Business

Issue 22 | October 2012

Managing job satisfactionOvercoming the challenges

Hull University Business School

E20 – a trans-Europeantransport link with hugebusiness potential

Business Schoolcelebrates teachingsuccess

Calling all alumni –stay connected!

Contents

03 Welcome

04 Managing job satisfaction

06 Hull University Business School drives the E20 route

07 Business blogs

08 Managing talent

09 Can earning less make you happier?

10 Alumni – stay connected!

Thank you to alumni!

11 Business School celebration

News in brief

12 Forthcoming events

The secrets of job satisfaction................................................................................................

06 11 10

Issue 22 | November 2012

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Hull has sometimesstood accused, as one ofthe major four cities inYorkshire, of failing tomeet its true potential,lacking in futurecertainty for those whoboth live here and thosewho invest here.

However, all that is now changing.

Major developments, such as TheDeep, acknowledged as the world’sonly submarium, the redevelopedand extremely cosmopolitan VictoriaDock area and the stylish StStephen’s Shopping Centre haverubber-stamped Hull as one ofYorkshire’s most pioneering cities.

Furthermore, Hull City Council hasdeveloped a visionary and proactiveplan to take the city forward to 2026.The huge potential for businessinvestment, from both domestic andinternational perspectives, is beingrecognised. The growth in offshorerenewable energy generation is seenas establishing the Humber as theprimary location for servicing thisgrowing industry on Hull’s doorstep.

Hull University Business School playsan important part in thesedevelopments. It has strong multipleconnections with industry andcommerce, proud of its enviablerecord of contributing value to theregion, as well as its fine researchrecord of creating new knowledge asit works with local, national andinternational business.

Furthermore, the work of theBusiness School doesn’t just stopwhen graduates leave the building!While some universities standaccused of turning out students whoare academically rich but businessand life skills deficient, the BusinessSchool has a good reputation for theemployability of its graduates whenthey leave.

Through its Alumni Connectprogramme (see page 10, ‘Alumni –stay connected’), the Business Schoolis committed to ensuring itsgraduates are equipped with thenecessary business skills and latestbusiness thinking, even long afterthey have graduated.

And we shall continue with this, todevelop talent and equip thebusiness leaders of the future toensure the sustainability of Hull’scurrent and future potential.

Professor Terry WilliamsDean of School

Welcome

Managing job satisfactionWhat are the secrets of managing job satisfaction?University of Hull Alumna and MBA graduate, Jehan Al-Fannah, is a clinical pharmacist and Deputy Director of thePharmacy Department at the Royal Hospital in Oman.Business Magazine caught up with her to ask for someinside tips on managing a large workforce and overcomingthe challenges this presents.

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Business Magazine (BM): What challenges do you face in your role and what strategies doyou have in place to overcome these and retain your own job satisfaction?

Jehan Al-Fannah (JA-F): A major challenge we face is communication – many might think thisis a problem everywhere, but I believe it has a particular and significant effect in ourorganisation. The department is composed of 100 employees with differing levels ofeducation and experience; including some who have not previously used emails.Communication becomes especially problematic when there is more than one method ofcommunicating and, given the differing backgrounds of staff, it would be difficult to makeemail our main method.

I devised a strategy to improve communication that was tailored to the uniqueness of ourset up. We are in a state of transition between electronic and paper communicationmeaning it is crucial to utilise all methods, even including basic ones such as staff

noticeboards. I spent time with staff educating them on email techniques and how tocreate an account, increasing email usage from 40 to 60%. In an attempt to break

boundaries among staff, we have regular social events in place too.

I think it’s also important to set measurable targets at the beginning of the yearand to review them by the end of it. This somehow keeps you on track and makesyou feel that you have progressed.

BM: Being motivated is a key part of being satisfied at work. What techniques doyou employ to ensure you and your staff remain enthusiastic?

JA-F: Being an employee in the public sector can seem like working in an empirewhere the beginning and the end are difficult to see, which may compromisepersonal and staff job satisfaction.

The most important thing is to ensure that all levels are working towards thesame target from individuals to groups to entire departments. Being able to

see progress and achievements is one way of attaining motivation andcontinuously improving communication is also key. We have a weekly

journal club and work as different groups on mini-projects whereit’s easy to see a beginning and an end over a shorter period,

usually three months.

‘I think the key to asatisfying career,is to stay focusedon an area but notto rule out lookingat the biggerpicture ofprogress in anyset up.’

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BM: You manage a large department of staff, how has your Hull University Business SchoolMBA helped you in your career and to implement effective management strategies tocreate a happy work force?

JA-F: Graduating with an MBA from Hull University Business School has been of one mygreatest achievements as it served as a real eye-opener for my work place. When I decidedto embark on the MBA course, many of my colleagues and friends said: ‘Are you changingyour career pathway?’ and I replied: ‘No, I am enhancing my career pathway!’

Many people link an MBA qualification with the private sector and underestimate the role itcan play in the public sector. In my opinion, and based on my personal experience, theknowledge gained from the MBA is compatible with any profession and in mostorganisations.

An MBA helps you develop into a particular type of professional, much in demand by manycompanies. In my case, completing the MBA helped me develop professionally, enablingme to combine my specialist pharmaceutical knowledge with other business skillsincluding managing people and marketing among many others.

BM: What advice would you give to students on finding a satisfying career and to stayfulfilled within that?

JA-F: The HULL MBA has enriched my career development. The course has unique moduleswhich open doors to innovation and creativity within any context – even in humanitarianservices such as the public healthcare sector. I think the key to a satisfying career, is to stayfocused on an area but not to rule out looking at the bigger picture of progress in any set up.

‘Many people linkan MBAqualification withthe private sectorand underestimatethe role it can playin the public sector.In my opinion, andbased on mypersonalexperience, theknowledge gainedfrom the MBA iscompatible withany profession andin mostorganisations.’

The aim of the conference, opened by Humber LEP Chair,Lord Haskins of Skidby, was to identify innovative ways ofstimulating economic growth, in particular, throughlogistics, across the six countries the 1,880km-long E20route passes through.

It was particularly relevant that the Leeds-based E20 groupchose Hull for their first international conference, it beingthe start of the route the E20 takes from mainland Europeacross the UK. Furthermore, the Humber port complex,extending from the city of Hull across the Humber estuary,is not only the UK’s largest port complex by tonnage, butthe fourth largest in Europe.

The main theme of the day was to discuss ways growingbusinesses might take advantage of the E20 route andexpand into neighbouring markets, the combined economyof which is estimated at some £120 billion. Of particularinterest are the emerging markets in Estonia and Russia. Adelegation of Estonian civic and commercial businessleaders from the Estonian Purchasing and Supply ChainManagement Association and the Estonian Logistics Clusterwere present as VIP guests, timing their fact-finding visit tothe region to coincide with the conference.

Hull University Business School drivesthe E20 route

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The first E20 (the trans-European road route from St Petersburg to Limerick) Conference in the UKwas hosted recently by Hull University Business School.

(L to r) Aleksei Shuba, Director, Alekon Cargo, Estonia; (back) Margus Sitsa, Business Manager, General Cargo, Port of Tallinn, Estonia; Illimar Paul,Development Manager, Estonian Logistics Cluster; Lord Haskins, Chair, Humber LEP; Martin Kivimäe, CEO, Prolog, Estonia; Martin Venning, EuropeanRoute E20; Tõnis Tamme, Partner, Triniti Attorneys, Tallin

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Business blogsStudents are sharing their experiences of theirinternational or work placement year online with a newcommunications initiative.

The blogs showcase their experience and highlight thefantastic opportunities open to its students.

The international and World of Work blogs are just two of aplanned programme of digital media activity to raise theBusiness School’s profile globally. It is recognised that thestudents are best placed to tell the story of the ‘studentexperience’, hence the blogging.

The blogs are helping to highlight the rich teaching,learning and research experience at the Business Schooland subject specific blogs are to be launched in the nearfuture around the school’s key academic themes

A number of bloggers are baring all as they enhance theirdegree with professional or international experience withthe ‘warts and all’ online diary entries proving popular withhundreds of hits a week and are helping new students – orthose considering choosing this type of degree – get a first-hand account of what this type of study is like. This givesthem a great opportunity to in essence ‘try before they buy’.

Students completing a year studying abroad or withinindustry as part of their degree not only broaden theirhorizons, but tend to increase their employability, buildnew skills and achieve improved final degree results.

The School offers the international and placement yearacross all its degrees and has a growing list of wellrecognised companies for these placements as well as theopportunity to study at a wide variety of overseas locationsand institutions.

This is the first year for the online diaries, and new studentswill be recruited when the current placements have ended.Blogging forms just one part of the digital marketingstrategy, which encompasses social media, SEO, richmedia, e-mail marketing, online advertising and landingpage optimisation, web content optimisation and userexperience testing.

For further information, please visit, hubs.hull.ac.uk/blogs

Professor David Grant, Director of the Logistics Institutesaid:

‘It was interesting that in these harsh economic times,the Estonian business people made it abundantly clearthat they are keen to do business with the region.

‘The live debate we held with Eoghan Prendergast,manager of Shannon Development in Limerick Ireland,Ben Greenwood, Deputy Consul General at the BritishConsulate in St Petersburg, Russia and Aivars Taurins,Chairman of the Latvian Logistics Association in Riga,representing, as they did, business and commerce atboth ends of the E20 route, demonstrated the centralpart logistics will play in acting as a catalyst for growthin Northern Europe.

‘The party toured the Humber ports to see the excellentexisting facilities as well as the potential developmentopportunities available in the Enterprise Zones.

‘I am confident that the local stakeholders, in particularthe LEP, International Trade Centre and local council willseize all opportunities to encourage Estonian inwardinvestment in the Humber. And we will continue tosupport them by providing a stream of highly-trainedlogistics and business graduates.’

Further information on the E20 route can be found atwww.e20route.eu, and details of courses in logisticsand business management can be found atwww.hull.ac.uk/hubs.

‘The party toured the Humber ports tosee the excellent existing facilities aswell as the potential developmentopportunities available in theEnterprise Zones.’

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A webinar by Dr David Bright and his PhD students – Naif Al Ruwali and Shuai Zhang –earlier this year discussed how talent is identified and recruited, and outlined what isinvolved in successful talent management.

The webinar was of particular interest to managers across the globe and participants joinedthe webinar from countries including Hong Kong, China, the UK and the Middle East.

Dr Bright advised effective employer branding is essential to attract talent and thatemployees value good leadership and management along with opportunities for personalgrowth and wellbeing. A number of factors were highlighted as ways to retain talentincluding an ethos geared towards continuous learning and improvement, a healthywork/life balance, a cooperative atmosphere and meaningful work along with consistentand clear methods of measuring labour turnover.

External cultural factors were discussed with the PhD students revealing key findings fromtheir research into talent management practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China.While differences may exist, the colleagues concluded that social culture has a significanteffect on talent management processes. Similarities were identified with the Chinesephenomenon ‘guanxi’, which translates to networks or connections in English, and itsimpact on recruitment processes internationally. The new research and the literary reviewsof previous work in this field highlighted the importance of assessing the impact of externalculture in understanding any aspect of human interaction including talent management.

The webinar was held as part of a series the Business School’s Alumni Connect initiative.Further career and research focused webinars are planned for the forthcoming months.

For full details of Alumni Connect or to register, please visit hubs.hull.ac.uk/alumni.

You’ve got talent – now howdo you manage it?In today’s increasingly competitive business world it is imperative thatorganisations attract, develop and retain the very best staff available – andtalented employees are assumed to add high value to their organisations.

‘The webinar was ofparticular interest tomanagers acrossthe globe –participants joinedfrom countriesincluding HongKong, China, the UKand the MiddleEast.’

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Can earning less make you happier?When it comes to the size of your pay packet, surely bigger is better? The answer may not be quiteas simple, according to research co-authored by Dr Michael Nolan, Senior Lecturer in Economics atHull University Business School.

The effect on wellbeing of your household’s income level – aswell as the income of your peers – may be much morecomplex than it would seem on the surface. Age plays a hugerole in the effect income has on current satisfaction with life –as revealed in the study, ‘So Far So Good: Age, Sex,Happiness and Relative Income’, which is based on datadrawn from a major household survey carried out in Germany.

If you are under 45, being aware that colleagues or peershave higher incomes than you can actually (and somewhatcounter-intuitively) raise your satisfaction levels andenhance wellbeing. Beyond that age, knowing that yourcontemporaries earn relatively more has a detrimentaleffect on your happiness, and probably also on self-esteemand optimism for the future.

More limited career opportunities post-45 are thought to bea key contributory factor in the negative influences of acomparatively lower current income. The relative lack ofcareer progression beyond that age means that senioremployees are usually less socially mobile and cantherefore anticipate their total lifetime income. With futureearnings prospects diminished and more life lessonslearned, income can become indicative not just of currentcareer success, but also of likely lifetime performance too.

Conversely, those under 45 are far more likely to beincentivised by peers’ larger incomes: spurred on by the beliefthat they too can aim higher and achieve similar success. Thesuccess of contemporaries is interpreted as a marker of theirown potential prospects and that their current relatively lowincome is only temporary – increasing motivation byindicating that they too can realise a better future.

Income comparison seems to be one approach that peopleuse to draw conclusions about how their life has gone todate and how it might go in the future. Other factorsassociated with wellbeing include marital status, health,education level and social contact.

The research suggests that comparing incomes becomesless important after retirement. All else being equal, olderage seems to reduce happiness, within this highest agebracket. Both these results are a likely consequence ofmore urgent ageing and health issues.

The findings are in contrast to previous research carried outin developed economies, which concluded that individuals’happiness decreases across all age groups if their incomedoes not match that of their peers. This ground-breakingstudy provides the first such contradictory evidence andhas major sociological consequences for wellbeing(including how it is measured) and how relative success isdefined across our lifetime.

Dr Nolan said: ‘The role of expectations, mobility andinequality need exploring in terms of their effect onwellbeing. This is particularly relevant given that our ageingpopulation means that there are shrinking numbers ofyoung people – who are more likely to experience thepositive effects of a comparatively lower income. The resultis that average happiness across society as a whole has thepotential to stagnate.’

The study also provides key lessons for today’s businessesin the current economic climate. It is also of particularinterest, given recent stated concern by the UK governmentto shift some focus away from measuring (and growing) thetotal value of everything the UK produces (its GrossDomestic Product), and towards achieving greaterhappiness across its citizens.

Dr Nolan said: ‘This research provides a fresh insight thatsuggests an additional dimension to the effect of incomeon happiness, and underlines the importance of careeraspirations and opportunities for young people.

‘This is particularly significant at a time when theseopportunities for so many young people are threatened byextreme austerity in the UK and other countries – thoughnotably not in Germany with its export-led boom.’

The study is the work of Professors Felix Fitzroy and DavidUlph of the School of Economics and Finance at theUniversity of St Andrews, Dr Max Steinhardt from HamburgInstitute of International Economics, and Dr Nolan.

For further information, please visit the research section of hull.ac.uk/hubs

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In keeping with its responsible leadership programme, the BusinessSchool is committed to equipping graduates with the latest businessthinking long after they complete their studies through theinnovative Alumni Connect initiative.

The scheme is free to sign up to and provides access to a world of information andglobal events – equipping graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to enhancetheir professional development. Facilities include an online database of nearly 1,450full-text business magazines and journals; details of the latest cutting-edge researchfrom the school’s academic staff; an online member directory and e-networkingopportunities; plus regular e-newsletters.

In addition, members are invited to business lectures, seminars, careers andresearch webinars and annual conferences which are delivered in global locations.Previous Alumni Connect events have been held in Hong Kong, Singapore, the UKand most recently in the Middle East. Paired with the MBA graduate celebrations inOman and Bahrain, the latest alumni reunion events brought together a variety ofexperts who offered insights on the subject of talent management and workplaceskills across a range of industry sectors. Dean of the school, Professor TerryWilliams, presided over the events and in Oman the school was honoured with theattendance of H.E. Salem Al Maskri, the then Secretary-General of the Council ofHigher Education.

Individual career advice and support is also available to members throughmanaging your career videos and specialist recruitment guides which provideinsight into who is recruiting and when in the UK and overseas. Regular careerwebinars are delivered in association with experienced recruiter and career coach,Jane Barrett from the Career Farm Ltd. Hot topics to be covered in the upcomingseries will include how to maintain a work-life balance; tips on starting a newbusiness; using LinkedIn to get your next job; creating an international CV thatmarkets you; and progressing your career within your current organisation –amongst many others. The series will also include interviews with alumni who haveachieved success around these topics.

For full details of Alumni Connect, the career webinars programme or to register,please visit hubs.hull.ac.uk/alumni

Alumni – stay connected!

Thank you to all thosealumni who have registeredto become e-mentors as partof the school’s studentalumni e-mentoring project2012-13.

The project supports final-yearMSc and undergraduates, andrecent graduates, by partneringthem with alumni e-mentors.Matched according togeography and areas ofexpertise, the pairscommunicate for around anhour a week over a six-monthperiod providing mentees withbusiness insight while helpingprepare them for the world ofwork.

Mentors call upon theirextensive expertise to helpinspire the next generation ofbusiness leaders – providingguidance on essential businessskills such as CV writing,interview techniques, actionplanning and networking.

This project is just one of themany ways alumni can givesomething back to the school.Other opportunities includeproviding a guest lecture,submitting a testimonial oreven providing a project orwork placement. For furtherinformation contact SarahFewster, AlumniCommunications Manager via email athubsalumni@hull.ac.uk

Thank you to alumni!

NEWS IN BRIEFA series of seminars and lectures wereheld during October reflecting theSchool’s responsible business leadershipin a complex world theme. Theseincluded:

Dean’s Inaugural Lecture – Professor TerryWilliams, Dean of HUBS, presented hisannual Inaugural Lecture on why and howsome projects can go so badly wrong fororganisations.

The JSG Wilson Lecture in EconomicsCentral Banking in Boom and Slump – thisyear’s lecture addressed the role of centralbanking in boom and slump. Key notespeaker, Charlie Bean, Deputy Governor,provided valuable insight into central bankpolicy-making and how this impacts uponUK business.

Being a father simply isn’t what it used tobe! - Dr Katy Graley, Lecturer inOrganisational Behaviour and HumanResource Management lead a seminar atthe Scarborough Management Centre onsome of her findings relating tofatherhood and work, posing the question‘how does fatherhood intersect with workand the organisation?’

Decision making capabilities forcompetitive advantage - Kevin Walsh,Chief Executive of KCom was guest speakeron “making business decisions in anatmosphere of increasing time pressureand uncertainty where conflicting expertopinions creates challenges for anydirector”.

University study supports feasibility of alarge-scale maritime heritage centre inScarborough - a well-received, year-longstudy examining the feasibility ofestablishing an economically viable, high-quality visitor destination for families waspresented to the Scarborough MaritimeHeritage Centre by John Munro and PaulCross from the Scarborough ManagementCentre.

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Business SchoolcelebrationThe Business School was recognised for its exceptional teaching at theUniversity Student-Led Teaching Awards. Based on student responsesfrom across the University, Business School staff received nominations infour out of the seven categories.

Sumona Mukhuty received the ‘Overall Outstanding Achievement’award for her exceptional teaching, positive contribution to the all-round student experience and impact on students’ lives.

She said: ‘I love teaching, which I hope comes across in my delivery. Asa lecturer I try to be in touch with the needs of students, to be flexibleand adaptive so I can communicate and teach them effectively’.

‘I also see this as an important award for the Business School. Nobodyworks in isolation and the support and co-operation of colleaguesacross the school has been excellent.’

Speaking of the achievements, Professor Terry Williams said: ‘To haveso many members of staff nominated and two winners from theBusiness School is absolutely brilliant. Given that students choose theawards, this recognition proves that the Business School is workinghard to put its students first in order to develop responsible leaders forthe future.’

Sumona Mukhuty’s studentcomment

‘Over the years many lecturers tried toinvolve students in the lectures...[She] succeeds in involving herstudents, in presenting the coursecontent interestingly and in inspiringme to set out and develop greaterknowledge of the topic than isrequired.’

Business School Nominations

• Best Module – Tony Boczko

• Best Feedback – Professor Christine Coupland

• Innovative Teaching – Peter Andrews and Dr Alex Trautrims

• Admin/Support Staff – Val Monaghan

Event diary

Full and part-time open events

Open events offer the chance for those looking to study atthe business school the opportunity to visit the facilities atHull or Scarborough.

Visitors will meet members of staff and students from theschool, helping applicants to make an informed decisionabout their future education.

Part-time open evening dates will be finalised shortly.Please visit the website at hull.ac.uk/hubs for furtherdetails.

Career Webinars

Tuesday 13 November 2012Starting and growing a new business

Tuesday 11 December 2012Alumni interview: lessons from a start-up

Tuesday 22 January 2013Introduction to how to use LinkedIn to get your next job

Tuesday 19 February 2013Secrets of how to accelerate your career in yourorganisation

To find out more please visit hubs.hull.ac.uk/alumni

Open and Applicant Days

Saturday 9 February 2013 – Applicant Day

Saturday 23 February 2013 – Applicant Day

Wednesday 6 March 2013 – Applicant Day

Saturday 13 April 2013 – Applicant Day

Saturday 29 June 2013 – Open Day

Saturday 12 June 2013 – Open Day

For further information, general queries should be sent tobusinessschool@hull.ac.uk but for specific entryinformation, please contact Bella Anand, AdmissionsManager, b.anand@hull.ac.uk

The entrance to Hull University Business School