Professor Christina Butler

Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
Department of Management
Kingston Business School
Kingston Hill

Professor of Management

[email protected]

ORCID

About

I am Professor of Management and senior member of the Department of Management (DoM) in the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences (FBSS), having worked at Kingston University since 2001.

I conduct research with an international network of world-leading scholars focused on equality and diversity issues in global work. My research leadership is demonstrated by regular contributions to the wider research community at leading international conferences, as a journal editorial board editor and member, and internally through long-standing contributions to PhD supervision, research groups, and seminar series. Currently, I complement my research profile with leadership in the domain in my role as School Director of Research.

I have led teaching and learning initiatives in DoM and the wider school. The modules I lead at postgraduate level focus on different aspects of globalisation to encourage awareness of and preparedness for the world of work in the 21st century. Together, these experiences enable me to bring research-led learning into the classroom through innovative curriculum development and embed strategic initiatives across my responsibilities.

Qualifications

PhD Organisational Behaviour (London Business School, UK)
MBA International Business (Ivey Business School, Canada)
BA (Hons) Economics & Russian Language (University of Toronto, Canada)
PGCertHE (Kingston University, UK)
Academic Fellow, Chartered Institute Personnel Development (CIPD), UK
Senior Fellow, Advance HE, UK
Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE), Chartered Association of Business Schools, UK

Domains

I have significant teaching experience across all levels and varied programmes. Currently, I deliver teaching on two programmes (MBA, Global HRM). I also supervise students as they undertake research and consultancy projects across a range of taught masters programmes.

An example of my teaching practice: Diverse Workforce Consulting Project

During 2021/22, I brought Scholastic Publishers, a large company, into BH7705 Leadership, Change and Consultancy, an elective on the MSc International Business Management (MIBM), to expose the 130-strong cohort of international students to the challenges of embedding diversity and inclusion practices in a new cultural context. In a cross-faculty initiative, the MA Publishing students will act as coaches to the MIBM consulting teams at points during this multi-week mini-consulting experience. For many of the international students in the MIBM cohort, this opportunity is their first exposure to work outside their home country. As a result, they are developing confidence in working in the UK environment, building inclusivity knowledge, expanding their global outlook, and enhancing employability prospects. In turn, Scholastic benefits from the insights provided by the University's student resource base and a close-up look at prospective future employees. We are planning to continue our collaboration with Scholastic.

An example of my ICF workstream practice: Strengthening the Elevate Programme for KBS Students

The aims of this appointment are, in the first instance, to reduce the degree awarding gap and increase student engagement and satisfaction by supporting and upskilling teaching staff. Success should ultimately lead to increased enrolment and retention on KBS programmes and strengthened TEF, REF, and KEF metrics. Currently I am working with senior KBS colleagues and University Elevate Programme colleagues to support the building of skills among our Home fees Black students who are the target audience of the programme. We are bringing together business leaders, recent graduates and our current students to network and share best practice.

Qualifications

Certified Management & Business Educator, Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS, 2021)
Senior Fellow, Advance HE (formerly HEA) (Kingston University, 2014)
Academic Member, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD, 2011)
Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning (Kingston University, 2005)

Courses taught

My research is located in the international management (IM) field and the organisational behaviour/human resource management (OB/HRM) discipline which I impact by leveraging international networks to disseminate internationally recognised and cited research.

My research comprises three interconnected themes

Leadership and status issues in global virtual teams (GVTs) – conducted with collaborators located across the Nordic region.
Employability, sustainable careers and wellbeing – concerns the challenges that those with less status (migrants, ethnic minorities, women) experience in GVTs/the workplace more generally and carried out with collaborators in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Mode of working (virtual, hybrid, face-to-face), wellbeing and performance – focused on those with less status in conjunction with collaborators located in northern/western Europe, North America and at KU.

I have supervised five PhD students to completion and currently supervise three students

Derrer is researching agile project team leadership in hybrid contexts.
Howledy is researching careers of BAME women in HE.
Komolafe is studying the national and international staffing challenges in international oil companies in Nigeria.
Winter-Dean is researching the challenges faced by foreign-born gay professionals working in London.

My work has been directly funded by the British Academy, Innovate UK, Norwegian Research Council, and the Finnish Foundation for Economic Education. It has also benefited indirectly from the financial support provided by the Nordic Research Councils in the Humanities and Social Sciences and the Swedish Council for Working Life.

Qualifications

Leadership of global virtual teams
Well-being in global virtual teams
Team-based global organising
Language and emotional influences on global work
Development of global mindsets
Preparing young graduates for the demands of global work
Remote working and well-being

Specialisms

Cross-cultural Management
International HRM
Organisational Behaviour
Careers

Scholarly affiliations

Academy of Management (AoM)
Academy of International Business (AIB)
European International Business Association (EIBA)
British Academy of Management (BAM)
Groupe d'Etudes Management et Langage (GEM & L)

Research

Currently I lead the Future of Work (FOW) Research Hub. I am developing a programme of events with colleagues for 2021/22.

In 2015, I initiated (with Rodrigues, now King's College London) a university-wide longitudinal strategic project, underpinned by conversations with the VC's Office, LTEC (formerly CHERP) and Senior Faculty Staff to understand the career success of Kingston graduates. We supported this initiative with a University-wide preliminary findings workshop for academic and administrative staff. Prof David Guest (King's College London) was the guest speaker at this event. An accompanying report was circulated to attendees and other interested University parties. Two papers have already been published from this project, with more in the pipeline.

As Chair of the Kingston Business School Research Seminar Series, I organised 40 lunchtime seminars over six years. Recent annual themes include "Creating Impact" and "Writing for Different Audiences". Sessions were regularly attended by early career researchers and PhD students, among others, providing a forum for mentoring and the dissemination of expertise within KBS.

Teaching and learning

I disseminate my experiences of research-led and innovative teaching practices at external and internal events contributing to my own development as a reflective and influential practitioner. At AoM, I shared the challenges of teaching cross-cultural management to internationally diverse students and returned with an idea for using student videos in the classroom. I stimulated a lively debate among University academics by guest presenting at "research-informed" teaching CPD workshop and gained insights into the very different perceptions held by colleagues. I collaborated on a case teaching workshop attended by 24 permanent and HPL staff. Subsequently, I mentored a colleague by co-teaching using the case method. These experiences build on a history of presenting at T&L events and a publication in the Journal of Teaching in International Business. Currently I act as Inclusive Curriculum Framework Workstream Lead for KBS. A first programme of activity is being rolled out across KBS during the academic year 2021/22.

In 2014 I was invited to serve on the re-validation panel of University College Cork's Post-graduate Certificate in Management. This opportunity built on prior validation and other QA experiences. I served as an internal member of the validation team for the National School of Government's in-company PG Certificates in HRM and Organisational Learning & Development for the European Commission. Subsequently I sat on the staff/student programme liaison board in Brussels. I complemented these HE experiences by serving as Interview Adviser to A-level students at Ibstock Place School.

I acted as External Examiner at London Business School (2015-2020) where I oversaw all teaching provision offered by the Organisational Behaviour Area Group and held lead responsibility for the institution's Executive MBA. I also acted as External Examiner for the Irish Management Institute's suits of PG Diplomas (2016-2020). From expertise developed as DoM QC Lead, I was able to disseminate good practice (e.g. student feedback). In return I was also able to disseminate good practice back at Kingston (e.g. membership of exam boards). Earlier I was DeMontfort University External Examiner for HRM UG programmes.

University responsibilities

Academic Council (formerly Senate)
Future of Work Research Hub Lead (formerly DoM Research Lead)
DoM PGR Lead
DoM LTA/QC Lead

Public and Civic roles

Journal of World Business (Elsevier), Editorial Board Member (2015 - present)
International Journal of Human Resource Management (Routledge), Editorial Board Member (2020 - present)
International Journal of Emerging Markets (Emerald), Senior Editor (Management) (2020 - 2021)
London Business School, External Examiner (2015 - 2020)
Irish Management Institue, External Examiner (2016 - 2020)

Publications

'This your strike is affecting our children': a story of a host community's intervention on the front line of university-workers disputes in southwest Nigeria.

Babarinde, Ibukunolu D., Butler, Christina L. and Hannon, Enda, 2025, Work, Employment and Society (39), 3 pp 768-778, Published

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Openness towards language differences and cultural differences in multicultural teams: how do they interact?

Lauring, Jakob, Butler, Christina L., Paunova, Minna, Uman, Timur and Zander, Lena, 2024, European Journal of International Management (24), 1 pp 1-24, Published

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On your marks, get set, go! Jumping the hurdles of employability development at an early career stage

Rodrigues, Ricardo, van Harten, Jasmijn, De Cuyper, Nele, Grosemans, Ilke and Butler, Christina, 2024, Journal of Vocational Behavior (151), Published

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Covid-19 pandemic disruptions to working lives: a multilevel examination of impacts across career stages

Mockaitis, Audra I., Butler, Christina L. and Ojo, Adegboyega, 2022, Journal of Vocational Behavior (138), Published

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Evaluating the employability paradox: when does organizational investment in human capital pay off?

Rodrigues, Ricardo, Butler, Christina L. and Guest, David, 2020, International Journal of Human Resource Management (31), 9 pp 1134-1156, Published

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Antecedents of protean and boundaryless career orientations: the role of core self-evaluations, perceived employability and social capital

Rodrigues, Ricardo, Butler, Christina L. and Guest, David, 2019, Journal of Vocational Behavior (110), Part A pp 1-11, Published

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Towards a strategic understanding of global teams and their HR implications: an expert dialogue

Butler, Christina L., Minbaeva, Dana, Mäkelä, Kristiina, Maloney, Mary M., Nardon, Luciara, Paunova, Minna and Zimmermann, Angelika, 2018, International Journal of Human Resource Management (29), 14 pp 2209-2229, Published

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Somewhere in-between: narratives of place, identity and translocal work

Daskalaki, Maria, Butler, Christina L. and Petrovic, Jelena, 2016, Journal of Management Inquiry (25), 2 pp 184-198, Published

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Followers' personality, transformational leadership and performance

Soane, Emma, Butler, Christina and Stanton, Emma, 2015, Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal (5), 1 pp 65-78, Published

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The influence of follower cultural orientation on attitudinal responses towards transformational leadership: evidence from the Chinese hospitality industry

Newman, Alexander and Butler, Christina, 2014, International Journal of Human Resource Management (25), 7 pp 1024-1045, Published

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Processes of international collaboration in management research: a reflexive, autoethnographic approach

Jonsen, Karsten, Butler, Christina L., Mäkelä, Kristiina, Piekkari, Rebecca, Drogendijk, Rian, Lauring, Jakob, Lervik, Jon E., Pahlberg, Cecilia, Vodosek, Markus and Zander, Lena, 2013, Journal of Management Inquiry (22), 4 pp 394-413, Published

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Leading global teams

Zander, Lena, Mockaitis, Audra I. and Butler, Christina L., 2012, Journal of World Business (47), 4 pp 592-603, Published

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The global leader as boundary spanner, bridge maker, and blender

Butler, Christina L., Zander, Lena, Mockaitis, Audra and Sutton, Ciara, 2012, Industrial and Organizational Psychology (5), 2 pp 240-243, Published

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The perceived functions of linguistic risk quantifiers and their effect on risk, negativity perception and decision making

Juanchich, Marie, Sirota, Miroslav and Butler, Christina Lea, 2012, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (118), 1 pp 72-81, Published

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Leadership modes: success strategies for multicultural teams

Zander, Lena and Butler, Christina L., 2010, Scandinavian Journal of Management (26), 3 pp 258-267, Published

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The business of teaching and learning through multicultural teams

Butler, Christina and Zander, Lena, 2008, Journal of Teaching in International Business (19), 2 pp 192-218, Published

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The drivers of cooperation between buyers and suppliers for product innovation

Bidault, Francis, Despres, Charles and Butler, Christina, 1998, Research Policy (26), 7-8 pp 719-723, Published

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Preface: transcending traditional approaches to cross-cultural management

Mockaitis, Audra I. and Butler, Christina (2024). In: Mockaitis, Audra I., Butler, Christina, (eds.), Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar Publishing pp xv-xviii [Published]

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Migrant inclusion and wider workforce well-being: understanding the MNE challenges and solutions through the diversity climates lens

Butler, Christina, Paolillo, Anna and Scuderi, Vittorio Edoardo (2023). In: Mockaitis, Audra I., (eds.), Cham: pp 325-352 [Published]

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Meeting the challenges of globalization in order to make a difference: implications for teams and team leadership

Mäkelä, Kristiina, Lauring, Jakob, Butler, Christina L., Lee, Hyun Jung, Lücke, Gundula, Miska, Christof, Pahlberg, Cecilia and Stahl, Günter K. (2020). In: Zander, Lena, (eds.), Cheltenham, U.K.: pp 91-107 [Published]

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The new millennial global leaders: what a difference a generation makes!

Butler, Christina L., Sutton, Ciara, Mockaitis, Audra I. and Zander, Lena (2020). In: Zander, Lena, (eds.), Cheltenham, U.K.: pp 141-163 [Published]

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Kingston University London: using entrepreneurship programs to attract talent and to enhance educational impact

Butler, Christina Lea and Mador, Martha (2015). In: Foss, Lene, Gibson, David V., (eds.), London, U.K.: Routledge pp 90-112 [Published]

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Team-based global organizations: the future of global organizing

Zander, Lena, Butler, Christina L., Mockaitis, Audra I., Herbert, Kendall, Lauring, Jakob, Makela, Kristiina, Paunova, Minna, Umans, Timurs and Zettinig, Peter (2015). In: van Tulder, Rob, Verbeke, Alain, Drogendijk, Rian, (eds.), Bingley, U.K.: Emerald Group Publishing Limited pp 227-243 [Published]

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Multinational groups and the structuration of organizational culture: a sociological perspective

Butler, Christina L. and Earley, P. Christopher (2001). In: Cooper, Cary L., Cartwright, Sue, Earley, P. Christopher, (eds.), Chichester, U.K.: pp 53-84 [Published]

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Managing the wellbeing of healthcare professionals: understanding HRM best practices through career turning points

Butler, Christina(2024). [Published]

Professor Christina Butler

About

Qualifications

Domains

Teaching and learning

Research

Leadership and management

Publications

Articles

Books

Book Sections/Chapters

Conference Items

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