Director of Postgraduate Research
BA (Western Australia), Phd (Strathclyde)
Fran's research focuses on how qualitative modelling techniques can be developed and used to support messy, complex problem structuring and resolution. One particular angle has been exploring the use and roles of decision support systems (DSS) and in particular group decision support systems (GDSS). This strand of research has focused on investigating:
- Processes to enable groups to negotiate towards an agreed and acted upon set of outcomes that are politically and resource feasible (rather than compromises that are subsequently not put into effect).
- Means for enabling group members to have direct input into the model rather than through an intermediary (often a facilitator) so as to increase the productivity and manage the social and psychological pressures of group working,
- Appropriate mechanisms (scripts) to support the need for both qualitative and quantitative modelling where equivocality and precision are required.
Another strongly related research angle focuses upon work spanning the last 15 years and encompassing strategy development and implementation (developing processes to manage stakeholders, develop scenarios, understand and develop coherent business models and produce effective performance measurement systems). As a result of both gaining an in-depth knowledge of relevant strategy theory and working with organizations (public and private, national and international) in an Action Research capacity, along with Colin Eden, we have developed a particular approach to Strategy Making that is widely adopted. Current developments in this area include a focus on what makes an organization distinctive and gain competitive advantage.
Other areas include modelling disruption and delay on mega projects involving the development of a mixed methodology and the development and refining of processes and techniques for risk assessment. In each of these areas substantial research publications have resulted and in the case of strategy making, two books.
Fran is a Member of OR Society, British Academy of Management, Strategic Planning Society, The Institute of Management Sciences, American Academy of Management. She has won conference best paper prizes in the Proceedings of the Academy of Management 2003, 2006. Fran is a Member of the Executive Board for Management Consultant Division, Academy of Management and a member of the Editorial Boards for Group Decision and Negotiation, E-Negotiation. She was co-chair of the Group Decision and Negotiation 2007 Conference. Fran was an Affiliate Professor Bordeaux Business School (2003-2006) and is a Visiting Lecturer Curtin University (2002 - ). She has been involved in consultancies with for example, Bombardier, Strathclyde Police, British Energy, US Transport Security Agency, Borders NHS, NEL, Balfour Kilpatrick, Scottish Water.
She is keen on sailing, squash and ski-ing.
