About IMR
The Institute for Management Research (IMR) is the research institute of Nijmegen School of Management. Our researchers carry out state-of-the-art research into complex problems of governance and management, in order to explain the causes of these problems, and to use that knowledge to create potential solutions. We combine knowledge and expertise from multiple disciplines with collaboration with societal relevant actors.
Mission and vision
Our mission is: Responsible Governance for Sustainable Societies. Based on our broad vision of management, our research and teaching focus on social trends from governance and policy, in close alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We acknowledge that each SDG raises management issues and we study how society, public and private organisations, and individuals solve these issues.
We attach great importance to curiosity-driven, fundamental research, and we contribute to theorising the mechanisms that enable above-mentioned actors to contribute responsibly to citizens' well-being at regional, national, and international level.
Research and teaching at Nijmegen School of Management contribute to:
- developing sustainable economies that are co-created and given meaning in the development of corporate responsibility by inclusive organisations with a shared mission, focused on justice and sustainability (Social Economy);
- developing and safeguarding resilient societies, meaning sustainable democracies, inclusive and equitable institutions, and safe societies (Resilient Society);
- developing a sustainable living environment through climate change mitigation and adaptation, restoring biodiversity, and preventing pollution (Sustainable Environment).
Nijmegen School of Management studies these societal challenges from a fundamental analytical and an intervention perspective, based on three interconnected dimensions:
- Politics/Democracy: Activities through which citizens shape society and relate to underlying power relations;
- Governance/Administration: Rule-based activities and power relations through which a society is governed;
- Management/Organisation: Focused and structured activities (planning, decision-making, coordinating, motivating, and monitoring) aimed at realising objectives as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Organisation
The organisation of IMR has a matrix structure consisting of the IMR Director, the PhD Council, IMR Research Services, Hot Spots, the IMR Academy, the IMR Doctoral School and the departments. Read more about the organisation via the button below.
Hot Spots
Hot Spots are groups of researchers led by high potential or top researchers with a proven record. As a group, they are able to address the complex challenge of multidisciplinary research. Typically, Hot Spots consist of 20–25 researchers from different disciplines who jointly undertake research activities.
Their topics belong to the ‘hot’ topics under study within the IMR, in line with the IMR’s mission to study complex problems of governance and management. Hot Spots are set up to develop and carry out new, innovative research characterised by our motto’s two criteria: scientific excellence and societal relevance. Currently, the IMR hosts the following seven Hot Spots:
EU Politics, Administration and Law (EUROPAL)
The Hot Spot EUROPAL focuses on EU Politics, Governance and Law. It seeks to analyse, understand and explain processes of Europeanisation and implementation of EU policies. It seeks to analyse, understand and explain processes of Europeanisation and implementation of EU policies against the background of increased policy pressures and growing domestic politicisation.
Gender and Power in Politics and Management
Many organisations struggle with questions of gender equality, diversity and inclusion. Progress towards these goals calls for organisational change. The Hot Spot's vision for change is based on tailor-made conceptualisations of gender equality, diversity and inclusion, grounded in cutting-edge research.
Global–Local Divides and Connections (GLOCAL)
The Hot Spot GLOCAL brings together a group of scholars analysing central contemporary phenomena with a critical lens that emphasises global-local interactions. They work on social, political and economic phenomena: from economic development and inequality, migrant inclusion, state building in post-war contexts to the politics of development and foreign aid.
Transformative sustainable change in Action (TransAct)
Transformative change is defined as a fundamental, system-wide reorganisation across technological, economic and social factors, including paradigms, goals and values. Understanding transformative change is complex and requires multiple scientific perspectives and societal knowledge. The Hot Spot connects researchers, who analyse environmental sustainability from different perspectives: micro to macro addressing questions of transformative change and its governance.
Responsible Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The Hot Spot Responsible Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides knowledge for entrepreneurs, innovative firms and policy makers in the area of innovation. Their shared business ecosystem perspective and their varied disciplinary backgrounds provide them a better and more holistic understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship in the 21st century.
Integrated Decision-Making (ID)
Planning in regards to sustainable urban areas, reducing energy consumption, operational risk management in the finance sector, or adaptive delta management is complex. The Hot Spot ID helps to generate decision-supportive expertise to translate this knowledge into effective intervention strategies.
Sustainable Democracy
The Hot Spot Sustainable Democracy seeks to bring together scholars from different disciplines working on democracy across Radboud University. In a world with intense contestation about the meaning and value of democracy, and questions about democracies’ capacity to deal with the urgent challenges facing societies today, research on challenges to democracy and the future of democracy could not be more relevant.
Contact
Get in touch with the Institute for Management Research by contacting our office.