People and Work research

a person's hands in front of their computer

Our theme brings together individuals who are interested in exploring workplace relationships. We aim, through our research to understand the dynamics of these relationships from an interpersonal and organisational perspective. Broadly, our focus is on the nature of work and careers. This leads us to explore issues such as the changing nature of work, the relationship between machine learning and people and diversity within the workplace. Individual and organisational development is a key focus. We aim to work on coaching, mentoring and pedagogy for business and management education to create knowledge to enhance leadership and the work-based practice of existing and future employees and influence organisational policy.

Aims

1. To conduct research to generate academic knowledge in the areas of Leadership, Human Resource Management (HRM) and Human Resource Development (HRD) including:

The nature of work and careers (Diversity and careers; changing nature of work and careers; professionalism; management and leadership identity,)
Human Resource and Career development (Coaching and mentoring; career coaching, machine learning and HRD)
Career competencies (Career competencies; developing student employability; pedagogy for business and management education)
Leadership (Dilemmas in leadership; performance, enhancement and policy in leadership and HRM)

2. To provide research-based solutions to develop organizational practice

3. To undertake research to enhance the learning experience and employability of students and graduates

Members

Annika Hesse (DBA Student)

Matthew Jellis

Joanne Law (PhD student)

Eya Meddeb (PhD Student)

Dr Barbara Menara

Dr Pamela Murray

Professor Lynn Nichol (theme lead)

Jennifer Pichler (DBA student)

Christian Rebehn (DBA Student)

Dr Catharine Ross

Dr Helen Scott

Dr Olu Shokunbi

Dr Laura Simmons

Dr Felix Why

Colin Williams (DBA student)

Associate Members

Dr Holly Andrews (Henley Business School)

Dr Annica Lau (external)

Clare Taylor (University of Gloucestershire)

Dr Adam Turner (external: National Improving Health and Wellbeing Lead, NHS England)

Dr Ruel Welch (external)

Current Projects

The impact of coaching on objective outcomes (securing work placements) (Dr Holly Andrews)
Prediction of career interests from psychopathy (Dr Holly Andrews)
The Human Resource Management challenge of predicting employee turnover using machine learning (Dr Lynn Nichol)

Recent Publications

Alade, Temitope , Welch, Ruel, Robinson, Andrew and Nichol, Lynn (2020) Mobile Learning for Just-In-Time Knowledge Acquisition in a Workplace Environment. In: Proceedings - The 3rd International Conference on Information and Computer Technologies. IEEE, pp. 198-204. ISBN 978-172817283-5

APPG (2020). Mental health through movement. A report by The All-Party Parliamentary Group, APPG on a Fit and Healthy Childhood. Wellbeing and nurture: physical and emotional security in childhood. United Kingdom

APPG (2019). Mental health through movement. A report by The All-Party Parliamentary Group, APPG on a Fit and Healthy Childhood. Training Needs of the workforce. United Kingdom.
Andrews, H. (2018, June). Coaching on the ‘dark side’; working with psychopaths and narcissists in business. Coaching for Elite Performance, Annual Coaching Conference 2018, Henley Business School.

Emblen-Perry, Kay , Nichol, Lynn and Ross, Catharine (2020) Does commuting to university influence students’ personal and professional development and the likelihood of graduate level employment? The International Journal of Professional Management. ISSN 2042-2341 (In Press)

Harrison, P., Nichol, Lynn and Gold, J. (2020) Redefining HRD roles and practice in the Machine Learning Revolution. In: The Future of HRD, Volume I Innovation and Technology. Palgrave Macmillan, London. ISBN 978-3-030-52409-8 (hardcover) 978-3-030-52410-4 /9 (eISBN) (In Press)

Jones, R. and Andrews, Holly (2019) Understanding the Rise of Faculty-student Coaching: An Academic Capitalism Perspective. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 18 (4). ISSN Print: 1537-260X Online: 1944-9585

Murray, A. Adams, S, & Murray, P. (2018). Using team cohesion-based OAA to transform music teacher education: disrupting pedagogical assumptions of music teacher education through physical education. Conference presentation; The Welcome Centre, Coventry University, March 2018.

Murray, A., Adams, S., Kaitell, E. & Shaughnessy, J. & Murray, P. (2018). Using learning domains to complement primary physical education teacher education in primary school settings. Learning Matters, Official Journal of the Association for Physical Education, 13, 2; 54-57.

Murray, A., Murray, P. & Adams, S. (2018). Disrupting pedagogical discourse of Music through Physical Education. AfPE Matters, Physical Education Matters, Official Journal of the Association for Physical Education; 13, 2; 81.

Nichol, L., Bradley, E., Heathcote, C., Watt, H (2019) NHS Talent Management Innovation: End-to-End Talent Management’ What next? National Health Service.
Nichol, Lynn, Cook, J. and Ross, Catharine (2018) Adopting Coaching for Doctoral Supervision: Opportunities and Challenges for HRD. Human Resource Development International. ISSN Print: 1367-8868 Online: 1469-8374 (In Press)
Rees-Davies, L.N., Scott, H., Abbott, J., Easton, K. (2018). The role of peer mentoring during student transition to higher education: a literature review. Presented at the Division of Academics, Teachers and Researchers in Psychology Conference, Birmingham, 7^th June, 2018.
Rees-Davies, L.N. Scott, H. (2018). Evaluation of a pilot peer-mentoring intervention for first year undergraduate students. Presented at the University of Worcester Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, 14^th June, 2018.
Ross, Catharine , Nichol, Lynn, Elliott, C., Sambrook, S. and Stewart, J. (2018) Who Benefits from HRD? Discourses Evidenced in the REF2014 Impact Case Studies: Working Paper. In: University Forum for Human Resource Development Conference 2018, 6-8 June 2018, Newcastle, UK. (Unpublished).
Ross, Catharine , Nichol, Lynn, Elliott, C., Sambrook, S. and Stewart, J. (2020) From Chain to Net: Assessing interdisciplinary contributions to academic impact through narrative case studies. Studies in Higher Education. ISSN Print:0307-5079 Electronic:1470-174X (In Press)
Ross, Catharine, Nichol, Lynn, Elliott, C., Sambrook, S. and Stewart, J. (2020) The Role of HRD in Bridging the Research-Practice Gap: The Case of Learning and Development. Human Resource Development International, 23 (2). pp. 108-124. ISSN Print: 1367-8868 Online: 1469-8374

Warren, Vessela and Nichol, Lynn (2018) Improving Employability Provision Within the Curriculum. In: Advance HE Teaching & Learning Conference 2018: Teaching in the spotlight: Learning from global communities, 3rd - 5th July 2018, Conference Aston, Birmingham. (Unpublished).

Warren, Vessela , Vodicova, Luisa and Nichol, Lynn (2018) Delivering Value to Students Through Enhanced Employability Provision. In: University of Worcester Annual Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Conference: Unlocking potential: the key to inspiring life-long and life-wide learning, 13th - 14th June 2018, University of Worcester. (Unpublished)

Warren, Vessela , Vodicova, Luisa, Getzova-Aleksandrova, Mihaela, Nichol, Lynn and Dobson, Kate (2018) Improving Employability Through Interactive Digital Platform For Skills Development. In: University of Worcester Annual Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Conference: Unlocking potential: the key to inspiring life-long and life-wide learning, 13th - 14th June 2018, University of Worcester. (Unpublished)

Welch, Ruel, Alade, Temitope and Nichol, Lynn (2020) Mobile learning adoption at the science museum group. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference - Mobile Learning. IADIS Press, pp. 39-46. ISBN 9789898704160

Information for prospective PhD students

We welcome proposals from propsective students with interests in any areas aligned to our theme. Please see the research school pages for details on how to apply.

Contact

For more information about this theme, please contact Dr Lynn Nichol.

This theme is part of the Interpersonal relationships and wellbeing research group