His current research is in the areas of Enterprise Governance and the use of information for strategic planning and performance management. His approach is primarily qualitative and organisational based.
Enterprise Governance brings together Roland's interests in performance management and the governance issues allowing exploration of Boards of Directors responsibilities for growth and sustainability alongside ethical responsibility.
He is also in the process of writing up research on the role of accountants in innovation, based on a series of case studies. Preliminary results suggest a shift to corporate venturer for some accountants who not only win resources but actively encourage investment in innovatory products, process and services. He has held a number of research grants from ESRC, EPSRC, and CIMA as well companies.
Research Supervision
Roland has successfully supervised PhD's across the management, accounting and information fields as well as examined for a number of institutions.
Strategic Management Accounting and Information. Successful PhD's have been supervised in the area of accounting and broader information resources, the usage by senior management and boards for planning and performance management. This includes the design of information systems and the selection of KPI's. Strategic and Balanced Scorecards are seen as central to shift from internal and retrospective to external and future orientated.
Implementation of Information Systems including CRM, EDI and e-commerce. Successful PhD's have been supervised in these areas which have explored the social and organisational dynamics of the change processes.
Future of the Finance Function. Current research includes the exploration of corporate venturing and the role of the finance function in supporting innovation and entrepreneurial activity. Case study research of innovations is suggesting accountants can and do play significant roles in facilitating these developments. Research students in this area would be welcomed.
Management and Accounting Education. Research continues in this area linked to the professional bodies and technological developments.