Dr Pauline Dibben
Reader in Employment Relations
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Pauline gained a BSc in Economic & Politics (1993) and an MSc in European Social Policy Analysis (1994) at the University of Bath, a PGCertHE in 2000, and a PhD in the area of Local Government Decision-making, Transport and Social Exclusion in 2003.
She now lectures in the HRM/OB division of the Management School, with particular interests in International Human Resource Studies and Industrial Relations.
Current Research
Pauline's recent research has been focused in the area of employment security, with two sub-themes: employment security and the role of the trade unions in emerging economies, and job security for those with health conditions.
Employment Security and the role of trade unions in emerging economies:
This research programme has considered different dimensions of work and employment and includes the development and analysis of large scale surveys in South Africa and Mozambique in addition to in-depth qualitative research.
Job security for those with health conditions:
Pauline continues to explore the dynamics of sickness absence and return to work, and the policies and practices surrounding this.
Research Grants and Consultancy
Pauline's research grants and consultancy include:
- Department of Work and Pensions. ‘Quantifying the effectiveness of interventions for people with common health conditions in enabling them to stay in or return to work’. £16,937. Awarded February 2011. (PI) Co-applicants were Geoffrey Wood, Rod Nicolson and Rachel O’Hara.
- Devolved Social Science Research Fund. ‘Employment security in South Africa and Mozambique’. £2,298
- EPSRC Geographical Research Grant. 'Transport, social inclusion and sustainability in South Africa and Mozambique: promoting trade and local economic development'. £2,500. Awarded March 2005
- Health and Safety Executive research contract. Awarded 2003. 'Job Retention and Vocational Rehabilitation'. £50,000 (with Professor Phil James, Middlesex University and Ian Cunningham University of Strathclyde).
Teaching
Pauline´s teaching is strongly research led. She currently runs two modules at postgraduate level: Industrial Relations and International Human Resource Studies:
- MGT670 International Human Resource Studies
- MGT659 Industrial Relations
Through her teaching style, Pauline aims to challenge students to think critically and to consider employment practices within both advanced and emerging economies. She encourages critical thinking through the use of case studies and student-led debates.
In addition to her teaching roles, Pauline is the Director of the MSc in Human Resource Management, which is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. This programme encourages students to investigate and interrogate various aspect of HR practice, considering HR in its strategic, organisational and financial contexts. Pauline is also a personal tutor on the MSc HRM.
Research Supervision
Pauline is interested in supervising PhD students in the area of international or comparative employment relations in emerging economies or in the area of disability and job retention.
Selected Recent Publications
Dibben, P. and Williams, C.C (2011) `Varieties of Capitalism and Employment Relations: Informally Dominated Market Economies´, Industrial Relations (in print).
Dibben, P., Wood, G., Le, H. and Williams, C.C. (2011) `MNCs in Central and Southern Europe and the former Soviet Union: investment decisions and the regulation of employment´. Human Resource Management Journal (in print).
Dibben, P. and Nadin, S. (2011) `Community Unionism in Africa: the case of Mozambique´, Industrial Relations/ Relations Industrielles, 66, 1, 54-73
Dibben, P. (2010) `Union change, development and renewal in emerging economies: the case of Mozambique´, Work, Employment and Society, 24, 3, 468-486
Wood, G., Dibben, P., Stride, C. and Webster, E. (2010) `HRM in Mozambique: homogenization, path dependence or segmented business system?´ Journal of World Business, 46, 1, 31-41
Wood, G. and Dibben, P. (2008) `The Challenges Facing the South African Labour Movement: Mobilization of Diverse Constituencies in a Changing Political and Economic Context´, Industrial Relations/ Relations Industrielles, 63, 4, 671-693
James, P., Cunningham, I. and Dibben, P. (2006) `Job Retention and Return to Work of Ill and Injured Workers: Towards an Understanding of the Organisational Dynamics´. Employee Relations, 28, 3, 290-303.
Dibben, P. (2006) `The "Socially Excluded" and Local Transport Decision-making: Voice and Responsiveness in a Marketised Environment´, Public Administration, 84, 3, 655-672.