Robert Chia

Robert Chia is a Research Professor of Management at the University of Glasgow’s Adam Smith Business School. He holds a PhD in Organization Studies from Lancaster University, an MA in Organizational Analysis, and diplomas in Training Management and Mechanical Engineering from Singapore Polytechnic. As an academic, he previously held professorial roles at the Universities of St Andrews, Aberdeen, and Strathclyde. His research focuses on strategic capabilities, organizational learning, and East-West management practices, with emphasis on process philosophy and strategic emergence.

Chia’s career spans over 16 years in industry, including roles in aircraft maintenance, manufacturing, and HR management. He consults for international bodies like the International Federation of Red Cross and organizations such as British Airways and Cathay Pacific Airlines. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts (FRSA) and former member of the Society for the Advancement of Management Studies (SAMS).

His research interests include decision-making, strategic practices, organizational dysfunction, and the role of universities in business education. Notable works explore strategy as practice, process philosophy, and Confucian ethics in leadership. Chia has authored/co-authored five books and contributed to leading journals such as Organization Studies, Academy of Management Journal, and Journal of Management Studies.

Key contributions include advancing strategy-as-practice theory, analyzing exploration-exploitation dynamics in innovation, and examining stakeholder theory through process-ontological lenses. His recent work addresses temporal patterns in management and strategic intentionality.

Chia’s awards include his RSA Fellowship and extensive invited keynote speaking at global conferences. He has advised major corporations and institutions, emphasizing practical wisdom and organizational transformation.