Prof Mihaela Kelemen

Title: Professor
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 734298
Email: m.l.kelemen@keele.ac.uk
Location: Darwin 1.10
Role: Director of the Community Animation and Social Innovation Centre (CASIC)
Contacting me:
Profile image for Mihaela Kelemen

I have a PhD in applied economics from the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest and a DPhil in Management Studies from Oxford University. I came to Keele in 1996 and was promoted to Chair in 2006.  I have held a number of administrative positions at Departmental, School, RI and University level.  I am the Director of the Community Animation and Social Innovation Centre (CASIC). I am also co-investigator on an AHRC-MRC research project that focuses on rural health in the Philippines - SOLACE and sit on the AHRC Peer Review College and Peer Review Knowledge Transfer College. 

 

My research is underpinned by American Pragmatism and embraces a wide range of creative methods of research and community engagement, in particular Cultural Animation - a methodology of knowledge co-production developed via collaborative projects with the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle under Lyme. The research is transdisciplinary and community based and has been funded by the AHRC, EPSRC, ESRC and HEFCE on topics such as community leadership, volunteering, health in the community, asset mapping and communities in crisis in the UK, Japan, Greece and Canada.

Grants since 2012
  • EPSRC grant, RKUK Public Engagement with Research Catalysts (71K) CI, Co-production and creativity: ethos, typology and innovation in pubic engagement practice, October 2017- March 2018
  • AHRC grant, Stories of Public Health through local arts-based community engagement – SOLACE (195K), CI, (partners Ateneo University and New Vic Theatre), November 2017-October 2019
  • Audencia Research Project Award (10K) CI, Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities of Practice through Co-creative Innovation, March 2017-March, 2018
  • Connected Communities Catalyst Fund Award (3K) CI, in collaboration with Open, Leicester and Brunel Universities (PI) for a series of writing retreats, November 2016-May, 2017
  • AHRC Connected Communities Festival (15K) PI Animating Local Appetites: a Celebration of community Food and Health in Stoke in Trent, March 2015-December 2015. https://www.keele.ac.uk/casic/connectedcommunitiesfestival/
  • SEE Change, Scale and Growth Award, UnLtd (7K), PI, April, 2015-March 2016.
  • AHRC-British Academy Bursary: 2K to present at the International Seminar on Social Innovation and Creative Responses to Global Urban Challenges, British Academy, London, October 2014
  • EPSRC Community and Culture Network (22K), CI, Beyond the Foodbank: Using Digital technologies to escape food poverty, September, 2014-March 2015 (led by Dr. Emma Surman, Keele University)
  • AHRC Connected Communities development grant (£100K) PI, Evaluating the Legacy of Animative and Iterative Connected Communities Projects: A Three Dimensional Model of Change, in collaboration with the New Vic Theatre, Jericho Road Solutions and Leicester University, February 2014-June 2015. https://www.keele.ac.uk/legacyofconnectedcommunities/
  • AHRC collaborative grant, (£55K) CI, Co-designing asset mapping: comparative approaches (led by Open University), February 2014-December 2014 http://comparativeassetmapping.org/?p=243&mo=34
  • AHRC Connected Community Cardiff Festival and Further Dissemination grant (£16K), PI, Animating Communities: A Three Dimensional Installation, in collaboration with the New Vic Theatre, Brunel University and Leicester University, July 2014-March 2015
  • AHRC Connected Communities Cardiff Festival and Further Dissemination grant (£13K) CI (led by Leicester University), July 2014-March 2015
  • ESRC seminar series on Marketplace exclusion: representations, resistances and responses (23K) (led by Liverpool University), September 2013-September 2015 https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/management/conferences-and-events/esrc/
  • AHRC Connected Communities Showcase and Knowledge Dissemination Award (£19K) PI ‘Bridging the Gap: an Interactive Audio-visual Installation’
  • AHRC Development Research Grant (£122K) PI: ‘Untold Stories of Volunteering: A Cultural Animation Project’ (partners: Leicester University, The New Vic Theatre and National Council for Voluntary Organizations), February 2013-July 2014 https://www.keele.ac.uk/volunteeringstories/
  • AHRC Follow-on Research Grant (£53K) PI: 'Bridging the Gap between Academic Theory and Community Relevance: Fresh Insights from American Pragmatism’ (partners: The Open University, Brunel University, Edinburgh University and Sienan Gakuin University, Japan) February 2013 to February 2014 https://www.keele.ac.uk/bridgingthedivide/
  • AHRC Connected Communities Showcase Award (£15K) PI: ‘A Little Act of Kindness’ (London, 2013)
  • AHRC Scoping Study (£37K) PI: ‘Exploring Personal Communities: A Review of Volunteering Processes’ (AH/J012238/1) February 2012-February 2013 https://www.keele.ac.uk/exploringpersonalcommunities/

Selected Publications

  • Goulding C, Kelemen ML, Kiyomiya T. 2017. Community based responses to the Japanese Tsunami: a bottom up approach. European Journal of Operational Research. doi> link> full text>
  • Vo LC and Kelemen ML. 2017. Collaborating across the researcher-practitioner divide: introducing John Dewey's democratic experimentalism. Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 30(6). doi> link> full text>
  • Burgess G, Kelemen ML, Moffat S, Parsons E. 2017. Using Performative Knowledge Production to Explore Marketplace Exclusion. Qualitative Market Research, vol. 20(4), 486-511. doi> link> full text>
  • Lin Y, Kelemen ML, Kiyomiya T. 2017. The role of community leadership in disaster recovery projects: Tsunami lessons from Japan. International Journal of Project Management, vol. 35(5), 913-924. doi> link> full text>
  • Kelemen M, Mangan A, Moffat S. 2017. More Than a "Little Act of Kindness'? Towards a Typology of Volunteering as Unpaid Work. SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, vol. 51(6), 1239-1256. link> doi> full text>

Full Publications List show

Books

  • Kelemen M and Rumens N. 2013. American Pragmatism and Organization Issues and Controversies. Gower Publishing.
  • KELEMEN M and Rumens N. 2008. An introduction to critical management research. London: Sage.
  • Hassard J, KELEMEN ML, Wolfram-Cox J. 2008. Disorganisation theory: Explorations in alternative organizational analysis. London: Routledge.
  • Kelemen M. 2003. Managing quality. Sage, London.
  • KELEMEN ML and Kostera M. 2002. Critical eastern European management: current issues and research. London: Palgrave.

Journal Articles

  • Kelemen M, Surman E, Dikomitis L. 2018. Cultural animation in health research: An innovative methodology for patient and public involvement and engagement. Health Expect. link> doi> full text>
  • Goulding C, Kelemen ML, Kiyomiya T. 2017. Community based responses to the Japanese Tsunami: a bottom up approach. European Journal of Operational Research. doi> link> full text>
  • Vo LC and Kelemen ML. 2017. Collaborating across the researcher-practitioner divide: introducing John Dewey's democratic experimentalism. Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 30(6). doi> link> full text>
  • Burgess G, Kelemen ML, Moffat S, Parsons E. 2017. Using Performative Knowledge Production to Explore Marketplace Exclusion. Qualitative Market Research, vol. 20(4), 486-511. doi> link> full text>
  • Lam B, Zamenopoulos T, Kelemen ML, Hoo Na J. 2017. Unearth Hidden Assets through Community Co-design and Co-production. Design Journal, The, vol. 20, S3601-S3610. doi> link> full text>
  • Lin Y, Kelemen ML, Kiyomiya T. 2017. The role of community leadership in disaster recovery projects: Tsunami lessons from Japan. International Journal of Project Management, vol. 35(5), 913-924. doi> link> full text>
  • Kelemen M, Mangan A, Moffat S. 2017. More Than a "Little Act of Kindness'? Towards a Typology of Volunteering as Unpaid Work. SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, vol. 51(6), 1239-1256. link> doi> full text>
  • Kelemen M and Hamilton LA. 2015. The Role of Creative Methods in Re-defining the Impact Agenda. CASIC Working Paper Series. link> full text>
  • Mangan A, Kelemen M, Moffat S. 2016. Animating the classroom: Pedagogical responses to internationalisation. MANAGEMENT LEARNING, vol. 47(3), 285-304. link> doi> full text>
  • Kelemen ML and Bunzel D. 2011. Learning from Leipzig: Regional Development and Socio-cultural Transition. Review of Economics and Finance, vol. June(3), 52-62.
  • Kelemen ML and Rumens N. 2010. American Pragmatism and Feminism: Fresh Opportunities for Sociological Inquiry. Contemporary Pragmatism: A Philosophy Journal, vol. 7(1), 129-148.
  • Kelemen ML, Bunzel D, Willis P. 2009. Why Work? A culturally informed critique of past and present interpretations of shop floor interpretations of work. Annals of the University of Petrosani Economics, vol. 9(4), 27-37.
  • Kelemen M and Bunzel D. 2008. Images of the model worker in state-socialist propaganda and novels. Culture and Organization, vol. 14(1), 1-14. doi>
  • KELEMEN ML. 2007. A pragmatist response to 'At the sharp of new organisational idelogies' by Hassard J et al (2006). Ethnography, vol. 8(3), 375-382.
  • KELEMEN ML and Papasolomou I. 2007. Internal marketing: A qualitative study of culture change in the UK banking sector. journal of marketing management, vol. 23(7-8), 745-767. doi>
  • KELEMEN M. 2005. Management and organization: A critical text by Steve Linstead et al 2004. Leadership, vol. 1(3), 375-376.
  • Kelemen ML and Rumens N. 2005. Pragmatism and heterodoxy in organization research: going beyond the quantitative/qualitative divide. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. 20(1), 5-13. doi>
  • KELEMEN ML and Peltonen T. 2005. Spirituality: A way to alternative subjectivity?. Organization Management Journal, vol. 2(1), 52-63. doi>
  • Kelemen M and Papasolomou I. 2004. Can culture be changed? A study of internal marketing. service industries journal, vol. 24(5), 121-136. doi>
  • KELEMEN ML and Bansal T. 2002. The Conventions of Management Research and their Relevance to Management Practice. British Journal of Management, vol. 13(2), 97-108. doi>
  • KELEMEN ML and Hassard J. 2002. Production and Consumption in Organizational Knowledge: The Case of the 'Paradigms Debate'. Organization, vol. 9(2), 331-355. doi>
  • KELEMEN ML and Lewis M. 2002. Multiparadigm inquiry: Exploring organizational pluralism and paradox. Human Relations, vol. 55(2), 251-275. doi>
  • KELEMEN ML. 2002. Grounded theory in management research by Karen Locke 2001. Nurse Researcher, vol. 9(3), 85.
  • Kelemen, M. and Hassard, J. S. 2002. Issues of production and consumption in organisation knowledge. Organization, vol. 9(2), 331-355. doi>
  • Kelemen, M. and Lewis, M.. 2002. Multi-paradigm inquiry: exploring pluralism and paradoxes of contemporary organisation life. Human Relations, vol. 5(2), 251-275.
  • Kelemen, M., Pearson, G. J, Forrester, P. L, Hassard, J. S, Railean, V. and Hincu, R.. 2002. The role of networking in the creation of local management knowledge: the case of the republic of moldova. Journal of Teaching in International Business, vol. 13(4), 115-132. doi>
  • KELEMEN ML and Fournier V. 2001. The Crafting of Community: Recoupling Discourses of Management and Womanhood. Gender, Work, Organization, vol. 8(3), 267-290. doi>
  • Kelemen, M. and Smith, W.. 2001. Community and its virtual promises: a critique of cyberlibertarian rhetoric. Information, Communication, Society, vol. 4(3), 370-387. doi>
  • Kelemen M. 2001. Discipline at work: distal and proximal views. Studies in Cultures, Organizations and Societies, vol. 7(1), 1-19. doi>
  • Kelemen, M. and Peltonen, T.. 2001. Ethics, morality and the subject: the contribution of Zygmunt Bauman and Michel Foucault to "postmodern" business ethics. Scandinavian Journal of Management, vol. 17(2), 151-166. doi>
  • Kelemen, M., Pearson, G., Forrester, P., Hassard, J., Raileam, V. and Hineu, R.. 2001. Reforming management education: learning from the Moldovian experience. Economic and Business Review for Central and South Eastern Europe, vol. 2(4), 309-321.
  • Kilduff, M. and Kelemen, M.. 2001. The consolations of organisation theory. British Journal of Management, 55-59. doi>
  • Kelemen ML. 2000. Too Much or Too Little Ambiguity: The Language of Total Quality Management. Journal of Management Studies, vol. 37(4), 483-498. doi> link>
  • Kelemen ML and Lightfoot G. 2000. Organizational and individual identities in transition: The case of Romanian small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans, vol. 2(1), 89-103. doi> link>
  • Kelemen ML. 1999. The myth of restructuring, competent managers and the transition to a market economy: the Romanian case. British Journal of Management, vol. 10(3), 199-208. doi> link>
  • Kelemen ML. 1999. Romanian cultural background and its relevance for cross-cultural management — A Comment. Journal of Eastern European Management Studies, vol. 4(3), 259-262. link>
  • Kelemen ML, Rumens N, Vo L. Questioning and Organization Studies. Organization Studies.

Chapters

  • Kelemen ML, Phillips M, James D, Moffat S. 2017. Performing the Legacy of Animative and Iterative Approaches to Co-Producing Knowledge. In Valuing the impact of collaborative research: Theory, methods and tools. Policy Press. link> full text>
  • Kelemen ML and Lin CV. 2014. John Dewey's pragmatism. In The Oxford Handbook of Process Philosophy and Organization Studies. Oxford University Press.
  • Kelemen ML. 2014. Ambiguity as Organisational Practice: An American Pragmatist Perspective. In Contemporary Issues in Management. Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Kelemen ML. 2011. American Pragmatism. In Key Concepts in Critical Management Studies. Tadajewski M, Maclaran P, Parsons E (Eds.). London: Sage.
  • Kelemen ML and Hassard J. 2010. Paradigm Plurality. In Sage Encyclopedia of Case Study Research. California: Sage.
  • Kelemen M and BUNZEL D. 2008. Romanian Socialist Directors: Heroes or Tricksters. In Organizational Olympians: Heroes and Heroines of Organizational Myths. Kostera M (Ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
  • KELEMEN ML. 2007. Paradigm Incommensurability. In The International Encyclopeadia of Organisation Studies. Clegg S and Bailey J (Eds.). London: Sage.
  • KELEMEN ML. 2007. Total quality management. In The International Encyclopaedia of Organisational Studies. Clegg S and Bailey J (Eds.). London: Sage.
  • KELEMEN ML. 2005. The morality and ethics of quality. In W.E.Deming: Critical Assessmentsin Business and Management. Wood JC and Wood MC (Eds.). London: Routledge.
  • Kilduff M and Kelemen M. 2004. Deconstructing discourse. In The sage book of organizational discourse. al GDE (Ed.). Sage, London.
  • Kilduff, M and Kelemen, M.. 2003. Bringing ideas back in: eclecticism and discovery in org studies. In Postmodern and Management: Pros, Cons and the Alternative. Locke EA (Ed.). JAI, Elsevier, Oxford.
  • Kelemen, M and Hassard, J.. 2003. Paradigm plurality: exploring past, present and future trends. In Debating Organization: Point Counterpoint in Organization Studies. Westwood R and Clegg S (Eds.). Blackwell, Oxford.

Other

  • Surman EL, Moffat S, Kelemen M. 2014. Co-creating management knowledge: a cultural animation manifesto, Free the goat: art initiatives in management and university education stream.
  • Kelemen, M. and Bunzel, D.. 2002. Images of the model worker: similation, reduction and povernance in socialist and capitalist organisation. SOCS Conference.
  • Kelemen, M. and Peltonen, T.. 2002. Spirituality: a way to an alternative subjectivty/. 2nd EURAM Conference.
  • Kelemen M. 2001. Mismanaging total quality: soties of optimization, consensus and subjectification. International Academy of Business Disciplines Conference Proceedings.
  • Leadership (MA)
  • Leadership and Innovation (MCIL)
  • Arts based methodologies (CASIC summer school) 
Current PhD students
  1. Yiwen, Lin, Second Supervisor (Sept 2014 onwards, GTAship)
  2. Kathy James: Second Supervisor (Sept, 2014 onwards, PT)
  3. Yvonne Field: Towards a model of community based leadership and sustainable African Diaspora led community spaces (Sept, 2017 onwards, PT)