Contact Professor David Denyer
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754821
- Email: david.denyer@cranfield.ac.uk
- Twitter: @daviddenyer
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Safety, Resilience, Risk & Reliability
Background
I am a business school professor who works at the interface between world-class research, academic leadership, and real-world practice. My research and executive education focus on how leaders navigate complex challenges, develop organisational resilience capabilities, and drive transformational change.
Research opportunities
My work is interdisciplinary, allowing me to attract support for large-scale research from diverse funders, including a prestigious ESRC/AIM Fellowship, EPSRC, DEFRA, NERC, Royal Academy of Engineering, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the NHS National Institute for Health Research. I publish in leading business and management journals, such as Organization Studies, Academy of Management Annals, Academy of Management Discoveries, Academy of Management Perspectives, Public Administration Review, Organisation Research Methods, International Journal of Management Reviews, British Journal of Management, and in other disciplines such as Safety Science. These papers have attracted more than 30,000 citations (Google Scholar). I have successfully attracted and supported postgraduate students, with a track record of supervising twelve doctoral completions. Policy and practice impact is a top priority, and I served as the primary author of a 4-star rated Impact Case Study for REF 2021. I have been honoured with Fellowships from prestigious institutions, including the Academy of Social Sciences, the British Academy of Management, the Advanced Institute of Management, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Higher Education Academy, and the Centre for Evidence-based Management.
Current activities
Working at the forefront of higher education for over two decades, I have held significant senior roles and gained a profound understanding and extensive experience in business schools' landscape, strategy, operations, and culture. As Strategic Business Director within the School of Management, I am instrumental in identifying and securing transformative initiatives that elevate our reputation, drive revenue growth, and amplify our societal impact. As Head of the Leadership and Change Group, I provide strategic guidance to research centres, oversee financial matters, and manage staff. Moreover, as founder and Co-Chair of the Cranfield Resilience and Security Institute, I lead an interdisciplinary initiative engaging academics from all Cranfield schools. Our mission is to bolster the University's global standing as a leader in resilience and security matters through innovative research, engaging with policymakers and leaders at a senior level, and building strategic partnerships.
Clients
Executive development clients:
Neath and Port Talbot Council, EDF, Shell, Sellafield, Air Asia, Centrica, Siemens, Luton and Bedfordshire Combined Fire Service, RedR, Place Group, Lloydmasters, Police Service Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Prisons Service, Sport England, GKN, HSBC, Virgin Mobile, UNICEF, RedR, National School for Government, Torfaen Local Safeguarding Children Board, Travis Perkins, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Bourton Group, Welsh Assembly, Office for National Statistics, Virgin Money, NHS South West, Academi Wales, Loreal, HPMA Wales, Nationwide, BG Group, Cabinet Office, Home Office, European Commission, Royal Sun Alliance, Highways England, Kier.
Consultancy and advisory roles with senior executive leadership teams and boards:
Mobilize Financial Services, Civil Aviation Authority, British Standards Institution, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Broadmoor Hospital, Personal Group, European Central Bank, ITV, TJX, QCQ, Network Rail.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Pilbeam C, Denyer D & Sutliff M. (2025). Guided by principles or rules: a Delphi study on how safety professionals frame safety practices. Safety Science, 184
- Djabbarov I, Pavlov A & Denyer D. (2024). All Change: How Peripheral Actors Theorize Change in Mature Fields. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2024(1)
- Djabbarov I, Pavlov A & Denyer D. (2023). How Theorization and Institutionalization Co-evolve Over Time. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2023(1)
- Wright TA, Emich K, Pearce JL & Denyer D. (2023). Advocacy and the search for truth in management scholarship: can the twain ever meet?. Journal of Management Inquiry, 33(1)
- Krisberga-Sinigoi S, Reinmoeller P, Denyer D & Tobias J. (2023). Traumatic Experiences in a Dying Organisation: Causes and Coping. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2023(1)
- Kunisch S, Menz M, Bartunek JM, Cardinal LB, Denyer D, .... (2023). Review Research as Scientific Inquiry: How to Publish Literature Reviews in Top Journals. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2023(1)
- Kunisch S, Denyer D, Bartunek JM, Menz M & Cardinal LB. (2022). Review research as scientific inquiry. Organizational Research Methods, 26(1)
- Cowley CI, Denyer D, Kutsch E & Turnbull James K. (2021). Constructing safety: reconciling error prevention and error management in oil & gas and petrochemicals operations. Academy of Management Discoveries, 7(4)
- Krisberga-Sinigoi S, Reinmoeller P, Denyer D & Tobias J. (2021). Staying in a dying organisation: stigmatisation and organisational identificatification. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2021(1)
- Pilbeam C, Denyer D & Doherty N. (2020). Safety risk factors in two different types of routine outsourced work: a systematic literature review. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, 18(2)
- Murphy J, Denyer D & Pettigrew A. (2020). The role of framing mechanisms in explaining system-wide change: The case of the Northern Ireland conflict and peace process. British Journal of Management, 32(2)
- Habersang S, Rauch A, Denyer D, Hoon C, Reihlen M, .... (2020). Exploring New Methodological Avenues: Opportunities & Challenges of Qualitative Meta-Studies. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2020(1)
- Denyer D, Bartunek JM, Cardinal LB, Breslin D, Connelly B, .... (2020). Publishing Rigorous and Impactful Literature Reviews in Business and Management Research. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2020(1)
- Harris JA, Denyer D, Harwood S, Braithwaite G, Jude S, .... (2020). Time to invest in global resilience. Nature, 583(7814)
- Pilbeam C, Denyer D, Doherty N & Davidson R. (2019). Designing safer working interventions through a literature review using a mechanisms-based approach. Safety Science, 120
- Denyer D, Allen DG, Elsbach KD, Gatrell CJ, Phan P, .... (2019). How to Publish Rigorous and Impactful Literature Reviews. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2019(1)
- Kunisch S, Menz M, Bartunek JM, Cardinal LB & Denyer D. (2018). Feature Topic at Organizational Research Methods. Organizational Research Methods, 21(3)
- Murphy J, McDowell S, Braniff M & Denyer D. (2017). Managing contested spaces: public managers, obscured mechanisms and the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 36(3)
- Denyer D. (2017). Impact and management research: exploring relationships between temporality, dialogue, reflexivity and praxis. British Journal of Management, 28(1)
- Pilbeam C, Doherty N, Davidson R & Denyer D. (2016). Effect of isomorphic forces on safety practices in service organizations – are there dangers to homogeneity?. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, 14(1)
- Pilbeam C, Doherty N, Davidson R & Denyer D. (2016). Safety leadership practices for organizational safety compliance: developing a research agenda from a review of the literature. Safety Science, 86
- Murphy J, Rhodes ML, Meek JW & Denyer D. (2016). Managing the entanglement: complexity leadership in public sector systems. Public Administration Review, 77(5)
- Buchanan D, Denyer D & Moore C. (2015). "'She nearly escaped, but we got her in the end': The Wrong Path to Improving Patient Safety". Academy of Management Proceedings, 2015(1)
- Pilbeam C, Davidson R, Doherty N & Denyer D. (2015). What learning happens? Using audio diaries to capture learning in response to safety-related events within retail and logistics organizations. Safety Science, 81
- Romme AGL, Avenier M, Denyer D, Hodgkinson GP, Pandza K, .... (2015). Towards Common Ground and Trading Zones in Management Research and Practice. British Journal of Management, 26(3)
- Adams R, Jeanrenaud S, Bessant J, Denyer D & Overy P. (2015). Sustainability-oriented innovation: a systematic review. International Journal of Management Reviews, 18(2)
- Wang L, James KT, Denyer D & Bailey C. (2014). Western views and Chinese whispers: Re-thinking global leadership competency in multi-national corporations. Leadership, 10(4)
- Mauelshagen C, Smith M, Schiller F, Denyer D, Rocks S, .... (2014). Effective risk governance for environmental policy making: A knowledge management perspective. Environmental Science & Policy, 41
- Buchanan DA & Denyer D. (2013). Researching Tomorrow's Crisis: Methodological Innovations and Wider Implications. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(2)
- Kutsch E, Denyer D, Hall M & Lee-Kelley EL. (2013). Does risk matter? Disengagement from risk management practices in information systems projects. European Journal of Information Systems, 22(6)
- Pilbeam C, Lloyd-Jones G & Denyer D. (2013). Leveraging value in doctoral student networks through social capital. Studies in Higher Education, 38(10)
- Mauelshagen C, Denyer D, Carter M & Pollard S. (2013). Respect for experience and organisational ability to operate in complex and safety critical environments. Journal of Risk Research, 16(9)
- Adams R, Tranfield D & Denyer D. (2013). Process antecedents of challenging, under‐cover and readily‐adopted innovations. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 27(1)
- Marcos J & Denyer D. (2012). Crossing the sea from They to We? The unfolding of knowing and practising in collaborative research. Management Learning, 43(4)
- Denyer D, Kutsch E, Lee-Kelley L & Hall ML. (2011). Exploring reliability in information systems programmes. International Journal of Project Management, 29(4)
- ADAMS R, TRANFIELD D & DENYER D. (2011). A TAXONOMY OF INNOVATION: CONFIGURATIONS OF ATTRIBUTES IN HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS. International Journal of Innovation Management, 15(02)
- Fitzsimons D, Turnbull James K & Denyer D. (2011). Alternative approaches for studying shared and distributed leadership. International Journal of Management Reviews, 13(3)
- Denyer D, Parry E & Flowers P. (2011). "Social", "Open" and "Participative"? Exploring Personal Experiences and Organisational Effects of Enterprise2.0 Use. Long Range Planning, 44(5-6)
- Mauelshagen C, Rocks S, Pollard S & Denyer D. (2011). Risk management pervasiveness and organisational maturity: a critical review. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 2(4)
- Adams R, Tranfield D & Denyer D. (2011). How can toast be radical? Perceptions of innovations in healthcare. International Journal of Clinical Leadership, 17(1)
- ADAMS R, TRANFIELD D & DENYER D. (2011). A TAXONOMY OF INNOVATION: CONFIGURATIONS OF ATTRIBUTES IN HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS. International Journal of Innovation Management, 15(02)
- Pilbeam C & Denyer D. (2009). Lone scholar or community member? The role of student networks in doctoral education in a UK management school. Studies in Higher Education, 34(3)
- Briner RB, Denyer D & Rousseau DM. (2009). Evidence-Based Management: Concept Cleanup Time?. Academy of Management Perspectives, 23(4)
- Turnbull James K & Denyer D. (2009). Historical Roots and Future Directions: New Challenges for Management Learning. Management Learning, 40(4)
- Briner RB, Denyer D & Rousseau DM. (2009). Evidence-Based Management: Concept Cleanup Time?. Academy of Management Perspectives, 23(4)
- Rousseau DM, Manning J & Denyer D. (2008). 11 Evidence in Management and Organizational Science: Assembling the Field’s Full Weight of Scientific Knowledge Through Syntheses. Academy of Management Annals, 2(1)
- Denyer D, Tranfield D & van Aken JE. (2008). Developing Design Propositions through Research Synthesis. Organization Studies, 29(3)
- Rousseau DM, Manning J & Denyer D. (2008). 11 Evidence in Management and Organizational Science: Assembling the Field’s Full Weight of Scientific Knowledge Through Syntheses. The Academy of Management Annals, 2(1)
- Boaz A, Ashby D, Denyer D, Egan M, Harden A, .... (2006). A multitude of syntheses: a comparison of five approaches from diverse policy fields. Evidence & Policy, 2(4)
- Denyer D & Tranfield D. (2006). Using qualitative research synthesis to build an actionable knowledge base. Management Decision, 44(2)
- Tranfield D & Denyer D. (2004). Linking Theory to Practice: A ‘Grand Challenge’ for Management Research in the 21stCentury?. Organization Management Journal, 1(1)
- Tranfield D, Denyer D & Burr M. (2004). A framework for the strategic management of long‐term assets (SMoLTA). Management Decision, 42(2)
- Tranfield D, Denyer D, Marcos J & Burr M. (2004). Co‐producing management knowledge. Management Decision, 42(3/4)
- Denyer D & Neely A. (2004). Introduction to special issue: Innovation and productivity performance in the UK. International Journal of Management Reviews, 5-6(3-4)
- Tranfield D, Denyer D & Smart P. (2003). Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence‐Informed Management Knowledge by Means of Systematic Review. British Journal of Management, 14(3)
- Buchanan DA, Denyer D, Jaina J, Kelliher C, Moore C, .... How do they manage? A qualitative study of the realities of middle and front-line management work in health care. Health Services and Delivery Research, 1(4)