Research themes

Strategy Process, Performance and Practice

In this research theme, we investigate the intricate strategies firms employ to maintain relevance, success and legitimacy within dynamic market landscapes. We examine how firms in a diverse range of organisational forms, from start-ups to large conglomerates, in different sectors formulate and implement strategies to create value, forge collaboration, and adapt to disruptive changes. We probe into how external forces, such as market conditions, institutions, regulations, and technologies, or internal factors, such as the firm’s past and history, corporate governance structure, and leadership characteristics, shape firms' strategic trajectory and performance. In this theme, we explore:

• the influence of top executives’ characteristics (e.g., cognitive biases, faith, and beliefs) on critical strategic decisions
• corporate and organisational sponsorship as firms’ strategies
• the role of disruptive digital technologies, e.g. AI, in reshaping strategic decision-making process
• the impact of firms’ history, path dependencies, and organisational memory on strategic decision-making

Sustainable Global Development

Within the theme of Sustainable Global Development, our research focuses on how organisations grow, compete, and collaborate responsibly on the global stage. We examine distinct challenges that multinationals, SMEs, social enterprises and non-market actors (including non-profit organisations and communities) face amid changing competitive dynamics, geopolitical tensions, climate change, migration and other social dynamics. Our research examines themes, including:

• responsible international expansion and management
• comparative approaches to fostering inclusive entrepreneurship
• sustainable inter-organisational relations (e.g.,  cross-border partnerships, alliances, and M&A)
• global and local divergence in achieving sustainable development goals

Business and Society

Within this theme, our research takes place at the nexus of society, economy, and environment. More specifically we examine:

• Organisations and society - the actions, ethics, responsibilities, and impacts of organisations (start-ups, SMEs, non-profits, multinationals etc.) in society, past, present, and future
• Technology and society - technological change, AI and digitalisation, their dynamics and impacts on productivity, economic growth, and wider prosperity
• Social economics and entrepreneurship - social aspects and outcomes of economic activity, spatial and structural inequalities, (social) entrepreneurship and innovation
• Enterprise, environment, and society – Risk, resilience, and the role of enterprise in and beyond environmental sustainability