Professor Rob Paton
Professor in Social Enterprise
Professor Rob Paton is a member of The Open University's Centre for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise.
You can email Professor Rob Paton directly; but for media enquiries please contact a member of The Open University's Media Relations team.
Biography
Rob was born in Africa, schooled in Edinburgh, and a student at Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He has taught at the Open University for more than 25 years where he helped pioneer the use of Supported Open Learning for management development and has led several major curriculum development and design exercises. He was instrumental in setting up the Centre for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise, where he is based.
Starting with studies of worker co-operatives in the 1970s, he has had a long-standing interest in how value-based organisations can sustain their social commitments and still ensure effective, enterprising forms of management and organisation. His research on performance measurement and improvement methods in public and non-profit contexts led to the popular Managing and Measuring Social Enterprise (Sage, 2003). Currently, he is working with nine chief executives in a study (funded by Zurich Financial Services Charitable Trust and NCVO's Leadership Centre) of the 'inner world' of leaders in public and non-profit settings.
For many years he has also pursued an interest in management learning, publishing articles, leading research projects, and working with the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Business, Management and Accountancy to encourage new approaches to teaching and learning. Recent publications include a co-edited volume on Corporate Universities.
He has consulted to, and taught in, a range of public and non-profit organisations, and chaired the Trustees of the Scott Bader Commonwealth (a small multi-national chemical company of Quaker origins that has an international reputation for employee involvement and corporate social responsibility). He has served as Secretary of the Association of Researchers on Non-profit Organization and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA), the leading international body in this field, and is a member of the Advisory Council for the University Network for Social Entrepreneurship.
Research interests
Management, leadership & governance in public and third sector settings, especially: - post-conventional leadership and value dilemmas - performance measurement and reporting
Trends in and affecting the third sector, especially: - the development of social investment - public policies for co-production and social enterprise.
New modes of learning, especially: - large-scale, technology enabled and practice-based initiatives - inter-organizational learning communities
Impact and engagement
He is Co-Chair of the Trustees of Citzens: mk, a developing alliance of community organizations and an affiliate of Citzens UK, promoters of the Living Wage.
External contributions
He is a member of the Advisory Group for the Third Sector Research Centre and the ESRC's Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy
Areas of expertise
- performance management
- social performance
- civil society
- third sector
- social investment
Current projects
- On being a chief executive
- Performance measurement: applying Return on Investment (ROI) in new domains
Research student supervision
Publications
(2003) 'Managing and measuring social enterprises', London, UK, Sage Publications, pp. 192. Abstract
(1990) 'Management Development in Voluntary Organizations: a handbook', Sheffield, The Training Agency, HMSO.
(1990) 'Developing managers in voluntary organisations: Management and training development: A Handbook', Sheffield, U.K., The Training Agency, HMSO, pp. 98. Abstract
(1989) 'Reluctant Entrepreneurs: The Extent, Achievements and Significance of Worker Takeovers in Europe', Milton Keynes, The Open University Press. Abstract
(2008) 'Understanding diversity in community composting: it’s all in the mix', Proceedings of Waste 2008 Sustainable Waste and Resource Management - a shared responsibility, Stratford-upon-Avon.
(2007) 'Fundraising as marketing: half a truth is better than no truth', Thoughtful Fundraising: concepts, issues and perspectives, Abingdon, Routledge, pp. 29-37. Abstract
(2007) 'Social enterprise', The Alternative Comprehensive Spending Review, Manchester, Herbert Simon Institute, pp. 154-159. Abstract
(2007) 'Benchmarking fundraising performance', Thoughtful Fundraising: Concepts, Issues and Perspectives, Abingdon, UK, Routledge, pp. 143-156. Abstract
(2006) 'Corporate sponsorship and partnerships', Thoughtful Fundraising: Concepts, Issues and Perspectives, Abingdon, Routledge, pp. 100-111. Abstract
(2006) 'Measurement and its pitfalls', Making Policy Happen, Abingdon, Routledge, pp. 216-228.
(2005) 'Corporate universities as strategic learning initiatives', Handbook of corporate university development: managing strategic learning initiatives in the public and private domains, London, UK, Gower Publishing, pp. 5-16. Abstract
(2005) 'Reviewing and reporting results', Handbook of Corporate University Development: Managing Strategic Learning Initiatives in the Public and Private Domains, London, Gower Publishing, pp. 123-132. Abstract
(2005) 'Designing for blended learning', The handbook of corporate university development: managing strategic learning initiatives in the public and private domains, London, UK, Gower Publishing. Abstract
(2005) 'Evolution and experimentation: the Barclays University case', Handbook of corporate university development: managing strategic learning initiatives in the public and private domains, London, UK, Gower Publishing, pp. 71-82. Abstract
(2005) 'Using a corporate university initiative to drive strategic change', Handbook of Corporate University Development: Managing Strategic Learning Initiatives in the public and private domains, London, Gower Publishing, pp. 17-28. Abstract
(2003) 'Corporate universities: between higher education and the workplace', The Enterprising University: Reform, Excellence and Equity, Buckingham, U.K., The Open Univesity Press and SRHE, pp. 96-109. Abstract
(2003) 'Corporate universities and leadership development', Leadership in Organizations: current issues and key trends, UK, London: Routledge, pp. 103-124. Abstract
(2003) 'Designing and delivering leadership education and development: the role of corporate universities (2nd edition)', Leadership in Organizations: Current issues and key trends, Abingdon, U.K. and New York, NY, U.S., Routledge, pp. 93-113. Abstract
(2002) 'Constructive constructivism - a new perspective on the design and use of performance measures', Performance Measurement and Management 2002 Research and Action, Cranfield, U.K., Cranfield School of Management, Centre for Business Performance.
(1998) 'The trouble with values', International Perspectives on Voluntary Action: Reshaping the Third Sector, London, U.K., Earthscan, pp. 132-141. Abstract
(1998) 'Opening up non-profit management development: a national development based on distance learning', Non-profit Management Education: US and World Perspectives, Westport, CT, USA, Greenwood Publishing Group, pp. 33-45. Abstract
(1998) 'Opening up non-profit management development: Lessons from the Open University's voluntary sector management programme', Non-profit Management Education: US and World Perspectives, Westport, CT, Praegan, pp. 33-45.
(1997) 'Managing voluntary organizations in the contract culture: continuity or change?', The contract culture in public services: studies from Britain, Europe, and the USA, Aldershot, U.K., Arena, pp. 47-56. Abstract
(1995) 'How are values handles in voluntary agencies?', Billis, D and Harris, M (eds) in Managing Voluntary Agencies, London, Macmillan.
(1993) 'La economia social en el Reina Unido', Economia Social: entre economia capitalista y economic publica, Madrid, CIRIEC - Espagne and INFES, pp. 89-129.
(1991) 'The social economy: value-based organizations in the wider society', Issues in voluntary and non-profit management, London, U.K., Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, pp. 3-12. Abstract
(1991) 'What's different about managing in voluntary and nonprofit organizations?', Issues in voluntary and nonprofit management, Addison-Wesley, pp. 36-46.
(1991) 'Worker takeovers of failing and bankrupt enterprises in Europe', Ownership and participation, issue 2, Oxford, U.K., Oxford University Press, pp. 28-42. Abstract
(1990) 'Distance learning and management education - developments and prospects in the UK', Post-secondary Education: Preparation for the World of Work, Aldershot, U.K. and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Dartmouth Publishing Company Limited, pp. 151-162. Abstract
(1989) 'A very concrete example', Co-ops to the rescue!, London, U.K., ICOM Co-publications, pp. 88-105.
(1988) 'Powers visible and invisible', Organisations: Cases, Issues and Concepts, Thousand Oaks, CA, U.S., Sage Publications, pp. 105-110. Abstract
(1988) 'The launch of the Centaur', Organisations: Cases, Issues and Concepts, Thousand Oaks, CA, U.S., Sage Publications, pp. 17-21. Abstract
(1988) 'Worker co-operatives and the democratisation of work in Europe', Worker Freedom: The Promise of Workplace Democracy, New York, TOES Books.
(2009) 'Emerging resource flows for social entrepreneurship; theorizing social investment', British Academy of Management Annual Conference, Brighton, University of Brighton. Abstract
(2008) 'Social investment discussion paper', Social Investment Seminar, Admiralty House, Whitehall, pp. 33.
(2008) 'Making deeper sense in the midst of great busyness: a study of and with third sector CEOs', 37th Annual Conference of ARNOVA, Philadelphia, USA. Abstract
(2007) 'Social entrepreneurship as societal problem-solving: what will be our legacy?', International Conference on Social Entrepreneurship in India, December.
(2006) 'Studying social entrepreneurship and enterprise', Entrepreneurship outside enterprise, Warwick University. Abstract
(2004) 'Are management education systems internationally transferable? - a large-scale, longitudinal case report of OUBS partnerships in Eastern Europe', 11th EDiNEB Conference, Maastricht, Netherlands.
(2002) 'The 'turnaround' process in non-profit contexts: four cases and some theory', Annual ARNOVA Conference, Montreal, Canada.
(2001) 'Mapping the corporate university phenomenon: issues and frameworks for an empirical study', British Academy of Management Conference, Cardiff, U.K..
(2001) 'Tracking progress in the transformation of business schools', BEST Conference: Maintaining Quality in Changing Times, Windermere, UK. Abstract
(2000) 'Benchmarking by nonprofits: an examination of the cross-sector diffusion of a management technique', British Academy of Management Conference, Edinburgh, September.
(1999) 'The performance management of social enterprises by government', Third International Research Symposium on Public Management (IRSPM III), Aston.
(1999) ''Using the Dashboard' to review performance measures and reporting', 28th Annual ARNOVA Conference, Arlington VA.
(1997) 'Dashboards for nonprofits: a new approach to an old problem', ARNOVA Conference, Indianapolis, IN, U.S..
(1993) 'A stakeholder typology and approach to voluntary and non-profit organizations', British Academy of Management Conference, Bradford, September.
(1993) 'Managing voluntary organizations in the contract culture: continuity or change?', Contracting - shrinking or selling, NCVO, South Bank University, July.
(1983) 'Why do large cooperatives degenerate - and must they?', 4th International Conference on the Economics of Self-Management, Liege, Belgium, July.
(1981) 'Power in cooperatives', International Conference on Producer Cooperatives, Copenhagen.
(2007) 'Thoughtful Fundraising: Concepts, Issues and Perspectives', Abingdon, UK, Routledge. Abstract
(2006) 'Making policy happen', London, UK, Routledge. Abstract
(2005) 'Handbook of corporate university development: managing strategic learning initiatives in the public and private domains', Aldershot, UK, Gower Publishing. Abstract
(1996) 'The New Management Reader', London, U.K., Routledge. Abstract
(1991) 'Issues in voluntary and non-profit management', Wokingham, UK, Addison Wesley.
(1988) 'Organizations: cases, issues, concepts', Thousand Oaks, CA, U.S., Sage Publications. Abstract
(2009) 'Government support for faith-based organizations: the case of a development programme for faith leaders', Public Money and Management, vol. 29, issue 6, pp. 363-370. Abstract
(2008) 'How transferable are management learning systems? Reflections on 15 years of transnational partnerships', Management Learning, vol. 39, issue 1, pp. 93-111.
(2008) 'Comment on "The British are not coming! UK higher education and the nonprofit sector"', Nonprofit Management & Leadership, vol. 19, issue 1, pp. 101-105.
(2007) 'Beyond nonprofit management education: leadership development in a time of blurred boundaries and distributed learning', Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, vol. 36, issue 4, pp. 148S-162S. Abstract
(2004) 'Editorial:failure and turnaround in public and non-profit organizations', Public Money and Management, vol. 24, issue 4, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 197-199. Abstract
(2004) 'What's different about public and non-profit "turnaround"?', Public Money and Management, vol. 24, issue 4, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 209-216. Abstract
(2001) 'Non-profit management education: international trends and issues', Public Performance and Management Review, vol. 25, issue 1, London: Sage, pp. 57-73. Abstract
(2000) 'What happens when nonprofits use quality models for self-assessment?', Non-profit Management and Leadership, vol. 11, issue 1, pp. 21-34. Abstract
(2000) 'Non-profit's use of awards to improve and demonstrate performance: valuable discipline or burdensome formalities?', Voluntas, vol. 11, issue 4, pp. 329-353. Abstract
(1999) 'Performance comparisons in fundraising - the case of "Fundratios"', International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, vol. 4, issue 4, pp. 287-299. Abstract
(1997) 'The religious dimensions of management belief', Iconoclastic Papers, vol. 1, issue 1.
(1996) 'What's different about non-profit marketing? - A research agenda', International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, vol. 1, issue 1, John Wiley & Sons, pp. 23-31. Abstract
(1993) 'L'economie sociale au Royaume-Uni', Revue des Etudes Cooperatives Mutualistes et Associatives, vol. 46, issue 2, pp. 51-75.
(1991) 'Arguments pour une definition', La Revue de l'Economie Sociale - Special Issue L'economie sociale en Grande Bretagne, vol. XXIII.
(1990) 'Tutoring managers: some ramifications of experience-based assignments', Open Learning, vol. 5, issue 3, pp. 28-34.
(1988) 'Top down versus bottom up: good-bye to all that', Local Economy, vol. 3, issue 3, Routledge, pp. 159-167.
(1986) 'Learning to manage and managing to learn', Open Learning, vol. 1, issue 3, Routledge, pp. 18-21. Abstract
(2010) 'Civil society and the 'commanding heights' the civil economy: past, present, future.', Paper for the Carnegie Trust UK Commission on the Future of Civil Society (c.12,000 words)., issue ISBN 9, Dunfermline, The Carnegie UK Trust. Abstract
(2009) 'Faith Leaders and Workers Project: Evaluation Report', London, Communities and Local Government.
(2006) 'Evaluation of the National Outcomes Dissemination Programme 2003 - 2006', London, U.K., Charities Evaluation Services and The Open University. Abstract
(2005) 'Corporate education strategies: corporate universities in practice', Policy Paper for Ministério do Desenvolvimento, Indústria e Comércio Exterior, Brazil, Government of Brazil.
(2002) 'Corporate universities: historical development, conceptual analysis and relations with public-sector higher education', London, The Observatory of Borderless Higher Education. Abstract
(1994) 'Large Voluntary Organizations: Users and Carers and the New Community Care Arrangements', York, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
(1979) 'The fuzzy game, a business for coops', Open University Cooperatives Research Unit.
(1979) 'Fairblow dynamics', Monograph No. 2, Open University Cooperatives Research Unit.
(1978) 'Some problems of cooperative organization', Monograph No. 1 - Open University Cooperatives Research Unit.
(1999) 'Benchmarking at the RSPB - A text book case?', Open University Business School Working Paper, issue 99/05.
(1999) 'Good practice: what do users want? The Experience of a Successful Good Practice Unit', Open University Business School Working Paper, issue 99/06.
(1999) 'Using benchmarking to develop an entire field: the case of trade associations', Open University Business School Working Paper, issue 99/08.
(1999) 'How Social Enterprises Use IIP: two case studies', Open University Business School Working Paper, issue 99/16.
(1999) 'The Use of ISO 9000 in Social Enterprises: three case studies', Open University Business School Working Paper, issue 99/17.
(2007) 'A Corporate University for the Senior Civil Service?', Report commissioned by the National School of Government/Cabinet Office.
(2007) 'Keeping conflict constructive', Blog for OpenLearn.
(2006) 'Fair trade matters', issue 31/03/10, Blog for the BBC's The Money Programme.
Testimonials
