Edwards researchers are transforming business scholarship through socially impactful research and meaningful collaborations. Our school has a research community that is renowned for its excellence and innovation in the core areas of sustainable and accountable business, and business innovation and education. Our mission is to develop business professionals to build nations and we do this through research mentorship and training to advance the future generation of business research scholars.
Research Themes
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Sustainable Business
This is a growing area of interest to many researchers at Edwards and an area that is of growing importance to the University of Saskatchewan. Faculty at Edwards have been successful in obtaining grants from national funding bodies, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, to fund research in the areas of gender and leadership, Indigenous economic capacity building, corporate social responsibility, and pharmaceutical marketing. The challenges of sustainability require a new way of thinking about business success. Research on sustainable business examines the extent to which businesses engage in responsible practices and processes and contribute toward the creation of sustainable value. This area of research aims to find beneficial solutions to broader societal issues, for example responding to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Project Highlights:
- “Northern Capacity Building Through Aboriginal Entrepreneurship: A Canadian and Scandinavian Comparative Study,” Dr. Swanson (PI), Ken Coates, (Co-I), Greg Poelzer (Co-I), Dr. Zhang (Co-I) and Dr. Bruni-Bossio (Co-I): Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded research project.
- “Addressing stereotype threat for women in leadership: The role of mindfulness,” Dr. Walsh (PI) and Dr. Carleton (Co-I): Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded research project.
- “Establishing Social License: Women, Respect, and Stakeholder Engagement in the Nuclear Sector,” Dr. Bourassa (Co-I): Fedoruk Centre for Nuclear Innovation funded research project.
- "Luxury brands’ use of CSR and femvertising: the case of jewelry advertising," Stephanie A. Pankiw, Barbara J. Phillips, David E. Williams: Research article in Qualitative Market Research.
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Accountable Business
The Edwards School of Business has internationally recognized experts researching Accountable Business. Research in this area explores the actions of organizations in terms of their effects on stakeholders. Accountable Business research also explores an organization’s justification of its actions. Faculty are actively involved in projects investigating labour and social policies, talent development and recruitment, efficient operations, decision-making and professional judgement, community and stakeholder engagement, strategy and value creation, and governance and risk management.
Project Highlights
- “The determinants and impacts of tax certainty in a global economy,” Dr. Mescall: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Funded Research project.
- “Scheduling Optimization of Manufacturing and Service Environments with Time-Lag Constraints,” Dr. Samarghandi: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Funded Research project.
- “The Effects of Job Advertisement Messaging and Applicant Traits on Job Pursuit Decisions,” Dr. J Schmidt: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Funded Research project.
- "Research sheds light on work and inequality during the pandemic and beyond," Dr. Pohler: research highlight. Dr. Pohler was also recently appointed Vice-Chair of the Government of Canada’s Employment Equity Act Review Task Force and is the new Co-operative Retailing System (CRS) Chair in Co-operative Governance with the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at USask.
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Business Innovation
Faculty at Edwards have made significant contributions to research that explores business innovation within and between business functions. Edwards faculty are also exploring the effects of disruptive technologies on innovative capabilities and practices. Projects in this area investigate social entrepreneurship, cooperative business models, ethical leadership, blockchain, and digital innovation and transformation.
Project Highlights
- “Online social networking and social commerce performance: An ego network perspective,” Dr. Wang: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Funded Research project.
- "Research examines how blockchain technology improves financial market efficiencies for economic development." Dr. Fan Yang’s emerging area of research investigates emerging blockchain technologies for their potential to improve the efficiency of financial markets to not only reduce trade costs but increase engagement in international trade by less developed countries to assist in economic development.
- "Five strategy shifts for innovation," C. Brooke Dobni, Mark Klassen, and Grant Wilson: research article in the Strategy & Leadership journal.
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Business Education
In addition to being dedicated and celebrated teachers, faculty at Edwards are also leaders in research on business education. Faculty are undertaking research that focuses on understanding best practices in teaching and educational strategies, as well as innovative developments that optimize learning, thereby enabling educators to positively impact the next generation of business professionals.
Project Highlights
- "Introduction to Federal Income Taxation in Canada," published by Wolters Kluwer written by Drs. Johnstone, Mescall and Robson. This textbook is one of the first bring Indigenous taxation issues to light and is used at more Canadian universities than any other tax textbook in Canada.
- "The Curriculum Innovation Canvas: A Design Thinking Framework for the Engaged Educational Entrepreneur," Dr. Willness and Dr. Bruni-Bossio, research article: in Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement.
