Neil Paulsen

Neil's research interests focus on leadership, organisational behaviour, organisational change, identity processes and the application of design thinking in services design. Current projects explore leadership transition in health teams, and the challenge for organisations adapting to employees with Autism. Neil is also investigating a social identity model of followership and mechanisms related to collective action.

Neil Paulsen is an Associate Professor within the Management discipline in the UQBS. He has over twenty years direct industry experience as a successful senior manager and consultant in public, private, and community sector organisations. His research includes the development of intergroup perspectives on organisational behaviour and change, identity processes and leadership transitions. He has published his work in international refereed journals and chapters, and in an edited book (with Tor Hernes). Neil has presented his work at a number of premier international and national management conferences. He has been the recipient of five ARC Linkage Grants and other funded research. Research partners have included organisations such as Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, CSIRO, and Queensland Health. Neil received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the School of Management in 2001, the UQBS Teaching Excellence Award (Postgraduate) in 2006, and was the 2006 recipient of the ANZAM Management Educator of the Year Award (sponsored by Pearson Education). In 2009 he received the inaugural UQBS Executive Education Award and again in 2016. In 2011 Neil also received the UQBS Industry Engagement Award. In 2013 along with other colleagues, Neil received a UQ Award for Programs that Enhance Learning (APEL) for his role in developing the MBA program and in 2014 a National APEL award for the same program.

Research Interests

Leadership

Leadership and followership in groups and teams, including the role of group identity. Neil is also investigating a social identity model of followership and mechanisms related to collective action.

Design thinking in organisations

Applications of design thinking in organisations, including evaluating citizen/user experiences in the design of services.

Organisational change

Develops an intergroup perspective on communication and change processes in organisational contexts.

Social innovation and community engagement

Examines effective organisational community engagement strategies. Interested in the role of social business and social entrepreneurship.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
• Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
• Graduate Diploma in Counseling, Queensland University of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours), The University of Queensland

Publications

• Langham, Jo'Anne and Paulsen, Neil (2019). Applying the Experience Effectiveness (XE) Framework in the Canadian public sector. Design Management Journal, 13 (1), 53-69. doi: 10.1111/dmj.12042
• Smith, Laura G. E., Gillespie, Nicole, Callan, Victor J., Fitzsimmons, Terrance W. and Paulsen, Neil (2017). Injunctive and descriptive logics during newcomer socialization: the impact on organizational identification, trustworthiness, and self-efficacy. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 38 (4), 487-511. doi: 10.1002/job.2131
• Langham, Jo'Anne and Paulsen, Neil (2017). Invisible taxation: fantasy or just good service design?. Australian Tax Forum, 32 (1), 129-174.