Prof Denis Harrington

My main teaching interests encompass the areas of leadership and professional development. I have taught and examined management and strategy courses for over 20 years within the School of Business. This includes core courses for final year undergraduates and both postgraduate MBS and MBA students, as well as more specialised advanced executive programmes such as the DBA for post-experience groups. 

My general objectives in teaching are as follows:  first, to convey knowledge; second, to stimulate critical thinking and conceptual reflection; and third, to contribute to better management practice. Current teaching responsibilities include professional development modules for the DBA and Executive MBA as well a visiting professorship at Shanghai University, China. I also help co-ordinate the International Management Study programme for the MBA group with Boston University, USA. 

My research interests include managerial capability development, managerial competencies, innovation and change implementation. I am also currently co-directing a doctoral project examining managerial competences for lean strategy implementation in public and private contexts. Finally, I have an interest in management education and learning and more recently in developments in emerging online education for executive development. 

I am on the Editorial Board for the following Irish and international journals:

Editorial Review Board member - Service Industries Journal

Editorial Review Board member - International Journal of Organisational Analysis

Editorial Advisory Board member - Irish Journal of Management

Editorial Review Board member - Journal of Creating Value

 

Intellectual Contributions include some of the following:

Peer‑Reviewed Articles

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Rajwani, T 2022. Strategy making in hyper uncertainty:  Towards a conceptual framework from the seaport industry during Brexit, International Journal of Organisational Analysis, forthcoming.

A Kearney, D Harrington, T Rajwani, 2021. Group Behaviour, Process and Learning: A Review and Assessment of Emerging Online Technologies in Executive Education, European Journal of Training and Development, https://doi.org/10.1108/ EJTD-03-2021-0044.

A Kearney, D Harrington, T Rajwani. 2020. Entrepreneurial strategy making in tourism organisations: a systematic review and future research agenda, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research (December). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-11-2019-0627

Gubbins, M., Harrington, D. & Hines. P. 2020. Social Support for Academic Entrepreneurship: Towards a Definition and Conceptual Model, Journal of Management Development, 39:618-643. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-11-2019-0456

Kelliher, F., Murphy, M., Harrington, D. 2020. Exploring the role of goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in embedding strategic learning plans in small firms. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-12-2019-0411

Walsh, A., Harrington, D. and Hines, P. 2020. Are hospital managers ready for value-based healthcare? – A review of the Management Competence Literature. International Journal of Organisational Analysis, vol.28, no.1, pp.49-65.

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2019. Strategising in the micro firm:  A ‘strategy as practice’ framework, Special Issue, Industry and Higher Education Journal, Higgins, D., Galloway, L. and McGowan, P, (eds.). 

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2018. Executive capability for innovation: the Irish seaports sector. European Journal of Training and Development (EJTD), September. 

Kelliher, F., Kearney, A., Harrington, D., 2018. Managing innovation in the hospitality micro firm: a framework for sensing, seizing and reconfiguring dynamic capabilities. Hospitality & Society, (2) pp. 159–178, ABS 2.

Mellet, S., Kelliher, F and Harrington, D. 2018. Network-facilitated green innovation capability development in microfirms. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, April.

Kearney, A., Harrington, D., Kelliher, F. 2017. Managerial capability for innovation for micro-firms: Integrating theory with empirical evidence. Irish Journal of Management, Special issue: Performance Innovation in a Recovering Economy, 36(1), 49-59. 

O’Toole, T., Kelliher, F. and Harrington, D. 2016. Editorial, Special Issue, Irish Journal of Management, 35 (3).

Kearney, A., Harrington, D., Kelliher, F., 2016. Managerial capability for innovation for micro-firms: Integrating theory with empirical evidence. Irish Journal of Management, 35 (3).

Galavan, R., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2016. Reconsidering the Rigour Relevance Gap: the need for Contextualised Research in Risk Societies, Irish Journal of Management, 35, 2.

Doyle, L., Kelliher, F., Harrington, D. 2016. How multi-levels of individual and team learning interact in a public healthcare organization: a conceptual framework. Action Learning: Research and Practice, Volume 13, Issue 1

Reinl, L., Owens, E., Kelliher, F., Harrington, D. 2015. Facilitating cross-border knowledge exchange among rural micro-firms: a community of practice perspective. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Vol. 16, Iss. 3.

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F, 2014. Exploiting managerial capability for innovation, Special Issue on Innovation, (Eds. T Garavan and Sheehan, M.), European Journal of Training and Development, vol. 38, no 1/2

Harrington, D., Short, J.C. and Hynes, B. 2015. Changing times for Management Educators – Rethinking Engagement with Participatory forms of Knowledge Production. Irish Journal of Management, 34 (1).

Harrington, D. and Kearney, A. 2011. Business school in transition: new opportunities in management development, knowledge transfer and knowledge creation. Journal of European Industrial Training, vol. 35, no.2.

Walsh, M., Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. 2011. A capability-based framework for tourism innovativeness. Irish Journal of Management, Vol. 31 (1), pp.21-37.

Kelliher, F., Harrington, D., Galavan, R., 2010. Spreading Leader Knowledge: Investigating a participatory mode of knowledge dissemination among management undergraduates. Irish Journal of Management, 29(2): 103-21.

Harrington, D and Cunningham, J. 2006. The Evolving Strategic Role of Middle Management, Management Online Review, vol.1, no.1, October.

Harrington, D, Cunningham, J. and O’Riordan, C. 2006. Knowledge Management in a High Growth Entrepreneurial Context: Some Evidence from O’Briens Sandwich Bars. Irish Business Journal, Vol.2, No.1.

Harrington, D. and Keating, M. 2006. Quality practices in Irish hotels: Current Issues and future prospects. Tourism and Hospitality Research: The Surrey Quarterly Review, vol.6, no.4.

Harrington, D. and Lawton, T. 2006. Banking on Global Success: internationalistion strategy and its limitations (the case of AIB). Thunderbird International Business Review, Vol.48, no.3.

Harrington, D., Lawton, T. and Tazeeb Rajwani, 2005. Embracing and Exploiting Industry Turbulence: The Strategic Transformation of Aer Lingus. European Management Journal, vol. 23, issue 4.

Foley, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2006. How Learning Networks can bridge the Training Gap. Decision Magazine, Issue 2 no.6.

Ennis, K., Harrington, D. and Williams, B. 2004. Head and heart in quality implementation: Applying the quality philosophy within Irish healthcare institutions. Total Quality Management Journal (Special Edition), vol.15, no.8, 1143-1153, October.

Harrington, D, and Williams, B. 2004. Managing quality implementation – the evolving role of the middle manager. Managing Service Quality Journal, vol14, no.4.

O’Toole, T. and Harrington, D., 2003. Boundaries and Interfaces in Management. Irish Journal of Management, Vol. 24, No.1.

Keating, M. and Harrington, D. 2003. The challenges of implementing quality in the Irish hotel industry. Journal of European Industrial Training, vol.27, no.9.

Keating, M. and Harrington, D, 2002. Implementing quality in the Irish hotel industry. Managing Service Quality Journal, vol.12, no.5.

Ennis, K and Harrington, D. 2002. Organisational Effectiveness in Irish Healthcare. International Journal of Healthcare Quality Assurance, vol.12, no.5

O’Keeffe and Harrington, D, 2000. Learning to Learn – A study of organisational learning practices within selected Irish Multinationals. Journal of European Industrial Training, vol. 25, no.s 2/3/4

Ennis, K., and Harrington, D. 2001. A study of quality practices within the Irish healthcare sector. Service Industries Journal, 21,1.

Harrington, D. 2000. Changing times for traditional tourism. Decision, June/July.

Harrington, D. 2000. Empirical Study of Service Quality Implementation. Service Industries Journal, Vol.20, No.2, pp.133-156, 2000.

O’Toole, T. and Harrington, D. 1999. Tracing the evolution of quality management: lessons from the development of strategic management. Irish Journal of Business and Administrative Research. Issue 19/20, Vol.2., pp.139-153.

Ennis, K., and Harrington, D. 1999. Factors to consider when Implementing Quality Management in healthcare. Managing Service Quality Journal, September/October.

Ennis, K., and Harrington, D. 1999. Quality management in Irish healthcare, International Journal of Healthcare Quality Assurance, vol.12, no.s 6 and 7, pp.232-244.

Harrington, D. 1999. Quality implementation in selected UK hotels: perspectives and future challenges. Journal of Tourism Research: Surrey Quarterly Review, vol.1, no.2, June.

Harrington, D. and Akehurst, G. 1996. An Exploratory Analysis of Service Quality and Performance in UK Hotels”, Vol. Vol.12, No.3, International Journal of Hospitality Management.

Harrington, D. and Akehurst, G. 1996. An Exploratory Study of Service Quality in UK Hotels. Vol.2, No.3, Progress in Tourism Research, University of Surrey.

 

Books

 

Harrington, D. and Cunningham, J. 2009. Management 2.0: New Priorities for a Changing Economy, Blackhall Publishing, Dublin.

Harrington, D., and Lenehan, T., 1998. Managing Quality in Tourism, Oak Tree Press, Dublin.

 

Chapters in Books

Murphy, M., Kelliher, F. and Harrington, D. 2019. Exploring the Perceived Impact of Strategic Learning Plans on Growth-focused Small Service Firms. In: Higgins, D., Jones, P. and McGowan, P, (eds.), Creating Entrepreneurial Space: Talking through Multi voices, reflections on emerging debates, Emerald Publishing.

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher 2017. Owner Manager Entrepreneurial Capability and Innovation in the Tourism Micro Firm: a Framework based on Absorption Capacity, (eds.) James Hanrahan, Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland – Entrepreneurs Driving Tourism and Hospitality.

Harrington, D. and Walsh, A. 2016. Competing on the periphery – designing a strategic infrastructure for the entrepreneurial university in an Irish higher educational context, in (Ed. Professor Don Siegel), Entrepreneurial Universities: Technology and Knowledge Transfer, World Scientific Publishing Innovation Handbook Series.

Harrington, D., Foley, A. and Lenehan, T. 2014. Tourism development and planning in Ireland, in (eds.) C. Costa, E. Panyik E. and Buhalis, D. European Tourism Planning and Organisation Systems, New Perspectives and Emerging Issues.

Lynch, P., Holden, M.T.., Harrington, D. and Foley, A. 2013. Engaging entrepreneurs with a blended learning degree programme’, in Eds.Wankel, C. and Blessinger, P. Increasing Student Engagement and Retention in e-Learning Environments: Web 2.0 and Blended Learning Technologies, Emerald Publishing. Awarded Emerald Literati Prize for Excellence, 2013.

Harrington, D. 2009. Developing Management capability in an Irish context: future trends and prospects, in Harrington, D. and Cunningham, J. (ed.) Management 2.0: New Priorities for a Changing Economy, Blackhall Publishing, Dublin.

Harrington, D. and Lawton, T. 2007. The internationalisation of Allied Irish Banks, in Johnson, G. and Scholes, K. (ed.), Exploring Corporate Strategy, Pearson Publishing, London.

O’Riordan, C. Harrington, D. and Cunningham, J. 2006. O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars: Building the appetite for international expansion, in Henry, C. (ed.) Irish Case Studies in Entrepreneurship, Blackhall Publishing, Dublin.

Harrington, D., Lawton, T. and Rajwani, T. 2005. Case History: Strategic transformation at Ireland’s National Airline in Cooney, T., (ed.) Irish case studies in Entrepreneurship, Blackhall Publishing, Dublin.

Harrington, D. and Lawton, T. 2004. The Internationalisation of Allied Irish Banks, in Johnson, G. and Scholes, K. (ed.), Exploring Corporate Strategy, Pearson Publishing, London.

Harrington, D. 2002. Quality Issues in Tourism Distribution Channels: Practices and Prospects’ in Tourism Distribution Channels, in Buhalis, D. and Laws, E. (ed.) Continuum Publications, London.

Published Case Studies

Harrington, D. and Egan T. 2019. Pinduoduo 拼多多 Upstart Challenging Chinese E-Commerce Giants, CEIBS Case Centre, Global Platform of China Cases (ChinaCases.Org), April.

Kearney, A., and Harrington, D. 2018. Strategic Leadership in the Entrepreneurial Firm - the Challenges of the Lululemon group, The International Journal of Instructional Cases, Vol.2.

Harrington, D. and Healy, T. 2011. Paper Tigers: State Street International Ireland and the growth of the Irish International Financial Services Centre.

Harrington, Lawton, T. and Cunningham, J. 2009. U2: keeping the rhythm. In James Cunningham and Brian Harney (ed.) Strategy and Strategists, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Harrington, D., Lawton, T. and Cunningham, J. 2009. U2: keeping the rhythm’. In James Cunningham and Denis Harrington (ed.) Management 2.0: New Priorities for a Changing Economy, Blackhall Publishing, Dublin.

O’Riordan, C. Harrington, D. and Cunningham, J. 2006. O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars: Building the appetite for international expansion.

Harrington, D., Lawton, T. and Rajwani, T. 2005. Strategic transformation at Ireland’s National Airline, Shortlisted for Best Case Award, Case Centre, UK.

Harrington, D. and O’Riordan, C., 2005. Stable Diet – Growing within an expanding niche,  European Case Clearing House.

Lawton, T. and Harrington. D. 2003. The Internationalisation of Allied Irish Banks, European Case Clearing House. Case reference number 303-015-1. French language version, reference number F303-015-1. Teaching Note reference number 303-015-8.

Peer Reviewed Proceedings

Walsh, A., Harrington, D. and Hines, P. 2018. Management Competence in Hospitals: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Proceedings of Irish Academy of Management conference, University College Cork, Ireland

Kearney, A, Harrington, D. and Rajwani, T. 2018. Strategy-making in Irish small tourism firm - a critical literature review and future research trajectories. Best Paper Award,  Proceedings of Irish Academy of Management conference, University College Cork, Ireland

Kearney, A. and Harrington, D. 2018. Enabling strategy-focused technology innovation for regional tourism - the case of the Waterford greenway, Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research conference, WIT, June. 

Kearney, Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2017. Strategising in the Irish tourism micro firm:  A framework based on the strategy as practice approach,  International Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference Proceedings, Belfast November.

Kearney, A. Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2016. Managing innovation in the tourism micro firm:  a framework for sensing, seizing and reconfiguring dynamic capabilities, CHME Conference, University of Ulster, May 3-6.

Mellett, S., Kelliher, F. and Harrington, D.  2016. Inter-firm collaboration and its impact on green innovativeness capability development in the micro firm context. International Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference Proceedings, Paris, France, Oct 27-28.

Murphy, M., Kelliher, F. and Harrington, D. 2016. Exploring the Perceived Impact of Strategic Learning Plans on Growth-focused Small Service Firms. International Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference Proceedings, Paris, France, Oct 27-28.

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2015. The strategic management of innovation as a dynamic capability: Empirical evidence from the hotel micro-firm. Accepted for inclusion in the Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland (THRIC) Conference proceedings, June.

Reinl, L., Owens, E., Kelliher, F. and Harrington, D. 2014. Facilitating Cross Border Knowledge Exchange among rural Micro-firms: A Community of Practice perspective. Business, Economics, Management & Tourism Conference proceedings, Prague, Czech Republic, 30-31 Oct.

Kelliher, F., Joyner, D. and Harrington, D., McDonald, M., Griffiths, G., Owens, E., Walmsley, J., Walsh, M. 2013. Green Innovation and Future Technology: Engaging Rural SMEs in the Green Economy. 36th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference proceedings, Cardiff, Nov 11-13.

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F., 2013, Managerial capability for innovation in Irish tourism micro firms:  integrating theory with empirical evidence, Irish Academy of Management Conference proceedings, WIT, Waterford Sept 2-4. (Best Paper Award).

Kelliher, F., Walsh, M. and Harrington, D., Lynch, P. 2012. Moving Towards a Green Economy: Capitalising on Organisational Innovation Capability to Leverage the Reservoir of Knowledge in Learning Organisations – an Irish perspective, IFASM conference proceedings, University of Limerick, June 25-7.

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2012. Managerial capability for innovation in tourism micro firms:  A conceptual framework, THRIC conference, University of Ulster Belfast, Great Britain.

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2012. Developing a taxonomy of managerial capability for innovation in tourism micro firms, Irish Academy of Management conference, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Ireland

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2012. A theoretical model of managerial capability for innovation in Irish tourism micro firms,EUROCHRIE conference, Ecole Hostellerie de Lausanne, Switzerland, October 27th

Kearney, A., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F. 2011. Managerial capability for innovation:  a review of literature, Irish Academy of Management conference, National College of Ireland, Dublin.

Harrington, Denis; Lynch, Patrick; and Walsh, Margaret 2010. Strategic Innovation in an Irish Tourism Context: New Opportunities for Enhancing Competitiveness, In: 28th EuroCHRIE Conference: Passion for Hospitality Excellence, 25th – 28th October 2010, Stenden International Hospitality Management and Saxion Hospitality Business School, Amsterdam.

Gannon, C., Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. 2009. Managing intellectual capital for a sustained competitive advantage in the Irish tourism industry. THRIC Annual Conference, Dublin.

Galavan, R., Harrington, D. and Kelliher, F., 2009. Why, What and How of Rigour and Relevance in Management Research, Irish Academy of Management, September.

Gannon, C., Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. 2009. Managing Intellectual Capital for Sustained Competitive Advantage in the Irish Tourism Industry, 5th Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference Proceedings, DIT, Dublin Ireland, 16th - 17th June.

Gannon, C., and Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. 2009. Dynamic Knowledge Management Capability for the Small Tourism Firm, In: IAM Conference, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland, 2nd - 4th September.

Gannon, C., Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. 2009. Dynamic Knowledge Management Capability (DKMC): From Resources to Capital, In: EIASM 5th Workshop on Visualising, Measuring, and Managing Intangibles and Intellectual Capital, 8th - 9th October, Dresden, Germany.

Gannon, C., Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. 2010. Framework for Enhancing Competitiveness in Culture and Heritage Organisations in the Irish Tourism Industry, In: Proceedings of the 6th Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference (THRIC), Shannon College of Hotel Management, Shannon, Clare, Ireland, 15th - 16th June.

Gannon, C., Lynch, P., Holden M.T. and Harrington, D. 2010. Does Sustainable Competitive Advantage Exist? And, if so, How Can it be Achieved? In: Proceedings of The Irish Academy of Management (IAM) Conference, The Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), Cork, Ireland on 1st - 3rd of September.

Walsh, M. Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. 2010. Competitiveness through firm-level innovativeness for the tourism SME: a dynamic capabilities perspective, In: Kate O’Connell; María Palma Fahy; Sean T. Ruane; and Kristin Onderdonk Horan (eds.), Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities”, (2011), College of Business, Public Policy and law, NUI Galway in conjunction with Shannon College of Hotel Management, pp. 35-51.

Walsh, M., Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. (2009). Towards a conceptualization of the innovativeness construct, Irish Academy of Management, September.

Walsh, M., Lynch, P. and Harrington, D. (2009). A proposed model of firm-level innovativeness in Irish tourism, THRIC Annual Conference, Dublin.

Walsh, Margaret; Lynch, Patrick; and Harrington, Denis (2010), “Creating Superior Competitive Advantages for the Small Tourism Firm ThroughIn: 6th Annual Tourism and Hospitality Research Conference: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities, 15th – 16th June 2010, Shannon College of Hotel Management, Shannon Airport, IRELAND, Best Paper Award,  June.

Walsh, Margaret; Lynch, Patrick; Harrington, Denis; and Holden, Mary 2010. Conceptualising Firm-level Innovativeness: A Tourism Service Perspective, In: XX. International Conference of RESER: The Resilience of the Global Service Economy, 30th September – 2nd October, Gothenburg.

Galavan, R., Harringtion, D. and Kelliher, F. 2008. The road to relevance 15 years on: are we there yet?, EDiNEB (Educational Innovations in Economics and Business) Conference, Malaga, June 12th.

Kelliher, F., Harrington, D., Galavan, R., 2007. Spreading Leader Knowledge: A proposal for practitioner-academic partnership in disseminating leader knowledge, Irish Academy of Management Conference proceedings, Queen’s University, Belfast, Sept 3-5, Best paper award (Management track, overall Conference).

Harrington, D, Cunningham, J. and O’ Riordan, C. 2006. Knowledge Management in a High Growth Entrepreneurial Context: Some Evidence from O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars, Irish Academy of Management Conference, September.

Harrington, D., Lawton, T. and Rajwani, T. 2004. Back from the brink: Strategic transformation at Aer Lingus, Irish Academy of Management Conference,September.

Milner, B., Dunne, E. and Harrington, D. 2004. Hospital Accreditation – Exploring the Irish Experience, National Association of Healthcare Quality Conference, USA.

Harrington, D. and Lenehan, T. 2002. International challenges in managing quality issues for tourism industries”, National Academy of Tourism, State University of St Petersburg, Russia.

Harrington, D. and Lenehan, T., 2001. Irish Tourism Trends and Prospects, Conference of the UK Tourism Society, University of Surrey, July 1-3.

O’Keeffe, T. and Harrington, D., 2001. Learning in dynamic multinational organisations, Global HR Conference, Barcelona, June.

O’Keeffe, T. and Harrington, D. 2000. Learning to learn: a study of organisational learning practices in selected Irish multinationals, Irish Academy of Management Conference,September, 7-8th.

O’Keeffe, T. and Harrington, D. 2000. A study of organisational learning practices in selected Irish multinationals, British Academy of Management Conference,September 11th-15th.

Ennis, K. and Harrington, D. 1999. Quality Management within the Irish Healthcare Sector, TQM World Congress Verona, 24th-26th June, 2002.

Ennis, K. and Harrington, D. 1999. Quality Management within the Irish Healthcare Sector, British Academy of Management Conference, 3rd-5th September.

Ennis, K. and Harrington, D. 1999. Quality Management within the Irish Healthcare Sector, British Academy of Management Conference, 3rd-5th September.

Harrington, D. and Akehurst, G. 1996. Managerial Perceptions of Service Quality in the UK Hotel Industry”, Proceedings, Learning Edge Conference of the European Foundation for Quality Management, Paris, April 24-26, 1996.

I have studied, lived and worked in different countries and have taught graduate and executive courses in Ireland, UK, France, China, the Middle East and within the Russian Federation. Consequently, I am well used to working with and teaching people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and at varying stages of career development. 

I also have responsibility for our CEO and Executive in Residence (ExIR) programmes within the School which seeks to further integrate senior business leader perspectives into our learning environment on a more sustained basis. It also provides an important advisory role supporting the valuable work of the School and informing our research and programme development activities.

I have significant consultancy and executive teaching experience, e.g. pharmaceuticals, banking, IT, consumer goods, tourism and several government bodies. In this area, most of my work has involved facilitation of senior management workshops and executive programs on corporate strategy, leadership and innovation at universities, corporations and government agencies in Ireland, China, France, Middle East and within the Russian Federation.