Automation and labour market creative reconstruction: from virtual teaching assistants to robotic retail assistants

By Professor John Bryson, Professor of Enterprise and Competitiveness Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham Employment is in a continual process of creative reconstruction. Existing jobs are destroyed as innovations in technology and processes reshape the nature of work. On Monday 25 March 2019, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a report … Continue reading “Automation and labour market creative reconstruction: from virtual teaching assistants to robotic retail assistants”

Is craft going corporate?

By Dr Scott Taylor, Reader in Leadership & Organization Studies Department of Management, University of Birmingham The alcohol industry seems able to generate controversy on just about any aspect of its activities – pricing, branding, production methods, and now the use of the term ‘craft’. The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is about to release … Continue reading “Is craft going corporate?”

The ripple effect from the UK retail crisis: this is just the beginning

By Dr Amir Qamar and Dr Emma Gardner Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham The last year has proven to be challenging for the retail industry, with numerous firms either facing difficulties, closing stores, or retreating from the market entirely. Although such sectoral difficulties are not new, they were exacerbated by a … Continue reading “The ripple effect from the UK retail crisis: this is just the beginning”

Ted Baker: trying it on?

By Dr Juliet E. Kele, Research Fellow in HRM Department of Management and Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham Since the news first broke of the misconduct allegations against Ray Kelvin, founder and CEO of fashion chain Ted Baker, in December 2018, the company’s shares have continued to fall. A workplace … Continue reading “Ted Baker: trying it on?”

Is the British economy facing ‘troubled times’?

By Professor Aditya Goenka Department of Economics, University of Birmingham “Troubled times had come to my hometown” (Springsteen, 1986) Since the Brexit vote in June 2016, the British economy has been slowing down, with the growth rate in the last quarter of 2018 at just 0.2%, the slowest since 2012. This should be seen in … Continue reading “Is the British economy facing ‘troubled times’?”

Large food companies and the obesity crisis

By Dr Jane Glover, Research Fellow Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham Recently, there have been calls to curb the influence of ‘big food’ companies to help tackle obesity, and for political leaders to step up to make the food industry more responsible. Given the nature of the industry, are these … Continue reading “Large food companies and the obesity crisis”

Oscars 2019: what makes a winner?

Professor Ganna Pogrebna, Professor of Behavioural Economics and Data Science The Department of Economics, University of Birmingham The 2019 Academy Award winners have now been named, and much of this year’s Oscar wins were as predicted. As expected, Rami Malek won best actor award for Bohemian Rhapsody, a win for the all-around box ticker Green … Continue reading “Oscars 2019: what makes a winner?”

From big screen to any screen: is Netflix the new cinema?

By Dr Finola Kerrigan, Lecturer in Marketing Department of Marketing, University of Birmingha Six months ago, Netflix announced that their share price had fallen, with speculation surrounding their business model and their ability to continue to dominate the streaming space. Half a year on, and although the share price has not significantly risen, Netflix has gained … Continue reading “From big screen to any screen: is Netflix the new cinema?”

Five things businesses can do to make the workplace more inclusive

By Dr Juliet E. Kele, Research Fellow in HRM Department of Management and Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham Every February, people across the UK celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but can we achieve this celebration of diversity all year round? Recent research from Stonewall highlighted a general lack of acceptance towards … Continue reading “Five things businesses can do to make the workplace more inclusive”

The Spice Girls and Comic Relief: from ‘girl power’ to ‘sweatshop scandal’

By Dr Charika Channuntapipat, Lecturer in Accounting Department of Accounting, University of Birmingham To the delight of many, the Spice Girls have announced a reunion tour starting in June this year. A group that has long stood for gender equality and female empowerment, the band have been credited with sparking the fourth wave of feminism … Continue reading “The Spice Girls and Comic Relief: from ‘girl power’ to ‘sweatshop scandal’”