About the Project
Faculty: Business & Law
Department: Business & Management
Project Description:
An exciting and ground-breaking project to study the Quaker Business Method in contemporary, secular organisations (private, public and third sector).
Quakers dominated the industrial landscape from the Industrial Revolution to the Second World War in the belief that successful business practice, based on Quaker spirituality, was a mechanism to move communities out of poverty. Their heritage in still found today in sectors as diverse as chocolate and banking. Alongside their reputation for a commitment to high standards of ethical practice, Quaker-owned businesses enacted a very different method for conducting meetings (and hence ‘decisions’). The Quaker Business Method is based upon the ‘sense’ and unity of the decision (not by voting), silence and reflection.
While there is a large research community in the area of group decision-making, little is known about how contemporary businesses might enact the Quaker Business Method. How night participants ‘sense’ unity? How is conflict managed? What role does silence play? What if there is no religious belief? Is the outcome a ‘better’ decision? The project aims to illuminate the extent of transferability of QBM to secular organisations? Are there elements of the Quaker Business Method that may be helpful to secular organisations?
The project is envisioned as a qualitative study of Quakers in the UK and contributes to the Newcastle Business School signature research theme of Responsible Business.
Quakers and non-Quakers are invited to express an interest.
Eligibility and How to Apply:
Please note eligibility requirement:
• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/
Please ensure you quote the advert reference above on your application form.
Start Date: 2 October 2017
Northumbria University is an equal opportunities provider and in welcoming applications for studentships from all sectors of the community we strongly encourage applications from women and under-represented groups.
References
Burton, N, (forthcoming, 2017), The Quaker Business Method, Past, Present & Future, in Dandelion, B and Angell, S (Eds), Quakers, Business & Technology, Friends Association in Higher Education, United States.
Muers, R and Burton (2017, pending), N. Practice Without Faith? Religious Decision-Making in Secular Contexts: The Case of Quaker Business Method, under review, Philosophy and Management, God/god and Management Special Issue.
Brigham, M, Burton, N & Kavanagh, D, (2017, forthcoming), Quakers: a forgotten model of good governance, to be presented at European Group of Organisation Studies, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 6-8, 2017
Burton, N & Myers, J, (2017, forthcoming). Lessons from the Quakers: a contemporary approach to multi-stakeholder business practice, to be presented at The International Association of Management, Spirituality & Religion conference, Arkansas, United States, May 18-20, 2017
Burton, N & Koning, J, Constructing a Spiritual Research Method in Management and Organisation Research: the case of the Quakers, to be presented at The International Association of Management, Spirituality & Religion conference, Arkansas, United States, May 18-20, 2017
Burton, N & Hope, A. (2016). Rethinking business models: lessons from the Quaker approach to responsible business, presented at The European Business Ethics Network conference, Nottingham.
Burton, N, (2016). The Quaker business method: past, present & future, presented at the Friends Association in Higher Education/Quaker Studies Research Association conference, Birmingham.
Burton, N (2016), The Friends; decision-making process: a hidden gem, Article for The Kingdom at Work Project, issue 8.
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