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Douglas Renqick

Douglas Renwick

Associate Professor

Nottingham Business School

Role

Dr. Douglas W.S. Renwick, BA Hons, MSc Econ. (London School of Economics), PhD (University of Sheffield), Fellow Advance HE, Chartered Fellow FCIPD, is Associate Professor of Sustainable Work in the Human Resource Management (HRM) Department at Nottingham Business School (NBS). He is Senior Fellow at Rennes Business School, France, EU, having previously been Visiting Professor at WU Vienna in Austria, EU. Doug provides support to the line manager of the HRM Department by observing the teaching of HRM colleagues and in his leadership role as the academic HRM Department Research Co-ordinator (DRC). As DRC, Doug coordinates the individual pathways review process for over 50 academic HRM colleagues, advising and guiding them on all aspects of the research process, including: journal publications, funding applications, impact case production, doctoral supervisions and supranational policy influence. He represents the HRM department at the School-wide Research Innovation Committee (RIC), where he undertakes monthly HRM research reporting to the Associate Dean for Research on the Research Excellence Framework.

Doug has supervised over 150 Undergraduate, Masters, MBA, Executive MBA, DBA and PhD student theses to completion, has been a Fellow of Advance HE since 2007 and is a fully qualified teacher with over 27 years' experience. Dr. Renwick attained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Distinction grade, and was nominated for the Inspirational Teacher Award at Sheffield Business School. He is module leader for the Business Research Project, which strategically seeks to identify Masters-level scholars suitable for further study at PhD and DBA level. Doug is a research mentor to several rising and aspiring Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in HRM and environmental sustainability. Doug's teaching at NBS primarily involves HRM and Management topics, and those linked to building sustainable work to both undergraduate and postgraduate audiences, including teaching on the NBS flagship Masters in Management module which is one of NTU's largest postgraduate classes.

Research

Doug shows research leadership in directing his own research agenda in sustainable work, green jobs, decent work and green HRM, a concept he coined with others in 2005, and in sustainable workforces, a concept he coined in 2018. His most recent global research focuses on factors which support decent, green jobs. In the past he has published on the HRM hot topics of involving line managers in HRM, employee well-being and expatriate management, which he continues to research. Dr. Renwick has published over 100 works (journal articles, books, edited collections, chapters, cases, conferences and miscellanea), and his research on the topics of HRM, line managers and green HRM has been published in over 35 esteemed double and triple-blind peer reviewed journal outlets. Green HRM related works, which Doug has helped stimulate as a founder and research leader, now total nearly 3.5 million outputs worldwide (Memon, Ting, Ringle, Cheah & Muenjohn, 2022). Indeed, esteemed authors state that "it is important to note that the current period of growth was only made possible by the seminal paper by Renwick et al., (2013)" (Paille, 2022). Dr. Renwick's influential journal article on green HRM has been cited over 2,000 times, and he is included in the Top 2% of Global Scientists using Scopus data by Elsevier (a.k.a. the Stanford list). His key works are included in regular as well as special issues of the:

  • Annals of Operations Research (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 4.854);
  • Business Strategy and the Environment (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor, 10.801 Ranked #16/226 in Management, #19/155 in Business and #7/127 in Environmental Studies on Journal Citation Reports (JCR);
  • British Journal of Management (ABDC grade A, CABS 4, Impact Factor 6.567, Ranked #60/152 in Business and #88/226 Management on JCR);
  • European Management Review (ABDC grade C, CABS 3, Impact Factor  3.000, Ranked #165/228 in Management on JCR);
  • Industrial Relations Journal (ABDC grade A, CABS 3);
  • International Journal of Management Reviews (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 13.419, Ranked #28/155 in Business and #31/228 in Management on JCR);
  • Journal of Business Research (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 7.55, Ranked #29/152 in Business on JCR);
  • Journal of Environmental Management (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 6.789);
  • Organization & Environment (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 5.299, Ranked #30/127 in Environment Studies on 2-year JCR and #52/226 in Management on 5-year JCR, plus #12/213 in OB/HRM and #23/228 in General Environmental Science on Scopus Cite Score);
  • The International Journal of Human Resource Management (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 5.546, Ranked #87/226 in Management on JCR).

Doug has won numerous honours, awards and prizes, including: best paper (twice), top downloaded article (twice), citation of excellence, a UK ESRC scholarship and recognition for one of the most downloaded HRM case studies with 8,596 downloads. His green HRM research is recognised in the sustainable HRM field as having: a predominant focus for the top 20 most highly-cited authors, the leading conceptual foci, the second highest number of Scopus documents, and being ranked number one in the 20 most highly-cited and overlapping documents with greatest influence (Source: Sustainability, 2019). His green HRM work was viewed by The International Journal of Human Resource Management (ABDC grade A & CABS 3) in 2020 as: number 4 of 11 clusters of research hotspots, an area of strong research interest that will matter to the HR community in the future, and one where his own research addresses the fundamental human challenge of climate change.

As of 15th January 2024, Dr. Renwick's:

  • lead-author articles on green HRM in: International Journal of Management Reviews has over 2,221 citations on Google Scholar and over 47,312 reads on ResearchGate; the The International Journal of Human Resource Management has over 3,009 reads on ResearchGate; and University of Sheffield Management School White Paper Discussion Series has over 3,646 reads on ResearchGate.
  • overall citation count is over 6,559 on Google Scholar, including seven journal articles with over 100 citations each and works which include over 5,477 mentions on Academia.edu.
  • solo-authored articles and chapters on line managers and HRM have over 7,083 and 42,058 reads on ResearchGate, his solo-authored article on HR managers and employee well-being has over 9,166 reads, and his edited (2020) book on green HRM has over 4,504 reads on ResearchGate.
  • body of research work is one that others regularly interact with, as evidenced in a Research Interest (RI) score of 3,231 weekly reads, recommendations and citations (excluding self-citations), and over 148,308 total reads on ResearchGate.
  • research dissemination has global reach, as three of his LinkedIn posts have been viewed over 3,092, 6,001, 7,001 and 9,300 times worldwide.

Doug has edited six journal collections, for The International Journal of Human Resource Management (2016) (ABDC grade A & CABS 3), the International Journal of Manpower (2020) (ABDC grade A & CABS 2), and the Journal of Organisational Effectiveness: People and Performance (2024) (ABDC grade A & CABS 2). He has published two research monographs - on line managers and HRM (Omniscriptum, 2010), and UK green jobs (Palgrave MacMillan (2024), and an edited a research volume with Routledge (2018) re-printed as a paperback in 2020. His green HRM research volume (2018 & 2020) was nominated by Routledge publishing for the best book award in the Organizations and Natural Environment (ONE) division at the highly prestigious USA-based Academy of Management (AOM) conference. An external, independent review of his book by Choudhary and Datta (2021) in the Australasian Journal of Management states that: "its contextual influences provide a new perspective... [as it] is a useful guidebook with a remarkable collection of HRM practices and environmental management literature. It provides practical and insightful recommendations for managers". In his book's Foreword, Distinguished Professor of HRM Susan E. Jackson of Rutgers University, USA adds that it is a: "collection of cutting-edge scholarship... a stimulating edited volume...[and one where] Renwick provides specific suggestions concerning research questions worthy of attention". Doug has edited two research books on green HRM in the global south countries (Springer Nature, 2024), and sustainability and technology (including artificial intelligence, AI) (ISI Global, 2024). He continues to supervise PhD students researching sustainable work, green jobs, decent work and staff voluntary green behaviours, and welcomes new, detailed, fully-formed PhD application proposals on these leading HRM themes.

Leadership, Management and Administration

Dr. Renwick’s leadership, management and administration activities have progressed on an upwards trajectory over time. Initially at The University of Strathclyde, Doug was Course Director of the Diploma in HRM (1996-1998) and Course Director of the Certificate in Personnel Programmes (1998-2000). Then at the University of Sheffield, he was a: Selector of Undergraduate Admissions for Management Degrees (2001-2003); Senior Selector of Undergraduate Admissions for Management Degrees (2003-2004); Dissertations Officer for the MSc. in HR Strategy (2001-2004); Course Director of the MSc. in HR Strategy (2004-2005); Acting Course Director of the MSc. in HRM (2007-2008); Local CIPD Branch Liaison Officer (2006-2010); Course Director of Dual Degrees in Management (2010-2013); and Programme Director of the MSc. in HRM (2015-2016).

As Course Director of the MSc. in HRM at the University of Sheffield, Dr. Renwick led and maintained a new student income stream of over £350,000 which enabled research-led HRM teaching to flourish. Then as Dual Degrees Director, Doug led a larger student body and student income stream of over £760,000 and undertook more extensive duties, such as regularly liaising with thirteen other Faculty departments and inputting into the Faculty-wide review of all Dual Degree operations. At Sheffield, he led key departmental processes, managed combined student income streams of over £1 million pounds, delivered over five years of senior academic leadership and showed line management skills by managing relevant professional service staff. At Sheffield Business School, Doug was briefly Director of the Doctorate in Business Administration programme (2017) and Research Leader of the HRM subject group (2016-2017). At Sheffield, he acted as research leader, mentor and line manager to several HRM scholars, advising and guiding them on their journal article, research funding and research impact submissions.

Most recently here at Nottingham, Dr. Renwick’s leadership roles are as the HRM Departmental Research Co-ordinator (DRC) whom he represents at the School-level RIC (detailed above), and as the HRM Department's School and University adviser on Research Ethics. Doug regularly contributes to Departmental, School and University administration by attending important meetings and events such as those of the HRM Department, Research Innovation Committee, Ethics Committee, Exam Boards, and CIPD, AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB Accreditations. Dr. Renwick displays his leadership, management and administrative abilities in the posts above. In acquiring more influential roles, he has increased his knowledge and experience of, and ability to contribute to, University operations, management and governance.

Career overview

Prior to entering academia, Doug gained industry experience at Motorola Limited (from 1991-1995). There, his work in Corporate Administration included managing the accounts of the Rank Organisation (films, cinemas, leisure & travel), Forte Group (hotels) and members the UK Royal Family, e.g. the late Lady Diana Spencer, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales and the late Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth The Second, Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Realms. Before joining Nottingham, Dr. Renwick was previously on the faculties of Sheffield Business School, the University of Sheffield (where he gained his PhD on inter-management work relationships) and the University of Strathclyde. He published his first journal article before he started his PhD in the Industrial Relations Journal (ABDC grade A & CABS 3) in 1998 with no changes required. He has since published eight journal articles, one book, five chapters and six case studies from his PhD, some 20 outputs in total.

Research areas

  • sustainable work
  • green jobs
  • decent work
  • staff voluntary green behaviours

External activity

Doug has generated over £660,000 (€732,000 Euros) worth of internal and external grant funding and various types of sponsorships and awards. In particular he was co-grantee of the empirical study of voluntary staff green behaviours and paradoxes in green HRM (2017-2022), funded by £408,000 (€452,000 Euros / $519,338 US Dollars) form the German DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and Austrian FWF (Der Wissenschaftsfonds), plus three PhD studentships of £77,000 (€85,000) each. He has also held grants, scholarships and awards from the ESRC, Johnston Press, Prospect Union, Scottish Power, Strathclyde University, UNESP University (Brazil) and the University of Sheffield. Dr. Renwick has recently supervised four PhD students to completion (in 2020-2023), and has mentored five external colleagues to the key Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) 3 rank and Australian Dean's List (ABDC) grade A publication levels. Doug has conducted empirical research on involving line managers in HRM and green HRM with global and local organisations such as: Balfour Beatty; Cafcass; Honeywell Controls; Motorola; NHS; OVO Energy; Produce World; Sage Publications; Scottish Power; Tesco; UBS Banking; Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey County Councils; Glasgow and Sheffield City Councils; and in Brazil with Tilibra (stationery); Plajax (auto parts); Cart (logistics) and TGM (steam turbines).

Dr. Renwick's external examiner appointments include the UK and Irish HRM professional body, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), where he was one of a select group of academics CIPD invited to serve two terms as Assistant National Examiner for their HRM modules over one decade (1998-2008). More recently, he has been external examiner for HRM modules at the Business School connected to the select C9 (Ivy) League Xi'an Jiaotong University in China (2015-2018). Doug is regularly invited to present his research work inside and outside the UK, and has presented his solo-authored research at the academic bodies of the Academy of International Business (AIB), Academy of Management (AoM), British Academy of Management (BAM) and European Academy of Management (EURAM). Doug's consultancy engagements include the Johnston Press, Scottish Power and the Prospect Union. He has been invited to present his research at the highly prestigious Academy of Management (AoM) conferences in Boston, USA (2019) and as an AoM Symposium Chair in Vancouver, Canada (2020). He has been an ESRC grant reviewer (rapporteur), and an international assessor for academic staff promotions to the rank of Associate Professor for Middlesex University, UK (2016), the New York Institute of Technology, USA (2020) and the Australian Catholic University, ACU (2022). Dr. Renwick shows inter-disciplinary expertise in being honoured to provide his expert opinion to the UK government as part of their response to the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change & Land.

Doug is an active ad-hoc referee invited to review for fifteen globally leading, well-ranked and reputable CABS and ABDC journals in HRM, Business & Management, including:

  • Academy of Management Perspectives (ABDC grade A, CABS 4, Impact Factor 8.069);
  • Applied Psychology (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 2.808);
  • British Journal of Management (ABDC grade A, CABS 4, Impact Factor 6.567);
  • European Management Review (ABDC grade C, CABS 3, Impact Factor 3.000);
  • Human Resource Management Journal (ABDC grade A, CABS 4, Impact Factor 5.039);
  • Human Resource Management (USA), Wiley (ABDC grade A*, CABS 4, Impact Factor 5.078);
  • International Journal of Management Reviews (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 13.419);
  • Journal of Management Studies (ABDC grade A*, CABS 4, Impact Factor 9.720);
  • Organization & Environment (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 6.116); and
  • The International Journal of Human Resource Management (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 5.546);

Dr. Renwick is a Senior Fellow at Rennes Business School in France, EU, and was Visiting Professor at WU, the Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria, EU for over seven years. He is an external academic advisor to the OB/HRM division at ISEG The Lisbon School of Economics & Management in Portugal, EU, and a member of the Development Studies Association at University College London, UK. Doug is also a member of the International Humanistic Management Association at the Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University, New York, USA, and a member of the Innovating for Sustainability Salon, Ivey Business School at Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. He has been an Editorial Board Member of Employee Relations: The International Journal (ABDC grade B & CABS 2) for over ten years, and an Editorial Board member for The International Journal of Human Resource Management (ABDC grade A & CABS 3) for over eight years. He is an Editorial Board Member of the German Journal of HRM (Sage) (ABDC grade B & CABS 2), and HRM Section Editor for Sustainability Letters at Maastricht University, EU. Dr. Renwick is a regular academic reviewer/referee for Human Resource Management Journal (ABDC grade A & CABS 4-star), and an Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Environment, Workplace & Employment plus the Journal of Human Resource & Sustainability Studies for over seven years.

Press expertise

  • sustainable work
  • green jobs
  • decent work
  • staff voluntary green behaviours

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals - UN SDGs

Dr. Renwick's green HRM research helps advance several UN SDGS, such as generating decent work & decent jobs (SDG 8), climate action (SDG 13), life on land (SDG 15), and gender equality for women migrating climate impacts (SDG 5).

8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth Badge 13 - Climate Action Badge 15 - Life On Land Badge 5 - Gender Equality Badge