-optimised.jpg)
Business and Management Research (UoA17)
Newcastle University Business School is a research-led, multidisciplinary Russell Group Business School. We produce excellent impactful business and management research that will make a global difference. We advance discipline-based and challenge-led interdisciplinary research.
Excellent, impactful research
Newcastle University Business School is a research-led, multidisciplinary Russell Group Business School. We produce excellent impactful business and management research that will make a global difference.
We advance discipline-based and challenge-led interdisciplinary research. We publish our innovative research in leading academic outlets to ensure wide dissemination.
Diverse and collective contributions
We deliver impact across a range of sectors, communities, and geographies ranging from local to global. Our inclusive and collegial culture underpins these activities. The diverse and collective contributions of all colleagues help us achieve research excellence.
We are embedding gender equality across our activities. The School’s Athena Swan Bronze, awarded in 2018, is a springboard for advancing intersectional equality and diversity. A key priority has been increasing the diversity of staff, including in senior leadership roles.
Our specialisms
The School brings together 122 teaching and research staff for REF2021 and also 134 research students. All staff and research students are members of one of four subject groups and their associated research communities. These reflect the disciplinary specialisms:
Accounting and Finance
Economics
Leadership, Work, and Organisation
Marketing, Operations, and Systems
- Innovation, Enterprise, and Digital Business
- Marketing: Consumers, Communications, and Services
- Supply Chain and Operations Research
Interdisciplinary research strength
Staff advance business and management research in their disciplines. They collaborate in relevant areas of synergy, including five areas of interdisciplinary research strength:
- Innovation and Creative Industries
- Rural Enterprise
- Health and Lifestyle
- Ethics and Sustainability
- Digital Economy
External research awards, University investments, and infrastructure projects support our business and management research, as do four cross-disciplinary centres which the School (co-)leads.
Creating impact
We generate impact for a wide range of beneficiaries by working with:
- stakeholders in business
- non-profit sector
- policy
- society
- culture
- the broader economy
The government’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme awarded us with competitive funding. The Newcastle University £3.4m European Regional Development Fund-supported Arrow programme also supports our work.
This means we can work with private, public, and third sector organisations. Together we develop solutions to their diverse problems. They include:
- understanding the wellbeing benefits of wigs for those who have lost their hair to life-changing conditions
- improving aftersales services in the automotive industry
- optimising the use of digital technology in stagecraft
As part of our REF2021 submission, we include nine impact case studies. They exemplify the reach and significance that our business and management research is having in the world.
Our beneficiaries are global and diverse. They range from individuals in the UK, Western Balkans, Asia, and Chile.
They also include regional micro-businesses, national policy-makers, and multilateral organisations. One such organisation is the International Labour Organisation.
Improved infrastructure
Our Business School operates out of a dedicated building on the Newcastle Helix site. Since REF2014, the University has invested £350m in the Helix.
This includes the £44.4m Catalyst building. That's where the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise co-locates with the National Innovation Centres for Ageing and Data.
These infrastructure developments provide modern spaces for staff and students. They increase opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and research-user partnerships.
Our infrastructure for the Experimental and Behavioural Economics Laboratory supports our world-leading research. It also supports collaborations and impact on the economics of safety, health, the environment, and risk.
Research case studies
Shaping a regulatory framework for effective pension fund governance
Dr Tilba pioneered research into the governance and investment practices of UK pension funds.
It has had significant impact on the regulation of pension funds and the organisations involved in them. We achieved this impact in two main ways when looking at investment intermediaries.
We shaped the Law Commission’s investigation of the fiduciary duties. We also influenced policies of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Competitions and Market Authority.
Tilba’s research influences the behaviour of fund management and investment advice organisations.
Transformational change through process improvement and people management
Sustainable research
We've been able to sustain our research on transformational change long term across many business contexts.
Research interventions in the manufacturing and service sectors have increased competitiveness by:
- improve productivity
- operational efficiency
- lead-times
The study highlights two holistic interventions tailored to their organisational contexts. It includes the competitive environment, processes, human resources, and training needs.
Business impact
Hartlepool Steel Mill represents one of our long-term collaborations. We helped to develop a lean capability and an enhanced people management strategy, preventing closure in 2017.
We entered into a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Benfield Motors between 2014 and 2016. It focused on reducing costs and improving customer experience in aftersales.
The KTP resulted in:
- reduced customer waiting times
- increased turnover
- improved operational efficiency
Influencing the adoption of social enterprise initiatives in English prisons
We led this case in partnership with the Social Enterprise Research Innovation Foundation. We develop Gibbon’s expertise in measuring social value through innovative participatory methods. This addresses a significant knowledge gap in how we can value social enterprise in criminal justice settings.
This evidence base has influenced prison policy and strategy. It uses dissemination activities to look at the role of social enterprise in prisoner rehabilitation.
The research measures and promotes the value of social enterprise to many stakeholders. It contributes to a more joined-up approach to social enterprise in public prisons in the North East of England. It also supports the skills development of long-term prisoners by providing social audit training.
Improving the fortunes of small-scale agri-food producers
Many small-scale food producers are currently economically vulnerable due to unfair trading practices.
We carried out research to explore how:
- to reduce the risk of these producers becoming victims of opportunistic behaviour
- they could achieve better financial returns
- they could foster better relationships with consumers
The study also looked at ways in which alternative business models and quality food markets can improve small-scale producers’ market returns and satisfy consumer needs.
The research is based around two major EU-funded projects:
Inspiring entrepreneurial philanthropy and enhancing understanding of its role in society
This case study shows how we have mobilised high-quality conceptual and original research ideas. They effect change through deliberative outreach, engagement and partnership working.
Harvey, Maclean and Suddaby have led extensive research on entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
The research impacts in three significant ways:
- shaping the work and strategy of a sector-leading philanthropic foundation
- enhancing public understanding of entrepreneurial philanthropy
- inspiring and educating philanthropists and philanthropy professionals
Influencing the mainstreaming of the International Labour Organisation’s ‘Decent Work’ principles
This case documents direct involvement in high-level international advisory roles mobilising policy change.
Hughes has global expertise in researching labour standard regimes and multilateral organisations. This has led to collaborations with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and United Nations (UN).
The research looks at the ‘Decent Work’ agenda for:
- employment creation
- social protection
- rights at work
- social dialogue
- gender equality
Sustained contributions have led to many impacts on policy formation, implementation and upskilling. We have:
- shaped the UN strategy for mainstreaming ‘Decent Work’
- influenced the ILO’s strategic approach to its ‘Decent Work’ agenda
- influenced ILO and UN policy development and implementation through partnership building
Enabling socio-economic policy change in Chile
This case study shows the power of high-quality research to effect change in Chile, an emerging economy.
Through engagement activity, we influence government socio-economic policy and direct allocation of resources.
We influence the adoption of innovative methods of policy implementation. We also advise the conduct and decisions of entrepreneurs and business incubators.
Precise impacts have included:
- the initiation of the first Social Impact Bond programme in 2018 ($50m)
- supporting implementation of Social Impact Bonds
- the redesign and implementation of the Chilean economic development agency’s seed-funding programme
- upskilling social entrepreneurs and incubators through impact assessment training
Calculating the economic value of the risks to human life
Newcastle University is home to a group of internationally recognised academic leaders in:
- the economics of safety
- health
- the environment
- risk
Our pioneering research uses sophisticated quantitative methodologies based on ‘willingness to pay’. It has been highly significant in driving UK government policy where health and safety is a major concern.
This approach enables the estimation of:
- preference-based values
- preventing premature fatalities
- the value of life years lost
We use these values to monetise safety benefits arising from government-funded projects. We follow guidance of the HM Treasury on Cost-Benefit Analysis and also DEFRA, to estimate the damage costs of air pollution.
Our research was central in the decision to change HM Treasury guidance in relation to workplace cancers.
It led to the UK Government commissioning a new primary study. This provided direct empirical evidence to update its values for life expectancy gains.
The reputation of Newcastle’s research has also led to an increase in demand for the team’s expertise in the private sector and on a global scale.
Implementing an innovative method of learning for micro-businesses
This case demonstrates how funding has stimulated lasting impacts for micro-businesses. They have had far-reaching implications for the design and delivery of micro-business support.
Newcastle researchers have impressive research expertise on business engagement and micro-businesses. They work with over 130 micro-businesses and 30 larger businesses in the north east of England.
Each micro-business partnered with a ‘mentor manager’ from a larger local firm. Together, they attend a series of researcher-facilitated workshops.
It resulted in enhanced capabilities and improved performance over time for:
- the micro-businesses
- policy learning
- enhanced capabilities of ‘mentor managers'
Further research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic has supported 20 businesses. This helped them to build their resilience and adaptability.