Dr Nik Winchester

Professional biography

Nik is Senior Lecturer in Management in the Department for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise. Nik joined the Open University Business School in 2006 as a Research Fellow, progressing to Lecturer in 2008. Prior to joining the Open University, he worked as a researcher (1999-2006) at Cardiff University based in the Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) – where he retains the honorary position of Associate Researcher. Nik holds degrees from the London School of Economics (B.Sc. (Econ.)) and the University of Bristol (M.Sc. and Ph.D.).

Research interests

Nik's current research focuses on business ethics with an interest in both theory development and empirical work. Recent research includes: the development of a theoretical account of business ethics in Inter-Organisational Relations (IOR); the business ethical application of Habermas's social theory; the practice and theory of social justice in global labour markets; and, the business ethics of equity and equality in transnational work environments.

Nik has a longstanding research agenda on the governance and regulation of the maritime industry. His research has covered inter alia, the structure and functioning of the global labour market for seafarers; criminal practices within certification systems; transnational trade union practice; and a ground-breaking study of the regulatory impacts of flags of convenience. This research has been disseminated in a variety of books, journal articles, technical reports and conference presentations. 

Nik’s research also has a focus on Inter-Organisational Relations (IOR). His research has analysed managing cultural diversity in cross-national collaborations and using simulations to teach non-prescriptive theory of collaboration (as part of a multi-partner EU-funded project - 'L2C-Learning to Collaborate'). His current research in this area focuses on the conceptualisation of culture in IOR and the socio-theoretic explanation of collaborative failure. 

Teaching interests

Nik has a wide-ranging and innovative teaching agenda with a particular focus on business ethics, organisation and management theory, globalisation and Inter-organisational relations – he also has an interest and expertise in online-pedagogy. Nik has written teaching material for all levels of the OUBS curriculum including: B100 - An introduction to business and management; B201 - Business organisations and their environments (extract here); B301 - Making sense of strategy; B325 - Managing across organisational and cultural boundaries; and BB847 - Management beyond the mainstream (extract here). He also made a significant contribution to the NHS Leadership Academy funded Mary Seacole Programme. He is currently writing material on Leadership and ethics for a new undergraduate module on Leadership.

Impact and engagement

Nik is an authority in the field of Flag State Regulatory practice; as such he has regularly addressed key stakeholders within the maritime sector - at national and international levels. He was appointed as an Observer to the International Labour Organisation and has served on a National Audit Office expert panel in their review of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Nik has carried out research for the NHS, including a major project examining the relationship between governance and outcomes. In addition he produces occasional policy related research, including a recent report on Digital Exclusion and Social Housing funded by the National Housing Federation.