The Reality of Evidence Based Practice in Organisations

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Time: 6.00pm - 9.00pm
Venue: Kingston Business School, Kingston Hill campus, Kingston Hill, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey
Price: free

The third event in the 2016–2017 series is entitled 'The Reality of Evidence Based Practice in Organisations'.  The evening will explore what evidence based practice is; the benefits and challenges of applying evidence based practice in organisations; and how academics can support practitioners in developing evidence based solutions to organisational problems. This promises to be an exciting evening with thought provoking presentations, followed by a Q&A session and ending with drinks, canapés and networking.

Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Event speakers

• Dr Rachel Lewis (PhD CPsychol), associate professor in occupational psychology, Kingston Business School and co-director of Affinity Health at Work
• Emily Pepin, organisational behaviour research analyst, Aimia
• Maddy Scott, talent development manager, Aimia
• Dr Máire Kerrin (MSc PhD CPsychol AFBPS), Work Psychology Group

Agenda

• 6.00pm - Networking, tea and coffee
• 6.30pm - Welcome and introduction
• 6.40pm - 'An updated model for enabling evidence based practice for all' Dr Rachel Lewis
• 7.00pm - 'Delivering evidence based practice with impact' Dr Máire Kerrin
• 7.20pm - 'When it's good to be critical: enabling evidence based practice' Emily Pepin and Maddy Scott
• 7.40pm - Panel Q&A
• 8.00pm - Networking, drinks and nibbles

Speaker abstracts

An updated model for enabling evidence based practice for all

In the last five years, the evidence based management and practice movement has gained a large following with high profile researchers such as Rob Briner spearheading the associated models as a way to improve practice within our profession.  In this presentation I will share our research using an evidence based practice approach. This research suggests that taking a broader, more inclusive approach, where both academic and practitioner inputs are recognised, will ensure that solutions for practitioners are evidence based, whilst also providing practical and usable solutions. I will challenge academics to broaden their perspective on both the questions that form the focus of their research, and their analytical stance, in order to help address the issues facing organisations. In the second part of my presentation I will give a series of tips and signposts to enable both practitioners and academics to access rigorous evidence that will save both time and money.

When it's good to be critical: enabling evidence based practice

One of the main priorities of the global team this year is focusing on the development of talent and culture (HR) expertise, through company-wide training and roll-out of the evidenced based practice (EBP) approach.

We've always had a 'test and learn' approach at Aimia for the design and deployment of organisational initiatives, along with an appreciation of the importance of bringing research into practice.  More recently we have introduced targeted research projects with teams, which have allowed us to gain insights into specific issues/topics that might ultimately impact on performance. In April 2016 we took this one step further and have been working with the Centre for Evidence Based Management to ensure our approach to EBP is as good as it can be. A range of people within the talent and culture team worked on a live project around diversity and inclusion. This talk will briefly cover our EBP 'journey' through the various projects we have run, focusing primarily on one live example focused on recruitment. We will talk about the difficulties we have faced, as well as the benefits of using an EBP approach in the workplace and consider our future aspirations for EBP at Aimia.

Speaker biographies

Dr Rachel Lewis (PhD CPsychol), associate professor in occupational psychology, Kingston Business School and co-director of Affinity Health at Work.

Dr Rachel Lewis is a registered occupational psychologist, who works both as an academic and as a practitioner along with Emma Donaldson-Feilder and Joanna Yarker.

Rachel and her colleagues' research and work aims to humanise the workplace by improving levels of employee health, wellbeing and engagement, and enhancing people management and leadership skills. Rachel is passionate about promoting evidence based practice and does this by taking a rigorous approach that builds and gathers both academic research and practitioner expertise.  Her research and practice have been multi-award winning, and Rachel (along with Emma) holds both the British Psychological Society and Division of Occupational Psychology Practitioner of the Year awards.  

She has contributed to the development of guidance materials used within organisations and provided by bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, ACAS and the Health and Safety Executive, written articles for both peer reviewed academic and trade publications, and co-authored and edited three books, one (written with Emma Donaldson-Feilder and Joanna Yarker) based on their research on 'Management Competencies for Preventing and Reducing Stress at Work', which was awarded 'Practitioner book of the Year' by the British Psychological Society.

Rachel is also an active member of the division, currently sitting on the Professional Education and Qualifications Strategy Group (PEQ), aimed at revising the standards for Stage 2 Professional Development (Chartership).

Emily Pepin, organisational behaviour research analyst, Aimia

Emily completed a masters in organisational psychology at City University, when she also joined Aimia as an intern. She then worked as a research assistant for City University and Thomas International, returning to Aimia six months later. Emily has worked as part of the global Talent & Culture team as an organisational behaviour research analyst since April 2015. The role is varied but the main aim is to apply current and relevant research to important organisational initiatives (eg performance management) and then work closely with divisional counterparts to personalise and deliver to their client groups.

Maddy Scott, talent development manager, Aimia

Maddy has worked at Aimia since May 2016 as a talent development manager within the Talent & Culture team.  It's a role with a wide-range of responsibilities, but ultimately she ensures that the learning opportunities on offer for employees within the EMEA region are high quality and beneficial.  Prior to this Maddy worked in a consultancy, which she joined after completing her masters in occupational psychology from Goldsmiths, University of London.  Her main topics of interest in psychology are (luckily) training and development and she also has an interest in coaching and wellbeing. 

Dr Máire Kerrin (MSc PhD CPsychol AFBPS), Work Psychology Group

For further information about this event:

Contact: Taslim Tharani
Email: KU51205@Kingston.ac.uk