Dr James Lockhart PhD, pmsc, MAgrSc

Contact details

• Ph: 64 6 9516524
  Location: 3.14, Business Studies Central
  Campus: Turitea
• Ph: 64 21 1933540
  Location: Off Campus

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy - University of Auckland (1998)
• Militia Command & Staff College - Canadian Staff College (1996)
• Master of Agricultural Science - Massey University (1990)

Research Interests

The primary objective of my research is to establish causality between board decision making (governance) and subsequent business performance.  The methodological approach I have adopted and continue to develop is largely through the 'black box' (direct board room observations, board decision making, or proxy sites).  The caveat being the need to span the academy-practitioner divide producing relevant outputs to both governance research and governance practitioner communities.

Impact on both communities is measured by regular invitations to attend conferences, address practitioners, and publish widely.

Various executive education contracts ($730k to date ) have also provided opportunities for data collection and access to boards of directors.  Professional directorships (Greenlea Group Ltd, Beetham Pastural Limited, Henergy Eggs Ltd, Heritage Farms (New Zealand) Ltd, T H Enterprises & Vision Manawatu) have provided and continue to provide experiential learning for critically reflective practice. Visible impact, relevance and credibility with the governance community is also critical for access for students.
Governance research is in its infancy, relationships may or may not have been observed, and causality between boards and performance is yet to be established.  Theory is dominated by agency, and has been found wanting. 'Black box' research provides an alternate approach and is increasingly envied by the research community. 

Thematics

Resource Development and Management, Future Food Systems

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Agricultural And Veterinary Sciences (070000): Agriculture, Land and Farm Management (070100):
Business and Management (150300): Commerce, Management, Tourism And Services (150000): Corporate Governance and Stakeholder Engagement (150303):
Farm Management, Rural Management and Agribusiness (070106):
International Business (150308)

Keywords

My area of expertise is in the research and conduct of corporate and institutional governance, especially from the perspective of strategic desicion making. This expertise has been developed over three decades beginning in farm management in the mid-1980s, where frustration with technologically dominanted solutions inadequacy of sustainably shifting farmers' and growers' profit, culminating today with a focus on 'black box' decision making in board rooms. On that journey research for a masters degree (Hons) in Farm Management; econometrics and international economics (Washington State); and, a PhD in International Business (Auckland) were completed within the broad context of agriculture and agribusiness. However, it wasnt until the late 1990s in a consulting capacity that the wonders, complexity, and hubris of boardrooms was encountered in full - this is where decisions relating to wealth creation are made. A phenomenally difficult site to enter, let alone observe! But once encountered never forgotten, and something I have nutured ever since.

Outcomes from this research stream are presented to and published among the reserach community; they are distributed to the practitioner community via various courses and interventions (e.g., DairyNZ Mark & Measure Governance Development Programme), workshops (e.g., Independent Schools of New Zealand), industry presentations (e.g., SIDE - South Island Dairy Experience) and n umerous media releases and appearances.

Languages

• English
  Last used: Daily
  Spoken ability: Excellent
  Written ability: Excellent
• French
  Last used: Bi-annually
  Spoken ability: Needs work
  Written ability: Needs work
• German
  Last used: Rarely
  Spoken ability: Needs work
  Written ability: Needs work

Courses Coordinated

• 114.895 Professional Practice
• 115.388 Internship in Business
• 152.894 Professional Practice

Current Doctoral Supervision

Supervisor of:

• Lei Zhang - Doctor of Philosophy
  Offshoring and reshoring phenomenon: Drivers and decision-making process
• Majid Khan - Doctor of Philosophy
  AN EXAMINATION OF CSR DECOUPLING IN PAKISTAN: A RESEARCH JOURNEY THROUGH TIGHT AND LOOSELY COUPLED ENVIRONMENTS

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Supervisor of:

• 2017 - Peter Crow - Doctor of Philosophy
  Understanding corporate governance, strategic management and firm performance: As evidenced from the boardroom
• 2016 - Roger McEwan - Doctor of Philosophy
  Opening The Black Box: How Strategy Practitioners develop their practices
• 2013 - Wayne MacPherson - Doctor of Business and Administration
  An examination of Kaizen drift in Japanese genba: Implications for business in the anglosphere
• 2011 - John Peebles - Doctor of Business and Administration
  Power and influences on the board's agenda: Who determines what corporate directors discuss?
• 2009 - David Harris - Doctor of Business and Administration
  A discourse analysis of the nature of institutions in New Zealand rugby 1985 and 2005
• view more...
• 2007 - Sondra Monroe - Doctor of Philosophy
  The Impact of Resource Governance Decisions on Firm Performance: What is Corporate Strategy and Does it Matter?
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Co-supervisor of:

• 2017 - Arthur Chin - Doctor of Business and Administration
  A Cross-Cultural Study of Country and Bank Selection by Asian International Students: A New Zealand Perspective
• 2008 - Shirley Barnett - Doctor of Philosophy
  Understanding Guest Retention: An examination of New Zealand accommodation establishments
• 2007 - Karen Martyn - Doctor of Philosophy
  Decision Making on a Corporate Board: Inside the Black Box
• 2003 - Mustafa Eid - Doctor of Philosophy
  Strategic Information Systems Control Practices in New Zealand.