Research
Professor McNulty researches corporate governance, especially board behaviour and effectiveness, and in the context of different company ownership. In so doing he takes account of directors and others actors in the governance process including company secretaries, the courts, owners and investors.
His work on directors spans publicly listed as well as private company entities. His work has an international scope including its interest in Industrial Enterprise Foundations.
He primarily uses qualitative research methods, though has undertaken mixed method studies.
Governance and Board Effectiveness
Professor McNulty has an international reputation for his portfolio of research about corporate governance, board effectiveness, strategic leadership and change in corporations and healthcare organizations. Working from a background in organisational and management studies and using research methods that bring him directly into contact with actors and institutions of senior management and governance, Professor McNulty seeks to design, conduct and publish excellent, impactful scholarly research about corporate governance phenomena, in particular:
• Board Leadership, behaviour and effectiveness
• Board process and financial risk
• Corporate-investor relations including fund management
• The appearance and substance of Corporate Governance Code Compliance
• The work and influence of the company secretary
He works across disciplines of law, finance and other social sciences to undertake and publish empirical work. With funding from the AHRC he is undertaking a 2 year empirical study of the relationship between corporate governance and the law commencing late 2016-2018.
Recent research with colleagues in accounting and finance, (Florackis and Ormrod) on the topic of boards and financial risk was recognised as a leading paper of the year by Corporate Governance: An international Review. Previously, a research monograph 'Reengineering Healthcare', with Professor Ewan Ferlie, (Oxford University Press) was recognised as Medical Management Book of the Year by the British Association of Medical Managers.
Through research Professor McNulty has achieved policy influence and research impact over two decades at the highest levels of both the public and private sectors. His research has informed the work of professional bodies, government departments, public inquiries, companies and consultancies such as the Law Commission; Association of Chartered Certified Accountants; Institute of Company Secretaries; Eversheds, DLA Piper, Sports Council Wales, BP; HM Treasury and DTI; Department of Health; Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry and the BBC.
Professor McNulty has considerable research funding experience involving public and private sectors, and covering fundamental and applied research. He has held Principal and Co-Investigator status on a variety of significant grant awards from public funding bodies and practitioner organisations, the latest being the AHRC award.
Research grants
Business Judgment and the Courts
ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2016 - November 2018
Structural and Behavioural Influences on the Risk Appetite of Boards
ACCA UK (UK)
March 2010 - October 2011
Corporate Governance New Actors,Processes and Interdependencies
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
January 2007 - June 2007
Research collaborations
Florackis; Ormrod
Collaborators on a project about Risk and Corporate Governance for the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA)