Research Stream 2

What is this research stream?

A distinctive feature of regional economic growth is the contribution made by a few very fast growing, highly innovative ventures, often with global intent. Scaling a business once product/market fit has been achieved is a complex task and the tacit knowledge built up through trial and error by management teams in scaling businesses has not been codified.

Scaling a business from the western edge of the westernmost landmass in Europe brings additional challenges, including remoteness and peripherality, but also opportunities, including lower labour and premises costs and higher quality of life.

This research stream will develop at least 24 detailed case histories of indigenous and foreign-owned businesses that have successfully scaled in the West of Ireland (north and south), focusing specifically on the issues involved in scaling products, markets, teams and processes, practices for their effective resolution, and scaling-specific supports to enable scaling success from the West of Ireland.

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What is involved?

Focussing specifically on the regional dimension of business scaling, covering businesses in diverse industries and a diverse range of founders, CEOs and top team members, these case studies will provide rich raw material for teaching cases in undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education as well as forming a foundation for developing the scholarly understanding of business scaling from a regional home base.

This work will address the relatively slow rate of economic growth in the west of Ireland (both north and south) by identifying successful management practices in scaling businesses in the region; an integral part of the research stream will be an impact year (year 4) when lessons learned will be shared via reports and recommendations for scaling-specific supports for policymakers. Furthermore, masterclasses will be run for businesses to enhance knowledge on how businesses can scale across the west of the Island of Ireland, both North and South.

Get involved

Our research will provide valuable insights for businesses across the island of Ireland, by offering detailed case studies of successful scaling ventures.

Understanding the specific challenges and opportunities of scaling in the Western region will equip businesses with tailored strategies for growth, enhancing their competitiveness and fostering sustainable development within the local economy.

Complete the form to register your interest to engage with Research Stream 2.

Who is Involved?

Professor Esther Tippmann, University of Galway

Esther Tippmann is Professor of Strategy, Leadership and Change and serves as Head of Discipline, Management and Co-Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Growth and Scaling (CEGS). Esther's research concerns the international strategies of organizations, esp. globally scaling and digital businesses. Her work also concerns the enhancement of the strategic contribution of subsidiaries to multinationals.

She has worked closely with several scaling firms and multinational corporations in Ireland, France, U.K. and the U.S. on case studies and research projects. She has been published in the Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Organization Studies, Journal of World Business, Journal of Management Studies, Global Strategy Journal, Harvard Business Review and Sloan Management Review, among others. Her research received several honours, including awards and nominations from the Academy of Management, Academy of International Business and Strategic Management Society.

Esther currently serves as Senior Editor for the Journal of World Business, on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Business Studies and Long Range Planning, and as Associate Program Chair for the Global Strategy Interest Group at the Strategic Management Society.

Dr Kristel Miller, Ulster University

Kristel Miller is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development at Ulster University. Her expertise intersects the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship and strategy. Her research explores topics such as technology commercialisation, new venture creation, business model innovation, SME capability development and regional competitiveness. She has published in internationally renowned journals and is a regular speaker at international conferences and events. Kristel is the co-editor in chief of the Irish Journal of Management.

She is also a director of Innovation Ulster Limited, which is a university technology commercialisation spin-out vehicle. Kristel is a member of the UK innovation expert group, Innovation Caucus and is an expert reviewer for the European Commission. She also engages in ad hoc consultancy to aid SMEs to grow their business.

Dr Conor Carroll, University of Limerick

Dr. Conor Carroll is the winner the National Award for Excellence in Teaching. NAIRTL (the National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning) coordinate the national award process throughout the third level education sector, on an annual basis.

Conor lectures in marketing at the Kemmy Business School-University of Limerick and is a twice winner of the University's Teaching Excellence award, and is a prolific case study writer, having written over 85 published marketing and entrepreneurship case studies, many of which are used extensively in leading European and International Universities.

He has won numerous accolades for his case study writing, winning awards at both national and international case study competitions. These competitions included McGraw-Hill, Ernst & Young, Newstalk, Enterprise Ireland and The Case Association case writing awards. Furthermore, Conor has presented case study writing seminars at Harvard Business School.

Conor has taught extensively in China, France, Poland, Slovenia, Thailand & New Zealand. Conor is currently the Head of Department for the Department of Management & Marketing, at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick.

Amanda Calderwood, Ulster University

Inspired by her father's entrepreneurial journey, Amanda pursued a career in marketing, driven by a passion to help local businesses grow. Earning a bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Ulster University in 2009 provided Amanda with a solid academic foundation. This foundation allowed her to have a successful career in marketing, where she orchestrated transformative marketing, communications, and public relations campaigns for various businesses across the region. Amanda’s industry experience taught her the importance of dynamic teams and strong relationships and deepened her love for supporting businesses in a competitive landscape.

After over a decade in industry, Amanda decided to further her understanding of business by pursuing an Executive MBA Masters degree, where she received a distinction in 2023. Taking place over two years of study, this degree allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and needs of organisations to remain competitive and grow.

Amanda takes pride in her ability to step back, analyse situations objectively, and see the bigger picture. Joining the Atlantic Futures project is not just an academic pursuit; it aligns with her aspirations. Contributing to a large-scale project with real-world impact on businesses is a vocation. Amanda aims to create not only a robust academic dissertation but also practical insights that can benefit businesses on the Island of Ireland and beyond.

Ben Fitzgerald Kiely, University of Limerick

Ben is a Director of a multi-award-winning family enterprise and a second-generation board member. He graduated with a 1:1 in a Masters in International Entrepreneurship Management from the University of Limerick in 2023.

Ben has also won the Mike Sadlier Award and 5x President's Volunteer Awards for his voluntary contributions to UL's communities. His research area is Strategy and Sustainable Scaling for Atlantic Futures, examining the meso/ organisational factors behind business scaling in the Atlantic Corridor.

Pamela Dawn Patayon, University of Galway

Prior to joining Atlantic Futures, Pamela was a faculty of the College of Business Administration at the University of Southeastern Philippines since 2017 where she also served as the college research and development head since 2021. In her years as a faculty member, she has been involved in collaborative projects with government agencies in various capacities such as study leader, resource person, and module developer in basic accounting and financial management, working with farmers and fisherfolks in remote areas and from various indigenous backgrounds, as well as with local associations of aspiring womenpreneurs.

Until recently, she also led a government-funded project in establishing an Agribusiness Hub in Southern Mindanao, assisting technology developers in capability building and pre-commercialization activities. Currently, she is affiliated with the Atlantic Futures Project through the University of Galway as a PhD Researcher in Business Scaling, under the supervision of Prof. Esther Tippmann.