Maynooth University Faculty of Social Sciences

Professor Robert Galavan holds the Chair in Strategic Management at the School of Business. He was the founding Head and Professor of Business at NUI Maynooth and is a former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He directs the MSc in Strategy and Innovation. 

Robert is an internationally recognised expert in Strategic Management and has taught in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and Brazil. He has consulted and provided executive development programmes for organisations such as Google, United Drug, Kerry Group, Pfizer, Pepsi, Aer Arann, Coca-Cola, Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Office of the Attorney General, Sisk Healthcare, Glanbia, the Defence Forces, Enterprise Ireland, and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Robert’s primary research interests are focused on managerial discretion in the context of strategic decision making and firm performance. His work in the area is highly acclaimed and his doctoral thesis on the topic won the Cranfield University Director’s Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis, and the commendation in the European Foundation for Management Development – Emerald Publishing Prize for the Outstanding Doctoral Thesis.

Robert has published several books including Uncertainty and Strategic Decision Making (New Horizons in Managerial and Organizational Cognition series, Emerald), and previously Strategy, Innovation and Change, published by Oxford University Press. His previous text books include Management Techniques in Context, and Management Techniques in Practice. In parallel with his disciplinary interests Robert is also an active member of the Irish Academy of Management. He is committed to supporting work that meets the dual hurdle of both rigour and relevance in management research and teaching. Roberts teaches strategic management, strategic leadership, and innovation. He uses a range of innovative and technology based approaches to teaching including the application of complex business simulation models. Prior to joining the National University of Ireland, Robert was Head of Executive Education and the Senior Specialist in Strategic Management & Leadership at the Irish Management Institute where he designed and delivered a range of senior executive programmes. He was also a director on the Trinity College-IMI Graduate School research board.

Prior to joining academia, Robert spent 17 years in industry working in both manufacturing and service organisations.  He worked in a variety of management roles including Engineering Design, Business Development, Quality Assurance, Operation Management, and General Management and was one of the pioneers in the introduction of quality assurance programmes for Irish industry. Robert holds an honours BA degree in Management from the IMI, an MA in Adult Education from the National University of Ireland Maynooth, a National Diploma in Business Strategy (ordinary degree) and an award winning Ph.D. from Cranfield University in the UK.  He is accredited by the British Psychological Society to use a wide range of psychometric instruments. Robert has served on the Board of the Institute of Public Administration and the Social Sciences Committee of the Royal Irish Academy. He is a member of the Executive Council of the Irish Academy of Management and Chairs the IAM Strategy Significant Interest Group. He is Trustee and Treasurer of the Mount Street Club Trust charity.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robertgalavan
Twitter: @robertgalavan