By Professor Isabelle Szmigin Department of Marketing, University of Birmingham The UK government is planning a ban on the advertising of so-called junk food on TV and potentially online, saying that these ads are a ticking ‘time bomb’ of obesity. And the advertising industry hates it. Of course we know that the prime minster has … Continue reading “Decreasing ‘junk food’ consumption: whose responsibility is it?”
Will working from home become the new normal after the pandemic?
By Professor Stan Siebert Department of Management, University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham has a beautiful campus. A few months ago, another gleaming building opened, the £18 million extension to the Business School. This provides 120 new offices for the School. But the pandemic hit soon after staff had moved in, and all have … Continue reading “Will working from home become the new normal after the pandemic?”
Performative Improvisation or Rishi Sunak’s approach to ‘Turning on a Sixpence’
By Professor John Bryson Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham I have no difficulty with improvisation, but this must also be focused on enhancing mental health and well-being and confronting some of the key challenges that face the UK. We live in interesting times in which a new approach to government is … Continue reading “Performative Improvisation or Rishi Sunak’s approach to ‘Turning on a Sixpence’”
Brexit: Where are we heading?
By Professor Pervez Ghauri Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham With a very little time left and both parties not moving much form their positions, it seems that we are heading towards a no-deal Brexit. Back in early 1960s when the economy was bad, Britain’s entry to Europe’s common market was denied … Continue reading “Brexit: Where are we heading?”
Covid-19 Policy U-Turn? The Shift from Nationwide to Localised Lockdowns
By Professor John Bryson Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham On 23 March 2020, I published a piece on the Birmingham Business School blog under the title Social Distancing: People are the Problem. That does seem such a long time ago. This piece was written just as the UK entered lockdown and … Continue reading “Covid-19 Policy U-Turn? The Shift from Nationwide to Localised Lockdowns”
How to sustain SMEs productivity during a crisis
By Dr Margarita Nyfoudi Department of Management, University of Birmingham Popular belief has it that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are a close-knit community, in which the members go over and above their work duties to help their employer. Yet, the findings of our recent study revealed that during a crisis employees are less likely … Continue reading “How to sustain SMEs productivity during a crisis”
Should the NHS lead the UK’s contact tracing app?
By Dr Rebecca McDonald, Lecturer in Economics Department of Economics, University of Birmingham […] an app controlled by the NHS may provide the most promising solution for encouraging uptake and use, helping to end lockdown safely. Contact tracing will be crucial to managing the UK’s release from lockdown in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. … Continue reading “Should the NHS lead the UK’s contact tracing app?”
The new cold war post Covid-19
By Professor Xiaohui Liu Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham For China, forced decoupling with the US, and restrictions on technological collaboration and imports from the US, may further accelerate Chinese indigenous innovation in the long term. The consequences of Covid-19 are reaching far beyond our imagination. It has not only caused … Continue reading “The new cold war post Covid-19”
Is COVID-19 a threat to sustainability?
By Dr Roshan Boojihawon, Senior Lecturer in Strategy Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham COVID-19 poses to overshadow all of these strides towards sustainability as such issues typically take a back seat in times of economic uncertainty. Global crises, like COVID-19, are complex because they come layered with a myriad of interlinked … Continue reading “Is COVID-19 a threat to sustainability?”
Narratives and Competitiveness: From Bloomsday to Normal People
By Professor John Bryson Department of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham Ulysses is one of the great novels and will remain an important landmark in the European literary canon. The anniversary of the 16 June 1904 is known as Bloomsday. This is the day when we celebrate Leopold Bloom’s walk through the streets … Continue reading “Narratives and Competitiveness: From Bloomsday to Normal People”