Mind the Knowledge Gap: Vibe's partnership with academics

Vibe announces the expansion of its academic partnerships, bringing together leading experts in psychology, neurobiology, and organisational behaviour. Vibe combines academic rigour with practical application to develop workplace relationships.

As workplaces continue to evolve, Vibe's approach aligns with the contemporary understanding of academic-practitioner relationships, which regards tensions between academics and practitioners as a valuable source of insight and development, rather than seeking to eliminate differences (Bartunek & Rynes, 2014). This approach ensures that organisations benefit from both current research and practical methodologies, delivering evidence-based solutions that help organisations foster innovation, develop intrapreneurs, and build stronger workplace relationships.

The translation of academic insights into reality and back again combined with cutting-edge Vibe insight technology allows us to stack and crack complex issues with a simple, effective and common-sense approach delivered by a friendly team who take their work much more seriously than they take themselves.

Research shows that collaboration between academics and practitioners can lead to the creation of more valuable knowledge due to diverse perspectives and joint working (Banks et al, 2016). Through this unique partnership, Vibe ensures academic insights directly inform practical solutions, leading to more effective workplace interventions.

Vibe’s academic partnership features renowned experts including:

• Professor Nicola Graham-Kevan's expertise in psychological safety helps organizations create environments where employees feel empowered to innovate without fear. As Professor of Criminal Justice Psychology and Director of the Centre for Criminal Justice Research & Partnerships at the University of Central Lancashire, her insights into psychological safety and victim vulnerability are invaluable for developing cultures where individuals can voice concerns freely.

• Jay Graham-Kevan combines psychological research with practical facilitation experience. Jay brings expertise in emotional management programs and group therapy. Her extensive training in communication and conflict resolution provides valuable insights into creating psychologically safe workplaces where innovation can flourish. With specialized training in diversity and equality in healthcare and social settings, Jay understands the importance of inclusive environments that support diverse perspectives.

• Dr. Aldo Valencia, whose background in design thinking and innovation methodologies brings fresh perspectives to workplace problem-solving. As Assistant Professor in Strategy & Innovation at Northumbria University's Business Clinic, he mentors and coaches both students and major organizations to foster innovation. He has pioneered the use of augmented reality in learning environments.

• Dr Victoria Mountford-Brown, whose research in enterprise education and student identities is helping organizations understand how to nurture intrapreneurial talent. As Degree Programme Director of MA Arts, Business & Creativity and MSc Innovation, Creativity & Entrepreneurship, Victoria brings extensive experience in qualitative research methods and enterprise education pedagogy. Her work aligns with research that has identified five critical behavioural dimensions of intrapreneurship. These are innovativeness, proactiveness, opportunity recognition and exploitation, risk-taking, and networking (Neessen et al., 2019). Through this partnership, Vibe helps measure and develop these specific behaviours in the workplace.

• Elmira Bakhshalian, Head of Research at Vibe states, "Our partnership approach combines academic rigor with practical application, allowing organizations to benefit from the latest research while maintaining focus on real-world outcomes." Her expertise in analysing organizational data helps translate academic insights into actionable strategies for workplace improvement. As a published author with more than 12 academic and practitioner-focused publications, Elmira’s collaborative approach helps bridge the gap between research insights and organisational outcomes.

• Neurobiologist Ana Costa (soon to be Dr Ana Costa who has worked with Simon and the team for over 7 years) brings a unique academic perspective, applying behavioural science insights to workplace relationships. Her work spans major brands including Philips, Liverpool FC, Odeon, and Next, where she applies her deep understanding of human behaviour and decision-making processes. Ana’s research in decision-making and interpersonal dynamics helps organizations understand the neurological basis of workplace behaviour and team dynamics.

This partnership represents a significant step forward in bridging the gap between academic research and practical workplace solutions. By combining our diverse expertise, we're able to offer organisations evidence-based strategies that drive common sense results.

Organizations interested in learning more about how Vibe's academic partnerships can help develop intrapreneurial capability and improve workplace relationships and productivity can contact [email protected]

Banks, G.C., Pollack, J.M., Bochantin, J.E., Kirkman, B.L., Whelpley, C.E. &, O’Boyle, E.H. (2016). Management’s science-practice gap: A grand challenge for all stakeholders, Academy of Management Journal, 59 (6), 2205-2231

Bartunek, J. M., & Rynes, S. L. (2014). Academics and practitioners are alike and unlike: The paradoxes of academic-practitioner relationships. Journal of Management, 40(5), 1181-1201

Neessen, P. C. M., Caniëls, M. C. J., Vos, B., & de Jong, J. P. (2019). The intrapreneurial employee: toward an integrated model of intrapreneurship and research agenda. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 15, 545-571