Dr Rebecca Mitchell

Biography

Dr Mitchell was awarded her PhD in 2008 from the University of Sydney. Her research interests lie in the area of organisational behaviour, including team dynamics, leadership and social identity in organizations. As an early career researcher, Rebecca has had articles accepted for publication in internationally recognised journals including Human Resource Management (US) (ABDC A*), Human Relations (ABDC A), Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (ABDC A), International Journal of Human Resource Management (ABDC A), Small Group Research and Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. She has also published in healthcare management, with articles accepted for publication in Health Care Management Review (ABDC A), Journal of Advanced Nursing (ERA A*) and International Journal of Nursing Studies (ERA A*). Overall, Rebecca’s research projects in organizational behaviour have generated a total of 22 international peer-reviewed journal publications over the past 5 years, ten of which are ranked A or A* (Australian Business Deans Council or ERA 2010 list).

She has presented more than 30 papers at international conferences including the US and British Academy of Management and is a professional member of the European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology and the US Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Reflecting the quality of the publications that Rebecca has produced, her academic manuscripts on organisational behaviour and health services management have been recognised internationally, through high-level awards. She was finalist for the US Academy of Management’s Newman Award in 2008, which is the Academy’s highest honour for a sole-authored paper based on a dissertation. In 2008, she also won the US Academy of Management Best Paper Award in Organizational Behaviour and the Irish Academy of Management Best Paper Award. In 2009, Rebecca was awarded the Best Paper Award in Knowledge and Learning from the British Academy of Management, and received the Outstanding Reviewer Award in Organizational Psychology. In 2011, Rebecca was awarded the Irish Academy of Management Best Paper Award. This provides strong evidence of the international value of Dr Mitchell’s research outputs and recognition of research excellence.

Rebecca has successfully supervised a number of doctoral students to completion. Many of her students have published in top-tiered journals, indicating the effectiveness of her supervisory approach.

Academic Distinctions and Awards

• Irish Academy of Management Overall Best Paper Award 2011

• British Academy of Management Best Paper Award 2010

• British Academy of Management Outstanding Reviewer Award 2010

• Academy of Management Newman Award Finalist 2008

• Academy of Management Best Paper Award 2008 (Organizational Behavior Division).

• Irish Academy of Management Overall Best Paper Award 2008

• Asia Pacific Management Conference Distinguished Paper Award 2007

In addition to her academic experience, Dr Mitchell's worked in the Australian and Irish public sector, as a senior policy advisor. She has worked as State representative on several Council of Australian Government (COAG) working parties and has developed health, community and social services policy at a state and national level. She also worked as State representative on the Council of Australian Government’s Working Group on Health Reform. This provides sound evidence of her ability to understanding issues of significant national importance, particularly in healthcare, and the capacity to undertake research that spans bridges academic research with policy and practice.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Sydney, 2008
• Graduate Certificate of Tertiary Teaching, University of Newcastle, 2008
• Master of Business Stud (Management Consultancy), University College, Dublin - Ireland, 2000
• Graduate Diploma of Psychology, University of Tasmania, 1989
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Tasmania, 1988

---

Research

Research keywords

• Leadership
• Teams and Teamworking

Research expertise

Research Areas of Expertise:

Teams and teamwork;

Diversity (team);

Team dynamics;

Team processes;

Leadership;

Social Identity Theory;

Healthcare teams;

Interprofessional collaboration;

Top management teams;

Wine industry clusters.

Collaboration

Dr Mitchell's primary research interests include:

Teams and Leadership: Particularly focused on the impact of diverse composition (multidisciplinary, cross-cultural and interprofessional teams), team leadership, team climate and team dynamics.

Clusters: Investigation of industrial clusters, particularly knowledge flow and innovation in clusters. Investigation of intra- and extra-cluster dynamics with a focus on wine industry clusters.

Languages

• English

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
150311	Organisational Behaviour	100

Centres and Groups

Centre

---

Administrative

Administrative expertise

I convene, chair and/or work as a member of a number of University, Faculty and School committees and boards.

---

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Management
• Organisational Behaviour

Teaching expertise

I teach Management and Organisational Behaviour, and Managing Organisational Change. I have also taught in the areas of Corporate Strategy and Management Principles.