Neil Shepherd

Dr. Neil Shepherd is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS), where he joined in November 2022. Previously, he held the position of Senior Lecturer in Strategy at Aston Business School in Birmingham. His academic career follows a professional background as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG in London, spanning advisory and audit practices. Shepherd specializes in empirically rigorous research grounded in organizational, social, and cognitive psychology, with a focus on the psychology of strategic management, strategic decision-making processes, and strategy implementation.

Research Interests: Neil’s work explores the intersection of psychology and strategy, investigating how social and cognitive processes influence strategic decision-making and implementation. Key areas include transactive memory systems in acquisitions, upper echelons theory, political behavior in corporate decisions, and ambidexterity in innovation through R&D networks. His studies often emphasize contextual contingency and behavioral integration.

• Current Project: Strategic Foresight in SMEs: How Generative AI can Secure SME Growth and Survival (2025–2026)

Advising and Grants: Neil supervises PhD students like Anisha Varughese (PhD Student, Associate Lecturer) and focuses on topics such as strategic decision-making, behavioral strategy, and top management teams. His recent research has been funded through projects like the SME foresight initiative.

Labs/Teams: Based in the Entrepreneurship and Strategy Department at LUMS, Shepherd collaborates within interdisciplinary teams exploring strategic behavior and organizational dynamics.