Dr Tim Vorley
Lecturer in Entrepreneurship
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An economic geographer by background, although the focus of Tim´s work has always been in the area of entrepreneurship, innovation and technology transfer. His research is particularly concerned with the organisational dynamics of entrepreneurialism, and how this relates to the wider institutional environment and public policy. Prior to joining the Management School in September 2010, Tim formerly lectured Economic Geography at the University of Cambridge (2007-2010) and worked as a Research Fellow at the Said Business School, University of Oxford (2006-2007). Also during 2010 he was a visiting researcher at the Department of Business Innovation and Skills during the Comprehensive Spending Review, during which time he became interested in the challenges of evidence based policy relevant research.
Research Interests
Tim is part of the Centre for Regional Economic and Enterprise Development (CREED) and his primary research interests are in entrepreneurship, enterprise and regional economies.
Other interests are: Intrapreneurship, Multinational Enterprises, Industry Clusters, EU Regional Policy and Governance, Regional Innovation Systems, Industrial Competitiveness, Knowledge Economy; Public Policy Technology Transfer and SMEs. Tim is interested to hear from potential PhD candidates in any of these areas.
See more about Tim's research projects and funding here.
Teaching
Dr Tim Vorley is committed to developing his teaching through research, with student learning based upon cutting edge research. His approach toward teaching is to facilitate independent learning by empowering students to engage with the topics that he teaches. He believes in theoretically and conceptually led learning that has a clear empirical focus that is accessible and relevant to students.
Much of Tim´s teaching is delivered through lectures for large groups, although he seeks to engage students as active learners wherever possible through tutorial groups and individual supervision. Also by employing different forms of peer learning and assessment he aims to promote a range of transferable skills through his teaching. Tim´s primary objective is to inspire and enthuse students about the subjects that he researchers through his teaching.
His specialist teaching is in the fields of entrepreneurship (theory, policy and practice), regional economies, and European business primarily at postgraduate level, and common to all that Tim teaches is the importance of developing an interdisciplinary perspective. He is currently leading the development of a new MSc in Entrepreneurship which will be launched in the academic year 2012/13, and provide a cutting course focusing on theory and practice of entrepreneurship.
Currently he is convening two MSc modules:
- MGT6104 – European Business
This module introduces the main features of European economic integration most relevant to business, including the Single Currency. It sets out the main characteristics of the different national economic systems of the main countries of Europe – Germany, Britain, France and Italy. It explains the challenges the ‘transition’ (ex-communist) economies of Central and Eastern Europe have faced, and the way these economies are changing. It explores how European businesses are responding to the threats and opportunities of emergent economies in China, India and Russia. - MGT696 – Creating Entrepreneurial Ventures
This module seeks to provide students with an introduction to creating entrepreneurial ventures from the perspective of the entrepreneur with an emphasis on the theory and practice of venture planning. Using the development of a business plan as the structure of the module, each session considers a key feature, including opportunity recognition, human resource management, marketing, finance, and management/leadership. By drawing together theories and practice relating to aspects of venture creation this elective module seeks to examine some of the myths that surround entrepreneurial planning.
In addition to this teaching Tim supervises a wide range of dissertation topics and tutors on MGT682 Research Methods. He is also the Management School coordinator for the Making Ideas Happen (MIH) modules offered through University of Sheffield Enterprise.
Impact and Engagement
Along with Dr Peter Rodgers, Tim is working with Business & Education South Yorkshire to host an outreach event focusing on developing entrepreneurial skills called `Who Wants to be an Entrepreneur?´ Through his work Tim has been co-hosted a stakeholder forum under project resilience which involved the Yorkshire Forward, Yorkshire Cities, Ekosgen, Barnsley MBC, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield City Region LEP, CFE, and the Local Government Information Unit. With Peter Rodgers Tim is also working on a major cross faculty internationalisation project with Russian partner universities.
Publications [since 2010]
Vorley T, Mould O and Courtney R (2012) My Networking is Notworking, Economic Geography (Forthcoming)
Nelles J and Vorley T (2011) Entrepreneurial Architecture: A blueprint for Entrepreneurial Universities, Canadian Journal of Administrative Science, (Forthcoming)
Vorley T and Nelles J (2010) Innovation Policy as Industrial Policy: Some Lessons from Hamburg's Regional Innovation System, Local Economy, 25 (8) 631 - 649
Vorley T and Nelles J (2010) Constructing an Entrepreneurial Architecture: An Emergent Framework for Studying the Contemporary University beyond the Entrepreneurial Turn, Innovative Higher Education, 35 (3) 161-176
Vorley T and Nelles J (2010) Gone Corporate? The Changing Face of Entrepreneurship in Contemporary Universities, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing (IJEV), 2 (2) 201 – 216
Vorley T and Nelles J (2010) Entrepreneurial by design: theorizing the Entrepreneurial transformation of contemporary universities, Industry & Higher Education, 24 (3) 157–164
Vorley T and Nelles J (2010) From Policy to Practice: Engaging and Embedding the Third Mission in Contemporary Universities International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 30 (7/8) 341-353
Other Activities
In addition to his teaching and research activities Tim has several administrative duties, including:
- Management School Coordinator and RT1 Track Leader with the South East European Research Centre (SEERC).
- International Faculty and City College Liasion for Management.
- Sub-Group of the Quality and Scrutiny Committee for International Collaborations.
- Personal Tutor.