Kushwanth Koya

A Complexity Perspective of Understanding and Developing Leadership

Year of Entry: Autumn, 2009

Status: Full Time

Research group: Information Management and Innovation (IMI)

Research topic: Leadership Studies, Complexity Theory, Emergence and Autopoiesis

Research supervisors: Dr. Petia Sice, Prof. Safwat Mansi, Prof. Maia Angelova

Background and experience:

2009 - Present. Northumbria University. Pursuing PhD
2008 - 2009. Northumbria University. MSc in Business Information Systems Management
2007 - 2008. General Electric. Process Associate at GE Consumer Finance Services
2002 - 2006. Anna University. BE in Electronics and Communications Engineering

Research details:

My research works towards a critical reflection on leadership theories and seeks to identify the gaps in our current knowledge in leadership studies and applies insights from the theory of autopoiesis and complexity science to address these gaps.

There is a vast amount of literature evaluating and recommending a process of good leadership, the problem, however, is that leaders tend to be educated and trained in a ‘disembodied’ way, following a process that is not instilled into the self. Such an approach could not have a significant impact on individuals and organisations, as it is clearly visible in these times. Contemporary insights from the theory of autopoiesis, complexity science and systems thinking suggest that it is becoming increasingly important to take an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to understand and develop leadership, which takes into account the continuity between biological and social systems. By considering the leader as an autopoietic system, it is possible to envisage the mutual interactions between leadership’s biological embodiment, behaviour, emergent characteristics and the environment.

My objective is to find direct proportionality between biological, social and behavioural attributes in the entity of leadership. I’m using mixed and novel methodologies such as inquiry based semi structured interviews and the Rickter Scale® to attain a deeper insight. I collaborate with the Gateshead Council, Mutual Inspiration CIC and the Brain Performance & Nutrition Research Centre in Northumbria University.
 
Publications:

• Koya, K., Sice, P., Mansi, S. (2010) ‘Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach to Leadership', Philosophy of Management Conference, St Ann’s College, University of Oxford 22 July 2010.
• Koya, K. (2009) ‘Development of a Framework to Drive Innovation in Organisations', UKSS Conference, St Ann's College, University of Oxford 01 September 2009.