AMA - I'm a lecturer in social sciences - business

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Been working for 30 years. Ask me anything.
I'm in a Russell group. I'll try to answer.

High. This is led by govt. We have to recruit to pay for research which the govt only funds to 80%.

Students are working hard. But we do have pressure on our pass rates.

Parents have been fine in the main. One student took me to a complaint as the external failed her msc. The father accepted it in the end.

I ran two businesses. One retail. One legal and now am a landlord.

They aren’t less innovative. The difference in absolute innovation between. U.K., and both Europe and U.S. is down to vastly different investment levels.

The U.K. invests a mere $52bn in R&D compared to the US $780bn and the EU $1,194bn annually.

The U.K. manages to be statistically more innovative than the US and EU after adjusting for such different investment levels.

Question: why is business considered a social science?

We have done in the past. You have to deliver research or deliver teaching innovations. It's oressurised.

There's a lot of incredible research going on. And it's directly applicable to politics business and so much in the modern world.
It's such a shame we don't get to share it more widely. Academics have long predicted the problems of social media.

Befriend lecturers and professors. Apply for jobs on jobs ac uk. Look for post docs.

It uses a lot of mathematical modelling to predict outcomes. Measures as much as possible effects that are happening and tries to predict futures.

I am looking at doing an online MSc in Business Psychology, to further my career, and have a 1st class degree from a Russell Grp Uni.
Do you think studying such a degree from a Russell Grp Uni is worth paying more than double the fees from a lower ranking Uni?
Russell grp is selective and I have been offered a place.
Other Uni non selective just need previous degree.

Do you think a mid life career change into your line of work is viable?

There are three of us in our 40s mid-doctorate with similar business careers/ social science UG, researching in the overlap, but we were discussing this and none of us are at all sure how moving into academia FT or as a second string is. That probably says a lot about our university TBH, but I would be interested in your take.

Both of my children are studying social sciences at Russell Group Uni’s (Manchester and Durham) and both have had some great lecturers! I wish more people would study social sciences as they cover such key issues such as inequality in society.

Have a look at things like organisational theory, organisational behaviour, employment and training policy, etc.

Not the OP but a senior professor an RG university:

you’ll need a PhD nowadays. Unlikely to be appointed without one. You might get offered some teaching while you’re doing a PhD, but really, have a look at the academic job market in social science. It’s not as bad as in the Arts and Humanities but it’s pretty bad. The Tories did a pretty good job of trying to ruin a world leading HE system and it’ll take a lot of concentrated policy to revive it.

Depends on your current job. MBA,s can be amazing for networking. Depends if your current employers are RG too.

Yes it's definitely possible. It's a long slog. But if you work hard and have the brain capacity. Do it.

It's who you are friends with. Get work friendly with some amazing profs or lecturers. They will help you. Go to conferences.

Thanks.

Thank you for posting. Very interesting to read.

What value has your own research added to businesses, or is it too early to say? Has it helped to make businesses run more efficiently, save them time, money, or help with strategic planning, for example.

How can business leaders access your research other than subscribing to business focused journals? Does the university sponsor outreach, such as to Chambers of Commerce for example?

Our research has benefitted several businesses.
Often it justifies gut feel decisions that haven't as yet made profit. Or it helps to predict blind alleys early on. We can do split a/b testing.
So scenario 1 or 2. Which will consumers prefer. Thus be profitable.

Thank you. I am friends with a couple. One is retiring early and trying to warn me off it because she felt very marginalised and didn't like her job. The other one is just too far away from me (& also cites a toxic environment).
Not sure where I'd begin making friends with others?I do look at job advertisements, maybe I should go for ones I am not perfect for in the hope that someone will recognise my other qualities. I'm currently teaching for a college.

Do you focus on any environmental issues and possible solutions? E.g solar, wind, Hydropower?

What advice would you give to a first year student of Socioeconomics that feels like dropping out? They are at risk of failing an exam anyway but if they do scrape through, it could happen again in future years (Not UK).

Can you suggest any other easier courses or pathways that might use some of what they have learnt so far? Or do they just need a new Plan B?

What would you have studied if you hadn't studied Social sciences and business?
How useful is a Socioeconomics degree?
What impact does Industry 4.0 have on many options now?

Any advice welcome. Thanks in advance

AI is fantastic for us staff. I've created a lesson plan, a presentation to go with it, a handout and several worksheets in about 5 minutes