The Open University

Images of the Micheal Young Building home of the OU Business School

Prestigious appointment for Executive Dean of OU Business School

23 June 2016

Professor Rebecca Taylor, Executive Dean of The Open University Business School, has been appointed Vice-President (academic) of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). The EFMD is an international membership organisation with over 800 members from academia, business, public service and consultancy across 81 countries. They provide accreditation services (including EQUIS) that aim to raise […]

Business woman resting her head on her desk. Image credit: Thinkstock

Is the productivity drive hurting employers as well as employees?

23 June 2016

Productivity is supposedly at the heart of any successful enterprise. We are told that we are in a global race to grab our share of the 21st century marketplace. Countries, nations and even individuals all must constantly enhance their performance if they are going to survive, let alone prosper. It is not without its cost. […]

Britain for sale? OU academics contribute to foreign ownership debate

24 May 2016

Do ‘clever financing arrangements’ benefit UK citizens or the private sector? Two OU academics comment on a new report which looks at pros and cons of foreign investment in the UK. Dr Michael Pryke and Professor John Allen have contributed to a Smith Institute report, ‘Britain for Sale?’, released on 23rd May, which examines the […]

Man working on laptop, tablet and smartphone. Image credit: Thinkstock

Should the right to disconnect from work emails be law?

11 May 2016

Should the right to clock off from work emails out of hours become law? Should governments be responsible for regulating the right to disconnect? In France, President Francois Hollande’s Socialist Party is about to vote through a measure that, for the first time, will give employees the right to log off from work and enjoy, […]

Work life balance signpost. Image credit: Thinkstock

How do we manage work-life boundaries and whose responsibility is it?

6 May 2016

With digital tools and technologies making it all too easy for us to switch between home and work life with the touch of an app or the ping of an inbox, how do we manage the boundaries? And whose responsibility is it? Transferring from home to work life and back again was a longer process […]

Flexible business communication - woman calling phone. Image credit: Thinkstock

Digital Brain Switch – how digital technologies are impacting work-life boundaries

6 May 2016

Digital technologies – smartphones, tablets and social media – are changing our relationship with work. The traditional clock on at 9am, clock off at 5pm work pattern is disappearing as the internet and our ability to be connected to it 24/7 allows us to work whenever and wherever we want. Is this a good thing? […]

Star Wars Stormtroopers by Julian Fernandes via Unsplash

What can Star Wars teach us about leadership?

4 May 2016

It may have taken place in a galaxy far, far away, but in terms of leadership, there is much in Star Wars that we can learn from. The epic battles between the Jedi and the Empire have become part of the fabric of popular culture. But take a closer look behind the light sabres at […]

OU academics on the Panama Papers

13 April 2016

Panama Papers is the biggest data leak in history, shining a light on tropical tax havens and the world of offshore banking. Here, two Open University academics – one an expert in personal finance, the other in law – share their views… ‘Dynamic tension’ and reining in of the Duke of Westminster principle By Jonquil […]

Agressive job interview candidate. Image credit: Thinkstock

7 things NOT to do in a job interview

9 March 2016

They’re nerve-wracking and stressful but an interview could mean you’re one step away from that dream job – or at least a little closer to fulfilling your career ambitions. Student Services Manager (Careers) at The Open University, Lynne Johnson, explains what NOT to do in the interview room… 1) NEVER offer a limp handshake or slouch […]

Planning for extreme weather disruption

8 February 2016

Helen Roby, Research Fellow in The Open University Business School, is part of the Disruption research project which looks at how travel is affected by disruptive events such as extreme weather. Writing for HR Magazine, Helen says: “Headlines can paint a picture of the UK economy struggling with extreme weather conditions – businesses forced to close, employees […]

OU News

Category: Business and law