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The Department of Management is delighted with the result of the RAE exercise. With 30 per cent of its research activity assessed as ‘world leading’, the Department is ranked as joint 5th in the country. The significant upwards movement when compared to the 2001 RAE is particularly impressive given that the Department is still relatively small. It provides the basis for a further growth as a distinctive, social science based, Department.
 
There are notable research achievements within each of the department’s five research clusters. The Centre for HRM and Organisational Research is a large and well known research group, working on themes of (i) HRM, Employment Relations and Performance, for example, linkages between HRM and firm performance (David Guest) and trust and partnership at work (Riccardo Peccei) and (ii) Changes in Work, Employment and Their Impact on Workers, as seen in work on airline call centres (Stephen Deery and Janet Walsh) and new roles in the public services (Stephen Bach) and change and governance the health sector. The HRM Learning Board helps to transfer this knowledge outwards.
 
The second largest group is in International Business and Comparative Management where research themes include UK corporate governance regimes (Howard Gospel) and international business strategy (Keith Brouthers, Jennifer Piesse and Roger Strange) including international entry mode decisions and strategic responses to policy changes in transitional and emerging countries.
 
A third theme relates to skills development and training in relation to (i) productivity, growth and the demand for skills (Alison Wolf) and (ii) regulatory regimes and workplace skill development (Paul Ryan and Paul Lewis). This regulatory strand links to the public services management field.
 
The accounting and accountability group analyses the nature and social repercussions of accounting and accountability systems in the management of organisations and society (Richard Laughlin; Kim Soin) in such areas as the Private Finance Initiative.
 
Finally, the Work, Interaction and Technology Group (Christian Heath; Paul Luff; Jon Hindmarsh; Dirk Vom Lehn) specialises in studies of video based, sociological studies of work and social interaction, generating significant research funding. Examples include the design, development and deployment of advanced technologies and production and consumption in cultural industries such as museums.
 
The current Head of Department, Professor Ewan Ferlie, thanked the previous Head (Prof Christian Heath) and the Departmental Director of Research (Prof David Guest) for steering the Department to this successful result. He notes that this outcome provides strong encouragement for the current strategy of building a world class, social science intensive and internationally visible Department of Management.
 
Recent appointments in 2008 have further strengthened professorial leadership in international business and marketing (Professor Pervez Ghauri) and in public services management (Professor Ferlie). The agreed departmental strategy includes expanding its marketing and accounting/financial management groups and to continue to raise its national and international profile.