Dr Alison Dean

Dr Alison Dean is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management and Associate Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Social Sciences.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Political Economy from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Economics from LSE, University of London, and a PhD in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Prior to joining Kent Business School, she was a research officer at City University Business School (now known as Cass Business School). 

She has published in a range of journals including the Academy of Management Review, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of World Business, Journal of Business Ethics and Service Industries Journal.

Alison’s research interests are around aspects of strategic change. Her initial post-doctorate research considered the process of implementing change in managing privatisation by UK Water companies.
She has since written on innovation and change, using an options approach to demonstrate how the linking of real and financial markets can affect innovation, and the change processes involved in the internationalisation/globalisation of large UK City Law firms.
Recently she has turned her attention to how to effect change in two different settings: first, exploration of the embedding of ethical consumerism in plastic bag use; and second exploring intra-group connections and leadership and their effect on group performance in a HE setting, using social network analysis techniques.   

Alison’s teaching interests are focused on strategic management, and within that, strategic change knowledge and change management, design thinking and social enterprise.
In the development of her own teaching practice, she is involved in the digital classroom project at the University. She currently chairs the University Assessment & Feedback Steering Group which is involved in a series of projects to improve the student experience of assessment and feedback, including sustainable assessment. She also chairs the OPERA steering group which is concerned with the University’s ‘accessible by design’ activities.   

Student Consultation Hour Appointments can be made here

Past Supervisees

• Joern Fricke: The Evolution of Networks in Backpacker Destinations - Case Studies from Mexico and Malaysia 
• Alexandra Lipitakis: E-Business Strategic Planning and Performance: A Comparative Study of the UK and Greece
• Johanna Riedt: A Model of Organisational Creativity: Learning from Two Creative Giants 

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• She is currently external examiner on the MSc Management at Birkbeck, University of London and has previously been an external examiner at other HEIs in the UK & Ireland.
• •She chairs programme validation events at partner institutions of the University, most recently for the Kent & Medway Medical School. She has also an external panel member on validation panels at other institutions.
• She has given invited talks on inclusive accessibility by design (OPERA project) at public sector conferences.