Dr Jean Cushen

    School of Business

    Associate Professor
    Deputy Head of School (Accreditation)

    School of Business Building
    368
    (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's research explores the contemporary employment experience focusing on sustainability leadership, financialization 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, Skillnet, CIPD and IBEC publications. Jean teaches in the areas of HRM and 'careers' and 'research methods'. Jean is an academic member of the CIPD,  an Academic Fellow of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes 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 full 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

    Sustainable Workplaces
    Financialization and HRM 
    HRM, Careers and The Future of Work
    Knowledge Work

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2016 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]
    2013 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]
    2012 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]
    2009 Cushen, J. (2009) 'Branding Employees'. Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management, 6 (1/2):102-114. [Link] [DOI] [Full-Text]
    2005 Cushen, J., O’ Cinneide, S and O’ Gabhan, F. (2005) 'The Irish National Report'. The International Journal of Social Quality, 5 (2):151-175. [Link] https://doi.org/10.3167/146179105780337477 [Full-Text]

    Book Chapter

    Year Publication
    2021 Cushen, J and Durkin, L (2021) 'The Future of Transversal Competencies in Higher Education Assessment' In: Handbook of Research on Future of Work and Education: Implications for Curriculum Delivery and Work Design. USA : IGI Global. [Link]
    2020 Thompson P.; Cushen J. (2020) 'Essay forum: Labor in financialization: Value logics and labor: Collateral damage or central focus?' In: The Routledge International Handbook Of Financialization. London : Routledge.
    2020 Cushen, J. (2020) 'Financing the future of work: who pays' In: The Future of Work and Employment. London : Edward Elgar. [Link]
    2019 Thompson, P. and Cushen, J. (2019) 'Value logics and labour: collateral damage or central focus?' In: The Routledge International Handbook of Financialization. London : Routledge. [Link]
    2019 Cullinane, N. and Cushen, J. (2019) 'Applying Scientific Management to modern employment relations and HRM' In: Elgar Introduction to Theories of Human Resources and Employment Relations. London : Edward Elger. [Link]
    2014 Cushen, J. and Harney, B. (2014) 'Broken promises: Why Strategic HRM does not always work' In: Strategic HRM: Irish research and practice. Dublin : OpenPress. [Link]
    2011 Cushen, J. (2011) 'The Trouble with Employer Branding' In: Branded Lives: The Production and Consumption of Meaning at Work. Cheltenham : Edward Elgar. [Link]

    Encyclopedia Entry

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

    Book

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

    Conference Publication

    Year Publication
    2022 Coogan, K. M., Crowley-Henry, M., Cushen, J. (2022) Academy of Management Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.89 A schema theory perspective on the psychological contracting processes of interns over time https://journals.aom.org/doi/epdf/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.89 [Full-Text]
    2014 Cushen, J. and Thompson, P. (2014) International Labour Process Conference Financialization and The Core Kings College, London, UK,
    2011 Cushen, J. (2011) International Labour Process Conference What’s your contribution? An exploration of the knowledge labour process University of Leeds, Leeds, UK,
    2010 Cushen, J. (2010) International Labour Process Conference Fear and cost cutting in a multi-national: Shareholders, budgets and the insecure knowledge worker
    2009 Cushen, J. (2009) International Labour Process Conference Structures of control
    2008 Cushen, J. (2008) International Labour Process Conference An ethnography of shareholder capitalism, corporate culture and the employment experience

    Conference Contribution

    Year Publication
    2021 Coogan, K., Crowley-Henry, M, Cushen, J. (2021) British Academy of Management Unpacking identity and capital evolution in career transitions across time and space United Kingdom, .
    2020 Coogan, K., Crowley-Henry, M, Cushen, J. (2020) Chartered Institute for Personnel Development Applied Research Conference The future graduate employee: Are they ready? Are we ready? Dublin, Ireland, .
    2019 Coogan, K., Crowley-Henry, M, Cushen, J. (2019) Irish Academy of Management Unpacking the transition from education to work Dublin, Ireland, .
    2021 Coogan, K., Crowley-Henry, M. and Cushen, J. (2021) British Academy of Management The case for taking a process perspective in career transition research Manchester, UK (online), 31/08/2021-03/09/2021.
    2021 Cushen, J. (2021) International Labour Process Conference Framing labours’ value to capital market stakeholders Greenwich, .
    2018 Cushen, J. and Cullinane, N. (2018) CIPD Applied Research Conference Confronting Disengagement Nottingham, U.K, .
    2018 Cushen, J. and Freeney, Y. (2018) Work, Employment and Society Conference Framing HRM Value in Annual Reports Belfast, U.K, .
    2017 Cushen, J. and Freeney, Y. (2017) CIPD Applied Research Conference HRM Signals in Annual Reports Edinburgh, .
    2014 Cushen, J and Thompson, P. (2014) 32nd Industrial Relations in Europe Conference Financialization and The Core: Why Labour and the Labour Process still Matters Dublin, Ireland, .
    2014 Cushen, J. and Thompson, P. (2014) 26th Conference of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics Financialization and Labour Process Theory: Using LPT to Engage with and Explain Financialization Chigago, USA, .
    2013 Cushen, J. (2013) International Working Party for Labour Market Segmentation Financialization in the Workplace Trinity College, Dublin Ireland, .
    2011 Cushen, J. and Thompson, P. (2011) Financialization, HRM and the angry knowledge worker 10th Conference of the European Sociological Association Geneva, Switzerland, .
    2011 Cushen, J. (2011) 10th Conference of the European Sociological Association Financialization and the weakening knowledge employment relationship Geneva, Switzerland, .
    2011 Cushen, J., and Thompson P. (2011) Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics Doing it by the textbook? financialization, HRM and the angry, insecure high performer Madrid, .
    1999 Cushen, J. (1999) Globalization and Public Policy The impact of the EU on Irish labour policies and the impact of NAFTA on Ontario labour policies University of Toronoto, Toronto, Canada, .

    Published Report

    Year Publication
    2022 Clark Recruitment, Maynooth University, Grant Thornton, Kildare Chamber of Commere (2022) Workforce Survey 2022. Clark Recruitment, . [Link]
    2021 Clark Recruitment, Maynooth University, Grant Thornton, Kildare Chamber of Commere (2021) Workforce Survey 2021. Clark Recruitment, . [Link]

    Invited Lectures

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

    Invited papers

    Year Publication
    2022 Cushen, J., Coogan, K. and Crowley-Henry, M. (2022) 'The Future Worker'. Invited Presentation at AACA Ireland Business Leaders Forum panel on 'Post Covid Evolution of Working: The Where, When and How of future working'. [Invited papers]
    2004 Cushen, J. and Wright, L. (2004) Rewarding the Rainmakers: Leveraging incentive design to foster sales force success. Toronto: [Invited papers]

    Invited Seminars

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

    Edited Journal Issue

    Year Publication
    2022 Cushen, J. and Curry, M. (2022) Building Sustainable Workplaces: What anthropology can teach us. USA: [Edited Journal Issue]

    Magazine Article

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

    Newspaper Articles

    Year Publication
    2022 Cushen, Jean (2022) How did layoffs become the answer to every business problem?. Ireland: [Newspaper Articles] [Link]

    Radio Presentation

    Year Publication
    2022 Cushen, Jean (2022) 350 people expected to lose their jobs at Meta's Irish base. Ireland: [Radio Presentation]

    Magazine Article

    Year Publication
    2003 Cushen, J. & Turriff, W. (2003) Maximising the value and motivational impact of your people cost. Dublin: [Magazine Article]
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    Chartered Institution of Personnel and Development Academic Member 01/10/2015 -

    Honors and Awards

    Date Title Awarding Body
    01/11/2020 2020 Emerald Literati 'Outstanding Reviewer' Awards for Excellence Emerald Group Publishing

    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 01/10/2009 - 31/08/2011
    Willis Towers Watson Human Capital Consultant 01/06/2001 - 31/08/2009
    Dublin City University Lecturer HRM 01/10/2011 - 31/08/2015

    Education

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

    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.

    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

    Organisation Type Description
    Clark Recruitment and Kildare Chamber of Commerce Industry 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]
    BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition Civic Society 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]

    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.