1st Edition

From Purpose to Impact The University and Business Partnership

Edited By Nicholas O'Regan Copyright 2025
428 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

428 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

428 Pages 21 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

To meet the challenge of closing the gap between academic research and industry practice, we need a step change in how the business school and the business scholar engages with business. This book presents best practice in the methods of broadening successful academic–business engagement on a major scale. It presents concrete recommendations for setting programmes, creating incentives and... Read more

Part I: The Changing University/Getting Impact on the Agenda  

1.     The New Priority for the New Academic Environment  

Andrew Jack  

2.     A Radical Notion: Make Business Schools Useful to Businesses  

George Feiger   

3.     Business Schools and Business in the UK: A Growing Success Story  

Peter McKiernan  

4.     Academics are from Pluto, Managers are from Mercury: Bringing Sense to the Management Science Versus Management Practice Debate  

Timothy M. Devinney  

5.     Research, Impact, and Institutional Actors: Where are the Leaders?  

Vadake K. Narayanan  

6.     Collaboration: Why Getting It Right is the Key to Academic Success  

Lorraine Skelton  

7.      ‘Nothing ill can dwell in such a temple’: Internal Partnering for External Success    

Kelly Farrell  

8.     Engagement as Strategy  

Tim Vorley  

9.     From Purpose to Impact: From Partnerships to Shaping Systems       

Carolin Plewa, Judith Helmer, Katrin Uude, Jodie Conduit, and Natalie Forde

10.  Not Just Academic: Strategies to Keep Rigorous Research Relevant    

Ahmad Beltagui and Michael A. Hitt  

Part II: The Impact University  

11.  The Responsible Research in Business and Management (RRBM) Community: Responsible Management Education and Impactful Research  

Howard Thomas  

12.  Third Space Innovators: Boundary Spanning for University–Industry Collaboration  

Anita Kocsis, Joann Cattlin, and Lisa M. Given  

13.  The Two Imperatives of Business School Impact  

Michel Kalika and Stephen Platt 

14.  Leveraging Academic Structures and Resources to Impact Non-Academic Organizations  

David R. Seibold  

15.  Innovative Pedagogical Strategies Through University–Firm Dynamics: Transforming Practices and Mindsets  

Carlos Restrepo-Rivillas, Alejandro Beltran-Duque, and Carlos José Bello-Pérez  

16.  The Sustainability Consortium as Action Research  

Kevin J. Dooley  

17.  Building Holistic, Integrated Partnerships for Broader Impact: Case Study  

Sandra Crocker  

18.  ENLIGHT: Towards an Impact-Driven University  

Glória Nunes Rodrigues, Igor Campillo, and Iñigo Puertas  

19.  How Can Business Schools Increase External Orientation and Business Connect Through Executive Management Education Programs?

Rajagopalan Jayaraman  

20.  Commercialization of Research: Managing the Transition from Academia to Business  

Einar Rasmussen  

21.  A Scorecard for Designing and Evaluating University Partnerships      

Chris J. Barton, Derrick M. Anderson, Leah R. Gerber, Candice Carr Kelman, and Martha Arízaga  

Part III: The Impact Academic  

22.  Becoming an Impact Academic  

Jane McKenzie  

23.  The Early Career Researcher: A Science and Innovation Perspective                       

Paul J. Woodfield, Erling Rasmussen, and Rafaela Costa Camoes Rabello  

24.  The Early Career Academic: Engaging with Business  

Rebecca Beech  

25.  Spanning Boundaries Through Intersectoral Mobility  

Jenny Bäckstrand and Malin Löfving  

26.  Publishing in Practitioner Journals  

Pamela Sharkey-Scott  

27.  Generating Applied Impact Through Executive Doctoral Programs in Business and Management  

John A. Parnell  

28.  Unleashing Organisational Potential  

Paul Jones and Keith Schofield  

29.  How High-Impact Academics Can Build Exceptional Academic Incubators by Leveraging Business Partnerships  

Victor Schiller  

30.  From Purpose to Impact: Time for a New Business School Model?  

Nicholas O’Regan  

Biography

Nicholas O’Regan is Professor in Strategy at Aston Business School. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and a Fellow of the British Academy of Management.

“In a world where humanity is at war with itself and its Home Planet, business education must evolve and consider its contribution to human society in very different ways. And I am not referring to tweaking the Capital Asset Pricing Model to account for the first ever downgrade of the US Government risk-free rate benchmark. As we move into a new Quantum World of unknown governance, Nicholas O’Regan’s seminal work shows just how a cutting-edge business school can re-invent its relevance and significance to modern human society. How far can business innovation and enterprise go to mitigate the debilitating short-sightedness of human leadership?”

Xavier R. Rolet, KBE, Chairman of Shore Capital Markets, Harvard Fellow, and former CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group

 “The contents of this book should interest all those concerned with economic development and organisational development in their cities and regions.”

James Timpson, OBE DL, Chief Executive, Timpson Group

“A much-needed look by a wide range of contributors, at how business school academia must radically change to engage with real practice, real companies and graduates who need to be work-ready. As a devotee of ‘what gets measured gets done’, I particularly welcome the focus on Implementation and Impact – what in business we call execution and KPIs.”

Leo QuinnGroup Chief Executive, Balfour Beatty

“Instead of resting on their laurels, this book stresses the need for change, reinvention and the professionalisation of the approach to business from our universities.”

Ann Francke, OBE, Chief Executive, Chartered Management Institute

“A fascinating book, justifying why universities getting closer to business makes sense for them as institutions, and as a springboard for the brightest minds to become commercial success stories. Each chapter a compelling read.”

Vis RaghavanCEO, Europe, Middle East & Africa, J.P. Morgan

“An engaging volume from respected academics with challenging ideas and practical advice for the future of, and need for, greater and more effective collaboration between business and academia.” 

Rupert Soames, OBE, Chair, Smith & Nephew plc

“A well-structured book with detailed chapters on building an academic engagement model with business to address the many challenges facing both business and universities. The various chapters are a compelling read.”

Martin McCourtNon Executive of Weber Inc, Chairman of COMPO and former CEO of Dyson

“There is a real need for business schools to change their approach if they are to remain in touch/relevant to those who operate in the business world.”

Sir Rod Aldridge, OBE, Chairman, Aldridge Foundation and founder/former executive Chairman, Capita PLC