John Dawson

Specialist in Retail Innovation

• Personal background
  
• Research focus
  
• Previous posts
  

After graduating in Geography from University College London in 1965 with an interest in urban geography, work began on retail issues as a way of better understanding how cities develop. Study for an MPhil on central place theory and the work of the early economists, Steuart, Botero, Cantillon and others was convincing of the long historic importance of retail commerce as the driving force in urban development, particularly in Europe.

In 1970 I completed a PhD at Nottingham University with a thesis on the post-war changes in retailing in selected European regions. Subsequent research focussed on locational issues in retailing, the interaction of government and firms in locational decisions, and the reasons for the steady decline of independent retailing. Later research widened the scope of the research work on retailing with extension to other areas of government intervention, other aspects of retail marketing, and other managerial activities of retail firms. The focus for many years has been on the dynamics of the processes of change within retailing as a sector and within its constituent firms.

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This broader basis for research was pursued in the 1980s when I was appointed to the first professorial post in retail studies at a UK University - The Fraser of Allander Chair of Distributive Studies - at the University of Stirling. This also gave me the opportunity to establish and direct for 7 years the Institute for Retail Studies, so encouraging the formation of a specialist research and teaching group at Stirling. At this time my personal research moved into areas of retail employment, retail strategy and channel relationships with co-workers Susan Shaw, Leigh Sparks and Steve Burt. A substantial number of doctoral students completed theses, through the 1980s, and went on to successful research careers. The research was funded by a wide range of public and private sector organisations. I left the Institute to move to The University of Edinburgh in 1990.

My research focus since 1990 has been on the five main themes:

1. The nature of change and innovation in European retailing
2. International activity of retailers
3. e-retailing and information management in retailing
4. The measurement of performance in retailing and distribution
5. Inter-relationships between European and Asian approaches to retail management.

In developing this work I have become more and more aware of the powerful influence of individual retail managers in generating innovative change not only in their own firm but also across the sector. The openness of retailing makes it particularly susceptible to knowledge transfer whether or not firms are within network relationships.

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Periods as Head of Department of Business Studies (1993-98) in The University of Edinburgh, as Director of the MBA and Director of Institute for Retail Studies (1984-90) at Stirling University have provided insights into practical issues of academic and research management.

Involvement in practical commercial management has been gained as Chairman of a retail company operating museum shops and as a Board member of Cumbernauld New Town Development Corporation until its privatisation.

Opportunities have been pursued to work in Universities in other countries with visiting positions in University of Western Australia (1973), Australian National University (1978), Florida State University (1982), Chuo University (1986 ), University of South Africa (1999), European University Institute (1999), University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences, Kobe (2000), Bocconi University (2000) and Saitama University (2002). Since the late 1980s I have held a regular visiting professorship at ESADE, Barcelona, that has enabled research into changes in Spanish retailing since before entry into the EU. The award of title of Distinguished Professor at UMDS, Kobe, in 2003 has enabled an established link with a Japanese university that focuses on retail and distribution issues.

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