Workplace Bullying Research Wins Prestigious Award

December 14 2011

Workplace Bullying Research Wins Prestigious Award

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s Business Tutorial Assistant Michelle Allwright was recently awarded the “Best Early Career Refereed Submission” by the New Zealand Applied Business Education Forum.

Michelle’s paper on ‘Workplace Bullying’, undertaken as part of her Bachelor of Commerce degree, was presented to the New Zealand Applied Business conference earlier in the year. In addition, business degree student Eva Ruha took away a highly commended for her research into accounting practices for Maori Trusts.

The awards will be presented at the NMIT Business prize giving on Thursday 15 Dec at the Victory Room, Trafalgar Centre between 12 and 1pm.

It’s a double celebration for Michelle, who is also graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. The NMIT graduation ceremony is the following day - Friday December 16.

Michelle says she was hugely excited and surprised to find out she’d won the New Zealand Applied Business Education Forum award.

“I was happy to be given the opportunity to share my findings with a national audience. This gives research life and allows other people to take away ideas for their own benefits. I am passionate about strategic issues around SME management, marketing and HR. I also enjoy learning through research.”

Michelle’s research on’ Kiwi Managers Contribution to Workplace Bullying’ revealed that New Zealand managers either dismiss workplace bullying as “tough management”, turn a blind eye because “it’s too hard to prove” or believe that the “victim” is too ‘sensitive’.

She says her research shows that workplace bullying policy and a clear process is not common in New Zealand businesses and organizations.

“There’s already been a lot of feedback from my research, with business owners or senior managers telling me they were very interested in my findings as they knew very little about what defines workplace bullying and what it manifests as. I’m hoping that it will inspire some businesses to start developing a workplace bullying policy.”

NMIT’s business degree allows students to cover core subjects through a research project in the areas of marketing, management, accounting, and from 2012 global management.

NMIT Management Tutor, John Inglis says it’s great that NMIT is being recognized for the quality of its student research.

“We have some really ground-breaking applied business projects that are providing real insights into business in a practical way. The topics students choose to research cover a huge range from HR issues to how to market locally produced goods in China.”

He says the students work on the research for between 3 and 6 months and the results are often practical and easily applied information.

“These students are a huge resource for our local businesses. Each year they produce a wealth of current research. We also welcome local businesses to approach us with suggestions for research projects. If we can provide useful research with their assistance then everyone wins,” says John Inglis.

ENDS