Programme – a core module social responsibility, we have social business plans to receive All our staff are now
USA, Mexico and Brazil, and our their first ever graduate programme. team, awarded a grant of almost £1 underpinning all of Strathclyde revised our MBA curriculum to creativity and entrepreneurship also encouraged to promote
partnership with William million, researching how Business School’s undergraduate include Comparative Corporate recognition. This year successful sustainability, through
Grant and the MBA 25
“At the heart of everything to develop tools to better degrees – we have been Governance, a module which students were selected to knowledge exchange,
16 programme, which aims
to maximise potential and
we do is our mission to
promote responsibility
manage risks in managing
supply networks. John
preparing our students for
futures as sustainable business
teaches participants good
organisational governance and
enter the international Values
and Ventures Business Plan
representation on external
bodies and outreach activities.
create future global leaders, and sustainability.” Quigley and Lesley Walls
Features continues successfully. will be conducting their The full report can be found at unprme.org
10 On the one hand The Weir Group and Senergy Our students certainly seem to know research with companies such as
Meet those seemingly
conflicting objectives
have continued their programmes
with us, with managers globally taking
the benefits of useful learning, gaining
as much industry experience as they
Rolls-Royce and academic partners
Bristol, Coventry and Nottingham.
NEW CENTRE BOOSTS BUSINESS GROWTH SCHOLARSHIP NAMED
part in their respective programmes. can alongside their academic learning At the heart of everything Strathclyde Business School has an The Universities of Birmingham, De AFTER BRAVE ESRAA
14 Bold thinking Standard Life completed its second – something that we endeavour to we do, of course, is our mission integral role in a new £2.9 million Montfort and Imperial College London Strathclyde Business School is to offer the Esraa Mansy
Students show their cohort of management development, include at all levels. to promote responsibility and centre that will generate world-class are also part of the consortium. Scholarship in memory of an outstanding female MBA
quality in international with the focus on its UK and Ireland We were delighted to work in sustainability, and we are proud research to help stimulate growth Since the launch, Dr Samuel student at Strathclyde’s UAE campus. It is hoped that the
competitions distribution teams. partnership with the Scottish Family to be one of the signatories to for small and medium-sized Mwaura has started at Strathclyde as scholarship will motivate and support deserving Strathclyde
An agreement with V Group Business Association on a series of the UK Principles of Responsible enterprises (SMEs). the post-doctoral Research Associate businesswomen to persevere in the achievement of their
16 in the spotlight has led to the development of a high profile and engaging lectures on Management Education, an The Enterprise Research Centre, on the project. Dr Mwaura is working own MBA.
Researchers report Global Leadership Development family business this autumn. initiative SBS joined in order to hosted by Warwick and Aston with Professor Carter on the first stage Esraa Hassan Mansy applied to the Strathclyde MBA
their findings on the programme, with their senior leaders We welcomed Maitland Mackie show in a very public way how Universities, will help develop an of the project, which entails mining in Dubai at the unusually young age of 24, and was
Edinburgh Fringe taking part from around the world of Mackie’s of Scotland, Bill Gordon we are championing responsible understanding of the factors affecting existing datasets, such as the SME accepted thanks to an impressive display of persistence,
with the aim of improving business of William Grant & Sons, Jacqui management education and building business investment, performance and Finance Monitor and the British talent and maturity.
leadership capabilities and enabling Walker of Walkers Shortbread and on the ways in which we do so. growth. It will become a national and Household Panel Survey, for data about Esraa fell ill with a serious autoimmune disorder during
structured growth. Hugh Raven of Ardtornish Estate There is more detail on these international focal point for research, enterprise finance and ownership the strategy module in year two of her Strathclyde MBA.
As well as the companies to the business school to hear their and other items of news and knowledge and expertise on SMEs. diversity. A further PhD scholarship, co- She continued with the programme classes and assignments
benefiting through development of insights into how they run their family interest in this issue of Pioneer – I Professor Sara Carter, at the funded by Scottish Enterprise, has been nonetheless, rarely letting on to classmates about the severity
their employees, from managers to businesses and how it can be applied hope you find it useful and would time head of the Hunter Centre for awarded to examine entrepreneurial or prospects of her illness. After selflessly using her knowledge
senior leaders, the business school to business more generally. The encourage feedback to help us Entrepreneurship and now associate leadership, for which Eleni Kesidou has and connections to set up and oversee careful treatment plans
benefits from this two-way process, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship is keep you informed. deputy principal (learning and been recruited. This brings to three the for her mother, who was battling cancer at the same time,
14 with access to those at the top of these
global businesses, providing us with
continuing to develop its interest and
research in this area but it’s something
case studies, insights, and live problems, that has wider resonance across the
Professor Susan Hart, Dean,
Strathclyde Business School
teaching), was appointed as an associate
director of the new centre which
opened at the beginning of 2013.
number of PhD scholarships associated
with the ERC project at Strathclyde
this year.
Esraa’s own illness suddenly advanced and she died in July
2012. Strathclyde awarded Esraa her degree posthumously.
4
2 3
news news
Multi-million project WILL BUSINESS SCHOOL CONTINUES TO
HIGHLIGHT the changing nature
of employment in Europe EARN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
his year started with standing and (increasing and ranked business school in Financial Times’ top 100 of such
An ambitious €4.6 million four-year project co-ordinated by Strathclyde T news that SBS has international) reputation. The Scotland, and confirms our status programmes in the world. Our
been awarded EQUIS EQUIS panel met with a full as number one in Scotland. executive MBA programme –
Business School brings together world-leading academics and researchers accreditation by the European range of stakeholders while We are placed in the top 25 of offered via part-time study in the
to map the changing nature of employment Foundation for Management here, including staff, students, European business schools ranked UK and around the world at our
Development (EFMD) for the alumni and corporate partners, and, reflecting the increasing nine international centres – was
he ChangingEmployment maximum five year period. SBS and undertook a very thorough competitive nature of business ranked 58th globally and in the
T project is a Marie Curie has been accredited by EQUIS assessment of the business school as schools globally, one of only 11 top 10 of UK-based business
Initial Training network for the past 11 years and the a whole.” business schools in the UK to be schools ranked in the top 100.
that aims to identify the nature of the latest reaccreditation for five Strathclyde has also fared included in the ranking. We were also ranked in the
restructuring of European labour years demonstrates SBS’s well in various rankings of its Our MBM programme was Financial Times’ Global Masters
markets and economies as a result of commitment to providing programmes this year. also ranked by the Financial Times. in Finance rankings, making
current economic and social change. Strathclyde excellent management education Strathclyde Business School's Its latest ranking of the world’s top 10 in the UK and 30th in
An eminent team of Business Fellow and means that SBS remains full time MBA programme was top 70 pre-experience general the world.
specialist supervisors dedicated Network goes one of the few business schools ranked in this year’s Financial Times management programmes – The Economist ranked the
to dissemination and outreach from strength in the UK, and indeed the Global MBA ranking, which lists its Masters in Management Strathclyde full-time MBA
will support the 12 doctoral to strength world, with triple accreditation. the top 100 in the world each year. ranking put Strathclyde’s MBM programme in its Which MBA?
students and three post-doctoral Professor Susan Hart, Out of thousands of business programme 33rd in the world. Top 100 programmes as 40th in the
The Strathclyde Business Fellow
researchers. They will develop Network (SBFN) has been in
Dean of SBS, says: “We were schools worldwide, only those that Out of the 12 UK business schools world, fourth in UK; and our
researchers’ skills in advanced The research will focus on concerned with the transformation operation since July 2012 (strath. delighted to be reaccredited by are accredited (AACSB or EQUIS) ranked, we were placed fourth, and Executive MBA as 28th in the
social and comparative research three themes: of employment relations and ac.uk/businessfellows) and has EQUIS and further delighted to and meet strict criteria are eligible were also placed third in terms of world, top five in UK.
methods, and through the • Management and employee conditions of work across Europe.” gone from strength to strength. hear it was for the full five years. to take part in the FT ranking. This careers progression.
variety of employment situations relations A range of other training There are now 24 business This demonstrates that EQUIS ranking makes Strathclyde Business Strathclyde’s executive MBA
fellows within the network,
provide transferable skills to • Inclusion and exclusion at activities has taken place across who are senior professionals
are convinced of the strength of School the only triple accredited programme has been ranked in the
undertake work with commercial, work, including examination partners' locations and the from different specialisms such our international presence and
educational, governmental and of the character of three research theme groups as finance, HR, marketing, our international strategy.
third level agencies in the context democratic engagement (management and employees, hospitality and tourism and “Our increasing
of changes in working life. • Impact of the quality of work inclusion and exclusion, employee entrepreneurship. Business international links with top-
fellows have actively contributed
The project brings together itself and change on employee wellbeing and work/life quality) at events such as guest lectures,
quality business schools are
partners from eight other European wellbeing and work/life quality. are working on joint research providing project opportunities firmly positioning us as a school
universities and social and outcomes. and placements for students, with a strong international
industry partners, including the Project co-ordinator Professor Paul You can now follow the engaging in alumni activities, and
European Trade Union Institute, Stewart, from the department of research on Twitter (twitter. working with SBS in an advisory
capacity both at operational and
Consultingeuropa, EDF, Edrington, Human Resource Management, com/changingemploy) and strategic levels.
the International Labour says: “This is an outstanding Facebook (facebook.com/ All business fellows have
Organisation, Neuroedukacja, research agenda, bringing changingemployment) or sign up an allocated academic champion
UNISON, Volvo and CAIRDE. together a range of critical social to the RSS feeds to keep up to date within SBS who principally works
scientists and new researchers with the project news and events. with the fellow on an individual
basis, in areas of mutual interest.
The latest business fellow
event took place on October
diary of events 22, with the first event of 2014
scheduled to take place on
The project began in December 2012 with nov ’13: The ITN open day, annual February 25, again in Glasgow.
a kick-off meeting at the University of colloquium and network school took place in A new international branch
Strathclyde and is now fully operational: Paris around the theme of Comparative Labour of the Strathclyde Business
Sociology. Fellow Network is to be
March ’13: The project recruited 12 March ’14: A second experienced researcher, launched at an event in Dubai
early-stage researchers from across Europe based at Strathclyde, will commence work on
on January 22. A further eight SBS builds online presence with blog and social media
international business fellows
(PhD students) and a post-doctoral researcher; the project.
have been invited and accepted Strathclyde Business School on everything from family have not yet visited engage-sbs. You can also find us on Facebook
they are based across the nine academic june ’14: The network will hold its first open
roles as business fellows. launched its Engage blog business issues, through ac.uk then please do so – and and Twitter:
partner European institutions. roundtable and open network school in Leuven Professor Susan Hart will host this year as another way of branding in the age of social please do subscribe and get engage-sbs.com
May ’13: The launch event and first around the theme of Labour Markets, ‘Flexicurity’ these new fellows at the event interacting with our staff, media and immigration debate involved with commenting or facebook.com/
network training school took place in and Social Dialogue. This will be the first in Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai students, alumni and external to students’ success stories. even writing your own blog strathbusiness
Gothenburg around the theme of disciplines in event where non-consortium PhD students and and formally welcome them in contacts via social media. The blog is continuing to piece. We would love to hear twitter.com/strathbusiness
work sciences. All videos from the launch can academics will be invited to participate; further person to the network. So far, we have had blogs attract subscribers but if you your ideas. (@strathbusiness)
be found on the research website. information about this event will be available soon.
64 5
news case studies
We continue to build corporate MBA programme, there are
25 participants from the UK, South
New skills
connections with major Africa and Germany taking part who
were specifically identified as part of enhance
players in business career
the company’s long-term succession
planning.
Launched in 2011, the Weir prospects
Sandy Wilson, head of executive education at SBS’s Centre for Business Management Programme
offers a postgraduate certificate in
Corporate Connections, reports on activities in 2013 management for Weir managers MBA25 continued, with Alliance Official
globally – from across Europe to Russia, Trust and Craneware as well as a start of the
he Centre for Corporate A new relationship has Canada, India, South America, Asia blend of ‘not-for-profits’ including Iberdrola
T Connections enables also begun with the Royal and Australia. The latest cohort of this the Home Office and entrepreneurs, Global
organisations to develop
talent in alignment with their strategic
Bank of Scotland. CCC
will be working with the
programme also started in September.
The Senergy Project Management
being welcomed to the consortium
led by William Grant & Sons. In
Energy
programme
Among the SBS alumni working with Standard Life,
objectives through close partnerships bank across its operations Programme has been created to particular this year MBA 25 delivered in Glasgow a major player in insurance, savings, investments and
focused on designing bespoke division and in particular support the transition within Senergy a residential class on family business in June pensions, is Jody Lewis, head of customer experience
educational and leadership development
programmes. Our goal is to bring the
with the board of
corporate operations.
to become an international, project-
based organisation. A year-round rolling
in Stockholm in partnership with
Stockholm School of Economics,
management – UK customer and marketing
internationally recognised SBS expertise Bespoke consultancy programme of short courses online or in which offered direct access to family- fter studying media at degree also helps, and with candidates drawn
in research and teaching to ambitious projects led by Professor face-to-face classes attracts participants run businesses such as Bonniers, A level and then a postgraduate from different roles from across the
businesses that want to collaborate in Jill MacBryde and from the UK, Sweden, Dubai, Kuala Spendrups, and Upplands Motor. in economics, Jody Lewis company there were always opportunities
the search for solutions that address Dr David MacKay have Lumpur and Australia. Hilton, InterContinental, Swissotel, started at Standard Life in 2002. On to look at challenges from several
their current and future challenges. taken place this year, The relationship with Standard Apex and Principal Hayley all graduation he took a customer services different perspectives which helped to
In the past 12 months new with clients including Life has developed further with the sponsored participants on the second role in Glasgow where he stayed for broaden my overall experience.
businesses have begun executive Glasgow City Council, management development programme cohort of the Executive Masters in three years. “One of the biggest personal
development programmes with the Land Engineering and which focused on its UK and Ireland Hospitality and Tourism Leadership – By 2005 he had moved through challenges was taking the finance
Centre while existing partnerships Devro. These have focused typically on Babcock MBA distribution teams. The completion with all the initial sponsors repeating to the head office in Edinburgh where module, as I am not what you might
continue to grow and develop. supporting senior teams to explore and students (top), SBS's of the programme’s second session their support for the second cohort. he used his university credentials describe as a numbers guy. I was
Dr Jill MacBryde with
V Group, a leading global provider develop their future strategy. was marked by a dinner hosted by The third cohort is due to start in to tackle a communications role for pleasantly surprised though as the work
(left to right) Neil
of maritime services to the commercial The Iberdrola MBA in the Global Clitheroe, CEO, Retail
Professor David Hillier and Jeff January 2014. financial advisors, which led to a was both accessible and delivered in a
shipping, cruise, energy and defence Energy Industry launched a two-and-a- and Generation, Regazzoni, head of retail distribution. communications manager role by 2008. format that I could easily understand.
industries, has agreed a Global half-year part-time degree programme, at Scottish Power; The Emerging Leaders Development By 2010 he was working as a manager “The main benefit of the emerging
Leadership Development Programme delivered with Comillas University in Strathclyde
University principal
Support (ELDS) programme started its V Group stars shine in the chief executive’s office and this leaders programme for me has been to
with Strathclyde that was launched in Madrid, focused on the global energy third cohort in October and we are also year was promoted to take on the role boost my confidence. I am now more
September with a dinner hosted by V industry and with participants from the
Professor Sir Jim
teaching a short course on ‘Developing
brighter than ever of leading the new customer experience comfortable taking my knowledge and
McDonald; and
A Global Leadership Development programme for V
Group chief executive Clive Richardson UK, Spain, USA, Mexico and Brazil. Professor Andres Commercial Acumen’ with Standard management team. applying it to new situations. In my new
Group is the latest partnership programme developed
and Professor Susan Hart, Strathclyde As for existing clients, we have Ramos from Comillas Life’s graduates. by the Centre for Corporate Connections, and senior “Standard Life takes development role as head of customer experience
Business School Dean. The programme a long and fruitful relationship with University and seriously and across all of my roles an management I need to be able to
leaders will take part from around the world.
MBA global energy
will run for at least three years and aims Babcock and we launched an MBA The participants from V Group – a leading global emphasis has been placed on personal identify new ways of helping customers
students at
to develop the organisation’s senior specifically tailored to the company in provider of maritime services to the commercial development – although the onus get the best possible experience from
a wind farm in
shipping, cruise, energy and defence industries – are
leaders across the world. September. In a bespoke three-year Spain (below) remains with you to take the initiative,” Standard Life.
highly successful in the company already. They will
be working closely with a team of coaches who are says Jody. "The kind of things I’ll be looking
supporting the learning and project work, helping to “In 2010 I was nominated to at is learning from customer feedback
embed the learning into their management practice and take part in the emerging leaders to streamline existing services. Whether
behaviours and developing self-awareness. programme with Strathclyde Business that’s making our website more user-
Delegates from around the UK and from Singapore,
School. I was already working in a friendly or making statements easier to
Norway and Monaco will gather in Glasgow for
the programme, which is to be carried out in four management position and had a level of understand, the art of looking at issues
modules over 18 months, focusing on leadership skills, expertise within my role but appreciated from a new perspective is something
operations and project management, business finance that to progress it would be useful to that’s been positively developed
and leadership for strategy delivery. take myself out of my comfort zone and through training.
The first module has already taken place and
challenge myself to develop new skills. “Taking part in executive education
participants commented on how it allowed them to
take time out to reflect on the way they manage “I loved being back in the education offers no guarantees of promotion, but
and consider improvements based on the module, environment. The programme was I think the experience of the emerging
which was tailored to provide relevance to individual intensive and delivered by enthusiastic leaders’ course has plugged gaps in my
members of the group. tutors with good knowledge based on knowledge, made me a greater asset to
relevant experience. The fact that you the business and has certainly helped me
are also working with like-minded people to reach my current position.”
6 7
research research
“Two Management
Raw materials
Science projects bring
together engineering and
business colleagues.”
and raw nerves
innovation, Economics has led a large-scale
(£3million) multidisciplinary study assessing
the impact of higher education institutions on
regional economies, funded by the ESRC and
higher education funding bodies. The Scottish
Centre for Employment Research (SCER)
The History and Strategic Raw Materials Initiative is addressing sensitive supply issues
in collaboration with colleagues at Oxford,
secured ESRC funding for research identifying
the extent and use of graduate skills in a
tightening labour market.
The Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship
was part of a pool of business schools
(Warwick, Aston, Imperial and Strathclyde)
awarded the Enterprise Research Centre, a
£3.6million project analysing SME growth,
co-funded by the ESRC, Technology Strategy
Board, Department of Business Innovation &
Skills and the British Bankers Association.
Examples of funding in the third
prominent theme of ethics and equality in
business and employment are the study of
gender and job segregation in call centres A large coal mining site at Pingshuo
by Human Resource Management, and the
Diverse investigations SCER project on gendered pay and rewards
in different industry sectors funded by the
T
here is intense political debate and highly charged political issue,” to explore this subject, introducing
need continued support Equalities & Human Rights Commission and
Equal Opportunities Committee Scotland.
and media speculation over
the control and supply of
certain minerals. The EU, Japan and
explains Dr Perchard.
“This continues to be characterised
by highly emotive rhetoric, from the
an historical perspective to these
discussions.
“A key feature of the network
Professor Paul Thompson, vice-dean of research at the US have lodged complaints with heated public debates surrounding will also be to examine the critical toolkit
Strathclyde Business School, focuses on an important aspect the World Trade Organisation against recent Australian and Greenland and language deployed by these different
China over controls on exports of 'rare elections about access to and control of disciplines in exploring this subject.”
of carrying out research, namely diverse research funding earths', which are important for green raw materials reserves, to the US, EU, Dr Perchard adds: “As economic
technology and household goods, as and Japan’s responses to and posturing development continues to exert
ith income from the main Within energy and energy management, well as military hardware. In the last over China’s perceived stranglehold of pressures on our finite resources, the
w Economic and Social Research work in the area of climate change, energy few years the European Commission ‘rare earths’ – which form components issue of strategic raw materials will
Council (ESRC) becoming more conservation and environmental trade balances has launched a raw materials initiative. of everything from microwaves, become ever more prominent in the
competitive and constrained, it is more has led to several awards in Economics, Controversy over control of mineral laptops to missile guidance systems.” years to come, so it’s vital that we devote
important than ever that SBS secures including £450,000 from the Scottish reserves overshadowed the general Dr Perchard and his colleagues more time and resources to its study.
sufficient funds to sustain high-quality Government and £776,000 from funding elections in Australia in 2010, while believe that what has been largely “Working with NTNU, we at
research from a variety of sources. councils, the ESRC and EPSRC (Engineering Australian competition authorities have missing from these policy deliberations the Department of Strategy and
In the past five years, SBS has averaged and Physical Sciences Research Council). recently blocked acquisitions by a and political debates is historical Organisation have begun to make
more than £1.5 million in research income. Two key projects in Management Science number of Chinese metal concerns. perspective. He explains: “This is progress, but we know there is a lot to
Although the content of research differs also bring together colleagues from the Dr Andrew Perchard is co-founder all the more important given that be done. Over the coming years we’ll
enormously across departments and engineering and business faculties: of the SBS-based History and Strategic the rhetoric used to justify greater be continuing to advance the issue of
individuals, the dual positioning of a leading the Northern Isles New Energy Raw Materials Initiative together with access to, and control over, raw strategic raw materials through events
international technological university and Solutions (NINES), a £1.3 million his international colleagues, Drs Mats materials reserves bears a striking and a programme of streamed
the place of useful learning has facilitated project funded by Scottish and Ingulstad and Espen Storli from the resemblance to that used in the 1930s, research work.”
a broad focus on three core themes: energy Southern Energy, and an EPSRC- Norwegian University of Science and during the height of the Cold War,
and energy management; economic funded (£315,000) project on new Technology (NTNU). and in the 1970s. The aim of this “The control and supply of certain
performance and innovation; ethics and mathematical tools for modelling “The control and supply of network is to bring together leading raw materials is characterised by
equality in business and employment. Each uncertainties in offshore turbine Professor Paul Thompson is ever certain raw materials, or ‘raw international scholars from across highly emotive rhetoric and heated
of these has attracted significant levels of operation and maintenance. alert for new sources of funding materials diplomacy’ as it has become academic disciplines, as well as
public debate.”
research income and investment. On economic performance and known, continues to be a pressing business, policymakers and journalists,
8 9
SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT
On
n the current harsh economic and organisations in the value chain, including systems
I competitive climate, companies are integrators, their customers and their suppliers,
increasingly faced with the difficult she has seen that trade-offs tend to persist.
task of managing and resolving tensions that An example is her analysis of the process
the
often appear paradoxical. They have to be of testing of complex computer server
innovative while at the same time being products in electronics. Testing involves
reliable; they have to be efficient while integrating products and production-related
remaining flexible and agile; and they must knowledge from all the different actors in
one
strive to lower costs and decrease time to the extended value chain, including a highly
market, but never at the expense of quality. diverse and distributed network of suppliers
These challenges are not entirely new. and customers, who hold different knowledge
The term ‘ambidexterity’ was coined by and are often mutual competitors. Here she
hand
academics in the late 1990s to capture the has found that, in conditions of rapid and
ability of corporations to manage conflicts uneven innovation, high complexity and
and contradictions. For example Toyota – the high specialisation, significant trade-offs can
ambidextrous corporation par excellence – appear, where practitioners try to integrate
is reputed to owe its success to its ability to the disparate product-related knowledge and
manage multiple cultures and criteria that Competing by managing components into a fully working system.
apparently contradict each other. The most paradoxes has become a key skill Contrasting requirements in this context
striking is the balance between the need for can render the integration task less than
superior leanness and efficiency on one side in business. Luciana D’Adderio straightforward. Paradoxes include the quest
and flexibility and quality on the other. of Strathclyde Business School’s for increased flexibility and efficiency (with
While companies are developing new loose ties between links in the supply chain: the
ways to manage contrasts, however, what were
department of Strategy and reduction of slack resources and knowledge
difficult challenges before have become even Organisation, has investigated overlap between integrator and suppliers) and,
harsher in the past few years. The ever faster how such ambidexterity is at the same time, a quest for increased quality
and more uneven pace of innovation, the and reliability (requiring close ties: the ability
growing complexity of products, technologies achieved in industry to control, track and trace components and
and services and the intensified specialisation co-ordinate knowledge across the integrator
and division of labour – coupled with increasing Her AIM project on ‘Dependable Innovation’ supplier boundaries).
modularisation and outsourcing of production has looked in new depth and detail at how The contrast between the need for close
and production-related knowledge – are raising leading corporations in the high-end electronics and loose ties may result in uncertainties about
steeper challenges for businesses. and automotive sectors manage conflicting the system’s overall behaviour. This can lead to
Increasingly thin profit margins mean criteria of the kind described above. She argues undetected faults and therefore potential failures
that the consequence of failure to meet these that academics and practitioners have so far in the field. In other words, in harsh competitive
challenges and reach performance objectives overlooked the potential of a process-centred conditions where high innovation and flexibility
can be fatal. Even major operations like Toyota analysis to identify the subtle dynamics that can must coexist with high quality and reliability
today are facing increasingly harsh realities. exasperate or mitigate the effects of conflicting systemic interactions can emerge that are not
How are companies reacting to these criteria in business organisations. Her view is entirely predictable and this can have important
changes? On one hand, there is evidence that that it is only by analysing firm’s operations at consequences for the fitness of products,
many are getting much better at managing the micro level that one can identify the complex processes and, ultimately, the wider organisation.
inherent contradictions. Being flexible and interactions among technological systems and In this challenging competitive context,
efficient while remaining reliable and innovative organisational functions and cultures that may best-in-class companies are those that manage
is no longer a matter of choice, as proposed by lead to an increased ability to manage those to identify the potential trade-offs and learn to
Burns and Stalker in the 1960s, but absolute paradoxes that threaten to undermine firm’s reduce or eliminate their unwanted impacts.
imperatives. On the other hand, current competitiveness or even its viability. Dr D’Adderio has found that the close
challenges imply that achieving multiple and Through a series of detailed ethnographic attention devoted to the micro-process level
contrasting objectives is becoming harder. observations of key design, production, by her partner organisations, whose advanced
Managing contradictions calls for a much deeper testing and maintenance processes at leading practices place them at the leading edge of
analysis of the actual organisational processes global manufacturers, including Oracle/Sun competition, allows them to remain innovative
by which ambidexterity, or the management of Microsystems and Hewlett Packard in electronics while anticipating and resolving potential
paradoxes, is achieved in practice. and Fiat in the automotive sector, Dr D’Adderio conflicts that otherwise might result in loss
Dr Luciana D’Adderio’s research sponsored has found that, while paradoxes are certainly of product, process quality and reliability
by the Advanced Institute of Management highlighted and as far as possible managed, downstream in production or even in the field
(AIM) shows that there are process-level their resolution is an ongoing effort, even for the where customers eventually notice.
dynamics that, while being easily overlooked by most advanced of corporations. In her analysis For more information see Luciana D’Adderio’s
managers and scholars alike, can have a strong of how technical and operational knowledge AIM Fellowship webpage at
impact on the ability of firms to manage and and activities are integrated across the diverse dependableinnovation.org. This article first
resolve paradoxes and remain competitive. and distributed boundaries between different appeared in ESRC’s Britain in magazine.
10 11
research student news
connect to other challenges that non-family
Hunter Centre businesses share.”
Having contact with individuals from
You know a good opportunity
research shines the family business world isn’t confined to
this lecture series. It is integrated into the BA when you see one
spotlight on Business Enterprise degree from year one and in
their final year, students have the opportunity of
Strathclyde students are gaining some great experience
and proving themselves to be winners
family business studying ‘Family Business: theory and practice’.
As the title suggests, this class blends research on
family business with the experiences of family ur students are renowned for Helen Mullen,
Family-owned companies are continuing to make a major business practitioners. O their proactive ‘can do’ a doctoral student
“It’s a great marriage of practice and attitude, showing a natural in the Department
contribution to the economy and the community theory,” explains Dr MacKenzie, “and our flair for ‘useful learning’ and doing of Management
undergraduate students are very positive about their best to get as much out of their Science, completed
amily businesses are of intrinsic this, they appreciate this contact; it’s useful Strathclyde experience as possible by an ESRC-funded
F importance to the Scottish and UK learning coupled with entrepreneurial action. taking advantage of all opportunities internship with
economy. They comprise more than Students taking this class undertake a project on which come their way. Creative England in
70 per cent of the total number of businesses in family business that involves working with family Over the next few pages are some Manchester earlier
the UK; 30 per cent of the UK’s GDP is firms ranging from a two-man car mechanic examples of what some of our students this year. Helen
produced by family enterprises and 50 per cent business up to a company like Baxters. There’s a have achieved in the past was selected for the
of the private sector workforce in Scotland is broad scope of family businesses but they all face 12 months. internship after a
employed by family businesses. In Europe, 25 similar issues.” Reem Al Wali (BA in competitive process. She
per cent of the 100 largest businesses are Working with the Law Society of Scotland, Business Enterprise) attended an worked as a researcher
family-owned. the Entrepreneurial Exchange, the Association entrepreneurship workshop in Norway for three months
Professor Eleanor Shaw, head of the Hunter of Chartered Certified Accountants, Family this year run by the ‘Si tous les ports on ‘Cluster2020’, a
Centre for Entrepreneurship, says: “Successful Business Solutions and the Society of Trust du monde’ a network of port cities European-funded project
family businesses form an important part of and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the Hunter across the world. Reem’s idea – a tool that provided practical guidance groups of students working as a virtual Reem's
the backbone of the Scottish economy: they Centre has established the Forum for Family to make life easier when you have to to organisations about cluster and team with competing teams across the group's
are highly entrepreneurial in their approach to “There’s a broad scope of work going on Business, and is involved in STEP, a global manage personal responsibilities when business development in the creative globe. This year the contest ran from winning
product and market development, and share and there’s a wide programme of research, applied research initiative that explores the you are away from home – was chosen industries. May 1- 22 and brought together 764 trophy
mutually beneficial, sustainable relationships teaching and knowledge exchange that both entrepreneurial process within business families as one of the three projects from a Two first year (2012-13) SBS students from 50 countries, working (above) and
with customers and other key organisations the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and in 37 nations, led by Babson College, USA. potential 12, and the students were students, Eleonore Herrmann and in 95 international teams. The first touring some
along their supply chain. The Hunter Centre Strathclyde Business School more widely are then grouped into teams for the three Johanna Lim, have been announced as year students in International Business of the fjords
has seen a growing focus on working with and actively engaged in.” selected projects. Her business idea part of the winning team of the global were two of the eight members of the (below)
learning from successful family business.” Professor Shaw, who is leading a was chosen as best project by a judging business competition, the Global overall winning team, taking the ANZ
Research and teaching interests in family UK-wide research project on entrepreneurs’ panel of investors. Enterprise Experience, which sees Champion Team Award.
business are not confined to the Hunter Centre engagement in philanthropy, adds, “We know
and are in fact spread across the business that as well as contributing to the economy,
school, probably most publicly in the MBA 25 family business gifts more philanthropically
programme which was developed in conjunction than non-family businesses and that family
with the famous whisky maker and family businesses are important economically, socially
business William Grant & Sons. and philanthropically. Indeed, family businesses
In the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, are often deeply embedded and integral to the
one of the key academics involved in this social and economic sustainability of many local
important area of research is Dr Niall Scottish communities.”
MacKenzie. “We’ve identified there isn’t a great Recognising just how important family
deal of support for family business – bespoke businesses are, the Hunter Centre for
support anyway – in Scotland even though such Entrepreneurship, in collaboration with the
businesses are very important to the economy Scottish Family Business Association, hosted
so we’re focusing our research on engaging with a series of lectures that raised awareness of
family business and the issues they’re facing,” issues of relevance to family business. Indeed,
he explains. talks delivered by family business mavens
He emphasises that there are several including Maitland Mackie (Mackie’s), Jacqui
colleagues within the Hunter Centre involved Walker (Walkers Shortbread) and Bill Gordon
in such research including five doctoral (William Grant & Sons) have touched on
researchers from the US, Germany, China and themes which chime more broadly than with
the UK undertaking family business research family businesses alone. Family businesses can be integral to
on topics such as succession, family business Dr MacKenzie says: “These businesses social and economic sustainability,
advising, family foundations and philanthropy. face very discrete challenges, which often says Professor Eleanor Shaw
12 13
student news student news
university for entrepreneurship
education in the world, holds this
entrepreneurship programme for
students from all over the world
to attend.
Calum Crichton achieved a first
Bold
class honours degree in Finance from
the University of Strathclyde, and
has another reason to celebrate –
Calum was one of four top financial
thinking
services students from universities in
Glasgow to be recognised by Glasgow’s
International Financial Services
District (IFSD) for achieving top marks
and
in their final exams.
$43,000 Three Global Energy Management
(GEM) Masters students gained highly
28 teams from 28
competitive prestigious internships
breakthrough
universities worldwide
with Wood Mackenzie international
looking to claim a share
energy consultancy this year, while
of total prize money of
another GEM student was awarded a
of $43,000
scholarship from Iberdrola.
ideas
Thirteen business school students
were awarded Saltire Internships this
Banerjee and Anastasiya Boykova year, working with leading companies
from the Department of Marketing such as Barclays, Edrington Group, GE
Students show their quality in and Shubhronil Talukdar, Pragnya
Venigalla, Ehjaz Habeebullah from
Oil and Gas, Jabil Circuit and Wood
Group across the USA and UK.
international competitions Business Management together The Saltire Foundation offers its
ventured into a quest to solve the internship programme to give students
problem of Global Food Insecurity in the chance to experience the working
Urban Slums. environment of highly successful firms.
A group of full time MBA Those involved were Heather
students teamed up to take part Robertson; Jamie Cooper-Higgins;
in the Npower Energy Challenge, Ryan McMunn; Rennie Dickson; Claire
an inter-university competition, McEvinney; Nicole Perry; Lucy Milson;
and participated in the UK heat in Sonya Pencheva; Nicole Brodie; Hugh
February. The four students – Tabish Gillies; Hannah King; Leanne Keil;
Raza, Pratik Prasun, Praveen Patel Charles Razimbaud.
and Hemant Chandran – successfully
got through the first round of the
competition, which was to write a
500-word summary of their ideas on,
“How can energy providers engage
ive students – Rebecca team was given the special Founder’s his class there. Alastair also secured an more positively with customers?”
F Richardson, Christie Murphy, Award, which recognises bold thinking internship proactively while in Japan. Newly graduated Alice Leyshon
Rachael Reid, Fergus Moore and breakthrough ideas. Amanda Mcfadden, a marketing has taken part in a prestigious summer
and Scott Kennedy – from Strathclyde Rebecca Mackenzie, an student at SBS, was named Marketing programme at one of the world’s top
Business School won a special prize for honours student with the marketing Student of the Year in the Marketing entrepreneurial institutions after being
their business idea at an international department, represented Strathclyde Society Star Awards 2013 which took chosen as one of just two UK students From top left: Dr Michael Marck, Rebecca MacKenzie
social enterprise competition in the USA. University at the World Student Sales place in June. to attend. and Euan De St Croix at the World Student Sales
‘Team Revive’ competed at Contest in February, 2013. A team of students from the Alice (21), who graduated this competition; Calum Crichton receiving his award from
the Values and Ventures Business Alastair Lumsden was the first Department of Marketing and the summer with a first class honours Bailie Liz Cameron, Glasgow City Council, and Andy
Plan Competition at the Neeley Strathclyde student to go on exchange Masters in Business Management degree in business enterprise from the McDonald, Scottish Enterprise; Alastair Lumsden and
Entrepreneurship Center at TCU, to Nagoya University in Japan this programme run by the Department Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, friends; students at Values and Ventures in Texas;
Texas (19-20 April). They were one year. The Management and Business of Strategy and Organisation travelled to Boston to take part in Alice Leyshon, above and right with colleagues at
of 28 teams from 28 universities Enterprise student was awarded a participated in the Hult Prize the Santander Universities – Babson Babson College; Amanda McFadden receiving the
worldwide looking to claim a share scholarship by Nagoya to do so and was Challenge 2013 on March 1 and 2. College Entrepreneurship Program Marketing Student of the Year Award.
of total prize money of $43,000. The one of the top performing students in A team of five consisting of Sauptak for students. Babson, the top-ranked
14 15
ssttuuddeenntt nneew
wss ALUMNI
Tony
COMEDY IS AT cultivates
THE CUTTING EDGE Celtic’s
OF ACADEMIC caring
PUBLISHING side
As Celtic FC Foundation’s chief executive,
Researchers report their findings – on the Tony Hamilton wants to make a real
Edinburgh Fringe difference to people's lives in Glasgow,
nationally and internationally
eltic FC is known and supported years, I wanted to do something which would Having had a charity fund since 1995
C around the world for its football but satisfy me personally but also make me think and a Foundation/Community Department
MBA alumnus Tony Hamilton wants about what I was doing and ultimately make since 2006, the two parts were merged and
to make it equally well known for its charitable me a better business leader,” he says. a new entity was set up which operates as a
arm – the Celtic FC Foundation – for which “I’m still learning. I learn every day from SCIO and is governed by the Scottish charity
he took on the role of CEO this year. the directors of the club and foundation, regulator, OSCR.
say, I say, I say, what does “I have a simple and clear objective: my from my peers and from my mistakes. “I want Celtic FC Foundation to be an
I academic business research Glasgow. His research explores the role is to make Celtic and its Foundation the Learning is now a huge part of my life and exemplar in the third sector space and we are
and comedy stand-up have in facilitation of virtual teams, through most philanthropic football club in the world,” that has only really come about since I a fair bit away from that at the moment. But
common? If you think ‘not much’, running causal mapping sessions over he says. graduated in late 2010.” we will get there. I want its work to genuinely
then the joke is on you. videoconferencing software. Tony – who completed his part-time Tony has been CEO of the club’s make a difference to people’s lives. That is
Two Strathclyde Business School “I joined Bright Club to talk about MBA in 2010 – has been working at Celtic charitable arm – Celtic FC Foundation – not a sanctimonious statement, but a genuine
PhD researchers, Rachelle Pascoe- my research in a different context,” says since 1994, when he left a trainee manager since April. “At the football club, charity desire and one that is shared across the Club
Deslauriers and Alistair Scotland, have Alistair. “After performing in comedy position and took half the salary to grasp the is in our DNA,” he explains. “There are and among our supporters.
been promoting their research through clubs and the Edinburgh Fringe, opportunity of working there, with his first three strands to Celtic – with football and “There are people in our community
stand-up comedy in Bright Club academic presentations are a piece position as a reporter/presenter in the club’s commercial expertise being the other two. whose lives are blighted by addiction,
Scotland’s Fringe show during August as of cake!” media on a freelance basis. Charity is the reason we were formed by unemployment and lack of opportunity. I
part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Fringe show has performed A staff job presented itself in 1999 and a Marist Brother and some local Glasgow see our role as a charitable organisation to
Rachelle Pascoe-Deslauriers, to packed audiences, and been well by 2003 Tony was running one of Celtic’s businessmen in 1887. At that time, the impact positively on those people who need
PhD researcher in the Department received by festival critics. divisions as head of multimedia. He spent the objective was to ‘put food on the dinner tables help to get back on their feet and many others
of Human Resource Management, develop,” says Rachelle. “Bright Club The performances are not next 10 years developing that role, taking on of children and the unemployed’. like them across the world, who are affected
has been involved with Bright gives you a crash course on accessible improvised but involve the careful marketing for a while and introducing social “Fast forward 125 years and we are still by famine and war. These plans may sound
Club Glasgow since March 2012, public speaking. crafting of their sets – not unlike writing media, live TV and internet broadcasting and doing the same work. An example of this overly grand but they are sincere. Celtic
performing at the Stand in Glasgow “When I tell people that my for a thesis or for publication. The time streaming, as well as events, match days and is our support for the Trussell Trust, which would not be here if it wasn’t for need.”
and Edinburgh on a number of research looks at lay-offs and restriction, the need to communicate physical and digital publications. runs 370 food banks in the UK. Beyond that Tony cites a recent success story in terms
occasions. Her research into post- organisational downsizing, the your research to a wide audience and That was not enough for Tony, though: we are one of the biggest private investors of raising funds where they raised around
redundancy job transitions of response I get is twofold: firstly, they the requirement of comedic content “I knew that I needed a fresh challenge and in Glasgow City Council’s education £500,000 for cancer charities, food banks
middle-level public sector employees are intrigued as to how I can turn means that the writing and delivery I wanted that to be within the club. And now system. We work with many schools – non- and other good causes when they staged the
in Scotland and Canada might not that content into stand-up comedy, must be accessible, succinct and – most I’m fortunate enough to have a new role and denominational and faith – across the city Stiliyan Petrov Legends’ Match in front of
seem the stuff comedy is made of, but and secondly, they want to know importantly – funny! a new focus.” and beyond.” 60,000 spectators.
Rachelle explains that Bright Club has more about the actual research.” Part of that challenge for Tony was “There’s a lot of work to get done and
helped her to articulate her research to Alistair Scotland, PhD researcher “After performing in comedy embarking on his MBA studies. While he had it can be fairly relentless. With increased
diverse audiences. in the Department of Management been managing at a senior level for many years, responsibility comes increased expectations
“Being able to explain complicated Science, has been involved with
clubs and the Edinburgh Fringe, he was keen to do an MBA at Strathclyde. and I have to work exceptionally hard with
concepts in an easy to understand Bright Club Glasgow since May academic presentations are a “Having not had an ordinary degree but my team to exceed the targets I set myself and
manner is an invaluable skill to 2012, performing at the Stand in piece of cake!” having managed at a senior level for 10-plus those that are set by the board,” says Tony.
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