Applied Management
This research supports teaching by bringing current industry challenges, case studies, and practical frameworks into the classroom. Students develop skills in critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership through exposure to real research projects and applied examples.
Strong connections to the profession ensure that learning remains relevant and prepares graduates for management roles across a wide range of sectors.
Key areas include leadership, organisational behaviour, business analytics, stakeholder management, and system resilience.
Research staff in Applied Management
Dmitrii Shabashev
Dmitrii Shabashev’s research focuses on managing business analytics from a socio-technical perspective. His work explores how organisations manage analytics by aligning people, processes, and technology, and examines the growing demand for leadership roles such as Chief Data and Analytics Officers (CDAO).
Dmitrii uses this research to support teaching by helping students understand how business analytics is managed in practice, not just technically applied. His work contributes to curriculum development by incorporating a socio-technical perspective, preparing students for management roles in data-driven environments. It also connects to the profession by addressing organisational needs for effective analytics leadership and coordination.
Wendy Olsen
Wendy Olsen’s research examines how stakeholders form legitimacy judgments about not-for-profit organisations, focusing on the New Zealand SPCA. Her work explores how internal and external stakeholders perceive organisations and how these perceptions influence governance, partnerships, and decision-making.
Wendy uses this research to enhance teaching by guiding students through research processes such as literature reviews and qualitative analysis. Her work provides real examples for research-based courses, helping students develop critical thinking and independent inquiry skills. It also supports the profession by offering insights into nonprofit governance and stakeholder management.
Nathan Ehambara (Dr. Eswaranathan Ehambaranathan)
Nathan Ehambara’s research focuses on Human Resource Development, particularly training and development in aviation, with a focus on Private Pilot Licence (PPL) training. His work explores how training shapes pilot competencies, decision-making, and professional identity within structured learning environments.
Nathan brings this research into teaching by helping students understand how training develops skills such as decision-making and situational awareness. His work supports curriculum development by linking management principles with technical training, and connects to the profession by improving understanding of training practices and safety culture.
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Anna Mae Angeles Master of Applied Management Tutor
Anna Mae Angeles’s work focuses on applied management practice across areas such as people management, service delivery, IT service management, leadership development, coaching and mentoring, programme management, organisational development, and marketing. Her expertise reflects a broad, practical understanding of how organisations function and develop.
This experience supports teaching by bringing real-world management practices into the classroom. Students benefit from her knowledge of leadership and organisational development, helping them understand how management concepts apply in professional settings. Her work also connects to the profession through its focus on practical skills and real organisational challenges.
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Juan Liang Tutor | Applied Management
Dr Juan Liang’s research focuses on organisational behaviour, particularly organisational identity, identity work, and communication during organisational change. She has published in reputable academic journals and presented her work at leading international conferences, contributing to knowledge about how organisations manage change.
Juan integrates her research into teaching by strengthening the understanding of current management practices and supporting students in developing industry-relevant projects. Her work helps students understand organisational dynamics and prepares them to respond effectively to change in professional settings, supporting both learning and professional relevance.
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Dr Paul Aitken
Dr Paul Aitken’s research focuses on the theory and practice of leadership development, particularly in the areas of change, agile leadership, and sustainability, with a strong international scope. Building on over 15 years of applied research, his current research explores the identification of sustainability leadership practices through UK academic journal submissions and book publications featuring the role of business leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
Paul uses this research to inform his teaching by developing course content and design focused on improving sustainability leadership. His work supports curriculum development at a postgraduate level, as well as strengthening links with the profession thought leaders and senior executives. This positions NMIT at the forefront of the contemporary and growing field of leadership development learning.
