Professor Alma McCarthy
Dean, J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics;
Professor of Public Sector Management
J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway
Alma's research interests include public sector leadership and human resource development, training, work-life balance, and the future of work. Her research appears in leading international peer-reviewed journals such as Public Management Review, Public Administration Review, Human Resource Management Journal, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management Review and the Journal of Managerial Psychology. Her research has informed national civil service talent development policy and the Government's national remote working strategy.
On appointment as Dean, Alma led the new J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics' mission and strategy 2021-2025 placing public good and sustainability at the heart of the School's teaching, research and impact agendas.
As Dean, she has enabled significant investment in sustainability in the form of new academic appointments and bespoke School sustainability projects, including this mapping and showcasing platform project and development of the NetZero Ireland Simulator currently under development. J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economicsâ Strategic Plan 2021â2025 aligns with the University of Galway 2020â2025 Strategic Plan, shaped by the values of respect, openness, sustainability and excellence, and embedded in the UN SDGs.
Alma's research and School leadership work contributes to these SDGs:
Key Targets:
8.5 Full employment and decent work
4.4 Increase people with relevant skills
Alma has been working in the area of Senior Civil Service Leadership Development influencing national policy and practice for a decade and a half.
She was recently commissioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) to undertake an external evaluation of the Senior Public Service Executive Leadership Development programme for Assistant Secretary General and Principal Officer (PO) grade equivalents across the Irish Civil Service. The project involved a multi-stakeholder evaluation of the talent development programme with over 120 senior leader participants. The final report sets out a number of recommendations which have been adopted by DPER in its current executive leadership development activities.
Key Targets:
4.4 Increase people with relevant skills
16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions
Alma was Principal Investigator for the Science Foundation Ireland-funded Talent Management in National Science Foundations research project, gathering data in Ireland, New Zealand, Finland and Hong Kong. The research report setting out the key findings is available here and provides recommendations for Science Foundation Ireland's human resource management policies and practices.
Alma has led research into the area of Remote and Hybrid Working in Ireland in partnership with the Western Development Commission. She leads the annual remote working in Ireland survey, now in its fourth year, providing insights on how remote and hybrid working has changed employeesâ work and employment experiences. Her remote working research has informed the Governmentâs National Remote Work Strategy.
Teaching
Alma's areas of teaching are:
Human Resource Management
Leadership and Change
Learning and Development
Supporting Targets: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, 3.4 - Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, 8.6 - Promote youth employment, education and training work and
economic growth
Engagement
Alma has been recognised for her contribution to academia, research and leadership and was honoured with the Fellowship of the Irish Academy of Management in 2023 in recognition of her work and contribution to the academy.
She is regularly requested to join panels and speak at leadership and public sector management events. She was an invited speaker at the Better Public Services national conference 2024, organised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Alma contributes regularly to debates, panels and conferences about remote and hybrid working and future of work trends.
In her capacity as Dean of the School of Business and Economics, Alma is an active member of international business school Deans networks. She reguarlly participates on peer-review assessment panels for accreditation bodies including AACSB, AMBA and EFMD.
Direct impact SDG Targets
4.4 - Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success
4.7 - Education for sustainable development and global citizenship
8.5 - Full employment and decent work with equal pay
17.17 - Encourage effective partnerships
Indirect
3.4 - Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health
8.6 - Promote youth employment, education and training
10.3 - Ensure equal opportunities and end discrimination
16.6 - Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions
Research
Featured Publications
|
References |
SDGs |
|---|---|
|
McCarthy, A., Garavan, T., Holland, D. and 4 more (...) (2022). Talent management in public science funding organizations: institutional logics, paradoxical tensions and HR actor responses, Public Management Review. |
4.4 |
|
Maloney, M., McCarthy, A. (2019). Automatic enrolment to pension plans in small organisations: a research agenda. Employee Relations, 41(1), 142-157. |
16 |
|
Roman, A. V., Van Wart, M., Wang, X. and 3 more (...) (2019). Defining E-leadership as Competence in ICT-Mediated Communications: An Exploratory Assessment. Public Administration Review, 79(6), 853-866. |
1 |
|
McCarthy, A., Darcy, C., Grady, G. (2010). Work-life balance policy and practice: Understanding line manager attitudes and behaviors. Human Resource Management Review, 20(2), 158-167. |
8.2, 8.3 |
|
Darcy, C., McCarthy, A. (2007). WorkâFamily conflict: An exploration of the differential effects of a dependent child's age on working parents. Journal of European Industrial Training, 31(7), 530-549. |
8.2, 8.8 |