Sharon Jackson
Organisation Studies,
Cranfield School of Management
Qualifications
MSc through research - Leading, Learning and Change (2009)
Further and Adult Education Teachers Certificate (2000)
IoD Diploma in Company Direction (1995)
Background
Sharon worked 15 years in global commerce in the electronic component sector, in board level directorship and senior executive roles in transnational companies (TNCs) and small enterprises (SMEs). Experience in managing and leading business gave her a diverse set of business skills including international business development, implementation of global trading agreements, international business negotiation and conflict resolution. She left that industry in 2000 to pursue a career as an executive development teacher and consultant. She has developed experiential ‘Corporate Responsibility (CR) Leadership’ programmes in Europe, Australia and China. Sharon is currently setting up the ‘European Sustainability Academy’ (ESA) Crete, an ecologically constructed international centre for sustainable business learning programmes and research.
Her research in 2007-2009 revealed a contribution to theory and practice in terms of how individuals’ sensemaking processes can be incongruent with organisationally espoused CR intentions and a barrier to enactment.
Research Topic
‘What factors influence individuals’ sensemaking which results in them enacting their organisations’ sustainable business aspirations?’
Research Issue
The observed problem is that collective (organisational) intentions to embed CR or sustainability principles in to daily business activities are not often successful. It appears that individuals’ interpretation of the organisationally espoused collective sustainability commitment frequently results in behaviour of the organisation actors which is not congruent with the organisationally espoused intention.
Sector
Global ‘Electronic Consumer Products’ sector
Research Methods
Single case, action research approach. Data analysed through conversation analysis.
Theoretical Perspective
This research is conducted through the perspective of the interrelationship between Sensemaking theory (Karl Weick) and Organisational culture theory (Edgar Schein). The framing theoretical context is ecological sustainability.
Why I Chose Cranfield
Sharon chose to undertake a PhD at Cranfield to continue the research study which she started in 2007 through her MSc in Leading Learning and Change. Her choice of Cranfield was positively influenced by her desire to continue a research relationship with her MSc supervisor, Professor Donna Ladkin.