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Michelle Ryan and Alex Haslam, working at the University of Exeter, uncovered the phenomenon of the `glass cliff', whereby women tend to occupy risky and precarious leadership positions. Main impacts include: (1) The term `glass cliff' has entered public discourse and informs public debate and an understanding of women's leadership roles. (2) The research has been adopted and promoted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and its lessons have been integrated into organisation practice by trainers, coaches, and HR professionals. (3) Influential employers (e.g., Met Office, IBM) have changed HR procedures as a result of the research, including revising flexible working options, bonus schemes, and the creation of internal support networks.
Main's research on Career Shares has had an impact both on recent government proposals to change the design of executive pay (BIS, 2013 [5.1]; Kay Report, 2013 [5.2]), as well as on new industry practice in the area. Those benefitting from the work are the shareholders in the UK's publicly traded companies — both direct holders of shares and those who own shares indirectly through pensions or insurance policies. This impact is bringing about radical improvements to the simplicity, transparency and potency of boardroom pay, in a way that encourages long-term decision making and delivers improved long-term returns to investors. The research has informed the practices of UK government agencies (BIS), professional bodies (e.g. Association of British Insurers) and FTSE100 companies (via Towers Watson).
Kingston University research into auditing and accounting regulation for small and medium-sized companies influenced the decision by the UK government to increase the size thresholds for these companies to the EU maxima in 2008. Subsequently the mandatory audit thresholds were also increased in 2012, aligning them with the accounting thresholds. This change exempted approximately 36,000 companies from compulsory audit.
The research was also used by regulators in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland to inform their decisions on audit exemption thresholds, and by the UK government in lobbying the European Commission on the regulation of micro-companies.
Strathclyde research demonstrates that women entrepreneurs make an important contribution to economic development, but are disadvantaged by under-capitalization at start-up. Working with UK and devolved governments, leading banks and finance institutions, and regional enterprise support organizations, the researchers have stimulated and influenced the framing of policy debate; helped shape policy with regard to the participation of women entrepreneurs in economic growth; improved our understanding of factors underpinning access to finance opportunities for diverse enterprises; and influenced the work of business support organizations and commercial banks.
The underrepresentation of women in political life, gender equality in policy making and the relationship between gender representation and gender equality, are considered in parallel within research undertaken at the University of Manchester (UoM). The work has informed Labour Government commitments to promote diversity of representation in local and national government, and more recently has underscored the detrimental impact of the Coalition Government's austerity policies; informing the Opposition Labour Party, contributing to public debate and empowering those most harshly affected. Explicit policy impact can be seen in two domains. Firstly, the `Duty to Promote Democracy', introduced via Statute in 2009. Secondly, following the `Speakers Conference on Parliamentary Representation' (2010), research for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on diversity in Parliament, that continues to inform policy debate.