Addressing barriers to participation
Making full use of potential and existing talent is essential in any innovation ecosystem. Although gender diversity has improved in recent years, underrepresentation of women is still a problem and is still evident in the low numbers of women involved in the teams that spin-out companies from our universities. Companies that participated in Advanced Oxford’s Attract, Retain and Grow study acknowledged that gender diversity is one of the challenges the innovation ecosystem of Oxfordshire is currently facing.
The Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice is part of Advanced Oxford member, Oxford Brookes University, and sits within the Business School. The Centre specialises in research on equality and diversity issues in the workplace and in the wider labour market. The Centre is externally funded from a range of sources – the European Commission, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), EU Horizon 2020, Advance-HE and Human Rights Commission.
Advanced Oxford is working with The Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice and sponsors a PhD studentship, which is held by Hannah Tornow. Hannah started her PhD in January, 2021. We will be posting regular blogs on Hannah’s research throughout her PhD, which can be found on this page.
Participating in this research
Advanced Oxford is looking for companies willing to participate as part of this PhD research on gender-inclusive innovation in Oxfordshire’s innovation ecosystem. The goal of the research is to develop policies that will help companies to be more innovative, inclusive and improve the working conditions for their employees. This research project contributes to the understanding of how the innovation economy works in Oxfordshire and what can be done to overcome potential barriers to innovation.
Research is being conducted at three levels:
(i) at the level of the individual – through a survey
(ii) at the level of the organisation – through an interview
(iii) at the level of the ecosystem – mediated through ethnographic research methodologies (see Hannah’s blog on this subject below)
We are now looking for companies that are willing to distribute an online, self-completion questionnaire to employees, either across the whole company, or within units/divisions where R&D or innovation activity is taking place. The survey will collect data which aims to understand how employees perceive the company environment and their own role in innovation.
In a second step, we are asking companies to identify one key representative, e.g. C-suite member, site management, senior management or a senior member of the HR team for an interview (maximum 60 minutes). The interview will examine perceptions within your company relating to innovation, gender equality, organisational policies and culture.
Finally, as this is mixed-method research, ethnographic observation is also being used. Please consider identifying meetings and events that you believe might be interesting and provide insight into the workings of the innovation ecosystem of Oxfordshire.
To participate, or to find out more, please contact Hannah Tornow Hannah@advancedoxford.com or connect via LinkedIn.
