February 2008

Citation Counts: Are They Good Predictors of RAE Scores? A bibliometric analysis of RAE 2001

The question of how best to assess research performance is clearly of great concern. In December 2007, HEFCE launched a national consultation on the future of Research Assessment, proposing that a Research Excellence Framework replaces the current Research Assessment Exercise. Fundamentally the Research Excellence Framework involves a shift to metrics. Views on the effectiveness of metrics for assessing research are mixed, so in this report we seek to explore empirically the question of whether metrics based on citation counts are strongly correlated with peer review assessments of research quality. We use data from RAE 2001, covering all departments and all universities in the UK.

November 2007

Studying Evolution of Knowledge within Small and Medium -Sized Firms: A Systematic Review

The role of SMEs in the UK economy has attracted both significant research and significant policy support in recent years. Research has explored many different aspects of SMEs, ranging from the attributes of owner -managers to the wider economic contribution of this sector to the UK economy. One area which is achieving increasing recognition is the question of what kinds of knowledge are important to the performance of small firms. What has been missing has been a systematic effort to review and synthesize this previous work - this publication addresses the gap.

October 2007

Developing Photonics Clusters - Commonalitie, Contrasts and Contradictions

Regional agglomerations or clusters of specialized firms and other organizations in particular industries have been around for centuries and have been a subject of research for decades Obviously, this is true for traditional industries such as coal and steel, shoes, watch-making and machine-building. But although younger and still emerging high-tech clusters have already been intensively studied it is still quite unclear how clusters, in particular innovative high-tech clusters, develop – and are developed.

Photonics, which is the subject of this report, is a high-tech field that has recently received a lot of managerial and political attention and which is often considered the key technology for the 21st century. This AIM report pursuse a processual perspective on photonics clusters in different countries, giving the evolution of clusters and their intentional management equal attention.

August 2007

Innovation in Experiential Services - An Empirical View

This report examines innovation in experiential services. These are services where the focus is on the experience of the customer when interacting with the organisation, rather than just the functional benefits following from the products and services delivered. The report is based on a continuing research programme on experiential services at London Business School. In particular it draws on a recent case-based study of eight design agencies and consultancies and nine successful experiential service providers. The report addresses the question of how do experiential service providers innovate, in particular the content of innovation and the process of innovation including organisation for innovation. Studying innovation in experiential services facilitates wider reflection on the subject of service innovation. top^^

June 2007

Are consumers getting what they really want? Initial Findings from a Major AIM Survey of Consumer Satisfaction with their Local Selection of Graocery Stores.

This AIM report provides a summary of the initial findings of a two-year study that has investigated the perceptions and satisfaction of consumers with the local grocery shopping facilities they have available). The central question addressed in the study is the extent to which consumers are satisfied with their local selection of grocery stores. The field research was carried out in March and April 2007 and the initial findings presented at an open Workshop at the MIC Centre, London.

May 2007

The Future of Business School faculty

Business schools face significant challenges in terms of faculty recruitment, retention and development, with data suggesting that there are worrying shortfalls in terms of numbers of PhD students graduating and taking up faculty positions in UK business schools. Add to this concerns about the demographic profile of UK business school faculty. It is not surprising that the recruitment, retention and development of faculty are significant issues for business school deans.

The key question that this new report from AIM raises is a long term challenge - business school deans will have to make life attractive for future generations of academics, in an environment where there are so many competing demands for talent.

January 2007

Science and Technology in the UK: 2006 Census

Every year, the UK spends £21 billion in the creation of new knowledge - via the science system in universities, research institutes and companies. This investment forms part of an estimated £600 billion, which is spent by OECD countries around the world, involving some 3 million researchers. Not surprisingly, every country asks the same questions - what are we getting out of this investment? And is it enough?

To shed some light on the current situation in the UK this report provides a census of the UK's science and technology system. It draws on publicly available data to review the performance of the UK science and technology system, both in terms of the investments made in the system and the outputs it delivers. Inevitably the census provides a partial picture of the UK's science base. The available data offers some interesting insights into the relative performance of the UK. top^^

December 2006

The Organisation of Productivity: Re-thinking Skills and Work Organisation

Government policy emphasises five 'drivers' of productivity: competition, enterprise, innovation, investment and skills and each of these has been the subject of major programmes of reform. Despite this, UK productivity in terms of output per hour worked continues to lag the performance of other major economies.

This report outlines this 'productivity paradox' and addresses why UK productivity performance continues to disappoint despite major changes over the past twenty five years.

October 2006

UK Business Schools: Historical Contexts and Future Scenarios

Business Schools, both in the UK and internationally, face serious challenges as to their future role and legitimacy. Questions have been raised about the value of the MBA degree, and its role as a preparation for management. The growth of business schools as sites for knowledge production has also been challenged. While their research outputs has increased enormously, they have found it difficult to shrug off charges that management research lacks relevance and fails to impact on practice. These challenges to the business school as an institution have also emerged in a context of growing uncertainty about their economic viability. A period of unparalleled expansion in student numbers encouraged many universities to see their business schools as 'cash cows'. Greater uncertainty about demand may encourage a re-thinking of the role of business schools within the University.

The report is aimed at those directly involved in the future direction of UK business schools - particularly business schools deans and senior managers, their advisory boards and university vice-chancellors. But, it is also relevant to practitioners, policy-makers and stakeholder groups who are concerned that this major segment of UK high education makes the best possible contribution to improving management practice and developing the UK economy.

May 2006

Sustaining Manufacturing Improvement

This research in this report is built on the argument that deployment and sustainability are key aspects of improving manufacturing businesses. The research is based on eight case studies of companies that have used the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Lean production programme or intervention, delivered by the EEF South.

January 2006

Work Life Balance, Management Practices and Productivity

A collaborative report with the Anglo-German Foundation and Economic and Social Research Council about whether 'Anglo-Saxon' management practices generate higher productivity only at the expense of lousy work-life balance (WLB) for workers? top^^

December 2006

External Knowledge

A review of the literature addressing the role of external knowledge and expertise at key stages of business growth and development.

November 2005

Measuring and Explaining Management Practices Across Firms and Countries

A collaborative report with the Anglo-German Foundation and Economic and Social Research Council about management practices.

August 2005

Challenging Clusters - The Prospects and Pitfalls of Clustering for Innovation and Economic Development

AIM Research/Welsh Economic Research Unit Summary Report from the April 2005 Management Research Forum on 'Challenging Clusters - The Prospects and Pitfalls of Clustering for Innovation and Economic Development'.

August 2005

Experience and the Brand

A report written by Juan Pablo Valencia, based on field research by himself and Taryn Westberg under the direction of Professor Chris Voss is about the relationship between experience and brands. top^^

July 2005

The Role and Importance of Strategy Workshops

A Report by the AIM Research and the CMI on their key finds on strategy workshops and their effectiveness.

June 2005

Managing to Improve Public Service

A Report by the Advanced Institute of Management Research Public Service Fellows.

May 2005

Leadership for Innovation

A Summary Report from an AIM Research Management Forum in cooperation with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

November 2004

Offshoring of Business Services and it's impact on the UK Economy

A report published by AIM Research on trends in 'offshoring' of business services and its impact on the UK economy.

October 2004

How Motorsport Companies Collaborate and Share Knowledge

Joint report with the GMU and Cardiff University based on evidence from the UK and Italian motorsport industries.

April 2004

The Challenge of Business - University Collaboration: Context, Content and Process

AIM/SMI Summary Report from the April 2004 Management Research Forum on 'World Class Research at Scotland's Universities and Economic Impact in Scotland'. top^^

March 2004

Solving the Skills Gap

AIM/CIHE Summary Report from the October 2004 Management Research Forum on 'Solving the Skills Gap: A Contribution to the Debate'.

February 2004

Networking and Innovation in the UK

A Systematic Review of the Literature from the April 2003 Management Research Forum on 'Where do we go from here?

February 2004

Adoption of Promising Practice

A Systematic Review of the Literature from the April 2003 Management Research Forum on 'Where do we go from here?'

February 2004

How can firms be encouraged to create more value?

A Discussion and Review Paper from the April 2003 Management Research Forum on 'Where do we go from here?'

December 2003

The UK Productivity Gap and the Importance of the Service Sector

AIM Briefing Note by AIM Fellows Dr. Rachel Griffith, Professor Jonathan Haskel, Professor Mari Sako, and Rupert Harrison. top^^

June 2003

Post Porter: Where do we go from here?

A Report summarising the discussions from the Management Research Forum in April 2003