New to the Business School - Michael Shulver

(started working at the BBS on 1st September 2014)

I have been hired on a two-legged contract that is 50/50 teaching and a major admin role. The latter is the setting up and running of the new Distance Learning MBA, and MSc Management.

My home is in the Procurement and Operations Management Department. I am not research active, though I do have a major textbook in Service Operations Management: Johnston, Clark and Shulver, Service Operations Management: Improving Service Delivery (2012), 4th Edition, Pearson Education.

I have been in academia for most of the last 20 years. I started working life as a pilot in the RAF… but I was rubbish at that, so went into aircraft engineering. I am a chartered mechanical engineer, and was working as such for about 9 years before I did an MBA at Warwick Business School. I never intended to become an academic, but really liked the environment while doing the MBA, so decided to stay. After my MBA (93/94) I applied for a research assistant role at WBS, then did a PhD … and worked my way up from there. I have done two stints at WBS. I was there from 1994 until 2004 when I felt I had become institutionalised! I needed to get away. I had previously set up a company with some friends, and went to join that full time. The work was consulting in Performance Management. It was great fun, and took me all over the world working with blue-chips and some major NGOs. In 2009 I decided I was missing the academic world and it was time to go back. I went back to a role in the Operations Management Group at WBS where I worked until last month.

I am very excited to be here at Birmingham Business School. The Distance Learning MBA is an important new venture for the School, and the University generally. I mean to make it work.

I am a Welshman, but I live locally with my partner Helen in Kings Heath. It is really nice to be able to walk or cycle to work! When I am not being an academic I brew beer, ride motorcycles across deserts, and do standup comedy.