![Dr Sam MacAulay](/sites/default/files/profiles/11355.jpeg)
Overview
Background
My research informs and transforms how we understand the strategic organisation of innovation. I do this through research addressing the foundations of strategy and innovation. Empirically, my research focuses on complex, project-based forms of organising commonly found in infrastructure, engineering, and resources, to develop better explanations for how organisations innovate and adapt. Scholars of strategy and innovation have traditionally paid less attention to these organisational forms. And yet they are a central feature of many economies, including Australia. Theoretically, my research makes contributions to The Behavioral Theory of the Firm (e.g. developing new, more socialised models of organisational search and innovation), the Resource-based View of the Firm (e.g. how engineering and design can be used to protect innovation knowledge from imitation), and Project Organising (e.g. developing new frameworks for managing innovation in projects). I am currently bringing this research together to study the innovation in the context of artificial intelligence used in medical imaging with colleagues at UQ's ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology. My research has been published or is forthcoming in a wide variety of top journals ranging from MITSloan Management Review and the Academy of Management Review through to Transportation Research Part A and EMBO Reports.
Availability
- Dr Sam MacAulay is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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The Organization of Innovation
I study how innovation is shaped by organizational design, how new products and services are created, and the role of competition in knowledge production.
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Carnegie School organizational theory
My research here is twofold. I study how better socialized theories of organizational search can improve explanations of organizational adaptation and learning. And I am also branching out to study how organizational slack influences this process.
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Construction, Infrastructure, and Mining
Construction, infrastructure, and mining, have all traditionally received little attention in mainstream research on innovation, management, and strategy. I am doing research that tries to change this.
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Project-based organizations
My research investigates the strategic organization of project-based organisational forms, ranging from the delivery models of complex infrastructure projects through to service providers in mining.
Research impacts
I am passionate about doing research that has a positive impact on our economy and society. My research seeks to improve what we know about how organizations work. The hope is that by better understanding organizations, we'll be better equipped to understand why they function as they do, and thus make better decisions about how they should function.
Works
Search Professor Sam MacAulay’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
On the trajectory of discrimination: a meta-analysis and forecasting survey capturing 44 years of field experiments on gender and hiring decisions
Schaerer, Michael, Plessis, Christilene Du, Nguyen, My Hoang Bao, Aert, Robbie C.M. Van, Tiokhin, Leo, Lakens, Daniel, Clemente, Elena Giulia, Pfeiffer, Thomas, Dreber, Anna, Johannesson, Magnus, Clark, Cory J., Uhlmann, Eric Luis, Abraham, Ajay T., Adamus, Magdalena, Akinci, Cinla, Alberti, Federica, Alsharawy, Abdelaziz M., Alzahawi, Shilaan, Anseel, Frederik, Arndt, Felix, Balkan, Binnur, Baskin, Ernest, Bearden, Carrie E., Benotsch, Eric G., Bernritter, Stefan, Black, Sheila R., Bleidorn, Wiebke, Boysen, Andrew P., Brienza, Justin P. ... Zolopa, Camille S. (2023). On the trajectory of discrimination: a meta-analysis and forecasting survey capturing 44 years of field experiments on gender and hiring decisions. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 179 104280, 1-26. doi: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2023.104280
2023
Book Chapter
From "lonely projects" to orchestrating project innovation ecosystems
MacAulay, Samuel C., Davies, Andrew and Dodgson, Mark (2023). From "lonely projects" to orchestrating project innovation ecosystems. Handbook on Innovation and Project Management. (pp. 294-307) Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.
2023
Book Chapter
Minimum viable governance for data science initiatives
Mathur, Sandeep, Sankaran, Shankar, MacAulay, Sam and Tsang, Ivor (2023). Minimum viable governance for data science initiatives. Research handbook on the governance of projects. (pp. 445-456) edited by Ralf Müller, Shankar Sankaran and Nathalie Drouin. Cheltenham, Glos., United States: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781802208078.00045
2023
Other Outputs
Digital Service Transformation: Pathways to human and economic wellbeing White Paper
Andreassen, Tor W., Archibald, Gordon, Beekhuyzen, Jenine, Bongiovanni, Ivano, Brea, Edgar, Breidbach, Christoph, Burchill, Keith, Burgers, Henri, Cao, Selina, Coote, Len, Coram, Brendan, Cunningham, Claire, Feast, George, Field, Mitch, Ford, Jerad, Fouche, Leon, Gain, Alexandria, Gooding, Glen, Goyeneche Ramirez, David, Green, Teegan, Gschwind, Daniel, Hall, Thomas, Hartley, Nicole, Heinz, Daniel, Hine, Damian, Indulska, Marta, Kapernick, Brett, Kastelle, Tim, Ko, Ryan ... Zhang, Wenlu (2023). Digital Service Transformation: Pathways to human and economic wellbeing White Paper. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland Business School - Service Innovation Alliance. doi: 10.14264/aed4918
2023
Journal Article
Valuing theory and practice: using a portfolio lens to publish research on projects
Davies, Andrew and MacAulay, Samuel C. (2023). Valuing theory and practice: using a portfolio lens to publish research on projects. Project Management Journal, 54 (3), 211-218. doi: 10.1177/87569728231173647
2022
Other Outputs
Interviews
Oyola Lozada, Giuliana, Jenkins, Anna, Pregelj, Lisette and MacAulay, Sam (2022). Interviews. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/4ef737d
2022
Conference Publication
MINIMUM VIABLE GOVERNANCE FOR DATA SCIENCE INITIATIVES A TRANSPORT FOR NSW CASE STUDY
Mathur, Sandeep, Transport for NSW, Australia, Sankaran, Shankar, MacAulay, Samuel, Tsang, Ivor, School of the Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney, Australia, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Australia (2022). MINIMUM VIABLE GOVERNANCE FOR DATA SCIENCE INITIATIVES A TRANSPORT FOR NSW CASE STUDY. International Project Management Association, Serbian Project Management Association. doi: 10.56889/vjtu9918
2022
Journal Article
Design as an Isolating Mechanism for Capturing Value from Innovation: From Cloaks and Traps to Sabotage
Sharapov, Dmitry and MacAulay, Samuel C. (2022). Design as an Isolating Mechanism for Capturing Value from Innovation: From Cloaks and Traps to Sabotage. Academy of Management Review, 47 (1) amr.2018.0413, 139-161. doi: 10.5465/amr.2018.0413
2020
Journal Article
The search environment is not (always) benign: reassessing the risks of organizational search
MacAulay, Samuel C., Steen, John and Kastelle, Tim (2020). The search environment is not (always) benign: reassessing the risks of organizational search. Industrial and Corporate Change, 29 (1), 1-23. doi: 10.1093/icc/dtx045
2019
Journal Article
Delivery model innovation: insights from infrastructure projects
Davies, Andrew, MacAulay, Samuel C. and Brady, Tim (2019). Delivery model innovation: insights from infrastructure projects. Project Management Journal, 50 (2), 119-127. doi: 10.1177/8756972819831145
2019
Book Chapter
Collective action under the shadow of contractual governance: the case of a participatory approach to upgrade Cairo's 'garbage cities'
Gil, Nuno and MacAulay, Samuel C. (2019). Collective action under the shadow of contractual governance: the case of a participatory approach to upgrade Cairo's 'garbage cities'. Duality by design: the global race to build Africa's infrastructure. (pp. 284-312) edited by Nuno Gil, Anne Stafford and Innocent Musonda. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781108562492.011
2018
Journal Article
Transparency on scientific instruments
Bergenholtz, Carsten, MacAulay, Samuel C., Kolympiris, Christos and Seim, Inge (2018). Transparency on scientific instruments. EMBO reports, 19 (6) e45853. doi: 10.15252/embr.201845853
2018
Book Chapter
Understanding the innovation ecosystem in mining and what the digital revolution means for it
Steen, John, Macaulay, Sam, Kunz, Nadja and Jackson, John (2018). Understanding the innovation ecosystem in mining and what the digital revolution means for it. Extracting innovations: mining, energy, and technological change in the digital age. (pp. 3-26) edited by Martin J. Clifford, Robert K. Perrons, Saleem H. Ali and Tim A. Grice. New York, United States: CRC Press.
2018
Journal Article
Hiding in plain sight
Bergenholtz, Carsten, MacAulay, Sam and Seim, Inge (2018). Hiding in plain sight. Biologist, 65 (4).
2017
Journal Article
Five rules for managing large, complex projects
Davies, Andrew, Dodgson, Mark, Gann, David M. and MacAulay, Samuel C. (2017). Five rules for managing large, complex projects. MIT Sloan Management Review, 59 (1), 72-78.
2017
Other Outputs
How do you prepare for tomorrow's mine today?
Mitchell, Paul, Steen, John, Sartorio, Afonso, Bolton, Wayne, MacAulay, Samuel C., Higgins, Louise, Kunz, Nadja, Yameogo, Theo, Hoogedeure, Wim and Jackson, John (2017). How do you prepare for tomorrow's mine today?.
2016
Other Outputs
How do you prepare for tomorrow’s mine today?
Mitchell, Paul, Steen, John, Sartorio, Afonso, Bolton, Wayne, MacAulay, Samuel C., Higgins, Louise, Kunz, Nadja, Yameogo, Theo, Hoogedeure, Wim and Jackson, John (2016). How do you prepare for tomorrow’s mine today?. : EYGM.
2015
Journal Article
Innovation strategy in new transportation systems: the case of Crossrail
Dodgson, Mark, Gann, David, MacAulay, Sam and Davies, Andrew (2015). Innovation strategy in new transportation systems: the case of Crossrail. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 77, 261-275. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2015.04.019
2015
Journal Article
Making innovation happen in a megaproject: London's crossrail suburban railway system
Davies, Andrew, MacAulay, Samuel, DeBarro, Tim and Thurston, Mark (2015). Making innovation happen in a megaproject: London's crossrail suburban railway system. Project Management Journal, 45 (6), 25-37. doi: 10.1002/pmj.21461
2015
Journal Article
Mantra to method: lessons from managing innovation on Crossrail, UK
DeBarro, Tim, MacAulay, Samuel, Davies, Andrew, Wolstenholme, Andrew and Gann, David (2015). Mantra to method: lessons from managing innovation on Crossrail, UK. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Civil Engineering, 168 (4), 171-178. doi: 10.1680/jcien.15.00008
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Sam MacAulay is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Disruptive innovation: How can it be valued and priced? A case of novel theranostics in oncology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lisette Pregelj, Dr Anna Jenkins
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Doctor Philosophy
Artificial intelligence in medical imaging: understanding the frames that influence the adoption and integration of new technology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anna Jenkins
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Doctor Philosophy
How to enhance the probability of success in a complex project via Risk Leadership
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Michael Collins
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Sam MacAulay directly for media enquiries about:
- collaboration
- management of innovation
- megaprojects
- organisational design
- organizational design
- research and development
- social networks
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