New WBS research unit applies cross-border and inter-disciplinary approach
Features28 April 2010
A new web page has recently appeared on the WBS website, profiling the activities of the International Policy & Technology Research Unit (IPTRU).
The IPTRU focuses on the intersection between policy-making and technological innovation. Its Director is Professor Wendy Currie, and its Director of Corporate Relations is Dr David Finnegan, both of Warwick Business School. The IPTRU carries out research, teaching and consultancy on a cross-border and inter-disciplinary basis. This is a departure from the 'silos' currently operating in many business and management schools.
Wendy Currie explains further, "The relationship between policy makers and technology is imperative as research has shown that while policy-makers often favour large scale IT projects over de-centralised decision-making, the result is often poor benefits realisation and high cost. Conversely, devolved decision making often results in fragmentation and lack of interoperability. With international governments now spending billions on IT for eGovernment and eHealth, the IPTRU brings together policy-makers, industry partners, not-for-profit organisations, and other relevant stakeholders, to strengthen the link between developing successful policies for innovation across industrial and public sectors."
As well as breaking through subject silos and geographical borders, IPTRU also refreshingly brings together academics, students, and corporate practitioners. Students are actively encouraged to participate in the research process. Doctoral and masters level students work on a range of projects, including eHealth policy, strategy and implementation, information and communications technology transformation, cross-national comparisons of healthcare policy and technology innovation, eGovernment, regulation, compliance and governance in financial services, and foreign direct investment and business development of software services in China. Student internships have been arranged with many of the organisations listed below, with several students being offered employment, for example, recent work with Deloitte reported on WBS news pages here.
The range of private and not-for-profit organisations working with IPTRU include Microsoft, Barclays Capital, Mouchel, Deloitte, Charles River Development, the Compliance Institute, 7 Layer, IBM, government ministers and political agencies, the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine (Medical Charity), and the Cardiovascular Research Trust.
David Finnegan gives the rationale of how IPTRU works, "We combine theory with practice and are interested to develop and promote 'applied' research which can relate robust academic theory to real life situations. IPTRU has expertise in IT policy, regulation, compliance and audit, benefits realisation and risk assessment, eBusiness models, policy and technology conceptual models, frameworks and key performance indicators for evaluating policy and technology outcomes."
Wendy Currie explains, "One of our current projects is on eHealth, which is part of a large scale research programme led by Microsoft and a coalition of partners including Accenture, Philips, GE and COCIR, and co-ordinated by the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA.
"We also work closely with the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine (FPM), a ninety-year-old medical charity, with the aim of educating medical professionals".
The FPM has a successful journal, The Postgraduate Medical Journal, published by BMJ Group. Professor Currie is Honorary Treasurer of the FPM.
More details and information on the activities of IPTRU can be found on their web profile, including the webinar on the EU eHealth landscape, and an interview with Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Chief Research and Strategy Officer, where he explains his vision of cloud computing.
Wendy Currie concludes, "Our philosophy for the IPTRU reflects the current trend to develop high-profile, cutting-edge and relevant academic research which brings together diverse disciplines and international academic and practitioner communities."
For further information, please contact Wendy Currie or David Finnegan.
The IPTRU focuses on the intersection between policy-making and technological innovation. Its Director is Professor Wendy Currie, and its Director of Corporate Relations is Dr David Finnegan, both of Warwick Business School. The IPTRU carries out research, teaching and consultancy on a cross-border and inter-disciplinary basis. This is a departure from the 'silos' currently operating in many business and management schools.
Wendy Currie explains further, "The relationship between policy makers and technology is imperative as research has shown that while policy-makers often favour large scale IT projects over de-centralised decision-making, the result is often poor benefits realisation and high cost. Conversely, devolved decision making often results in fragmentation and lack of interoperability. With international governments now spending billions on IT for eGovernment and eHealth, the IPTRU brings together policy-makers, industry partners, not-for-profit organisations, and other relevant stakeholders, to strengthen the link between developing successful policies for innovation across industrial and public sectors."As well as breaking through subject silos and geographical borders, IPTRU also refreshingly brings together academics, students, and corporate practitioners. Students are actively encouraged to participate in the research process. Doctoral and masters level students work on a range of projects, including eHealth policy, strategy and implementation, information and communications technology transformation, cross-national comparisons of healthcare policy and technology innovation, eGovernment, regulation, compliance and governance in financial services, and foreign direct investment and business development of software services in China. Student internships have been arranged with many of the organisations listed below, with several students being offered employment, for example, recent work with Deloitte reported on WBS news pages here.
The range of private and not-for-profit organisations working with IPTRU include Microsoft, Barclays Capital, Mouchel, Deloitte, Charles River Development, the Compliance Institute, 7 Layer, IBM, government ministers and political agencies, the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine (Medical Charity), and the Cardiovascular Research Trust.
David Finnegan gives the rationale of how IPTRU works, "We combine theory with practice and are interested to develop and promote 'applied' research which can relate robust academic theory to real life situations. IPTRU has expertise in IT policy, regulation, compliance and audit, benefits realisation and risk assessment, eBusiness models, policy and technology conceptual models, frameworks and key performance indicators for evaluating policy and technology outcomes." Wendy Currie explains, "One of our current projects is on eHealth, which is part of a large scale research programme led by Microsoft and a coalition of partners including Accenture, Philips, GE and COCIR, and co-ordinated by the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA.
"We also work closely with the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine (FPM), a ninety-year-old medical charity, with the aim of educating medical professionals".
The FPM has a successful journal, The Postgraduate Medical Journal, published by BMJ Group. Professor Currie is Honorary Treasurer of the FPM.
More details and information on the activities of IPTRU can be found on their web profile, including the webinar on the EU eHealth landscape, and an interview with Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Chief Research and Strategy Officer, where he explains his vision of cloud computing.
Wendy Currie concludes, "Our philosophy for the IPTRU reflects the current trend to develop high-profile, cutting-edge and relevant academic research which brings together diverse disciplines and international academic and practitioner communities."
For further information, please contact Wendy Currie or David Finnegan.