Partnership

In the early 20th century the office has for many employees been the place where ‘work is done’. But with organisations across the world committing to more flexible working, what role should the office, plant or other work location now play? 

Dr Nela Smolović-Jones discusses issues organisations need to consider today, from dealing with ‘wicked problems’ to gendered corruption, and offers her top tips for leaders to enable them to be mindful

In life, facing tough decisions is always a possibility but in business, it’s only a matter of time. Anyone interested in business leadership can listen to a 12-episode podcast series, ‘Make or Break’.

How do you build a business that is positive for people, the planet, society and the economy? Maria Chenoweth, OU MBA alumna and Chief Executive of second-hand clothing charity TRAID, offers her top tips.

Capitalism as we know it is unsustainable. It is financially unstable, bad for the environment and politically unpopular. An increasing number of voices, including some of the world's most powerful leaders, are calling for business and society to align their mission, vision and rewards for the common good. How can organisations step up and play their part in this transformation? 

How has collective leadership has changed in the digital world, and how has hybrid working has affected management/employee relationships?

The pandemic cast a spotlight on much-hyped corporate purpose statements. In the glare of scrutiny, when the chips were down, organisations saw an uncomfortable question come to the fore: were they living up to the ideals they espoused? Some clearly weren’t.

The Centre for Policing Research and Learning (CPRL), working with Associate Lecturer Laurence Knell, has published four more free courses focusing on community policing and empowerment. 

Since the beginning of the first lockdown, what has become painfully, obviously, clear was that while we might all be in the same storm, we are in very different boats – and some have sprung a leak.

Circumstances are right for meaningful and fundamental change in the world of work. But what will that change look like – and what role will HR play in it? The People Space and The Open University Business School are partnering throughout 2021 to highlight the issues and suggest how HR can help work to become radically better. Siân Harrington and Katie Jacobs report