The case studies were selected through a competitive process demonstrating the quality of work undertaken at the University
Dr Fiona Whelan-Ryan, a lecturer at South East technological University (SETU)’s School of Business, was successfully awarded funding for research as part of SETU’s Research Connexions support scheme.
The Research Connexions programme provides the academic community at SETU the opportunity to apply for internal funding to enhance their research activity and to increase the quality of research at the university. The programme comprises of fourteen funding pathways designed to enable specific research activity ranging from support for research related skills training, software purchases to ‘buy out’ from teaching hours freeing academic staff to make research applications and carry out research.
Research Connexions Pathway 5 - Multidisciplinary Publishing
Dr Fiona Whelan-Ryan secured funding under Research Connexions Pathway 5 – Multidisciplinary Publishing. Pathway 5 seeks to promote the highest standards of excellence in academic publishing, based on peer review and critical reading of texts prior to publication. The Pathway exists to support the costs associated with publishing an academic journal article or book.
Dr Whelan-Ryan was awarded a buy-out of 2 hours per week for the academic year 2021/22 (48 hours in total), to write a paper presenting the findings of her PhD and further to this, to develop a number of case studies for publication in three leading marketing textbooks through an open international publishing competition that would be affiliated with SETU’s School of Business.
Positive psychology and its role in higher education
Dr Whelan-Ryan’s PhD explored student success in higher education, while her doctoral and subsequent post-doctoral research is particularly focused on positive psychology and its role in higher education. The role of positive psychology within the field of education is growing and Dr Whelan-Ryan is committed to making a difference by applying interventions in her work and through future research endeavours and collaborations.
The Research Connexions scheme also enabled Dr Whelan-Ryan to extend her level of knowledge in positive psychology and positive organisational scholarship by enrolling in the A Professional Diploma in Positive Health (RCSI) programme.
Useful teaching and learning tool
“This is the first time I have been fortunate to receive support from the Research Connexions scheme and these opportunities would not have been possible without it. The time to assimilate further knowledge, research and writing skills and to share my work and ultimately to publish has been invaluable to me. It has allowed me to gain professional knowledge and to collaborate both internally and externally with colleagues both in the field of business and in the field of positive health.
I am grateful to my colleagues in the School of Business, who actively support personal, professional & academic development and those who provided invaluable support and advice towards peer-review publishing.”
Additionally the case studies produced are used by lecturers and students in the School of Business in SETU and in other Schools of Business. They are a useful teaching and learning tools for marketing strategy and considering real-world contemporaneous issues.”
Another benefit of this funding is that it has further informed my teaching practice, allowed me to continue to hone my research skills and informed my future research-led-academic goals,” said Dr Whelan-Ryan.
Referencing SETU's School of Business
The publication of these case studies have ensured that SETU’s School of Business is referenced in three leading marketing textbooks, and the fact that they were selected through a competitive process demonstrates the quality of the work undertaken at SETU.
Going forward, Dr Whelan-Ryan would like to continue to engage in further research, writing, publishing - case studies and peer-reviewed papers - and collaborate with colleagues in the field of positive health and psychology and education: “I hope to secure further time allocation and funding to collaborate and continue to pursue and embrace academic inquiry-led experiences in future years in teaching and research endeavours.”
Case Studies
Whelan-Ryan, F. in Wilson, A., Zeithaml, V.A., Bitner, M.J. and Gremler, D.D. (2021) ‘Amazon: delivering service through electronic channels and intermediaries’, Services Marketing, Integrating Customer Focus Across the Firm, Fourth Edition, London: McGraw Hill, Fourth Edition, London: McGraw Hill.
Whelan-Ryan, F. in Wilson, A., Zeithaml, V.A., Bitner, M.J. and Gremler, D.D. (2021) ‘McDonald’s: designing services processes and innovations’, Services Marketing, Integrating Customer Focus Across the Firm, Fourth Edition, London: McGraw Hill.
Whelan-Ryan, F. in Wilson, A., Zeithaml, V.A., Bitner, M.J. and Gremler, D.D. (2021) ‘Music festivals and the price of live performance’, Services Marketing, Integrating Customer Focus Across the Firm, Fourth Edition, London: McGraw Hill.
Whelan-Ryan, F. in Fahy, J. and Jobber, D. (2022) ‘Depop: sustainable fashion in challenging times’, Foundations in Marketing, Seventh Edition, Berkshire: McGraw Hill.
Whelan-Ryan, F. in Jobber, D. and Ellis-Chadwick, (2023) 'The New [Augmented] Reality for Fashion Retailing', Principles and Practice of Marketing, Tenth Edition, Maidenhead: McGraw Hill Education.
Whelan-Ryan, F. in Jobber, D. and Ellis-Chadwick, (2023) ‘Serving Up Sustainability: The Impetus for Greener Fast-Food Outlets’, Principles and Practice of Marketing, Tenth Edition, Maidenhead: McGraw Hill Education.
Whelan-Ryan, F. in Jobber, D. and Ellis-Chadwick, (2023) ‘The Happy Pear: Go with Your Gut!’, Principles and Practice of Marketing, Tenth Edition, Maidenhead: McGraw Hill Education. DOI: ISBN10 1526849534 ISBN13 9781526849533 eISBN-13 9781526849540