My research is into the constructs that people use when addressing strategic and decision-making problems, and the frameworks that support them, and the under-pinning theory.  This raises two challenges.  One is that such theory must have a basis in how people think and shape their decisions; so you need ¿theory about the bases of theory¿.  The other is that you cannot have totally different frameworks for each branch of management; you need ¿meta-theory¿.  This brings one into theory about general laws, or Nomology, the ¿science of the laws of the mind¿. 

One of my works in progress is a book on the methodologies and systems used in management, http://mis.ucd.ie/staff/cbrugha.  It explores the generative structures behind these systems, and puts into common frameworks 100 systems ranging from from SWOT analysis to the Balanced Scorecard to the Excellence Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM).  I use the term ¿nomological maps¿ because maps help you to navigate a territory.  First it is necessary to draw the map, which is like building a jig-saw puzzle using fragment of maps, i.e. the bits of experiences of people who have explored the territory previously.  I do my empirical work in the most important developing field of management science, multi-criteria decision-making, www.mcdm.com.  MCDM mirrors much of management, and draws on Personal Construct Theory from Psychology, Grounded Theory from Sociology, Critical Realism from Philosophy of Science, and Nomology, as well as using measurement methods, case studies and Action Research.  Because it can be applied to any kind of decision I have been able to teach my research and involve my students, both under-graduate and post-graduate, in empirical testing. 

A personally enriching aspect of this research comes from how Nomology contributes to aspects of personal growth and development, www.pneumatherapy.com.

My main conferences are in Management Science, Information Systems, Systems Science and Decision Science.  I have also participated in Management, Marketing, Sociology and Psychology conferences to build a bridge between different fields.

The size of the project means that I am still developing aspects of Nomological theory.  Recently I have been focusing on conflict, and am currently looking at conflict resolution.  As I focus on the remaining gaps in the theory I am finding more cross-overs in contribution of aspects to apparently different areas.  In this case it turns out that conflict resolution helps in resolving client-customer difficulties in the delivery stage of project management.

I see my work in Nomology as model-building, with the methods I use for theory building drawing from my original training in mathematics.  Each piece of the theory has an associated principle or axiom.  The constant challenge is to find a contradiction that disproves any of the theory.  This has led to testing these structures in China, and to collaborations with Professors Rong Du and Shizhong Ai, of the School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi'an, China, and with Dr. Lan Li of the UCD Confucius Institute and the Institute of Chinese Studies UCD, which is located in the Quinn School. 

Professor Rong Du
Email: durong@mail.xidian.edu.cn

Current Position           2007- present      Xidian University

Previous Positions         1998- present      Xidian University

Work Experience         1990-1995           Xi’an Petroleum Exploration and Instrument Company

Education                      2004, Ph.D.          Xidian University

Research Interests     Decision analysis and modeling in knowledge management and marketing