Symposium explores Organisational Securitisation amidst Global Challenges
The School’s Centre for Organisational and Employee Wellbeing (COEW) hosted a one-day symposium addressing the rise of organisational securitisation amidst growing global challenges such as war, disease, and climate emergencies.
Featuring renowned speakers from top British and European universities, the event examined how business organisations are both cause and effect of these complex dynamics posing analytical problems for the way in which we think about organisation.
Keynote speakers, Professor Daniel Neyland (University of Bristol), and Professor Mikkel Flyverbom (Copenhagen Business School) addressed pressing topics, including the role and organisational nature of digital infrastructures in managing boundaries and borders.
The associated rise of surveillance and control was considered detrimental to the advance of well-being amongst both employees of those organisations and citizens of nation states who remain the target of these systems.
Speakers also examined how digital work and security practices help shape new subjectivities and new subject positions that are not fully known and under the control of management.
The day’s discussions culminated in a roundtable debate led by Professor Alf Rehn (University of Southern Denmark), exploring these topics and the shift in public-private relations in the management of state boundaries and borders.
Hosted by Professor Damian O’Doherty (COEW Director) and Professor Elena Raviola (University of Gothenburg), the symposium provided attendees with opportunities to exchange ideas and collaborate during breaks.
Throughout the day early career researchers and PhD students participated in engaging discussions and networking opportunities with experts.
The event concluded with a reflection on the need for innovative organisational strategies and a preview of upcoming discussions at the EGOS (European Group for Organizational Studies) conference in Athens where the COEW is hosting a conference sub-plenary to address these issues.
Speaking after the event Professor Damian O’Doherty said that “the event helped place Liverpool right at the centre of emerging debates in European and North American organisation studies and enhances our growing reputation at the Centre for Organisational and Employee Wellbeing for pioneering new research topics and questions.”
“The whole day was super stimulating”, said Professor Rehn, “and it really does confirm once again that the COEW here at the University of Liverpool Management school is one of the most innovative and exciting centres to be working in at the moment."
About the Centre for Organisational and Employee Wellbeing
The Centre for Organisational and Employee Wellbeing is a leading research hub that brings together interdisciplinary researchers to shed light on how organising and managing affects production, working life and health, and how to thrive and flourish, whether as organisations or employees.
Learn more about what we do at the Centre for Organisational and Employee Wellbeing