Douglas Renwick

Role

Dr. Douglas W.S. Renwick, BA Hons, MSc Econ. (London School of Economics), PhD (Univ. 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 a Senior Fellow at Rennes Business School, France, EU, and previously a Visiting Professor at WU Vienna, Austria, EU. Doug provides support to the HRM Department line manager by observing HRM colleague teaching, and in his leadership role as the HRM Department Research Co-ordinator (DRC), where he coordinates the individual pathways review process for over 75 academic HRM colleagues. There, he advises and guides HRM staff on journal publications, funding applications, impact case production, doctoral supervision and supranational policy influence. He represents the HRM department at the NBS School-wide Research Innovation Committee, where he undertakes monthly HRM research reporting to the Associate Dean for Research on the Research Excellence Framework.

Doug has supervised over 150 Undergraduate, Master's, 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 nearly 30 years of experience. Dr. Renwick attained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education with a Distinction grade and was nominated for the Inspirational Teacher Award at Sheffield Business School. He is the module leader for the Business Research Project, which strategically identifies Masters-level scholars suitable to study at PhD and DBA levels. Doug is a research mentor to several rising and aspiring Early Career Researchers in HRM and environmental sustainability. Doug's teaching at NBS involves HRM, Management and sustainable workforce topics, to both undergraduate and postgraduate audiences, including the NBS flagship Masters in Management module which is one of NTU's largest postgraduate classes.

Research

Doug shows leadership in directing his 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 (see his recent book and article). Previously, 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 115 works (journal articles, books, edited collections, chapters, cases, conferences and miscellanea), including 23 chapters, 7 books and 8 journal collections, while his line managers and green HRM research has been published in 38 esteemed double and triple-blind peer-reviewed journals. 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). Further, esteemed researchers state: "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 (IJMR) journal article on green HRM has been cited over 2,975 times, and he is included in the Top 2% of Global Scientists using Scopus data by Elsevier from 2022 onwards (a.k.a. the Stanford list). On Scholar GPS in 2024, Doug is ranked in the top 4% for HRM research productivity, top 0.4% for HR research impact, and top 2% for HR research quality, plus ranked in the top 7% in all fields, and the top 1% in HR overall. 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 & Society (ABDC grade A, CABS 3, Impact Factor 5.3);
• 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, USA (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 a most downloaded HRM case study, 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 (Sustainability, 2019). His green HRM work was viewed by The International Journal of Human Resource Management 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 research addresses the fundamental human challenge of climate change.

As of 14th January 2025, Dr. Renwick's:

• lead-author articles on green HRM in International Journal of Management Reviews have over 2,964 citations on Google Scholar, over 1,000 citations on Scopus and over 47,312 reads on ResearchGate; 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.
• his overall citation count is over 8,264 on Google Scholar, including seven journal articles with over 100 citations each and works which include over 5,477 mentions on Academia.edu.
• Doug's 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 10,000 reads, and his edited (2020) book on green HRM has over 4,504 reads on ResearchGate.
• his body of research work is one that others regularly interact with, with a Research Interest (RI) score of 3,231 weekly reads, recommendations and citations, and over 164,072 total reads on ResearchGate.
• Doug's research dissemination has a global reach, as his top research-led LinkedIn posts have been viewed over 3,734, 3,823, 4,012, 5,243, 5,772, 6,001, 6,051, 3,092, 7,001 and 9,300 times worldwide.

He has edited eight journal collections, for Employee Relations (2003 and 2009), the German Journal of HRM (2011), The International Journal of Human Resource Management (2016), the International Journal of Manpower (2020), the Journal of Organisational Effectiveness: People and Performance (2025), International Studies of Management & Organization (2026) and Business & Society (2027). He has published two research monographs, Line Managers and HRM (Omniscriptum, 2010), and UK Green Jobs (Palgrave MacMillan (2024), plus an edited research volume with Routledge (2018) in hardback and 2020 in paperback. 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 USA-based Academy of Management (AOM) conference. An external, independent review of this book by Choudhary and Datta (2021) in the Australasian Journal of Management states: "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 the 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 also edited three other research books: on green HRM in the global south countries, employee green behaviour (both with 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 green behaviours and welcomes 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 upward trajectory. 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 income stream of over £760,000 and undertook more extensive duties, such as liaising with thirteen other Faculty departments and inputting into the Faculty-wide review of all Dual Degree operations. At Sheffield Hallam, 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 DBA programme (2017), Research Leader of the HRM subject group (2016-2017), and acted as research leader, mentor and line manager to several HRM scholars.

Most recently at Nottingham, Dr. Renwick’s leadership roles are: as the HRM Departmental Research Co-ordinator (DRC) (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. In acquiring and volunteering for more influential roles, he 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 Corporate Administration work included managing the accounts of the Rank Organisation (films, cinemas, leisure & travel), Forte Group (hotels), and members of the UK Royal Family, e.g. the late Lady Diana Spencer, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales and Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth The Second. 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 (CABS 3 and ABDC grade A) 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.

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 behaviors and paradoxes in green HRM, funded by £408,000 (€452,000 Euros / $519,338 US Dollars) from the German DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and Austrian FWF (Der Wissenschaftsfonds), plus three PhD studentships of £77,000 (€85,000 Euros / $93,235 US Dollars) 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 2020-2024) and has mentored five external colleagues to the 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 organizations 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 an 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 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 Chicago (2009), Boston, USA (2019), and 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, and his green HRM work appears in the UK Parliament Post number 711 in 2024.

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

• Academy of Management Perspectives, USA (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, USA (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, is now advising the German government on green skills (from 2024 onwards), and an Advisory Council Member for Harvard Business Review. 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 twelve years, and an Editorial Board member for The International Journal of Human Resource Management (ABDC grade A & CABS 3) for nine years. He is a new 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), Human Resource Management, US (Wiley) (ABDC grade A-star & CABS 4), 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.