GSM to promote doctoral studies in management

Friday, 10 February 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

An international forum on research issues in management will discuss problems and concerns of development in Sri Lanka with a view to formulating directions for research projects in higher studies in business and management. The forum will be useful for potential doctoral students in business and management, MBA researchers and companies analyzing their markets and competitors.

The Forum, organized under the leadership of Prof. Gunapala Nanayakkara, founder of PIM, will be held on Monday, February 13th from 3.30pm to 8.30pm at the Graduate School of Management (GSM), World Trade Center (10th Floor, East Tower). The main objectives of the Forum, according to the organizers, are to promote a research culture in the academic and corporate communities of Sri Lanka and to bring talent from overseas universities and research institutes to work jointly with Sri Lankan academics and professionals to address vital issues of economic and social development of the country.

Prof. Nanayakkara says that “a key impediment to economic progress in Sri Lanka is poor management which is wide spread in both public and private organizations. Upgrading management capabilities at all levels of organization is necessary to attract foreign investment and compete in global markets. MBA programs should be designed for quality education and degrees should be awarded with due care. There is a need to start a new trend of concern for quality in management education and serious research is part of the solution.”

At this Forum, presentations will be made by three visiting professors from Universities in Finland, and a few eminent academics and professionals of Sri Lanka including Dr. Ranjith Cabral (Formerly Uni-Levers –Ceylon), Dr. Mahim Mendis (Open University of Sri Lanka), Dr. Amal Harsha De Silva (Provincial Director of Health, Western Province), and Dr. Mervyn Gunasekera (Chairman, LAN Management Consultants). They will made presentations and discuss issues relating to directions for research in development and management particularly for the consideration of researchers and doctoral students.

A unique feature of the Forum will be the presentation of four doctoral thesis proposals developed by potential doctoral candidates at the Graduate School of Management.

The research areas are Corporate Culture and CRM, Employee turnover, Impact of CSR projects on environment, and Controlling non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka.

The organizers welcome researchers and research students at the Forum (free admission) with prior registration ([email protected]).