Our Research

Applied as well as more ‘edgy’ research is at the core of The Work Foundation’s attempt to shape and influence the public conversation about work in the UK and beyond.  Our research output is used to inform policy makers and practitioners within our member organisations; to influence and inform policy makers in Government; to influence the climate of debate in the UK and Europe and to inform the development and delivery of practical support to UK employing organisations, through The Work Foundation consultancy and leadership work. Our research programme aims to include work which is at the frontier of thinking, and work which is of more immediate use to practitioners.

Public Value

Public value guides public sector managers to decisions that are demonstrably high-value and which win the trust and support of the public and therefore stronger legitimacy for public bodies themselves.

Public value can provide the framework by which public bodies can meet two critical challenges:

  • Re-connecting with their public.
  • Re-vitalising their relationship with their workforce

Read more about Public Value and read the  report 

Ideopolis - Knowledge Cities

Cities need to understand and build on their distinctive strengths and weaknesses if they are to thrive in the knowledge economy.
 
Phase 1 of this project identified nine drivers of successful knowledge cities and we are  looking at the implications for policy and for different sized cities.
 

Knowledge Economy

The knowledge economy is the story of how new technologies have combined with intellectual and knowledge assets - the "intangibles" of research, design, development, creativity, education, brand equity and human capital - to transform our economy.

The Work Foundation is leading  a three-year, £1.5 million research programme to provide greater insight into the how the economy is changing  and the social, corporate and political consequences...

Read more about the knowledge economy project here

Leadership

Our new research project will look at the nature of leadership required to achieve sustainable high performance. 

This project should provide ground-breaking insights into how effective leaders deal with the challenges and opportunities of today’s organisations

Read more about Leading for High Performance