Further Particulars
This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the
information you will need to provide with the application.
1. Role details
Vacancy reference:
8925
Job title:
Lecturer in Strategic Management
The Faculty of Business and Law
Reports to:
Salary:
Grade:
Terms and Conditions:
Duration of post:
Working hours:
Head of Centre for Strategy and Marketing
£30,424 - £44,607 pa depending on qualifications
and experience
AC2/3
Academic
Permanent
Full-time
Location:
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
Closing date:
23 May 2013 at 12 noon
Job shared considered:
Yes
Type of application accepted:
Electronic application form, Covering letter, CV
Number of referees required:
Three
Unit recruitment contact:
OUBS-recruitment@open.ac.uk
8141 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Strategic Management
August 2012
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2. Summary of duties
The successful candidate will be expected to make a significant contribution to strategic
management research and teaching within the Department of Strategy and Marketing.
Candidates will demonstrate an interest in innovative approaches to teaching and have a
developing research publications record n the area of strategic management. An international
outlook, interdisciplinary approach and enthusiasm for e-learning and practice-based learning
are particularly important to the Open University Business School’s approach to management
and business education.
Applications are particularly welcome from candidates whose research interests complement
one or more of the three key centres of research activity in the Faculty of Business and Law
(itself composed of the Open University Business School and the Open University Law
School):
 International Management Practice (IMP): focusing on how management ideas,
principles and practices compare and transfer across national borders.
 Responsibility and Regulation: reflecting the founding mission of the Open University,
this theme marries enquiry into the moral implications of business with research into
law related to social justice.
 Innovation in Teaching and Learning (InTEL): leading research and scholarship into
a range of teaching and learning innovations that support the Faculty’s development of
high-quality learning experiences.
The successful candidate’s research agenda is likely to exhibit some congruence with these
themes and the research interests of current members of the Department of Strategy and
Marketing which include:
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Corporate political strategy
The implementation of alternative (e commerce) business models
Strategic management in emerging economies
Strategy-as-practice, performativity and discursive approaches to strategy
Integrated strategy and non-market capabilities
Political risk management and internationalization strategy
SME international growth strategies
Corporate turnaround and business model configuration
The use of strategy tools to support strategic conversations in groups, and the role of
managers’ cognitive styles in determining their experiences of strategy tools in
scenario planning and visioning
Stakeholder management and the marketisation of public services
Innovation ecosystems and capability development
With regard to teaching, the successful candidate can expect to contribute to undergraduate,
postgraduate, and continuing professional learning and development (CPLD) modules in
strategic management, as well as to interdisciplinary modules on a range of qualifications, as
required. There will also be the opportunity to supervise full-time masters and doctoral
candidates based in Milton Keynes. The Open University Business School differentiates itself
though a distinctive practice-based pedagogy, placing the student’s experience at the heart of
learning. Our learning materials exploit a wide variety of media – including print, web, audiovisual and face-to-face, facilitated by a network of over 750 part-time Associate Lecturer (AL)
colleagues. We are therefore seeking to appoint a new colleague with outstanding teamworking skills, creativity and initiative, as well as excellent specialist subject knowledge.
8141 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Strategic Management
August 2012
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In summary, duties will include working with colleagues to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Contribute to existing teaching and assessment in interdisciplinary and/or specialist
modules, including Examination and Assessment Board membership.
Undertake research and/or scholarship relevant to faculty and university research,
scholarship and enterprise strategies
Develop or update teaching materials for new or existing modules
Contribute to monitoring of the quality of tuition, assessment and online student support.
Depending on previous experience, lead module and research teams and supervise
postgraduate research students
Contribute to the general academic and professional life of the Faculty and wider
university, including taking committee roles if appropriate.
Teach at face-to-face residential schools or their online equivalents, or other forms of
direct student contact, for at least ten days per year
The post is based at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes.
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August 2012
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3. Person specification
Criteria
Education and
qualifications
Knowledge,
work and other
relevant work
experience
Essential
o
A relevant PhD in strategic
management or a related
area
o
A developing research
record evidenced by, e.g.
publications in peer
reviewed journals and others
in submission
o
A developing record of
involvement in the wider
aspects of research life,
such as contribution to
academic conferences,
membership of academic
networks.
o
o
Skills &
competencies
Additional
requirements
Demonstrable interest in
innovative approaches to
pedagogy.
Knowledge of current
debates and recent
developments in
management education and
development
o
Computer literacy and ICT
competence
o
Able to work with others as a
member of a team but also
capable of taking
responsibility and working
independently
o
Effective presentation skills
o
Excellent writing skills (e.g.
in published papers)
indicating the potential to
write high quality learning
materials
o
Understanding of the
principles and practice of
educational design and
course development
o
A commitment to, and
understanding of, equal
opportunities
o
A commitment to distance
8141 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Strategic Management
Desirable
o
A teaching qualification or
membership of a
professional body such as
the HEA
o
Experience of design,
development and delivery of
strategic management
courses in Higher Education
o
Experience of internet-based
teaching and virtual learning
environments
o
Experience in the
preparation of distance
teaching materials
o
International experience:
teaching, managing or
researching.
o
Experience of supporting
work-place learning
o
Experience of working with
external stakeholders’ for
example, corporate clients,
professional bodies, funding
bodies.
August 2012
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teaching and the need for
supporting students from a
wide range of backgrounds
o
Ability to travel throughout
the UK and internationally
o
Willingness to work
occasional evenings and
weekends.
4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
N/A
5. About the unit/department
Faculty of Business and Law
Our Values, Vision & Mission
Our Values
Inclusive
• We play a unique role in society, making Higher Education open to all
• We promote social justice through the development of knowledge and skills
Innovative
• We lead the learning revolution, placing innovation at the heart of our teaching and research
• We continuously seek new and better ways to inspire and enable learning
• We create world class research and teaching
Responsive
• We respond to the needs of individuals and employers and the communities in which they
live and work
• We are dedicated to supporting our students’ learning success
Our Vision
To be recognized as a leading international business and law school, unique in the practical
nature of our education, the mode of its delivery and the open access we offer students
worldwide.
We will be known for:
• Our pioneering and engaged research and teaching that challenges conventional thinking
8141 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Strategic Management
August 2012
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and practice;
• Our collaborations with international business, civil societies and governments, that
advance knowledge in business and law;
• And our ability to continuously innovate in new learning approaches that transform business
and legal education.
Our Mission
• We are a champion of open, flexible learning that is grounded in practice and has
immediate impact and relevance to the workplace.
• We conduct rigorous research that engages directly with current business, legal and
societal debates and informs our teaching.
• We are at the forefront of distinctive teaching that enables individuals and organisations to
achieve their potential and contribute responsibly to society.
• We are proud to deliver high quality relevant learning anywhere in the world.
About the Faculty
The Faculty of Business and Law has a strong reputation as a high-quality and innovative
provider of management and legal education: an international faculty for the twenty-first
century.
Accreditation
As one of Europe’s leading business schools and the major provider of business,
management and law programmes delivered through part-time practice-based and elearning, the faculty holds several prestigious internationally recognised accreditations which
independently validate the quality of both the teaching and the organisation:
• Accreditation from the US-based Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
(AACSB) International;
• The European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) quality kite mark from the European
Foundation for Management Development (EFMD);
• Accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) for its MBA programme.
We are one of only 60 triple-accredited business schools worldwide – less than one
per cent. (March 2013)
Faculty Structure
The Faculty has over 200 internal staff including around 80 central academic staff, 40
regional academic staff, 55 academic-related staff and 30 administrative support staff.
Additionally, there are over 750 associate lecturer staff.
The Faculty comprises two Schools – the Open University Business School and the Open
University Law School. For external purposes the faculty operates under these two distinctive
brands. Much of the faculty’s research is organised around three interdisciplinary themes:
 International Management Practice
 Innovation in Teaching and Learning
 Responsibility and Regulation
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The Open University Business School
The Open University Business School students study around 40,000 modules globally. 60 per
cent of students study in the UK, the rest studying across more than 100 other countries,
through a network of successful European and international partnerships which give the
School a truly global footprint. Such diversity in its student population provides the School
with a distinctive ability to capitalise on these existing international connections to help shape
a new management paradigm fit for the global future by enhancing the mutual flow of ideas
and research within a worldwide network of business school partners.
Academic structure
The School has four centres (equivalent to departments) through which academic staff are
managed:
• Centre for Accounting and Finance;
• Centre for People and Organisations;
• Centre for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise;
• Centre for Strategy and Marketing.
Centres provide curriculum leadership and contribute to research which takes place both
within and across centre boundaries. Centre teams include academics who are practising
leaders in their fields, visiting experts, specialist research staff and postgraduate students.
The result is a dynamic, collaborative approach to business research and programme
development that’s engaged with the real needs of international business, industry and
government.
Programmes
Since its inception in 1983, more than 150,000 managers have studied an OU Business
School course at Certificate, Diploma or MBA level; of those nearly 23,000 have successfully
completed their MBA and joined one of the three largest alumni associations for MBA
graduates outside the United States. The Business School also offers a range of
programmes in undergraduate business and management. The Business School’s main
qualifications are:
• Certificate in Accounting (professional undergraduate);
• Certificate in Management (professional undergraduate);
• Business Studies (undergraduate);
• Diploma in Management (professional postgraduate);
• MBA (postgraduate);
• MPhil and PhD (research).
Employee development and training
The Open University Business School works with thousands of organisations, expanding
professional and management skills that deliver real-world business results. With our range
of business, management and vocational programmes and renowned flexible learning
methods, the School is ideally placed to suit corporate learning and development or personal
training needs. Partners in employee development and training include global players such
as Rolls-Royce, Pfizer, DHL, HBOS, IKEA and KPMG, but programmes are just as relevant
for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who often find it more difficult to release staff
for training. The Business School also has a strong track record of working with public and
not-for-profit organisations such as the UK National Health Service, the UK Ministry of
Defence, police and prison services, the European Commission, and several major
international charities.
Student satisfaction
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The School has received a rating of ‘excellent’ for teaching quality in the most recent HEFCE
Teaching Quality Assessment. In the 2010/11 National Student Survey, the School’s
satisfaction scores were 91% for Business and Management and 90% for Law.
Research
Research within the Business School combines intellectual rigour and innovation with
practical relevance. Its academics have substantial experience working jointly with business
organisations and directing their findings to influence management practice. There is an
active PhD programme with around 30 PhD students. Since first entering the Research
Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 1996, The Open University Business School has increased its
research capability significantly, with external awards from Economic and Social Research
Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Design Council, European
Union, the private sector and internal sources. The RAE 2008 results recognised the high
quality of the research activities and environment in the School. For the Business and
Management submission, 80 per cent of the research outputs and the research environment
were judged as internationally recognised or better (with 5 per cent judged as world leading).
For the Finance and Accounting, 65 per cent was judged as recognised internationally with
10 per cent judged as world leading.
The Open University Law School
The Law School began just 15 years ago. It now has over 6,000 students studying law
courses each year and leads the sector in part-time distance learning in Law. There is a
Head of School, Law Programme Director, LLM Qualification Director and Law School
Manager and there are around 250 Associate Lecturers and 25 central and regional law staff.
Qualifications
Qualifications offered by the Law School include an undergraduate law degree and an LLM.
The Level 2 and Level 3 undergraduate modules have been developed by a highly successful
partnership with the College of Law. The Level 1 undergraduate modules have been
produced by the Law School.
Student satisfaction
The Faculty has received a rating of ‘excellent’ for teaching quality in the most recent HEFCE
Teaching Quality Assessment. The Open University was the highest rated university in terms
of overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2012.
Research
Areas of research conducted by the Law School include corporate social responsibility,
taxation, international human rights, medical law and regulation, sports law, family law,
teaching and learning in law, criminal law and corporate manslaughter.
The Faculty research strategy is based around three themes:
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Responsibility and Regulation
International Management Practice
Innovation in Teaching and Learning
The Law School’s academics support undergraduate law teaching through modules written
by OU staff and modules offered in partnership with The College of Law. Developments in the
postgraduate area are being undertaken by law School Academics working with colleagues
from the Business School and other faculties.
There is a Law Programme Director and a School Manager and there are around 250
Associate Lecturers and 25 central and regional law staff.
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Further information about the Faculty can be found at www8.open.ac.uk/business-school
6. How to obtain more information about the role or application process
If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application please
contact Dr Terry O’Sullivan by email terry.osullivan@open.ac.uk.
If you have any questions regarding the application process please email oubsrecruitment@open.ac.uk
7. The application process and where to send completed applications
Complete the application form
The form has been designed to give the information needed at this initial stage.
Covering letter
Write a covering letter indicating why you are interested in this post and how you believe your
knowledge, experience and skills meet the Person Specification.
Please use the essential and desirable items listed in the person specification as
subtitles within your letter. In writing your letter, examine carefully the description of
the role and analyse how your skills, knowledge and experience match with the
requirements set out in the person specification.
Please pick out specific examples from your experience which clearly demonstrate that you
have the particular knowledge and capabilities required in the person specification.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Please enclose an up to date CV with your application for employment. Please remove any
information from your CV that might give an indication of your race, religion or belief, or
sexual orientation, as these details are irrelevant to your application.
Decisions about short listing will be based solely on the information you provide on your
application form and covering letter.
Your completed application should be returned electronically to
oubs-recruitment@open.ac.uk by 12.00 noon on 23 May 2013.
8. Selection process and date of interview
Interviews are planned for 26 June 2013 at Milton Keynes but this date may be changed if
operationally required. Please also note that occasionally there may be a need for second
interview.
We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been
shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will also be sent to shortlisted
candidates.
In fairness to all candidates, incomplete applications (i.e. any without an application
form, letter and CV as requested), and applications received after the closing date, will
8141 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Strategic Management
August 2012
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not be accepted.
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