BAM Research Methodology SIG Track Chair Election

I am eager to contribute to the BAM Research Methodology SIG as Track Chair and to help shape an inclusive, intellectually vibrant space for advancing methodological innovation and excellence. With extensive experience in applying both quantitative and qualitative research methods, I have developed a deep appreciation for methodological diversity and rigour across management and organisation studies. My recent publication, Chen, L., Danbolt, J., Holland, J., & Lee, B. (2023). “Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches in Corporate Governance Research”, in the Handbook of Research Methods for Corporate Governance, reflects my commitment to bridging methodological traditions and fostering dialogue between different research paradigms.

I have worked on several funded research projects (e.g., BA and UKRI) employing a wide range of designs and analytical techniques—from econometric modelling and survey research to case studies and mixed-method approaches. This experience enables me to engage constructively with diverse methodological perspectives represented within the SIG.

In my current role as Deputy Head of Subject Group for Research and Innovation, I provide research leadership, mentor colleagues, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. I also maintain strong networks with academics and external stakeholders, including through my role on the leadership team of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), which is a partnership of eight research intensive Midlands universities plus the British Geological Survey.

As Track Chair, I will actively promote methodological inclusivity, encourage engagement from scholars at all career stages, and ensure the effective coordination and delivery of the SIG’s conference activities in partnership with the SIG Co-Chairs and BAM office.

I am pleased to nominate myself for the position of Track Chair for the BAM RMSIG. I am a Reader at Newcastle University Business School (NUBS) with a strong methodological orientation and over 20 years of academic experience, including faculty positions at the University of Maryland and The Ohio State University. My research has been published in Academy of Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Research Policy, and Management Science, and I have led projects funded by the US National Science Foundation and other bodies developing pioneering measures of technological significance (using patent data), firm upgrading capabilities (using survey data), and addiction clinic performance (using government data).

I have relevant experience in managing peer review and academic programming, and a strong commitment to advancing methodological innovation. Since 2023, I have led the Strategy, International Business and Society (SIBS) research community at NUBS, which supports scholars working on business and society topics. I am passionate about fostering methodological development among early-career researchers and promoting dialogue across quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method traditions. Recently, I served as an invited speaker at methodology workshops for the EIBA Doctoral Summer School and the AIB-UK&I Symposium “Re-imagining Methodological Training in the International Business Community – An Agenda-Setting Symposium” (in collaboration with AIB RMSIG and RRBM, May 2025). Both initiatives supported PhD students and early-career researchers in strengthening research design and analytical skills. 

I would be delighted to help shape the RMSIG track in a way that reflects this spirit of inclusivity and methodological pluralism

I am, at heart, a methods scholar. Most of my publications-including a leading textbook in research methods-focus on methodological development, innovation, and pedagogy. My work bridges methodological rigour and creative exploration, engaging with topics such as design thinking, participatory and arts-based approaches, network research, and the decolonisation of qualitative inquiry. I am deeply committed to fostering conversations about how we, as a community, engage with methods in an era shaped by big data, generative AI, and changing understandings of what counts as valuable knowledge.

Having contributed to BAM events and with experience in assisting with the organisation of large-scale academic conferences, I would be delighted to help shape the Research Methodology SIG track for BAM’s 40th Annual Conference and beyond. I bring strong organisational skills and a genuine passion for methodological dialogue across disciplines.

As someone rebuilding her academic profile after two maternity leaves, I am particularly invested in inclusive, cross-generational, and international exchange-supporting others in finding confidence and joy in methodological work. I am currently preparing a symposium on the future of methodological conversations in academia and would be excited to align this with BAM’s broader vision.

Finally, given my current research on hybrid conferencing, I am especially keen to contribute to the evolving conference format and to ensure the methods track remains a vibrant, welcoming, and forward-looking space for scholarly exchange.

As Track Chair for the BAM RMSIG, I will bring a deep, integrative expertise in qualitative research, systematic literature reviews, bibliometric analysis, complemented by a solid foundation in quantitative methods and mixed-methods design and analysis. Throughout my research career, I have reviewed 50+ papers for journals including the International Journal of Consumer Studies, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Acta Psychologica, South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, Heliyon, Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, and Benchmarking, among others. I have designed and evaluated studies that combine qualitative insights with quantitative metrics, enabling robust triangulation, richer interpretation, and greater methodological transparency. I have also conducted 70+ workshops across universities and institutes, equipping researchers with practical and theoretical skills to implement literature reviews and rigorous qualitative and mixed method projects.
Though I have an academic experience of almost 15 years but for last 5 years I have dedicated myself to research, underscoring my commitment to advancing the academic community. With my expertise of mentoring scholars both at the national and international level,  reinforces my commitment to methodological rigor and impact-focused scholarship.

Dr Zhifu Xie is a Lecturer in Finance at the University of Brighton and a BAM member. She holds a PhD in Economics and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research focuses on international finance, FinTech, and global economic modelling, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Her methodological expertise spans econometric modelling, panel data analysis, and survey-based research, which she integrates to explore complex financial and behavioural phenomena.

Dr Xie has presented her work at the BAM 2025 Conference and other international academic events. She previously worked at the University of Cambridge, where she contributed to large-scale, policy-oriented research projects involving mixed-method data collection and analysis. Her academic work reflects a commitment to methodological rigour, interdisciplinary insight, and evidence-based understanding of finance and management.

As Track Chair, Dr Xie aims to strengthen the Research Methodology SIG as a platform for innovation and collaboration across diverse research traditions. She plans to encourage submissions that combine quantitative precision with qualitative depth, promote best practices in research design and review, and support early-career scholars in developing their methodological confidence.

With her strong mixed-method background, proven organisational skills, and active engagement in the BAM community, Dr Xie is well positioned to contribute effectively to the SIG’s growth and to the advancement of methodological dialogue within the wider BAM network.