Responsibilities
Rachelle Andrews is a doctoral student within the Strategy and Entrepreneurship Group. Her research area focuses on Small Firms, particularly looking at growth and sustainability using a complexity approach.
Background
Her career has been varied with a range of roles working within small firms both in the creative arts arena and in the area of export services where she was Managing Director of an export packing company for 3 years. Her subsequent career has moved into business support and she is currently working with small firms as a business link adviser within the Business Link contract in the East of England.
Following the completion of a BSc (Hons) with the Open University focusing on Technology and Management Rachelle pursued research interests where she could utilise her knowlege and experience of a systems approach. This has included building on the Diploma in Systems Practice (gained in 2000) and developing a deeper interest in the related use of complexity theory. Rachelle joined the 2004 PhD cohort group MMU and having completed an MRes in Dec 2007 "Is growth a destination: small firms as complex adaptive systems" she will continue her research as part of a part-time PhD. Rachelle presented a joint paper with Julia Rouse at ISBE 2005 - "Integrating New Business Practices into SMEs: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers".
Research
Thesis Title:
Implementation of business advice in SMEs