Business Discoveries - August 2024

University of Bristol Business School academics are influencing policy and practice by critically addressing significant challenges faced by individuals, communities, organisations, and economies. Subscribe to our Business Discoveries newsletter to find out more about our challenge-led interdisciplinary research.

Portfolio management in uncertain times - overcoming the paradox of complexity and pressure to act

Flexibility vs. stability - how can managers successfully balance the two in an increasingly unpredictable world?

In a recent study conducted by Professors Hinrich Voss and Florian Bauer with PwC Deutschland , interviews with top business leaders in Germany highlighted the significant challenges they are facing, navigating the current complexity of global markets alongside the immense pressure they face to keep adapting their businesses to the constantly changing environment.

The study revealed exclusive insights into how these decision-makers are evolving their approach to portfolio management to thrive in a complex business environment and the key success factors to achieving this.

Find out more about this study.

Space jam: how retail technologies are influencing store space production

A new research paper by Dr Eleonora Pantano and co-authors has been published in the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, looking at the impact on different levels of store space when technology is introduced.

In this paper, the researchers identify the three key dimensions of store space as: consumption activities, service environment and customer experience, and they explore the holistic influence introducing technology has on each of these.

Overall, the research provides a deeper understanding of how store space is produced, and the role retail technology plays in this process.

Read more about this research.

Playful infrastructures: building communities through social board gaming

A policy paper on social board gaming written by Lecturer in Marketing Dr Alexandra Kviat was published by the British Academy (BA). The paper is part of the BA’s public policy programme on social and cultural infrastructures.

Dr Kviat's research demonstrates how merely bringing people together physically in a space, does not necessarily bring them together socially. However, she highlights how social gatherings structured around an interactive activity (such as board games), can help to make social spaces more accessible to a wider demographic of people.

In this paper, Dr Kviat therefore argues for a shift in the policy focus from the provision and maintenance of physical spaces where social connections can be formed to a more nuanced understanding of how such connections can be facilitated. The paper also offers policy recommendations to develop and support social board gaming in the UK.

Discover more about this research.

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