The document summarizes upcoming events celebrating the 40th anniversary of Warwick Business School (WBS) Alumni Association in July 2007. On Friday, July 20th there will be a 1960s themed Summer Ball celebrating WBS from 1967-2007. The next day on July 21st will include academic sessions in the morning on topics like sustainability, followed by a garden party lunch and opportunity to tour campus. Events are aimed at bringing together the WBS community of alumni and students. Discounted accommodation and children's activities will be available for the weekend celebrations.

1. Warwick Business School Alumni Association magazine: summer 07
40th anniversary edition

2. Friday 20 – Saturday 21 July 2007
WBS the Lakeside Marquee
Friday 20 July – WBS Summer Ball 1967–2007 Under 18s
Join us for the 1960s themed Summer Ball on Discounted overnight accommodation Children’s activities and creche facilities
Friday 20 July. Open to all this promises to be is available at Radcliffe House subject to are available throughout the weekend.
an evening of fine dining, charming company, availability. Booking fee applies.
dancing and more.
To book, or for further details
If you would like to arrange a reunion of w www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni
classmates or colleagues from WBS please let us t +44 (0)24 7652 2813
know and we will be happy to help. e alumni@wbs.ac.uk
Saturday 21 July – Academic Update
Morning session Afternoon session
Sustainability – from global to local Formal opening of £9 million Sustainability – the practitioner debate
Professor Nigel Thrift WBS building Dr Henri Winand
Vice-Chancellor, The University of Warwick Val Gooding CEO, Intelligent Energy, MBA 1999–03
CEO BUPA (BA French Studies 1968–71)
Dr Ian Pearson Dr Catherine Mitchell
Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, To mark the completion of our most recent Principal Research Fellow,
PhD Industrial and Business Studies 1983–8 building development and to formally open Centre for Management under Regulation,
the new facilities, we are delighted to be joined The University of Warwick
Nick Hillard
Environment Officer, The University of Warwick by Warwick alumna, Val Gooding. Julia Evans
CEO, National Federation of Builders, MBA 1995–00
Professor Peter Mills Garden party lunch
Warwick Horticulture Research International,
Why not catch up with classmates, or take Leigh Chadwick
The University of Warwick Co-owner, Seasalt Cornwall,
a guided tour of the WBS facilities and the
BSc Accounting Financial Analysis 1975–8
University of Warwick campus?
You can also meet the Dean, enjoy live music,
delicious cuisine and children’s entertainers in
the marquee.
Catherine Mitchell
Howard Thomas
Leigh Chadwick
Henri Winand
Val Gooding
Ian Pearson
Nick Hillard
Nigel Thrift
Julia Evans
Peter Mills
ating
ebr
el
40
W BS c
rs
yea
1967 – 2007
innovative

3. message from the dean
With our 40th anniversary to complete the final phase of the WBS Scarman Road
celebrations well underway the Building (or ‘the white building on the corner by the
major challenge facing WBS roundabout’ as some people call it!) We are investigating
is how to ensure that we really funding options for this, but my thanks go to alumni
are the leading business school and friends who have already generously contributed to
in Europe within the next five this project, and indeed other aspects of WBS. Through
years. This is no small challenge, these aims we also plan to raise our international profile
but it is the part that we play and ensure the WBS brand is recognised world–wide. Gill
in the University of Warwick’s Thewlis, Chair of the Alumni Board, explains how you
ambitious plans for the future. can get involved in supporting this on P19.
Professor Nigel Thrift, the
Vice–Chancellor of the University of Warwick since July I hope that you will join me here at WBS on 20/21 July
2006, is wholly supportive of our objective. for our Summer Ball and Open Day, or attend one of our
global dinners on 15 November to share your passion
As we all know, statistics can be manipulated, but by most for WBS. These focal points in our anniversary calendar
metrics WBS is already exceptionally good. This 40th aim to bring together as many of the WBS community as
anniversary issue of nexus looks at some of the people possible (details can be found on P23). If you cannot join
who have helped us become what we are today and the us in person at these or any of our other events I hope you
diverse nature of our community which ensures not only will enjoy the podcasts and videos of events available on
educational excellence but also an environment that our web site.
creates global citizens and people who have a real impact
on the world around them.
Our research agenda remains a high priority as we approach
the Research Assessment Exercise deadline (Professor
David Storey explains more on P4). Another priority is
contents
4–9 WBS news
10 looking back
8 6
Professor Robert Dyson
11 40 years on
Keith Bedell–Pearce
12 from MBA to MBE
Jenny Hocking
13 in credit in Kenya
John Kariuki
14–15 40 years of WBS
16–17 top text
Professors Nigel Slack and Bob Johnston,
Stuart Chambers 7 4
18 trust in success
Louise Shepherd
19 WBS alumni board
20 WBS in 2007
Mårten Abrahamsen, Kunal Jhanji,
Dustie Houchin, Hazel Huang
21 WBS development programme
23 WBS global community
24–25 event reviews, SIGs and regional groups
26–27 alumni news
Front cover: WBS in the ‘80s. WBS staff and faculty are joined by colleagues from the central University for a publicity shot.
Some of you may recognise Jenny Hocking, Roy Johnston, Thom Watson and Robert Dyson.

4. 4 nexus: summer 07 research review
A major research To date there has been too little conceptual
Professor David report about and practical understanding of political skills
Storey, Associate managing with in and around the workplace. Managers are
Dean Research political awareness, increasingly required to operate in a complex
Director of based on a and media–visible world. Day–to–day
the Centre national survey business activities may have many
for Small and and interviews of ramifications for a diverse set of stakeholders.
Medium Sized managers in the To succeed in a complex environment,
Enterprises, Jean Hartley private, public and managers must consider the political
David Storey explains the voluntary sectors, dimension of their business. However, many
significance was launched at the House of Lords on 12 still view political skills narrowly in terms of
of a league table highly renowned in June. The report uses the latest research self–interest rather than the skills needed to
academic circles. findings on how to better develop leaders be able to map the political terrain and build
with the capability to manage the political coalitions and partnerships.
We are all familiar with league dimension of their businesses and services
tables. What started off as The potential benefits of political skills raise
being of interest only to sports The Chartered Management Institute, new challenges for the selection, review,
fans is now found in so many areas the professional body for UK managers, training and development of individual
of public life and universities are no commissioned the work from the Institute of managers and leaders, and for the balance
Governance and Public Management (IGPM) of skills required to get the most out of
exception.
at WBS. The research team is led by Professor teams, partnerships and alliances. This
Jean Hartley and also includes Professor Clive new research highlights the need for much
The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
Fletcher, recently appointed as an Honorary greater recognition of the vital contribution
is designed to be a mechanism in which
Professor at Warwick. The survey attracted that effective political leadership can make
the quality of research is assessed and 1,459 responses to questions about the to delivering business results.
then used as the basis for distributing situations in which political skills are used,
government money for research. Broadly the nature of those political skills, and also
those doing the ‘best’ research will how political awareness skills are acquired.
expect to obtain the lion’s share of funds Professor Lucio
which, when you consider the recent Sarno of WBS,
settlement to universities is close to £7 Nearly ten years Luciana Juvenal of
billion per year, is pretty important. ago the Trades Warwick University
Union Congress and Marcel
As far as WBS is concerned, we obtained (TUC) launched an Fratzscher of the
a ranking of 5* in the 00 RAE, which innovative training European Central
was the highest possible ranking programme in an Bank, have recently
alongside London Business School effort to broaden the Lucio Sarno published research
and Lancaster Business School. We Melanie Simms
focus of UK trade that shows falls in
have therefore been a major funding unionism in order US asset prices such as housing and equities
beneficiary during the last six years. to represent a wider group of workers. The have a substantially more important role
Organising Academy has since trained over for reducing US trade imbalances than
The next RAE will include material 200 organisers whose job it is to recruit new changes in the US dollar exchange rate.
– most notably publications – up to and workers, to develop relationships between Their paper Asset Prices, Exchange Rates and
including 007. The results are expected unions and employers which have not the Current Account, presented in April at
to be published in December 008. previously had formal union representation the Royal Economic Society Conference at
Whilst expectations are high, and we in their workplaces, and to try to broaden the University of Warwick, looked at the
have expanded in terms of the quality the appeal of unions to workers who have relationship between asset prices, exchange
not traditionally been well represented. rates and the trade balance in the US over
and quantity of the research we produce,
the period 1974–2005.
we have a less clear idea of how our
Research by Dr Melanie Simms, Associate
competitors have fared during this
Professor of Industrial Relations, and Dr Jane They found that equity market shocks and
period.
Holgate (Working Lives Research Institute) housing price shocks had by far the greatest
funded by the Nuffield Foundation, has effect on reducing the US trade imbalance
In addition, the ‘rules of the game’ have traced almost all of the organisers who have accounting for up to 35 percent of the
changed significantly since 00 and graduated from the Organising Academy movements of the US trade balance. By
we are told that in 007 much greater and is evaluating what they have been doing contrast, shocks to the real exchange rate of
emphasis will be placed upon applied since their training. Surprisingly, around the US dollar explained less than five percent
and practically relevant research than nine percent are still actively involved in the of such movements and exerted only a
was the case in the past. Of course, we trade union movement; with many of the temporary effect on the US trade balance.
feel that this places WBS in an extremely rest involved in other political organisations,
strong position since we have always and one is even a Member of Parliament. WBS Researcher Professor Lucio Sarno said,
prided ourselves on our scholarly The vast majority use their training in ‘Our findings suggest that a sizeable real
interaction with the business and their day–to–day roles and evaluated their depreciation of the US dollar may not be an
government communities. Nevertheless, experiences as being generally positive. inevitability for an adjustment of today’s
we will not know the answer More widely, they talk about companies large current account imbalances, and that
until December 008. and workplaces where workers now have other factors, in particular global asset price
collective representation rights – small steps, changes, could be an equally or even more
but valuable ones. potent source of adjustment.’

5. research review nexus: summer 07 5
aims are to analyse the EU food chain, partners bring different areas of expertise
providing a descriptive and systematic which ensures that through their
assessment of the current situation and collaboration and complementary skills,
performance, examine sector evolution and the entire spectrum of the food industry
potential, as well as the interactions with, will be addressed.
and the impact on, the primary agricultural
sector. The TIRU contribution will be an analysis of
Paul Stoneman, Duncan Angwin strategic interactions in and competitiveness
and Zafeira Kastrinaki The research consortium set up for this of the EU food supply chain provided by a
project includes seven institutions from descriptive and systematic assessment of
The Technological Innovations Research throughout the EU: one from eastern merger and acquisition (MA) activity in
Unit (TIRU) located in the Marketing and Europe, four from northern Europe the industry. The research team involved
Strategic Management group is to participate (including WBS) and two from southern in the project includes Paul Stoneman,
in an EU funded research project entitled EU Europe. The research team thus involves Research Professor, Director of the Doctoral
Food Industry Dynamics and Methodological countries with different backgrounds, Programme, Dr Duncan Angwin, Associate
Advances (FOODIMA) as part of the Sixth structures and dynamics in their respective Professor of Strategic Management and
Framework research programme. The project national food industries. Consortium Zafeira Kastrinaki, Research Fellow.
and Principle Research Fellow Mark Hall, Sleep, or the possible
assessing the impact of New Labour’s lack or poor quality
employment legislation, was among of it, appears to
submissions by opinion–formers considered be an increasingly
by the PM when writing this lecture. important issue for
Entitled Fairness – up to a point, the paper was business. Longer
published in Human Resource Management working hours,
Journal in autumn 2006. It is based on combined with
Linda Dickens and Mark Hall their review of research into the impact Philip Hancock the proliferation of
of employment legislation since 1997, around–the–clock
On 30 March Prime Minister Tony Blair gave carried out for the Department of Trade and leisure and entertainment facilities, are
one of his series of lectures on the theme Industry. The article provides an overview seemingly turning us into a sleep–deprived
of Our Nation’s Future about the biggest of the main research findings and identifies society.
challenges facing the UK. In this lecture, factors affecting legislative impact and
given at Manchester, the Prime Minister employer compliance. Dickens and Hall A number of publications have emerged
focused on the changing nature of work, the argue that New Labour’s willingness to suggesting that it is at work where a lack of
ways in which the UK economy has evolved promote social justice, fairness and security sleep is most keenly felt. It does not appear,
since Labour took office a decade ago and the has been contingent on the extent that however, that UK businesses are as yet
role of work in the modern world. it can be argued to promote and support taking the question of sleep seriously. In
business interests and to underpin economic a recent survey of HR managers across the
An article by the WBS Industrial Relations efficiency. UK, undertaken by a team of researchers led
Research Unit’s Professor Linda Dickens w www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page11378.asp by Dr Philip Hancock, Associate Professor
of Organisational Behaviour, findings
suggested that not only is there a general
Recent research by Dr Louise Gracia, Assistant Professor of
absence of company policies relating to sleep
indicates that Accounting, explores the nature, causes,
and fatigue, but, perhaps more worryingly,
plagiarism is a extent and experiences of academic
there is an equal lack of knowledge
complex and dishonesty amongst the student body
about the relationship between healthy
increasing problem within a particular institutional context.
sleep patterns, and safe and productive
within higher
workplaces. Despite these findings, several
educational The work aims to contribute to the emerging
leading companies were in fact starting
institutions and debate surrounding the relationship
to take this issue seriously, pursuing the
Louise Gracia suggests that between objective social structures and the
promotion of healthy sleep practices and, in
academia is subjects who occupy them. Specifically it
some instances, the provision of dedicated
struggling to adequately address this erosion seeks to explore the impact, if any, of the
napping facilities similar to those now found
of academic integrity. Most research focuses objective social structure of universities –
in some US companies.
on the detection aspects of plagiarism such as institutional and pedagogic practices
– mainly using software packages – with and cultures – on subjects’ (students’)
The team are now hoping to expand
significantly less work being undertaken cognitive and somatic responses in relation
their research, considering some of these
on preventative measures. Such a detection to plagiarism and other forms of academic
developments in more depth, as well as
focus, whilst important, may result in dishonesty, including collusion.
exploring the ways in which managers and
students becoming more sophisticated in
their employees experience the relationship
their approaches to plagiarism in order to Such insight will be used to develop
between sleep and work on a daily, if not
side–step software detection. understanding of academic dishonesty and
indeed nightly basis. If you would like to
make any relevant contribution to academic
learn more or would be interested in taking
Funded by the Business Management policy that informs and shapes institutional
part in the research, please e–mail
Accounting and Finance branch of the and pedagogic practices and cultures.
Higher Education Academy, this research

6. 6 nexus: summer 07 research review
The research paper The National Audit
Born Global or Forced Office (2006) report
Global? (A Kudina, G recently evaluated
Yip and H Barkema) the National
addresses two Program for IT
central questions: (NpfIT), which is
when a firm should the largest civil
seek early and rapid (non–military) IT
Alina Kudina internationalisation David Finnegan program worldwide. Colin Clubb Shahed Imam
and how to do it The basis of the
successfully. It starts with an analysis of why report suggested that the four large–scale Colin Clubb, WBS Professor of Accounting,
there are ‘born globals’, ie what triggers firms IT projects: National Care Records Service; and colleague Dr Shahed Imam, are
to seek international exposure at early stages Choose and Book system; Electronic Transfer conducting research on Valuation models
of their existence. This leads to suggest a of Prescriptions and Picture Archiving usage by UK investment analysts. The
number of factors that drive when going Communications Systems, at a cost of over primary users of valuation models are stock
international early is advantageous to the £6.2bn were all delayed, some by over two market analysts. It is primarily through
firm’s operations. years. the study of analysts that researchers
can seek to understand the mechanisms
These factors include an inadequate home This proposal provides preliminary research whereby accounting and non–accounting
market, presence of foreign or multinational by Dr David Finnegan, Assistant Professor information impact equity values in
customers and internationally active in Information Systems Management, practice. While the perceived importance
competitors, significant network effects, which investigates the deployment of NPfIT, of valuation models by analysts is well
internationally experienced management, with particular emphasis upon Systems documented, there is limited direct evidence
knowledge intensive or high technology Integration (SI) and its impact on patient which shows how the models are actually
sector, and significant first mover care within the UK NHS. It investigates used in practice and little specific evidence
advantages. cross–national data from Canada and on how past and current performance is
Sweden to provide a comparative analysis. linked to future performance. They are
Dr Alina Kudina, Assistant Professor, investigating three questions:
International Business, and her fellow The research investigates SI approaches in
researchers also find that having the most the UK NHS for patient care. It will capture • How are the valuation models used in
technically advanced offering and acquiring the perceptions of different stakeholders to practice?
some technology internationally are key determine how their roles both contribute
to the firm’s competitive advantage and and inhibit the implementation of systems • More specifically, how do analysts use
overall performance. In addition, developing integration technologies. past performance to project future
successful social and knowledge networks performance, ie what is the process by
also makes some companies more successful It will also investigate the knowledge sharing which past performance is linked to future
in their internationalisation efforts. Their mechanisms in place and their linkages performance?
analysis is based on interviews conducted with deployed SI approaches. The focus is
with top executives in 12 high technology on data, information and understanding • How can recent developments in
companies located in the area around and knowledge sharing across departmental accounting–based valuation models be
Britain’s University of Cambridge, a region subcultures and their impacts on the patient related to the practice of financial analysts?
dubbed ‘Silicon Fen’ because of its business care. It also highlights and investigates
and technology similarities to California’s the concept of ‘customer’ within the NHS It is expected the results will indicate that
Silicon Valley. context and how it has been perceived by analysts make greater use of sophisticated
Patient Care Stakeholders. valuation models than indicated by previous
research but in a context where they apply
their own professional judgment and
Dr Kathy Kotiadis, efficiency and effectiveness, they require provide a value–added service to investors.
Assistant Professor technical expertise that often alienates It is anticipated this research will have both
in the Operational the healthcare stakeholders from their academic and practical implications.
Research and development.
Information
Systems group Kathy explains, ‘ We propose to develop
(ORIS), has recently an approach stemming from the problem The next issue of nexus will focus on WBS
been awarded an structuring field of Operational Research alumni in academia and is due out in
Kathy Kotiadis Engineering and that will specifically aim to help health care January 2008.
Physical Sciences administrators and clinicians take a more
Research Council (EPSRC) grant of £198,000 active part in the development of such If you are working in the HE sector and
for a two year project to develop a tool to models. We also expect that playing a more would like to contribute to nexus then do
help healthcare professionals participate active role will lead them to buy into the please email me
in the development of simulation models process and findings, and to support their e pam.barnes@wbs.ac.uk
of their systems. Discrete event simulation implementation. Better and increased levels
modelling has been touted as an ideal tool of communication with the stakeholders We are pleased to announce that this
in assisting decision makers in healthcare will enable both expert and novice issue of nexus is printed on 50 percent
as it is able to model the system’s inherent modellers to build more relevant discrete recycled paper.
complexity and variability. Although these simulation models in healthcare.’
simulation models can lead to increased

7. hot off the press nexus: summer 07 7
Private equity as Contesting the Mergers and
an asset class by Corporation Struggle, Acquisitions
alumnus Guy Power and Resistance by Dr Duncan
Fraser–Sampson in Organizations co– Angwin, Associate
(DLMBA 1985–9) authored by André Professor, Strategic
published by Wiley Spicer, Associate Management
Finance. Starting Professor, IROB Group, published
with such basic group, and Peter by Blackwells
questions as ‘what Fleming, Judge Oxford. This
is private equity?’ Business School. highly topical
it takes the reader Shows today’s book provides
steadily through corporations are multi–disciplinary
increasingly driven by political perspectives
sophisticated struggle, power plays and attempts to ranging from
levels of detail until complex modelling of resist control. An analysis of the ways in finance to psychology, on the subject of
buyout and venture deals and funds can be which power operates within the modern mergers and acquisitions. WBS contributors
attempted with confidence. workplace. Published by Cambridge include Glenn Morgan, Simon Collinson,
w tinyurl.com/2mebb6 University Press. w tinyurl.com/2qffwo Scott Dacko and Ken Bates.
w tinyurl.com/38v3cp
Implementing CRM: 5th Edition
From Technology to of Operations Adaptation or
Knowledge by Dr Management, by Expiration in
David Finnegan Profs Nigel Slack Family Firms:
Assistant Professor, and Bob Johnston, Organizational
Information and Stuart Flexibility in
Systems Chambers, OM Emerging Economies
Management group, published by by alumnus
and Professor FT Prentice Hall. In Andrés Hatum
Leslie Willcocks, this market–leading (PhD 1998–02)
published by text, the authors Associate Professor
John Wiley. bring to life their at IAE Business
Links Customer comprehensive, School, Austral
Relationship practical and strategic view of operations University, Buenos
Management (CRM) systems management with over 100 contemporary Aires, published by Edward Elgar. Explores
implementation with organisational and international examples of operations determinants of organisational flexibility
change for the first time. Focuses on the in practice, as well as providing critical in this examination of four family–owned
implementation of CRM and uncovers the commentaries on areas of academic companies, two flexible and two less flexible,
micro political, behavioural, psychological contention and professional debate (see from the edible oil and pharmaceutical
and knowledge issues. w tinyurl.com/36vetv article P16/17). w tinyurl.com/3cjf8p industries. w tinyurl.com/32w4va
The Changing Institutional Face of British Human safety and risk management (2nd
Employment Relations, jointly edited by edition) by alumnus Associate Professor
Professor Linda Dickens of WBS and Ian Glendon (MBA 1987–8), School of
Professor Alan Neal of the School of Law Psychology, Griffith University, Queensland,
was published by Kluwer Law International Australia: explores the role of psychology
in 2006. The Chinese language version is in safety and risk in the workplace and
produced by Peking University Press and was elsewhere. Co–authors: Sharon Clarke
launched in January 2007 at a colloquium Eugene McKenna, published by CRC Press/
in Beijing. Taylor Francis. w tinyurl.com/2fju3d
Supporting strategy: Eat to Beat
Frameworks, Fatigue by
methods and alumna Jane
models, edited by Harries (PG
Professor Robert Cert Business Administration 1996–2001)
Dyson and Frances published by Erskine Press. A cookbook in
O’Brien, Associate Professor, Operational aid of Action for ME, the UK charity. This
Research, published by Wiley, develops the new edition has more recipes from famous
concept of the strategic development process. cooks and ME sufferers, plus hints and tips
The book spans direction setting, strategy on ‘low–energy’ cooking and shopping.
creation, rehearsal, evaluation and choice, Details on the Action for ME web site/Quick
leading to a continuous process of adopting Links/Shop. w www.afme.org.uk
strategic initiatives. w tinyurl.com/2jgnac

8. 8 nexus: summer 07 WBS in the news
Take a WBS taxi
Publications ranging from the Financial Times to the local newspaper
reported on the ongoing advertising campaign which included two
WBS branded taxis at Birmingham and Manchester airports. The
taxis were only part of this advertising campaign. Light–boxes at the
two airports displayed WBS advertising which was repeated inside the
taxis, and the same adverts appeared in in–flight magazines.
‘Traditionally, business schools have simply taken out ads in the
business education supplements of the heavyweight daily newspapers
and the occasional business magazine,’ says Simon Peatfield, WBS
Director of Marketing. The elements of our new campaign will
reinforce our message and the wbs.ac.uk website.’
postgraduate IT suite at WBS Scarman Road phase
WBS rise in latest rankings
In the Financial Times Full–time MBA rankings published in January,
WBS rose to 36th in the world (up 16 places); 13th in Europe (up 4)
and 6th in the UK (up 3).
Dean Howard Thomas affirmed, ‘The results demonstrate that
earning an MBA from a top business school like WBS has significant
advantages to those managers wanting to fast track their career
prospects.
‘This news comes on top of the recent FT Executive MBA rankings
which placed WBS 14th in the world (up 3), 5th in Europe (up 2) and one of two WBS branded taxis
2nd in the UK, which reinforces our reputation for excellence.’
WBS best for job prospects forging links
In the Business and Management section of the Guardian University The developing link between WBS and Cornell University at Ithaca
Guide published in May, WBS’ undergraduate programme achieved in New York State, USA, is one example of the School’s increasing and
the highest score – ten out of ten for job prospects. strengthening links with prestigious international institutions.
Although overall Warwick achieved second place to Oxford, Oxford Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR)
only scored better on staff/student ratio. In all other aspects Warwick and our own Industrial Relations Research Unit have just enjoyed
and Oxford were equal. their second exchange visit. Last year, faculty from ILR came to
Warwick, and this year it was the turn for Cornell to act as hosts.
relocation for AIM research
WBS welcomes new faculty
Following its award of GBP£7.5 million in support from the
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), The Advanced We are pleased to announce the recent professorial appointments of
Institute of Management Research (AIM) joined WBS in May. Paul du Gay (IROB), Christopher Grey (IROB), Lloyd Harris (MSM),
Loizos Heracleous (MSM), Joe Nandhakumar (ISM), and John Purcell
(IRRU); and Roger Mumby–Croft (CSME) as Professorial Fellow.
international award for
WBS professor Congratulations go to Simon Collinson (MSM) on his recent
promotion to Professor, and to Mark Hall (IRRU) and Jonathan Tritter
(IGPM) who become Professorial Fellows. Fiona Anderson–Gough
Professor Nigel F Piercy, Marketing
(ACC), Vicky Henderson (FIN), and Jimmy Huang (ISM) have all been
Strategic Management group, together
appointed Readers.
with colleagues Leonidas C Leonidou
(University of Cyprus) and Constantine
S Katsikeas (University of Leeds), has
been awarded the Hans B Thorelli 5–Year
Award by the Journal of International
Marketing.

9. WBS in the news nexus: summer 07
WBS increases media Warwick diploma in service leadership goes abroad
coverage A Diploma in Service Leadership taught by The Diploma in Service Leadership was
WBS is being delivered at the prestigious developed at WBS by Professor Bob Johnston
WBS has achieved good growth in media Singapore Institute of Management. and Programme Director and Senior
coverage in the first six months of the year. Teaching Fellow Andrew Hardwick, and
As you would expect with a ‘full service’ Following the signing of a Memorandum is fully taught by WBS faculty. The three
business school, the range of coverage of Understanding in January between parties involved – the participant, their line
reflects the breadth of activities at WBS. the Singapore Workforce Development manager and WBS – work together using a
Agency (WDA), the Singapore Institute of three way review process.
In addition to the welcome coverage Management (SIM) and WBS, the Diploma
achieved by alumni; media reports appeared was launched at the end of March.
on awards for staff and their high–profile
achievements. Robin Wensley was awarded
life membership of the Academy of
Marketing, School Administrator Jenny
Hocking now has an MBE as well as an MBA
(from Warwick of course), John Purcell
has been appointed as academic adviser
at Acas, Martin Cave has conducted an
independent review of social housing for the
UK government, David Storey was a judge
in the small business and enterprise–based
Growing Business Awards, and Duncan
Angwin, together with other MSM members,
was responsible for leading the judging in
the national management consultancy MCA
Awards. All these were reported on in both
general business and specialist media.
Research by our faculty continued to receive
coverage. Just a few examples include Paul
participants and staff from the WDA, SIM and WBS at the scholarship presentations
Edwards’ work on trends in employment
law reported widely in print and broadcast,
Martin Corbett’s interview on whether
music and MP3s at work are good or bad, winter graduation financial masters
Bridget Woodman’s expert comments on
global warming syndicated across the USA, Tuesday 30 January saw graduands, with programmes awarded
and Dean Howard Thomas quoted widely their families and friends return to campus
in national and international press on to take part in the Winter graduation partner status
topics such as the globalisation of business ceremonies.
education, MBAs, and the Bologna Process. Two WBS Specialist Masters programmes,
The new facilities of Phase 3 Stage 1 MSc in Economics Finance and MSc in
Last but not least, media coverage this were showcased as WBS Scarman Road Finance, have been awarded CFA Program
year is on course to equal £750,000 hosted lunches for all of the programmes Partner status. WBS is one of only six UK
worth of advertising, using standard graduating, making it a memorable day for business schools to have achieved this
Advertising Value Equivalent measures everyone involved. recognition. The Chartered Financial
– and this does not include online Analyst Institute is an international
coverage. Vin Hammersley, WBS Director organisation based in the USA with offices
of Communications, comments, ‘There is also in London and Hong Kong.
real value in positive media coverage and
the expertise of WBS academics is always in
demand. To put these numbers into context,
WBS gets more media coverage than many
alumni careers
UK universities, even those who have
business schools, and we have not dropped
mini–site launch
from the top five in the UK for media The Personal Career Development (PCD)
coverage in ten years.’ and Alumni teams are pleased to announce
the launch of the Alumni Personal Career
View the latest news releases, features, media Development mini–site, a recent addition to
coverage and multimedia at the WBS press MSc Marketing Strategy graduates www.wbs.ac.uk. The purpose of this site is to
centre Viola Qiu and Claire Nash with provide an easily accessible source of advice
Assistant Professors Duncan Robertson and information to support WBS graduates
w www.wbs.ac.uk/news and Sotirios Paroutis in their career development.
w www.wbs.ac.uk/careers/alumni/

10. 0 nexus: summer 07 WBS 40th anniversary
looking back
Former Dean Robert Dyson, Professor of Operational Research, takes a journey through time from the early days
of the School.
I joined the then School of Industrial and
Business Studies (SIBS) in the summer of
1970, along with Keith Sisson, Thom Watson
Pettigrew who established the Centre for
Corporate Strategy and Change, and Stewart
Hodges who created the Financial Options
of the MSc Management and Business
Studies to the MBA. Growth was secured
through developments of part–time
and George Bain (in the Industrial Relations Research Centre. At the end of the ‘70s variations of the MBA. An evening version
Research Unit). My subject of Operational Hugh Clegg retired and George Bain secured in collaboration with Jaguar and Massey
Research was already populated by Hylton the Pressed Steel Fisher Chair of Industrial Ferguson; a modular version in collaboration
Boothroyd, Roy Johnston and Derek Atkins, Relations. Initially, other Chairs were funded with Coopers and Lybrands and the
with others including Richard Hyman, Jimmy by Barclays, the Steel Stockholders and the Metropolitan Police and a distance learning
Dewhurst and Mel Hirst seemingly well Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. version in collaboration with Wolsey Hall,
established too, even though SIBS had been a distance learning college in Oxford. New
founded only three years previously. recruits to support this activity included
Robin Wensley, Peter Doyle, Bob Galliers,
seven former Chairs: left to right, George Bain, Robin Wensley, Roger Fawthrop, Gibson Burrell, Chris Voss, John Bennington
(who established the Local Government
Brian Houlden, Derek Waterworth, Robert Dyson, Thom Watson
Centre) and Jenny Hocking as senior
administrator. The Centre for Small and
Medium Sized Enterprises was established,
headed by Ian Watson, principally as a
teaching activity, but in the ‘90s to take on
a significant research activity led by David
Storey.
Since the arrival of Howard Thomas as Dean
in 2000 the growth and development has
continued, with key appointments such as
Colin Crouch in public management and
Colin Carnall to lead an expansion of the
Executive Education. The undergraduate
programme has doubled in size and several
new masters’ courses have been introduced.
Considerable effort has been invested in the
development of the alumni network and
The professoriate of Brian Houlden, the From 1998–2000 I served as Dean of Warwick also fundraising. Today the School continues
founding Chairman (sic Head) Hugh Clegg, Business School. It was a very different place to develop and, along with the University,
Derek Waterworth and Bob Tricker had led to the SIBS of the ‘70s with 150 academics; sees raising its international profile as a key
a development that already included the 100 support staff; in excess of 3,000 students objective.
BSc Management Sciences, launched against on degree courses, including 2,500 on the
Funding Council advice; three masters’ Warwick MBA; an enviable reputation for
courses: Management and Business Studies, research confirmed with the highest quality the author in minute
Industrial Relations, and Management Science rating (along with London Business School
and Operational Research; doctoral students and Lancaster) in the 2001 Research
After six years with
and executive courses. Research was underway Assessment Exercise, and the first phases Pilkington Bros Plc, Robert
in Industrial Relations and developing in of the new building on the Warwickshire joined SIBS (now WBS) in
Operational Research and elsewhere. We were side of Gibbett Hill Road. At that time the 70. He was Chairman of
twenty or so academic staff and five secretaries School added accreditation by AACSB (US) the School from 78–8;
with 100–150 students. In 1978 I took over first and EQUIS (Europe) to the AMBA (UK) then Dean in 8–000.
as Acting Chairman and then served a three accreditation. He was also Pro–Vice
year term as Chairman. The ‘70s had been a Chancellor of the University
period of retrenchment, consolidation and The transformation had begun in the from 8–5 and –005. Robert chaired
the Committee of Professors of Operational
then steady growth. Roger Fawthrop took mid ‘80s driven partly by the University’s
Research from 5–7. He was President of the
over from Brian Houlden and added the BSc response to cut–backs in government Operational Research Society in 8– and
Accounting and Financial Analysis to the funding to the higher education sector, a is a member of INFORMS and an Editor of the
teaching portfolio, and the School relocated report from the Foundation for Management European Journal of Operational Research.
to the FME and Social Studies buildings. Education about the size and scope of
business schools and the appointment of Research Interests: organisational performance
Research continued to develop patchily and George Bain as Chairman of the School. measurement; data envelopment analysis;
the faculty grew by the end of the decade to strategic planning/development; business
32 (plus secretaries and one administrator) SIBS was renamed the Warwick Business modelling.
including the recruitment of Andrew School following the earlier change of name

11. nexus: summer 07 WBS 40th anniversary
forty years on
Keith Bedell–Pearce (MSc Management Business Studies 68–70) looks back on his studies at WBS and how they
subsequently shaped his life.
It’s hard to believe it is 40 years since I questions as you like.’ Only one student,
travelled to Coventry to be interviewed by Brian Glicksman, who had a first in Maths
Brian Houlden for a place on the Class of from Cambridge, fancied answering a
’68 MSc Management Business Studies question about a shard of glass Hylton had
course. It was typical of Warwick then found in a bottle of milk. To be precise,
as now that the University had looked Brian answered only half the question
to the future and acted on one of the and nothing else on the exam paper but
recommendations of the Robbins Report of Hylton was so struck by the originality of
1963 that there should be ‘at least two major the answer that he gave Brian 100 per cent
postgraduate Business Schools established for the entire paper. I passed Statistics solely
in the UK.’ because in this case, I had read beyond the
first chapter of Facts from Figures. I still keep
The MSc Industrial and Business Studies , a copy in my bottom drawer.
which became the Warwick MBA in 1981,
had 29 postgraduate students, many of 40 years on, I still speculate whether I
whom were fresh from what was then would have benefited more from my year
three years of leisure activities in the form at WBS if I had had some previous business
of an undergraduate degree course. We all experience. My conclusion is that the
had a shock coming – no more four hours results would have been different but not
of lectures a week and a couple of essays a necessarily better. I emerged from Warwick
month but a minimum of 12 hours work in 1969 into what was at best the tepid heat
a day, seven days a week as we crammed of the technological revolution but I had a
what was a two–year course at London and vision of what could be and as a result of the
Manchester into a single calendar year. daily diet of case studies, the confidence to
Amazingly, we loved it. No one dropped tackle any business problem. My only career
out and I suspect many of us took an 80 plan was to change business disciplines
hour working week as the norm and have every five years or so to maintain the stream
never been able to break the habit since. The of new challenges. The plan has worked
structure of the course was not dissimilar for me but I have no doubt I wouldn’t
to that of the Warwick MBA today. The have enjoyed such a rich and varied career
difference was that there was usually only without the springboard of my 12 months
one textbook for any particular subject area at WBS.
and in some areas not even that. subsequently became Dean in 1976. My wife
was amazed (as indeed I was) when I was
It was at WBS I caught the computer bug, appointed marketing director of Prudential the author in minute
even though bugs and viruses were as yet 20 years later. She said I had only read the
unknown concepts. Systems Theory was first chapter of Kotler. I agreed but that’s Keith Bedell–Pearce became a systems designer
taught by Bob Tricker. We looked at the all you needed to know so long as you had on leaving WBS and in 7 joined Prudential
prospect of a Brave New World of integrated done Derek’s case studies on Purina pet food where he worked initially on the development of
systems and cybernetics, wrote programmes and Kodak dismissing photocopying as some of the first commercial databases. In 75,
in Algol and Fortran and prepared our own having no commercial future. he moved to the Pru’s in–house legal department
input for the University’s only computer where he qualified as a solicitor, specialising in
(about the size of the small house) on 80 Most of our courses were taught by the corporate and commercial law. He subsequently
worked in their investment management
column punched cards. WBS professors but for me it was the Reader
business and the UK retail business and was
in Operations Research and Statistics, appointed to the main board in .
The subject was called ‘Systems Theory’ Hylton Boothroyd, who held centre–stage
because there was very little systems for much of the year at Warwick. Hylton He retired from the Prudential in 00 and
practice in the business world of 1968. My was sparkling, wry and fiendish in turn became chairman of the Student Loans Company
own thesis was on the design of a computer– and as we laboured through Hillier and and of the Norwich Peterborough Building
based stock forecasting system for Marks Liebermann, I surreptitiously attempted to Society. He is also currently Senior Independent
Spencer. This was ambitious because at keep up with statistics through overnight Director of FC Asset Management plc,
Chairman of Directgov and an investment adviser
that time MS didn’t even have a computer. reading of Facts from Figures, a Penguin
to the Royal Society. He is a member of the WBS
I had to simulate the running of the paperback pre–cursor to Statistics for Advisory Board and an Honorary Professor of
exponential smoothing model I constructed Dummies. the School. His latest venture is as Chairman and
using a hand cranked accounting machine. co–owner of 4D Data Centres Ltd, a company
Hylton kept his masterstroke for the that provides managed server–based hosting
Marketing (with textbook by Kotler) Statistics examination where the rubric at facilities and business continuity services.
was taught by Derek Waterworth, who the top of the paper said ‘answer as many

12. nexus: summer 07 WBS 40th anniversary
from MBA to MBE
Jenny Hocking, MBE (MBA 88–) is Associate Dean (Planning and Policy) of WBS. In this interview she
recalls her early days at Warwick and her involvement in the subsequent success of the School.
‘I joined the University of Warwick in 1979
and my first job was in the Academic
Office, where one of my responsibilities
the author in minute
was the University teaching timetable. It is Born in London, Jenny grew up in Australia.
hard to believe now but this was originally Graduating from the University of Tasmania with a
a pegboard mounted on the office wall and first class degree in Politics, her career began as an
summer holidays were spent handwriting academic (University of Tasmania), then briefly as
the timetable onto two A4 sheets taped a public servant (Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet), finally as a university departmental
together! There just had to be a better way,
administrator (Australian National University,
so I persuaded an IT specialist friend to put Canberra). She married a British academic in 75
it onto a computer, which made me the and returned to England. Jenny has lived and
proud owner of the very first administrative worked in the UK since then, with frequent visits to
computer on campus. her adopted homeland.
‘In 1986 I was approached by George In 005 she changed roles from being responsible
for the non–academic administration of the School,
Bain, then Chair of the small, but rapidly
to responsibility for planning and policy issues.
growing School of Industrial Business The twin focus of this role is on strategic planning,
Studies (SIBS) and asked if I would head decision–making and implementation, and
up its administration. I felt this was a very organisational responsiveness to change.
exciting opportunity for Warwick, to which
I was keen to contribute, so I jumped at the Jenny was awarded the MBE for services to Higher
Education in the 007 New Year’s honours. She is
chance.’
also a member of the WBS Advisory Board.
With the recruitment of Jenny and a
financial administrator, SIBS boasted 45
academics and around 10 non–academic
staff. George Bain had a five year plan for a The first year [1988] I joined the full–time visits from other business schools who see
considerable expansion of programmes and programme, attending a proportion of the us as a benchmark institution. The new
research centres. He made 12 professorial classes and I then joined the evening cohort. building has given us all a tremendous sense
appointments in two years, with each It was much better than I thought, as the of achievement – seeing the project become
new appointee committed to contribute advantage was that if things were getting reality and the positive impact of the new
something major to build the School and you down on the MBA, you could switch facilities on the wellbeing of students and
improve its income, such as the setting up off to concentrate on office matters and staff.
of a research centre or starting up of a new vice versa. I tend to be a bit obsessive and it
programme. Targets were set and there was taught me to use my time more rationally. ‘The award of the MBE in 2007 was
a real sense of a group of people committed The other thing I discovered is that time absolutely staggering from my point of
to a common vision but each with their own isn’t such a key issue as anyone has scope to view. It is a tremendous honour and it
area of responsibility. increase their efficiency. (Jenny graduated is extremely gratifying to feel that your
with Distinction). colleagues actually think enough of your
In 1988 George Bain wrote a paper SIBS – Its contribution to put forward a case and go
Nature and Name, which set out further ‘It was a great experience and I still keep through the process – you get a big high
plans for transforming the department to a in touch with some of the people I met on from that. Having played the leading role
professional business school and proposed the full–time and evening programmes. It in building up the professional side of the
a change of name to Warwick Business gave me an insight into what it is like to be School, it was a tremendous affirmation.
School. WBS subsequently became a well a customer of the School. I feel that people
known brand and by the end of the ‘80s were generally very happy then – and ‘The School is now in the top 1 per
rose to be recognised as one of the leading continue to be now – with the Warwick cent of Business Schools in the world.
Schools in the UK. The School was able MBA experience. I was the first member of I would like its record of attracting the
to attract high quality people who were WBS staff to take our MBA but there have very highest possible quality staff and
intrigued and attracted by the vision for been a number since. It is also good for the students to continue uninterrupted into
putting WBS on the map. University to have managers who can see the next decade and to see it consolidate
the University from the student perspective its international reputation and achieve
Jenny continues, ‘The late Professor from their own personal experience. the breadth of global recognition it fully
Peter Doyle, then Head of the MBA deserves’.
programme, encouraged me to do an MBA ‘Every year something happens to affirm the
as he maintained that I needed to fully progress the School has made – performance
understand the customer perspectives and in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE);
the business school ethos and environment. evaluations by various accreditation groups;

13. nexus: summer 07 WBS 40th anniversary
in credit in Kenya
John K Kariuki (BSc Applied Maths 75–8, FMBA 8–) came to Warwick from Nairobi as an undergraduate and
returned to study for an MBA at WBS. Here John provides an update on his career and the happy memories of
Warwick he still retains.
A fter working for over 15 years in the
banking, IT and manufacturing
industries, I joined AAR Health Services, the
largest private health care provider in East
Africa in June 1996 as CEO. The majority
shareholding of the Company was then
held by the Company’s late founder, Bengt
Beckmann, a Swedish entrepreneur who six
years earlier had invited me to serve on his
advisory Board. I had reached a stage in my
career where I wanted to run a business in
which I could acquire shares and AAR Health
Services presented that opportunity.
However two years after joining the
company, I was only able to acquire a very
small shareholding (less than 1 percent). It
became evident that without deep pockets
John Kariuki (left) and
I was unlikely to acquire a significant
studying hard for his
shareholding in a company that had grown
MBA in 1981 (above)
by over 100 percent in those two years and
was now attracting institutional equity
investors like the IFC. The main shareholders of the Company also a lecturer at the Business School and
are AAR Health Services (40 percent), Loita was the one who persuaded me to come
I therefore started toying with the idea of Capital Partners International, a South back to do an MBA. He even guaranteed
setting up a new business in partnership with Africa–based investment banking firm (35 me residence on the prestigious 3rd floor
AAR Health Services. In mid 1998 I proposed per cent), and myself (22 percent). The of International House. Sadly he passed
to Bengt that we form a new company to main challenge I faced in the early days away two weeks after I enrolled on the MBA
provide insurance premium financing was obtaining credit lines from commercial course. He was a remarkable human being
services to 55,000 customers. (In East Africa, banks to finance our advances book. We and greatly admired by many overseas
health insurance premiums are payable therefore started with very small lines and students.
annually in advance). He liked the idea kept overheads very low by outsourcing
instantly and thought it tied in well with my whatever we could. Over the years we have I really enjoyed my days at Warwick,
banking background. Sadly by this time he focused on building a good track record with both in the 70s and 80s and made some
had already contracted leukaemia and passed banks and currently have sufficient credit great friends. What hit me when I first
away a few months later. lines from a number of banks to lend in arrived in 1975 was the actual number of
excess of US$15m per annum. bars on campus! The Union building had
We are in the process just been refurbished and it was a great
We have expanded our products to include place to meet new people, particularly
of converting the asset financing, general insurance premiums the disco on the first floor and the plush
business into a deposit– financing, internet subscriptions financing, Elephant’s Nest with its thick purple
and other consumer loan products. We are in carpet. However I never quite got used to
taking Micro Finance the process of converting the business into a the cold winters, nor the very hot summers
Institution this year and deposit–taking Micro Finance Institution this – remember 1976!
year and our goal is to become a fully fledged
our goal is to become a fully commercial bank in five years’ time. We also What I remember most about the MBA
fledged commercial recently expanded our operations to Uganda course was the sheer volume of reading
and Tanzania. material we had to go through every day.
bank in five years’ time The key to it was knowing how best to
I would say my Maths degree gave me share the workload within your designated
Shortly after his death I resigned as CEO a good foundation for developing my syndicate group. And in those days there
of AAR Health Services to set up the new analytical skills, while the MBA provided was no email so you couldn’t circulate your
business. In May 1999, we established AAR the theoretical framework for developing notes to your group members before the
Credit Services as an autonomous division practical business skills. syndicate meetings – everyone had to write
of AAR Health Services. A year later we their notes by hand (there were no PCs
converted the business into a separate limited The lecturer who made the greatest don’t forget!) and bring them along.
liability company, and have continued to impression on me was the late Dr John
register growing profits since then. Charnock who was the International House w www.aarcredit.com
warden, where I lived for three years. He was w www.aarhealth.com

14. 4
40 years of WBS
1967 1977 1987
Students 24 Alumni 965 Alumni 3,400
Staff 5 Students 204 Students 815
Courses 3 Staff 41 Staff 104
Courses 6 Turnover 3.1m
Courses 11
1967 1970 1973 1976 1978 1981 1983 1986 1989
Two years after Launch Roger Derek Robert Dyson Thom Watson George Bain WBS is one of Robin
the University is of the Fawthrop Waterworth becomes becomes becomes three UK business Wensley
formed, SIBS (The Industrial becomes becomes Chair of SIBS Chair of SIBS Chair of SIBS schools to be rated becomes
School of Industrial Relations Chair of SIBS Chair of SIBS as ‘outstanding’ by Chair of WBS
MSc in
Business Studies) Research UGC in the research
Management 1984
springs to life as Unit selection exercise
Business
one of the first 1969 Centre for
Studies The launch 1988 1990
business schools Small and
First becomes the of the
in the UK with Medium WBS takes The number
undergraduate Warwick MBA Warwick MBA
Brian Houlden Sized its present of academics
course by distance
as Chair Enterprises name at WBS
launched learning
begins reaches 100
Hugh Clegg MBA teaching
operations
appointed centre opens
founding Professor 1985
of Industrial
Peter Doyle
Relations
becomes Director
40 years of WBS
of the Warwick MBA
1968 by full-time study
First three Launch of the
masters Since 1967 WBS has achieved successful growth in all areas. Warwick MBA
courses by evening
launched integrated study
1967 1977 1987
1995
Sue Brid
1977 become
MSc Management 1989 Warwick
Business achieve
A seminar in
mid–1960s Studies students
the ‘new’ MBA
View from the teaching centre
1980
library towards
Rootes Social Social Studies
building building under
construction