Key Concepts in Critical Management Studies

Ideal as an introduction and as a quick reference, Key Concepts in Critical Management Studies explores the essential concepts used within the field today. Specially edited and written by a range of international experts, key ideas are succinctly explained and illustrated beyond a simple definition. Further reading suggestions and cross-referencing provide the reader with means to develop their knowledge further.

With over 50 entries, from Actor Network Theory to Utopianism, readers have instant access and explanation of the most influential concepts in CMS literature. Clear and engaging, this will provide strong support for all courses involving critical management and is a perfect resource for anyone with an interest in this field.

I have previously taught at the Universities of Leicester, Essex and Strathclyde and my research interests are fairly eclectic. I continue to engage in research related to the history of marketing, with a specific focus on the influence of the Cold War on marketing and advertising theory. An on-going stream of research deals with racism and eugenics in marketing theory, thought and practice. Suffice to say, these are just a sample of what is presently occupying my attention.

Pauline Maclaran is Professor of Marketing & Consumer Research in the School of Management at Royal Holloway. She joined in September 2008, having moved from Keele University where she was Professor of Marketing. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Academy ofMarketing and the Association for Consumer Research, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Prior to becoming an academic she worked in industry for many years, initially in marketing positions and then as a founder partner in her own business, a design and marketing consultancy. During this time she worked with a broad spectrum of public and private sector companies. Currently her main teaching areas are Consumer Behaviour and Contemporary Issues in Marketing & Consumer Research. Her research interests focus on cultural aspects of contemporary consumption, and she adopts a critical perspective to analyze the ideological assumptions that underpin many marketing activities, particularly in relation to gender issues. Her work also explores socio-spatial aspects of consumption, including the utopian dimensions of fantasy retail environments, and how the built environment mediates social relationships. In 2002 she co-chaired the ACR Gender, Marketing & Consumer Behavior Conference and in 2010 the European ACR Conference. She has also co-organised two ESRC sponsored seminar series on Critical Marketing and Motherhoods, Markets and Consumption. She has just finished co-editing a book entitled Consumption & Spirituality with Dr Diego Renallo, Bocconi University, Milan and Professor Linda Scott, Said Business School, University of Oxford. Currently she is working with Professor Cele Otnes, University of Illinois, on a book for California University Press entitled, Tiaras, Tea Towels and Tourism: Consuming the British Royal Family.