Professor Geoffrey Wood, MA, PhD
Professor in Human Resource Management
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Geoffrey Wood is Professor in HRM, in the School of Management at the University of Sheffield, and Associate Dean of the School. Previously, he was Professor and Director of Research at Middlesex University Business School, and, before that, taught at Rhodes University, South Africa (where he attained the rank of Associate Professor) and Coventry University, Coventry, UK (where he attained the rank of Reader). He has also held visiting fellowships at Cranfield University, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand), and the American University in Cairo, Cornell University and Rhodes University. He currently is Honorary Professor of the University of the Witwatersrand, and Visiting Professor at Nelson Mandela University, both in South Africa. Geoffrey Wood has served as Commissioned Researcher for the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He has authored/co-authored/edited seven books, and over one hundred articles in peer-reviewed journals (including journals such as Work and Occupations, Work Employment and Society, Organization Studies, Human Relations, British Journal of Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management (US), etc.). He has had numerous research grants from funding councils, government departments (e.g. US Department of Labour), charities (e.g. Nuffield Foundation) and the labour movement (e.g. the ITF).
Research interests
Geoff’s research interests centre on the relationship between institutional setting, corporate governance, firm finance, and firm level work and employment relations. Whilst much of the contemporary institutional literature draws distinctions between national contexts based on stylized ideal types, macro-economic trends and/or limited panels of case studies, his work brings to bear systematic comparative firm level evidence. At a broader theoretical level, his work encompasses explorations of the bounded nature of internal diversity within national capitalist archetypes, and, more recently, institutional crisis and change. In his recent work, he has linked broader systemic crises with energy transitions, and the extent to which the latter favours owners of more fungible assets.
Keynotes and Invited Seminars
Geoffrey Wood regularly presents keynote speeches and seminars at academic conferences and leading universities worldwide. A podcast of a recent talk can be downloaded at:
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/bbs/research/research-centres/ceibiem/news-and-events/news/ne_131504
Free Downloads of Recent Papers
Lane, C. and Wood, G. 2009. “Diversity in Capitalism and Capitalist Diversity”, Economy and Society, 38, 4: 531-551.
http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/explore/HighlyCited-Sociology.pdf
Brewster, C., Goergen, M. and Wood, G. "Corporate Governance Regimes, Investments in Human Capital and Economic Growth"
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1016363
Teaching
Geoffrey Wood’s current teaching portfolio includes courses on comparative HRM, organizational behaviour and industrial relations. He has also lectured on a wide range of other topics across the broad area of management studies. His recent teaching activities have contributed to two major textbooks:
- Dibben, K., Klerck, G., and Wood, G. 2011. Employment Relations: A Critical and International Approach. London: CIPD.
- Collings, D. and Wood, G. (eds.). 2009. Human Resource Management: A Critical Approach. London: Routledge.
His research activity provides the basis for the generation of case studies, and other relevant classroom activities, as well as, of course, topical examples, presented throughout his lectures.
He is always interested in hearing from potential PhD students with an interest in contemporary institutionalist theories and national variations in managerial practices.
Calls for Papers
Geoffrey Wood regularly guest edits special issues of leading journals (most recently Human Resource Management (US/Wiley), European Journal of European Journal of Industrial Relations, and Industrial Relations (Berkeley).. A call for papers for a new special issue on Emerging market MNCs in Africa in the International Journal of Human Resource Management is also available.
Recent Publications
Recent Journal Articles
The following publications reflect examples of my most recent work.
Geoffrey Wood (with Richard Croucher, Mick Brookes and Chris Brewster). 2010. “Context, Strategy and Financial Participation: A Comparative Analysis”, Human Relations, 63: 835 - 855.
Geoffrey Wood (Mike Wright) 2010. "Private Equity and Human Resource Management: An Emerging Agenda", Human Relations, 63, 9: 1279-1296.
Geoffrey Wood (with Sakhela Buhlungu and Mick Brookes). 2008. “Trade Unions and Democracy in South Africa: Union Organizational Challenges and Solidarities in a Time of Transformation”, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 46, 3: 439-468.
Geoffrey Wood (with Chris Brewster and Mick Brookes). 2008. “Similarity, Isomorphism or Duality? Recent Survey Evidence on the HRM Policies of MNCs”, British Journal of Management, 19, 4: 320-342
Geoffrey Wood (with Mike Wright). 2011. “Wayward Agents, Dominant Elite, or Reflection of Internal Diversity?”, Business History , 52, 7: 1048-1067.
Recent Books
| Geoffrey Wood (with Christel Lane). Capitalist Diversity and Diversity within Capitalism. London: Routledge. | |
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Geoffrey Wood (with Pauline Dibben and Gilton Klerck). 2011. Employment Relations: A Critical and International Approach. London: CIPD. |
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Geoffrey Wood (with Kamel Mellahi and Kevin Morrell). 2010. The Ethical Business: Challenges and Controversies - Second Edition. London: Palgrave. |
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Collings, D.G. and Wood, G. (eds.) 2009. Human Resource Management: A Critical Approach. London: Routledge |
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Dibben, P., James, P., Roper, I and, Wood, G. (eds.). 2007. Modernising Work in Public Services. London: Palgrave. |
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Wood, G. and Brewster, C. (eds.). 2007. Industrial Relations in Africa. London: Palgrave. |
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Wood, G. and James, P. (eds.). 2006. Institutions, Production and Working Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press |
