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Dr Simon M Smith

PhD, MA, BSc, SFHEA

Principal Lecturer in Business, Management and Enterprise

Oxford Brookes Business School

Role

Simon provides leadership in the subject area of Business, Management and Enterprise. He works closely with Programme Leads, Research Area Leads and Associate Deans to help talent manage both staff and students. Simon teaches and researches across a range of subject areas and specialisms.

Teaching and supervision

Courses

Modules taught

  • Business Ethics
  • Business in Society
  • Introduction to People Management
  • Analysing and Designing Organisations
  • Dissertation/Individual Consultancy Project supervisor for MSc and MBA
  • The Practice of Business & Management

Simon teaches and has taught across a large number of subject areas embracing HRM, leadership, international business, marketing and research methods. He has previously been a Programme Director for a suite of programmes, as well as Programme Leader for numerous courses, including a DBA, an MBA, and related programmes across Business Management, Business Administration and International Business. Simon also has experience teaching in China, Brunei, Germany, Spain, Cyprus and the Czech Republic.

Supervision

  • 2024-, Director of Studies, “Implementing Flipped Learning in Mathematics Higher Education: An Action Research Project” (EdD, PT), Oxford Brookes University
  • 2024-, Director of Studies, “How can translanguaging be used to support the development of conceptual understanding of division for 8-9-year-old learners in an English-French bilingual education context?” (PhD, PT), Oxford Brookes University
  • 2024-, Director of Studies, “TBC” (EdD, PT), Oxford Brookes University
  • 2024-, Second Supervisor, ‘Coaching and mentoring focus’ (DCM, PT), Oxford Brookes University
  • 2024-, Mentor, ‘Action research focus’ (EdD, PT), Oxford Brookes University
  • 2017-2021, Director of Studies, “Better capitalists? A Workers’ Inquiry into democratisation and employee ownership” (PhD, PT), University of Winchester (Viva: 15/07/2021; Awarded: 11/08/2021)

Research

Broadly speaking, Simon conducts research and publishes within Human Resource Management, Leadership, International Business, Tourism and Education. His current research interests include Organizational Ambidexterity (a theory pertaining to paradox), the Sustainable Development Goals, the Principles for Responsible Management Education, overtourism, employee ownership, age discrimination and other diverse research areas.

Research impact

Related Roles:

  • Co-Director of the Centre for Business, Society and Global Challenges (BSGC) (2022-2023)
  • Faculty Research Lead for Business, Law and Digital Technologies (2021)
  • REF Unit of Assessment Lead: Business and Management (Panel C17) (2020-2021)
  • Faculty Postgraduate Research Student Lead (2020-2021)
  • Head of the Hoare Centre for Responsible Management (2018-2021)

Research Group Membership:

  • Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior
  • Associate Editor for Employee Relations
  • Fellow of the British Academy of Management (BAM) Peer Review College
  • Member of ESRC Peer Review College.
  • Chair for British Academy of Management (BAM) Special Interest Group (SIG) Sustainable and Responsible Business
  • Member of Editorial Board for the International Journal of Organizational Analysis
  • Member of Editorial Advisory Board for Management Decision
  • Member of Editorial Review Board for Personnel Review
  • Member of Editorial Advisory Board for the EuroMed Journal of Business
  • Member of Editorial Advisory Board for the Leadership & Organization Development Journal

Research Grants and Awards:
 

  • 2024, £11,000 The Diversity Project (Consultancy), Principal Investigator, project titled The Diversity Project Collaboratory
  • 2023, £2500 Higher Education and the SDGs Challenge Grants, ACU, Oxford Brookes University & Amity University, Co-Investigator, Food waste and behaviour change competition (SDG2 and 12)
  • 2023, 150,000 Euros (£127,000 approx.) International Programme, Movetia, Université de Neuchâtel (Switzerland) & Oxford Brookes University, Co-Investigator, Collaborative Community for Sustainability Mindset Education
  • 2022, £10,000 QAA Collaborative Enhancement Projects 2022-23, QAA, University of Chester, Liverpool John Moores University & Oxford Brookes University, Co-Investigator, Student Intrapreneur and Entrepreneur (SIE) Toolkit and Community of Practice.
  • 2021, £10,160 Going Global Partnerships - Exploratory Grant, British Council, Oxford Brookes University & Amity University, Project Leader, The evaluation and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals across cultures.
  • 2021, £3700+ Graduate Research Associate, University of Winchester, Project Leader.
  • 2021, £2000 HEIF (Higher Education Innovation Fund), University of Winchester, Project Leader, SMEs leading by example: Discussing successes and challenges meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • 2020, £6000 The UK India Education & Research Initiative (UKIERI) Study in India Virtual Mobility, University of Winchester & Amity University, Project Leader.
  • 2020, £31,980 The UK India Education & Research Initiative (UKIERI) Mobility Programme, University of Winchester & Amity University, Project Leader (cancelled due to COVID-19).
  • 2020, £880 Winchester Research Apprentice Programme (WRAP), University of Winchester, Project Leader, Exploring Overtourism.
  • 2019, £378 British Academy of Management Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG, University of Winchester, co-Project Leader, for an event titled Overtourism: Finding Sustainable Development Solutions and Tackling Paradox.
  • 2019, £3425 British Academy of Management Transitions 2 Grant Scheme, University of Winchester & De Montfort University, Project Leader, Overtourism and Tourismphobia: Understanding and addressing paradoxical tensions in creating and maintaining Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).
  • 2019, £7167 Thames Valley and Wessex Leadership Academy, and South West NHS Leadership Academy, University of Winchester & University of the West of England, Co-ordinator, Leadership Development Evaluation Collaboratory.
  • 2019, £440 Winchester Research Apprentice Programme (WRAP), University of Winchester, Project Leader, Recruitment and Branding for the DBA.
  • 2018, £2400 RKE funding, University of Winchester, Project Leader, Annual funding for research seminars and development activities for the Centre for Responsible Management.
  • 2018, £880 Winchester Research Apprentice Programme (WRAP), University of Winchester, Project Leader, The Responsible Management Paradox.
  • 2017, £880 Winchester Research Apprentice Programme (WRAP), University of Winchester, Project Leader, Further Enhancing Business School Employability.
  • 2016, £880 Winchester Research Apprentice Programme (WRAP), University of Winchester, Project Leader, Enhancing Business School Employability.
  • 2015, £3545 + £1500 University of Chester Business School, University of Chester, Project Leader, and Erasmus+ Training Staff Mobility, Funding for 19 students and 2 staff to attend a leadership programme in Larnaka, Cyprus.
  • 2014, £25,000 The 2014 AGRH conference, University of Chester, Co-ordinator, Funding for the organisation and delivery of an international conference.
  • 2014, £750 Erasmus+ Training Staff Mobility, through University of Chester, Project Leader, Funding for visit to Lörrach, Germany and Pardubice, Czech Republic to negotiate Erasmus+ bid submission.
  • 2013, £2000 Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme, University of Central Lancashire, Project Leader, Examining an innovative undergraduate dissertation approach: an international student perspective.
  • 2013, £4750 + £1500 SoLLIS Student Travel Bursary, University of Central Lancashire, Co-ordinator, and Erasmus Training Staff Mobility, Funding for 12 students and 2 staff for leadership programme in Albir, Spain (1 week).
  • 2013, Cyprus Campus Scheme, University of Central Lancashire, Project Leader, funding unknown, Leadership programme in Cyprus for 5 days with 14 students and 2 staff.
  • 2013, £250 HEA UK Travel Fund, HEA, Project Leader, Intercultural business communication: Bridging the workplace and the classroom.
  • 2012, £2800 + £1500 SoLLIS Student Travel Bursary, University of Central Lancashire, Project Leader, and Erasmus Training Staff Mobility, Funding for 10 students and 2 staff for cultural trip to Pardubice, Czech Republic (1 week).
  • 2010, £2300 Student Retention Funding, University of Central Lancashire, Project Leader, Level 4 student trip within an Outdoor Activity Centre to assist with transitioning into Higher Education.
  • 2009, £122.50 Teaching, Learning and Assessment Fund, University of Central Lancashire, Project Leader, Funding to develop a Student Buddy system.

Further information

Centres and institutes

Projects

Projects as Co-investigator

  • Collaborative Community for Sustainability Mindset Education (led by Université de Neuchâtel)(01/10/2023 - 30/09/2025), funded by: Movetia, funding amount received by Brookes: £8,759, funded by: Movetia
  • 'Food waste and behaviour change competition'(05/09/2023 - 05/05/2024), funded by: The Association of Commonwealth Universities, funding amount received by Brookes: £1,250, funded by: The Association of Commonwealth Universities

Publications

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Professional information

Memberships of professional bodies

  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (Advance HE) 
  • Member of SEDA

Conferences

  • Smith, S.M. (2025) Event Lead: ‘Sprint event: Network/team building, outlining proposals and grants ideas towards sustainable development’, BAM Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG webinar: ‘Turning Failures into Success with Sustainable Development Grants: A networking webinar series’ virtual event. 
  • Smith, S.M., Wall, T., Rowe, L., Whiteman, G., Agboma, F., Knight, L. and Armstrong-Gibbs, F. (2024) ‘Addressing oxy‘moronic’ educational practices: Examining and engaging paradox for embedding SDGs into postgraduate capstone projects’, at BAM2024, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England.
  • Smith, S.M. (2024) Event Lead: ‘Making sustainable development-style grants more competitive: Exploring, networking and building ideas’, BAM Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG webinar: ‘Turning Failures into Success with Sustainable Development Grants: A networking webinar series’ virtual event. 
  • Smith, S.M. (2024) Event Lead: ‘I am a research grant failure: Realities and lessons from the frontline’, BAM Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG webinar: ‘Turning Failures into Success with Sustainable Development Grants: A networking webinar series’, virtual event.
  • Smith, S.M. (2024) Keynote speaker: ‘The trials and tribulations of winning funding: The art of patience and embracing our failures’. BAM Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG webinar, TUIBS Research Conference, Teeside University. 
  • Smith, S.M. (2023) Workshop/Sprint Event Lead: ‘Embedding Impact on SDGS in Teaching - Design Sprint’. QAA/BAM Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG workshop, partnered with Liverpool John Moores University, University of Chester & Oxford Brookes. At Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK. 
  • Smith, S.M. (2023) Keynote Speaker: International Conference on Intelligent Engineering and Management (ICIEM) from 9th – 11th May 2023, Amity University, London, UK.
  • Smith, S.M. (2022) ‘Facing paradoxical realities in HRM: Understanding and engaging with Organizational Ambidexterity’. Keynote for OBBS 10 th HRM Research Methods Conference (virtual).
  • Smith, S.M. (2022) ‘Dynamic qualitative research: The impact of being different’. BAM Research Methodology SIG webinar: ‘Alternative research methods: untangling research rhetorics and publishing realities’, virtual event.
  • Smith, S.M. and Séraphin, H. (2021) 'Overtourism and Tourismphobia: Understanding and addressing paradoxical tensions in creating and maintaining Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)', at BAM2021 Conference in the Cloud, virtual conference.
  • Smith, S.M. (2021) 'The responsible management and leadership paradox: Using micro-moments to understand and explore our teaching practice'. Interactive Workshop at L&T Week, University of Winchester, Winchester, England.
  • Smith, S.M. (2020) 'Doctoral methodologies: Strategies for adapting to COVID-19'. BAM Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG workshop: 'Wellbeing in Business Research and Methodologies in Practice PhD Workshop', virtual event.
  • Smith, S.M. and Séraphin, H. (2020) 'Conceptualizing Overtourism around Paradox and Sustainable Development Goal 11', at BAM2020 Conference in the Cloud, virtual conference.
  • Smith, S.M. (2019) 'Overtourism: Theorising the Paradox'. BAM Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG symposium: 'Overtourism: Finding Sustainable Development Solutions and Tackling Paradox', University of Winchester, Winchester, England.
  • Smith, S.M. (2019) 'The responsible management and leadership paradox: An interactive workshop'. Professional Development Workshop (PDW) at the British Academy of Management Conference, Aston University, Birmingham, England.
  • Smith, S.M. (2019) 'The responsible management and leadership paradox: An interactive workshop'. BLCC Research Symposium: 'Responsible and Inclusive Leadership: Paradoxes and Possibilities', University of West of England, Bristol, England.
  • Smith, S.M., Perriman, A. and Trimm, A. (2018) 'The Responsible Management and Leadership Paradox: Applying the Conceptual Lens of Organizational Ambidexterity', BAM 2018, University of the West of England, Bristol, England.
  • Scott, T., Scott, P., Stokes, P., Moore, N., Smith, S.M. and Ward, T. (2015) 'Reconceptualising the Consumer Journey in the Digital Age – An Exploratory Study of the United Kingdom Retail Sector', at 8th Annual EuroMed Academy of Business Conference, Verona, Italy.
  • Smith, S.M. (2014) 'International students and their dissertations: Let's not put square pegs into round holes', at The 7th Annual EuroMed Academy of Business Conference, Kristiansand, Norway.
  • Smith, S.M. (2014) 'Signs and Wonders: Exploring the Effects and Impact of the Investors in People Logo and Symbols', at The 2014 AGRH conference, University of Chester, England.
  • Smith, S.M. (2013) 'Is there a different way to approach undergraduate dissertations with international students?', at HEA: Intercultural Business Communication: Bridging the Workplace and the Classroom conference, Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland.
  • Smith, S.M. (2012) 'Examining an innovative undergraduate dissertation approach: an international student perspective', at HEA: Journeys in Intercultural Understanding – Improving Internationalisation within Higher Education conference, UCLan, Preston, England.
  • Lee, A. and Smith, S. (2010) 'First Fail Forward', at HEA: Retention Convention, Leeds, England.
  • Smith, S.M. (2009) 'Challenging the assumptions surrounding the perceptual value of Investors in People', at Irish Academy of Management conference, Galway, Ireland.
  • Smith, S. (2008) 'The sustainability and relevance of Investors In People – trying not to judge the book by its cover', at British Academy of Management conference, Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, England.
  • Smith, S. (2008) 'Exploring the sustainable value of Investors In People', at Irish Academy of Management conference, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Smith, S. (2008) 'Investors In People – checking for the sell-by-date', at Lancashire Business School Postgraduate Colloquium, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England.
  • Smith, S. (2008) 'Investors In People – checking for the sell-by-date', at British Academy of Management HRM Specialist Interest Group conference, Kingston University, London, England.
  • Smith, S. (2007) 'Is Investors In People a Sustainable and Relevant Concept? A Case Study', at Irish Academy of Management conference, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  • Smith, S. (2007) 'Is Investors In People a Sustainable and Relevant Concept? A Case Study', at 3rd Annual Postgraduate Colloquium, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England.

Consultancy

  • 2024-2025 The Diversity Project Collaboratory. This is a year long project focusing on pushing EDI boundaries within the savings and investment industry in the UK.

Further details

Awards and Accolades:​​

  • Amity Global Academic Excellence Award (2023), 4th International Conference on Intelligent Engineering and Management (ICIEM 2023), Amity University (London).
  • Confidence Award (2022) shortlisted, Brookes People Awards, Oxford Brookes University.
  • Outstanding Lecturer – BLDT (2021) winner, Student and Staff Recognition Awards, University of Winchester.
  • Sustainability Advocate (2021) shortlisted, Student and Staff Recognition Awards, University of Winchester.
  • The Amity Excellence Award for an Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Education (2021), 6th Global Leadership Research Conference, Amity University.
  • Lecturer of the Year (2019) winner, Student and Staff Recognition Awards, University of Winchester.
  • Highly Commended Paper, Employee Relations (2014), for ‘Exploring the impact of Investors in People: A focus on training and development, job satisfaction, and awareness of the Standard’.
  • Best Reviewer Award - The 7th Annual EuroMed Academy of Business Conference (2014), Kristiansand, Norway.
  • Lecturer of the Year (2013) shortlisted, Golden Roses Awards, University of Central Lancashire.

Press, Publicity and Reviews