PhD for Executives

Stephen McLaughlin is one of our PhD for Executives students. Read his profile below for impressions of the programme, and what life has been like Steven as a part time PhD student.

The PhD for Executives programme is offered by the Department of Management. To find out more about the programme, follow this link: PhD for Executives.
 
Stephen McLaughlin is a manager with IBM (UK) Ltd. Most recently his roles within IBM have been related to supply chain optimisation and performance management. He is currently completing a PhD, which looks at how complex organisations identify and manage inhibitors to performance related knowledge transfer.

My work as an Operations Manager for IBM inspired a desire to understand what impacts and shapes an organization’s ability to learn, create and share information and knowledge. I started to investigate existing theories surrounding knowledge transfer and organizational learning in complex, specifically supply chain, organizations. Through my initial results, IBM recognised the value of my research and recommended I pursue it further as part of a funded Executive PhD.
 
I have been able to apply new techniques and approaches to managing barriers that impact information and knowledge creation and sharing within the operational environment. By focusing on barriers to knowledge transfer, and driving changes to the process that focused on these barriers, significant end-to-end performance was realised.

The mix of PhD students within the Business School has proved valuable. The breath of experience, both academic and professional, of the students alone ensures a wide and varied view on most topics that might be up for discussion. I’ve also been impressed by the focus the School places in ensuring part-time/off-campus students are included in regular events and communications. I find the staff to be extremely helpful, and the other students open and receptive to discussing any aspect of research.

My research has allowed me to view organizational and operational problems from a fresh perspective. The PhD has provided me with many qualitative and quantitative techniques that allow me to view existing issues in a more objective manner. As a result, my organization has identified and implemented a management system that was used to drive significant performance improvements.