Dr Jean Cushen

    School of Business

    Deputy Head of School (Accreditation) Associate Professor

    School of Business Building
    21
    (01) 474 7559

    Biography

    Jean is an Associate Professor of HRM within the School of Business, Maynooth University.  Jean also serves as Deputy Head of School with responsibility for Accreditation; having previously held the role of 'Academic Director Postgraduate Teaching and Learning'.  Jean is a member of the University ‘Political Economy of Work’ research cluster. Jean's research explores the contemporary employment experience focusing on financialization, the labour process and human resource management (HRM). Jean has published on these topics in top ranked international journals including ‘Accounting, Organizations and Society’ and ‘Work Employment and Society’. Jean has also contributed to HRM related publications including HRM encyclopaedias and textbooks, CIPD and IBEC publications. Jean teaches in the areas of HRM, Careers,  Management, Employee Relations and Business and Society. Jean is an academic member of the CIPD, an external examiner for the National College of Ireland and is on the judging panel of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Before joining MU, Jean worked as a lecturer in Dublin City University (DCU) and Queens University Belfast. In her first year in DCU Jean was awarded the 'President's Award for Excellence in Teaching'. She completed her PhD in 2010 in Trinity College Dublin with a scholarship from the IRCHSS. Prior to entering academic life Jean worked for several years as a ‘Human Capital Consultant’ for the global professional services company Willis Towers Watson; then Watson Wyatt. During this time Jean worked both in Dublin and Toronto and advised organisations on the design and implementation of a range of HRM techniques.

    Research Interests

    Financialization
    HRM and Sustainability
    The Future of Work
    Knowledge Work

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2016 'Financialization and value: why labour and the labour process still matter'
    Cushen J.;Thompson P. (2016) 'Financialization and value: why labour and the labour process still matter'. Work, Employment and Society, 30 (2):352-365 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2013 'Financialization in the workplace: Hegemonic narratives, performative interventions and the angry knowledge worker'
    Cushen, J (2013) 'Financialization in the workplace: Hegemonic narratives, performative interventions and the angry knowledge worker'. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 38 :314-331 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2012 'Doing the right thing? HRM and the angry knowledge worker'
    Cushen, J;Thompson, P (2012) 'Doing the right thing? HRM and the angry knowledge worker'. New Technology, Work and Employment, 27 :79-92 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2009 'Branding Employees'
    Cushen, J. (2009) 'Branding Employees'. Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management, 6 (1/2):102-114 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2005 'The Irish National Report'
    Cushen, J., O’ Cinneide, S and O’ Gabhan, F. (2005) 'The Irish National Report'. The International Journal of Social Quality, 5 (2):151-175 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2021 'The Future of Transversal Competencies in Higher Education Assessment'
    Cushen, J and Durkin, L (2021) 'The Future of Transversal Competencies in Higher Education Assessment' In: Ramlall, S., Cross, T. and Love, M (eds). Handbook of Research on Future of Work and Education: Implications for Curriculum Delivery and Work Design. USA: IGI Global. [Details]
    2020 'Financing the future of work: who pays'
    Cushen, J. (2020) 'Financing the future of work: who pays' In: Wilkinson, A and Barry, M (eds). The Future of Work and Employment. London: Edward Elgar. [Details]
    2019 'Value logics and labour: collateral damage or central focus?'
    Thompson, P. and Cushen, J. (2019) 'Value logics and labour: collateral damage or central focus?' In: Mader, P., Mertens, D. and van der Zwan, N (eds). The Routledge International Handbook of Financialization. London: Routledge. [Details]
    2019 'Applying Scientific Management to modern employment relations and HRM'
    Cullinane, N. and Cushen, J. (2019) 'Applying Scientific Management to modern employment relations and HRM' In: Townsend, K., Cafferkey, K., McDermott, A.M. and Dundon, T (eds). Elgar Introduction to Theories of Human Resources and Employment Relations. London: Edward Elger. [Details]
    2014 'Broken promises: Why Strategic HRM does not always work'
    Cushen, J. and Harney, B. (2014) 'Broken promises: Why Strategic HRM does not always work' In: Harney, B. and Monks, K (eds). Strategic HRM: Irish research and practice. Dublin: OpenPress. [Details]
    2011 'The Trouble with Employer Branding'
    Cushen, J. (2011) 'The Trouble with Employer Branding' In: Brannan, M. J., Parsons, E., & Priola, V (eds). Branded Lives: The Production and Consumption of Meaning at Work. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. [Details]

    Encyclopedia Entry

      Year Publication
    2015 Financialization and HRM.
    Cushen, J. (2015) Financialization and HRM. Cheltenham: Encyclopedia Entry [Details]
    2015 The Knowledge Worker.
    Cushen, J. (2015) The Knowledge Worker. Cheltenham: Encyclopedia Entry [Details]

    Books

      Year Publication
    2009 The Essential Guide to Reward and Recognition.
    Empey, K., Cushen, J. and Byrne, L. (2009) The Essential Guide to Reward and Recognition. Dublin: Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation. [Details]

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2014 Financialization and The Core
    Cushen, J. and Thompson, P. (2014) Financialization and The Core International Labour Process Conference Kings College, London, UK, [Details]
    2011 What’s your contribution? An exploration of the knowledge labour process
    Cushen, J. (2011) What’s your contribution? An exploration of the knowledge labour process International Labour Process Conference University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, [Details]
    2010 Fear and cost cutting in a multi-national: Shareholders, budgets and the insecure knowledge worker
    Cushen, J. (2010) Fear and cost cutting in a multi-national: Shareholders, budgets and the insecure knowledge worker International Labour Process Conference [Details]
    2009 Structures of control
    Cushen, J. (2009) Structures of control International Labour Process Conference [Details]
    2008 An ethnography of shareholder capitalism, corporate culture and the employment experience
    Cushen, J. (2008) An ethnography of shareholder capitalism, corporate culture and the employment experience International Labour Process Conference [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2021 Unpacking identity and capital evolution in career transitions across time and space.
    Coogan, K., Crowley-Henry, M, Cushen, J. (2021) Unpacking identity and capital evolution in career transitions across time and space. [Oral Presentation], British Academy of Management, United Kingdom [Details]
    2020 The future graduate employee: Are they ready? Are we ready?.
    Coogan, K., Crowley-Henry, M, Cushen, J. (2020) The future graduate employee: Are they ready? Are we ready?. [Poster Presentation], Chartered Institute for Personnel Development Applied Research Conference, Dublin, Ireland [Details]
    2019 Unpacking the transition from education to work.
    Coogan, K., Crowley-Henry, M, Cushen, J. (2019) Unpacking the transition from education to work. [Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management, Dublin, Ireland [Details]
    2021 The case for taking a process perspective in career transition research.
    Coogan, K., Crowley-Henry, M. and Cushen, J. (2021) The case for taking a process perspective in career transition research. [Oral Presentation], British Academy of Management, Manchester, UK (online) , 31-AUG-21 - 03-SEP-21 [Details]
    2021 Framing labours’ value to capital market stakeholders.
    Cushen, J. (2021) Framing labours’ value to capital market stakeholders. [Oral Presentation], International Labour Process Conference, Greenwich [Details]
    2018 Confronting Disengagement.
    Cushen, J. and Cullinane, N. (2018) Confronting Disengagement. [Oral Presentation], CIPD Applied Research Conference, Nottingham, U.K [Details]
    2018 Framing HRM Value in Annual Reports.
    Cushen, J. and Freeney, Y. (2018) Framing HRM Value in Annual Reports. [International Refereed Conference], Work, Employment and Society Conference, Belfast, U.K [Details]
    2017 HRM Signals in Annual Reports.
    Cushen, J. and Freeney, Y. (2017) HRM Signals in Annual Reports. [Oral Presentation], CIPD Applied Research Conference, Edinburgh [Details]
    2014 Financialization and The Core: Why Labour and the Labour Process still Matters.
    Cushen, J and Thompson, P. (2014) Financialization and The Core: Why Labour and the Labour Process still Matters. [Oral Presentation], 32nd Industrial Relations in Europe Conference, Dublin, Ireland [Details]
    2014 Financialization and Labour Process Theory: Using LPT to Engage with and Explain Financialization.
    Cushen, J. and Thompson, P. (2014) Financialization and Labour Process Theory: Using LPT to Engage with and Explain Financialization. [Oral Presentation], 26th Conference of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics, Chigago, USA [Details]
    2013 Financialization in the Workplace.
    Cushen, J. (2013) Financialization in the Workplace. [Oral Presentation], International Working Party for Labour Market Segmentation, Trinity College, Dublin Ireland [Details]
    2011 10th Conference of the European Sociological Association.
    Cushen, J. and Thompson, P. (2011) 10th Conference of the European Sociological Association. [Oral Presentation], Financialization, HRM and the angry knowledge worker, Geneva, Switzerland [Details]
    2011 Financialization and the weakening knowledge employment relationship.
    Cushen, J. (2011) Financialization and the weakening knowledge employment relationship. [Oral Presentation], 10th Conference of the European Sociological Association, Geneva, Switzerland [Details]
    2011 Doing it by the textbook? financialization, HRM and the angry, insecure high performer.
    Cushen, J., and Thompson P. (2011) Doing it by the textbook? financialization, HRM and the angry, insecure high performer. [Oral Presentation], Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics, Madrid [Details]
    1999 The impact of the EU on Irish labour policies and the impact of NAFTA on Ontario labour policies.
    Cushen, J. (1999) The impact of the EU on Irish labour policies and the impact of NAFTA on Ontario labour policies. [Oral Presentation], Globalization and Public Policy, University of Toronoto, Toronto, Canada [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2021 Workforce Survey 2021.
    Clark Recruitment, Maynooth University, Grant Thornton, Kildare Chamber of Commere (2021) Workforce Survey 2021. Clark Recruitment, Kildare. [Details]

    Invited Lectures

      Year Publication
    2018 Working and Managing within Financialized Capitalism.
    Cushen, J. (2018) Working and Managing within Financialized Capitalism. Invited Lectures [Details]
    2017 Employer Branding.
    Cushen, J. (2017) Employer Branding. Dublin, Ireland: Invited Lectures [Details]
    2014 Organisation Effectiveness.
    Cushen, J. (2014) Organisation Effectiveness. Invited Lectures [Details]
    2014 Financialization and The Core: Why Labour and the Labour Process still matters.
    Cushen, J., Thompson, P. (2014) Financialization and The Core: Why Labour and the Labour Process still matters. Invited Lectures [Details]

    Invited papers

      Year Publication
    2004 Rewarding the Rainmakers: Leveraging incentive design to foster sales force success.
    Cushen, J. and Wright, L. (2004) Rewarding the Rainmakers: Leveraging incentive design to foster sales force success. Toronto: Invited papers [Details]

    Invited Seminars

      Year Publication
    2020 Fostering Resilience in an Agile World.
    Jean Cushen (2020) Fostering Resilience in an Agile World. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2013 Financialization and Labour Process Theory.
    Cushen, J. (2013) Financialization and Labour Process Theory. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2018 Working in the Financialized Organisation.
    Cushen, J. (2018) Working in the Financialized Organisation. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2017 Organising and resisting work in the financialized workplace.
    Cushen, J. (2017) Organising and resisting work in the financialized workplace. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2013 Financialization in the Workplace.
    Cushen, J. (2013) Financialization in the Workplace. Invited Seminars [Details]
    2011 Critical Realism, Financialization and the Knowledge Workplace.
    Cushen, J. (2011) Critical Realism, Financialization and the Knowledge Workplace. Invited Seminars [Details]

    Magazine Article

      Year Publication
    2008 Generation Why and the HR opportunity.
    Cushen, J. (2008) Generation Why and the HR opportunity. Dublin: Magazine Article [Details]
    2006 Driving the Business through Performance Differentiation.
    Byrne, L. and Cushen, J. (2006) Driving the Business through Performance Differentiation. Dublin: Magazine Article [Details]

    Magazine Article

      Year Publication
    2003 Maximising the value and motivational impact of your people cost.
    Cushen, J. & Turriff, W. (2003) Maximising the value and motivational impact of your people cost. Dublin: Magazine Article [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2020 2020 Emerald Literati 'Outstanding Reviewer' Awards for Excellence Emerald Group Publishing

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    Chartered Institution of Personnel and Development Academic Member 01-OCT-15 /

    Committees

      Committee Function From / To
    Faculty of Social Science Teaching and Learning Committee School of Business Representative /

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    Queens University Belfast Lecturer HRM 01-OCT-09 / 31-AUG-11
    Willis Towers Watson Human Capital Consultant 01-JUN-01 / 31-AUG-09
    Dublin City University Lecturer HRM 01-OCT-11 / 31-AUG-15

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    2010 Trinity College Dublin PhD Sociology
    1999 Maynooth University MA MA European Social Policy Analysis / Public Policy and the Global Economy

    Consultancy

      Client Description
    Business in the Community Ireland
    Jean is working with ‘Business in the Community Ireland’ (BITCI). BITCI is a nationwide non-profit whose purpose is ‘to inspire and enable businesses to bring about a sustainable, low carbon economy and a more inclusive society where everyone thrives’. BITC have established several impactful organisational awards relating to responsible business. BITCI are now creating an organisational sustainability ‘maturity model' to guide organisations to more sustainable business practices. Jean is a part of the core group’ working to develop this maturity model and subsequent industry validation tool. In particular, Jean is contributing to the 'social sustainability' component of this maturity model.

    Outreach Activities

      Description

    Jean continues to work with www.clark.ie and Kildare Chamber of Commerce to produce a workforce survey of employers and employees along five counties on the M7 corridor. The 2022 workforce survey focuses on resourcing, skills and work arrangements of the participating companies. Link

    I serve as a judge at the ‘BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition’, ‘Social and Behavioural’ category. This annual prestigious competition involves working to interview students, assess student entries, provide written student feedback and shortlist finalists. Link

    Reviews

      Journal Role
    Journal Of Management Studies Reviewer
    Geoforum Reviewer
    Environment And Planning A Reviewer
    Social Forces Reviewer
    Industrial Relations Journal Reviewer
    Economic And Industrial Democracy Reviewer
    Human Resource Management Journal (Uk) Reviewer
    Accounting And Business Research Reviewer
    British Journal Of Industrial Relations Reviewer
    New Technology, Work And Employment Reviewer

    Other Activities

      Description

    Prior external examiner with the National College of Ireland for their MA in Human Resource Management and the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management.

    Teaching Interests

    My track record of delivering a formative, innovative and quality learning experience relates directly to Maynooth University’s strategic aim of offering outstanding, intercultural, societally engaged teaching.  I have several years’ experience teaching small and large classes at undergraduate and postgraduate level; including PhD students. I am the academic director of postgraduate teaching and learning and the programme director for the MSc Business and Management conversion masters.  I am co-supervising one PhD student, I have supervised the dissertations of approximately thirty masters students and I have served as a secondary supervisor to three PhD students. I have taught a range of modules including Career Planning and Development,  Management and Teams, Human Resource Management (HRM), Industrial Relations, Employee Relations Procedures, Business and Society and Research Methods.  My interdisciplinary background means I can teach students with diverse academic interests and create a cumulative, connected learning experience.  In 2012 I was awarded the DCU 'President's Award for Excellence in Teaching' and I was shortlisted for the same award in 2015. My personal teaching objective is to bring theory and ideas to life through use of ‘real world’ examples and activities that prompt student consideration of what they would do in a given scenario.  Where possible, I use reflective-formative assessments to provide students with the tools to engage with and assess their progress through the module.