Knowledge at work
Research and consultancy
The centre generates research and knowledge relevant to industry and enterprise in India and the UK, building on the Business School's expertise in applied research and knowledge management. Its work on Indo-UK business practices builds on the university's existing research into outsourcing of information technology and business services, the development of markets in financial services and the management of cultural diversity.
The centre also works closely with researchers across the university to address sector-specific priorities, for example with the Enterprise, Trade and Food Management Group in the Natural Resources Institute; the Centre for Entrepreneurship in the area of enterprise development, innovation and creativity; and the Electronics Manufacturing Engineering Research Group in the School of Engineering. The overarching aim of the research activities at the centre is to produce high-quality applied research that is of intrinsic value to companies.
A key function will be to share and disseminate this body of knowledge. Activities to this end will include publishing in international business, management and information technology journals; consultancy; seminars for the business community; exchange of staff and students with partner colleges in India; visiting CEOs; and short professional courses based on industry need.
Consultancy
The Centre for Indian Business has extensive partnerships and networks in India that allow it to develop high quality bespoke market intelligence and research reports. Examples of studies already undertaken are: the key institutions and companies in biotechnology; architecture and construction and maritime policy areas.
Some examples of our research and knowledge generation activities
Shaping Higher Education for International Practice – spaces for knowledge creation, learning and social interaction?
The University of Greenwich, School of Architecture, Design & Construction and BPR Architects and our Indian partners are organising a forum in UK and India looking at how models of university spaces are developing and how they adapt and should adapt to their cultural and local contexts. The workshops will bring together policy makers; planners and developers from practitioner and academic perspectives to discuss contemporary approaches to planning higher education spaces. Case studies will look at the development of Bombay University in India; Middlesex University in UK and the new development at Greenwich University.
Could India lead global management education? Business research capacity and networks in India
The Centre for Indian Business is partnering with Emerald Group Publishing; IMT Ghaziabad, and FICCI to map the development of management education research and publication in India. There is tremendous scope for Indian management education to play a greater role both at home and internationally. This study will look at ways that the quantity and quality of management education research can be increased in India as well as its impact on the industry and economy it serves.
Moving beyond access: widening participation through developing inclusive academic practice in Higher Education
Bringing together expertise and research experience from the domains of academic literacies, in the UK and in India, this research study aims to address specific issues associated with academic support provision in contemporary higher education contexts where diversity is the norm. Case studies from Delhi University and Greenwich University will provide insights into exploring and clarifying the broader issues that currently need to be addressed in higher education pedagogy and policy. This project is being developed through a collaborative research partnership between Greenwich University and Delhi University.Microfinance Leverhulme Research Project
The Leverhulme-funded research entitled “Optimising the Dual Goals of Microfinance: A social network analysis and simulation” aims at studying how microfinance institutions in developing countries can improve their provision in order to help reduce poverty and attain financial sustainability. Led by Dr Ana Marr, from the Business School, a group of researchers from the University of Greenwich is working in partnership with institutions in India, Peru and Tanzania. Tamul Nadu is the focal region in India, where Self-Help Groups of women from poor communities are being assessed in order to value their contribution to social development and the alleviation of poverty in the region.
See also: http://cimr.gre.ac.uk/
Entrepreneurship and community networks in Indian tourism
The aim of this research is to analyse the impacts of and enhance understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation at a community level, and within the context of the tourism sector. This research is being carried out by Dr Jithendran Kokkranikal, (Department of Marketing, Events and Tourism) in the southern Indian state of Kerala, which has emerged as a major tourist destination in the region through the pioneering product development such as houseboats by indigenous entrepreneurs. The study involves an in-depth exploration of the contribution of entrepreneurial innovation in tourism and economic development at the community level, focusing on the consequent formal and informal indigenous business networks, and the challenges and issues there in.