Research
The Work, Organisation and Management Department's research activities reflect the variety of expertise and knowledge held at the Work, Employment and Organisation (WEORG) research community, the Centre for Health Innovation, Leadership and Learning (CHILL) and the Africa Research Group. They are informed by our shared mission to improve work, organisation and management policies and practices by investigating society’s ‘grand challenges’.
The department is home to WEORG – the Work, Employment and Organisation Research Group, which aims to shape a sustainable future by improving people’s experience of work and by shaping a better, fairer and more resilient world of work.
The department also hosts the Centre for Health Innovation, Leadership and Learning (CHILL), an internationally renowned research centre dedicated to improving and innovating healthcare management and leadership, and the Africa Research Group, an international and interdisciplinary community of scholars interested in furthering the understanding of the management, organisational, socio-economic, investment, innovation and entrepreneurial issues relevant to African countries.
Department members value collaboration and interdisciplinarity, and engage with multiple stakeholders inside the Business School as well as outside to:
- co-produce knowledge and co-develop impactful research
- deliver world-class teaching and learning opportunities
- provide expert advice and co-develop tailored solutions
Priority themes
The following three themes reflect our commitment in the Work, Organisation and Management (WOM) department to research that is theoretically innovative, rigorous, impactful, and socially relevant:
- Public Services, policy and governance
- Strategic management, innovation and organisational change for sustainable futures
- Work, employment and organisation in a changing world
Public services, policy and governance
This theme focuses on public and civic institutions, the design and delivery of essential services, and questions of access, justice, accountability, and institutional reform. It intersects with health, law, and social policy. The sub-themes are:
- Management and workforce in health and public sectors
- Co-production and stakeholder engagement
- Policy, institutions and social accountability
Strategic management, innovation and organisational change for sustainable futures
This theme explores how organisations innovate, adapt and lead change responsibly. It addresses challenges of sustainability, technological disruption, governance, leadership, and the design of future-ready business models and institutions. The sub-themes are:
- Strategic leadership and governance
- Innovation and knowledge processes
- Circular economy and sustainable business models
Work, employment and organisation in a changing world
This theme explores the evolution of work, employment and organisational practices in response to global, technological, and societal change. It places particular emphasis on the lived experience of work, changing organisational forms, and the pursuit of sustainability, equity and inclusion in diverse contexts. The sub-themes are:
- The changing nature of work and employment
- Equality, diversity and inclusion at work
- Sustainable work, employment and organisation
- Work, employment and organisation across borders and space
Our ambition is to co-produce impactful research through collaboration with diverse stakeholders. We want to improve the world of work and employment for everyone: we want to make it better, fairer and more resilient - now and for the future.
