The prestigious business publication Human Resources Magazine (HR), has once again named two Lancaster University professors as being amongst the ‘Top 25 HR Most Influential UK Thinkers’.
This year’s publication sees Professor Cary Cooper and Professor Paul Sparrow, both of Lancaster University’s Management School (LUMS), ranked at numbers five and 12 respectively, higher than their positions in 2010.
The league table is assimilated using an array of criteria, such as the originality of the individual’s ideas, the relevance of the ideas to key current affairs, the emotional intelligence and capacity of the individual as a leader and inspiration to others, and a sustained ‘visibility’ of the person’s name and ideas.
Professor Cooper, described by the magazine as a “distinguished professor of organizational psychology and health,” is recognised as being a key contributor of scholarly articles to journals and other national media. Along with these achievements, he is also a published author and editor of over 120 books on business and managerial issues, including women at work, occupational stress and industrial and organisational psychology.
His peers regard him as a key influence on the HR agenda, engaging with media in a positive and forthright manner in order to express his views on the core issues for human resources and development. His ranking has increased by two places this year up to number five, which places him well within the elite echelon of his profession.
HR recognises Professor Sparrow for his contributions to research both here at LUMS and on a broader spectrum, such as his part on an expert advisory panel to the Government’s Sector Skills Development Agency. He is also involved with research on an international level, including areas such as cross-cultural human resource management, cognition at work and changes in the employment relationship.
Professor Sparrow has risen one place in the rankings this year, to number 12, in recognition for what the publication describes as his “exceptional research work […] and substantial contribution to international HRM.”
Not only is this recognition of great personal importance to those in receipt of the accolade, but it also serves to underpin the gravitas with which Lancaster can credit its teaching provision.
