The Organisation Studies and Human Resource Management subject group constitutes a major component of the School of Management and is rightly recognized for its strong research profile. Although research topics within the group are naturally wide-ranging, members hold a number of interests and commitments in common.

A particular strength of the group is its focus on issues relating to change in organised settings, whether in the public sector like health and education (Mark Exworthy and Chris Smith), the creative sector or private and privatised sectors (Ed Clark). This theme extends to questions about innovation (Alice Lam), changing patterns of employee participation (Michael Gold), changing forms of work (Chris Smith) and other processes of restructuring.

A significant theoretical aspect of this focus on transformation and change is the ways in which knowledge and learning moves within and between organisations. Group members have been researching how, within different institutional contexts, knowledge can be created (Alice Lam), transferred, shared or contested (Chris Smith and Ed Clark), managed within networks and implemented within policy initiatives (Mark Exworthy).

Research is being conducted within the UK (Mark Exworthy), in different national contexts (Ed Clark, Michael Gold and Chris Smith) and within international and transnational settings such as multinational organisations (Ed Clark, Alice Lam, Fiona Moore and Chris Smith). Several members have a special commitment to extending institutionalist frameworks in order to explain changes in organisational forms (Ed Clark and Alice Lam) and in patterns of working and HRM. Other preferred approaches include labour process (Chris Smith) and narrative theories.

Research interests within the group extend to network organisation (Alice Lam and Fiona Moore), professionals and professionalism (Mark Exworthy and Chris Smith), leadership, employment relations and working practices (Michael Gold and Chris Smith), human resource management and labour market institutions (Michael Gold, Alice Lam and Chris Smith).

Research within the group has been generally carried out using qualitative methods, and some members have chosen to reflect upon the methodological implications of their fieldwork (Ed Clark and Fiona Moore).