Professor Seamus O'Brien (PhD, PFHEA, CMgr FCMI)

Dean of the Faculty of Business & Design

Seamus' research focuses strongly in the area of entrepreneurship and small business management and he has published widely in this area. Through collaborative research relationships, he is currently investigating factors contributing to adaptation and resilience among micro, small and medium enterprises. He has been an invited speaker, columnist, advisor and champion of entrepreneurship for small businesses.

Dr Seamus O'Brien staff imag

Contact details

Email Seamus.OBrien@falmouth.ac.uk

    Qualifications

    Qualifications

    Year Qualification Awarding body
    2016 PhD University of Liverpool
    2009 PGCE University of Stirling
    2002 MSc (Economics) in Business and Management University of Aberdeen
    2001 BA Economics University of Abertay Dundee

    Membership of external committees

    Chartered Management Fellow - Chartered Management Institute (CMgr FCMI), Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA)

    Research Interests

    Research interests and expertise

    Research interests include areas of the enterprise, research into SME growth and success, business development and innovation.

    Research Topics

    • Entrepreneurship
    • Innovation
    • Social change

    Research Outputs

    Publications and research outputs

    • Bressan, Alessandro, Abel, Duarte Alonso, Oanh, Thi Kim Vu and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2023), Exploring key factors sustaining micro and small food, wine, and hospitality firms through the COVID-19 crisis, In: BRITISH FOOD jOURNAL, Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, 1 (1), ISSN: 0007-070X

    • O'Brien, Seamus

      (2023), The nexus between firm-supply-chain relationships and the potential for tourism development: A case study approach, In: International Journal of Tourism Research, John Wiley, Hoboken, New Jersey, 25 (6), ISSN: 1009-2340, Item availability may be restricted.

    • Duarte Alonso, Abel, Kok, Seng, Vu, Oanh Thi Kim and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2022), Reconfiguring an Established Wine Tourism Destination: A Dynamic Capabilities Approach, In: International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, Taylor and Francis, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), pp. 1-23, ISSN: 1525-6480

    • Sakellarios, Nikolaos, Alonso, Abel, Kiat, Seng, O'Brien, Seamus, Fillis, Ian and Thi, Kim Vu

      (2022), The long road to adaptation: Micro and small hospitality firms after the GFC, In: International Journal of Hospitality Management, Elsevier, Elsevier, online (103), ISSN: 0278-4319

    • Sakellarios, Nikolaos, Duarte Alonso, Abel, Kok, Seng Kiat, O'Brien, Seamus, Fillis, Ian and Vu, Oanh Thi Kim

      (2022), Resilience and coping with a long-term crisis: the cases of Cypriot and Greek micro and small firms, In: European Business Review, Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, ISSN: 0955-534X

    • Duarte Alonso, Abel, Bressan, Alessandro, Kiat Kok, Seng and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2021), Filling up the sustainability glass: wineries’ initiatives towards sustainable wine tourism, In: Tourism Recreation Research, Informa UK Limited, Informa UK Limited, pp. 1-15, ISSN: 0250-8281

    • Kah, S, O'Brien, Seamus, Kok, S and Gallagher, E

      (2020), Entrepreneurial Motivations, Opportunities, and Challenges: An International Perspective, In: Journal of African Business, Routledge: Taylor and Francis Group, Routledge, pp. 1-21, ISSN: 1522-8916

    • Kah, Sally, O'Brien, Seamus, Kok, Seng and Gallagher, Emer

      (2020), Entrepreneurial Motivations, Opportunities, and Challenges: An International Perspective, In: Journal of African Business, Routledge, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), pp. 1-21, ISSN: 1522-8916

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, S and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2020), Brexit, the wine sector and organisational resilience: an exploratory study of Spanish Wineries, In: Review of International Business and Strategy, Emerald, New York, ISSN: 2059-6014

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, S, O'Brien, Seamus and Geneste, L

      (2020), Understanding entrepreneurial deviance through social learning and entrepreneurial action theory: an empirical study, In: European Business Review, Emerald, Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, ISSN: 0955-534X

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, S and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2020), Understanding the Impact of Family Firms Through Social Capital Theory: A South American Perspective, In: Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer (part of Springer Nature), Springer (part of Springer Nature), ISSN: 1058-0476

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, S and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2019), Sustainable wine tourism development through the lens of dynamic capabilities and entrepreneurial action: an exploratory four-region perspective, In: Tourism Recreation Research, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), Routledge, ISSN: 0250-8281

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, SK, O'Brien, Seamus and O'Shea, M

      (2019), The significance of grassroots and inclusive innovation in harnessing social entrepreneurship and urban regeneration, In: European Business Review, Emerald Group Publishing Ltd., New York, ISSN: 0955-534X

    • Lawless, A, Panya, F, O'Brien, Seamus and Kok, S

      (2019), Talk-about Talent: Underlying Philosophies on Talent in Thai SMEs, In: Human Resource Development International, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), Taylor & Francis (Routledge), 22 (5), pp. 553-572, ISSN: 1367-8868

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, S, Sakellarios, N and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2019), Micro enterprises, self-efficacy and knowledge acquisition: evidence from Greece and Spain, In: Journal of Knowledge Management, Emerald, New York, 23 (3), pp. 419-438, ISSN: 1367-3270

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, SK and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2019), “Profit is not a dirty word”: Social entrepreneurship and community development”, In: Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), Taylor & Francis (Routledge), ISSN: 1942-0676

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, S and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2019), Uncertainty and adaptation in the context of Brexit: An entrepreneurial action and dynamic capabilities approach, In: European Business Review, Emerald, New York, ISSN: 0955-534X

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, S and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2018), Understanding approaches to innovation through the dynamic capabilities lens: A multi-country study of the wine industry, In: International Journal of Innovation Management, World Scientific Publishing, World Scientific Publishing Company, ISSN: 1363-9196

    • Alonso, AD, O'Brien, Seamus and Kok, S

      (2018), Innovation, dynamic capabilities and family firms operating in an emerging economy, In: Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, Inderscience, Inderscience, 11 (3), pp. 221-242, ISSN: 1549-9324

    • Alonso, AD, Alexander, N and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2018), Collaboration and the Emerging Craft Brewing Industry: An Exploratory Study, In: Journal of Asia-Pacific Business, Routledge, Routledge, pp. 1-22, ISSN: 1528-6940

    • Alonso, AD, Kok, S and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2018), Sustainable culinary tourism and Cevicherías: a stakeholder and social practice approach, In: Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Routledge, Routledge, 26 (5), pp. 812-831, ISSN: 1747-7646

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Kok, S and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2018), ‘We are only scratching the surface’ – a resource-based and dynamic capabilities approach in the context of culinary tourism development, In: Tourism Recreation Research, Routledge, Routledge, pp. 1-16, ISSN: 0250-8281

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Sakellarios, N, Alexander, N and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2018), Strengths, innovation, and opportunities in a burgeoning industry: an exploratory study, In: Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, Emerald, New York, 30 (2), pp. 276-296, ISSN: 1355-5855

    • Duarte Alonso, A, Alexander, N and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2018), Networking, collaboration, and home brewing: An exploratory study, In: Loisir et Societe, Taylor & Francis, Taylor & Francis, 41 (1), pp. 130-153, ISSN: 0705-3436

    • Alexander, N, Duarte Alonso, A and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2018), ‘Every brew is a challenge and every glass of a good beer is an achievement’: home brewing and serious leisure, In: Leisure/ Loisir, Taylor & Francis, Taylor & Francis, 42 (1), pp. 93-113, ISSN: 1492-7713

    • Alonso, AD, Sakellarios, N, Alexander, N and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2018), Corporate social responsibility in a burgeoning industry: a stakeholder analysis, In: Journal of Strategy and Management, Emerald, New York, 11 (1), pp. 112-130, ISSN: 1755-425X

    • Duarte Alonso, A and O'Brien, Seamus

      (2017), Family firms’ management decision to export/not to export: A resource-based view, In: Journal of Advances in Management Research, Emerald, Emerald Publishing Limited, 14 (3), pp. 270-287, ISSN: 0972-7981

    • O'Brien, Seamus

      (2015), Innovation and its Drivers in SMEs, In: Change Management: An International Journal, Common Ground Research Networks, Common Ground Research Networks, 14 (3-4), ISSN: 2327-798X

    • Bermingham, R

      (2020), Life beyond COVID-19: What are experts concerned about?, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), (Published)

    • O'Brien, Seamus and Giorgioni, G

      (2019), FDI in rural Unitary Authorities: the case of the North-West of England, In: Rural SMEs, 2019, Liverpool

    • O'Brien, Seamus and Giorgioni, G

      (2014), Successful rural SMEs – which catalysts work?, Portsmouth

    • O'Brien, Seamus and Giorgioni, G

      (2014), What makes a successful Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) in a rural location, Liverpool

    • O'Brien, Seamus, Kok, S and Duarte Alonso, A

      (2019), Rawhide Custom - Carving a niche market through customisation, personalised detail, and social media

    • O'Brien, Seamus, Kok, S and Duarte Alonso, A

      (2019), Will we still be saying “Cheers” after Brexit?

    • O'Brien, Seamus, Kok, S and Duarte Alonso, A

      (2018), Tasting success with gin: adapting to changing trends, Liverpool Chamber

    Research Students

    Previous student supervision

    • Exploring success factors that are critical for micro, small and medium sized businesses in the North West of England: Does the size of the enterprise influence the criticality of the factor?
    • Contextual influences on training heterogeneity in small businesses
    • Investigating the linkage between competitive strategy and human resource management practices in Nigeria medium-sized enterprises
    • Coaching practices within three Small Medium Enterprises in Thailand
    • Entrepreneurial psychological factors: an investigation into individual differences in entrepreneurs
    • Resilience and coping behaviour among micro, small and medium enterprises in times of economic crisis: An exploratory case of Greece."
    • Enhancing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) access to financing by Malaysian Development Financial Institutions (DFIs).
    • An investigation into performance measurement in social enterprises in the UK

    Number of research students supervised to completion

    8

    Research degrees examined

    6 PhDs
    1 DBA

    Teaching

    Areas of teaching

    • Entrepreneurship

    Professional Engagement

    Engagement with professional associations and societies

    • Africa Oye 2018 - the aim of analysing some economic as well as social impacts, which will be useful for us for the Arts Council, City Council and other trusts and funds
    • Turncoat Gin 2019 – Mentoring on the future direction of the company, authored Business Plan submitted for funds - Share structure/Crowd Funding and exporting
    • Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Voice of Business Newsletter Developing a series of case studies and business development workshops to different hubs in the Liverpool and Sefton area