Centre for critical and historical research on organisation and society (CHRONOS)
The workshop aims to provide CHRONOS members with an excellent opportunity to discuss the meaning of ‘impact’ for critical research through the aid of two successful ‘impact cases’ led by CHRONOS members. These cases will be presented and discussed with the audience to highlight challenges and opportunities for critical research, and uncover possible paths for boosting impact on organization and society. To facilitate the discussion and enhance the plurality of critical perspectives, we have the pleasure to host exceptional guests: Charlotte Moore, award-winning freelance financial journalist, ex Guardian; Sarah Cheung Johnson, LibDem Councillor, former journalist at Reuters, and a trustee of the Chinese Community Centre in London's Chinatown; Sam Friedman, Associate Professor at the London School of Economics.
Agenda
14:00 to 14:10 - Welcome address, Prof Elena Giovannoni, Director of CHRONOS, Royal Holloway.
14:10 to 14:30 - ‘Providing research impact to organization & society’, Prof Neil Conway, Royal Holloway, Director of Research Impact at the School of Management.
14:30 to 15:00 - Impact case: ‘Social mobility in the city’, Dr Louise Ashley, Royal Holloway.
15:00 to 15:30 - Discussion with Dr Sam Friedman , London School of Economics, and the rest of the audience
15:30 to 15:50 - Tea & Coffee break
15:50 to 16:20 - Impact case: ‘Public understanding of Brexit’, Prof Chris Grey, Royal Holloway
16:20 to 16:50 - Discussion with Charlotte Moore, freelance financial journalist, and Sarah Cheung Johnson, LibDem Councillor (and the rest of the audience)
16:50 to 17:00 - Conclusions and farewell
Summary of impact cases
‘Social mobility in the city’, Dr Louise Ashley, Royal Holloway, CHRONOS strategic lead for research funding
Elite professions are highly exclusive on the basis of social background. A lack of social diversity within elite professional service firms has a negative impact on our economy as it reduces the talent pool available to organisations. This contributes to a potential skills gap and may reduce productivity and performance. Exclusion from the elite professions is cause and effect of wider social inequalities and is related to low rates of upward social mobility, an important policy end a for current/previous administrations. This case study is based on research seeking to understand barriers to entry and subsequent career progression on this basis and provide recommendations for change. Outputs include two major reports for the government’s Social Mobility Commission (SMC), consultancy for leading firms and publications in leading academic journals.
‘Public understanding of Brexit’, Prof Chris Grey, Royal Holloway, CHRONOS strategic lead for ‘External Engagement and Impact’
The ‘Public Understanding of Brexit’ project seeks to contribute to and influence both understanding of and debate about Brexit. From a core focus on trade and business implications of Brexit, the project has developed to encompass a wide variety of political, economic and legal aspects. The presentation will focus in the possibilities and perils of the use of social media for having public impact.
