Research Impact
Industry Case Studies
These case studies illustrate the practical impact of doctoral research conducted by Brenkley Doctoral College researchers. They show what practitioner-research looks like in action — and what difference it can make.
Redesigning Clinical Leadership Pathways in an NHS Acute Trust
Dr. Maria Delacroix, Executive Director of Nursing — NHS Greater London
The Challenge
A large London NHS Trust was experiencing high turnover among Band 7 and 8 nurses who expressed feeling unsupported in transitioning to clinical leadership roles. Existing leadership development programmes had poor completion rates and no measurable impact on retention.
The Research
Dr. Delacroix used her DBA to conduct a mixed methods study inside her own Trust — combining survey data from 140 nurses with twelve in-depth narrative interviews. Her research identified a gap between the formal competency frameworks used to design leadership development and the informal relational and identity-based challenges that actually derailed aspiring leaders.
The Impact
Her thesis recommendations were adopted by the Trust's People Directorate in 2024. A redesigned leadership pathway, incorporating peer coaching circles and identity development workshops, was implemented across three divisions. Early outcome data shows a 28% improvement in pathway completion rates and a measurable reduction in turnover among Band 7 nurses in participating divisions.
"The DBA gave me the tools to investigate something I had been watching for years with no way to act on it. The research made the invisible visible — and gave me the evidence to make the case for change at board level." — Dr. Maria Delacroix
Embedding Evidence-Based Teaching in a Multi-Academy Trust
Dr. Benjamin Okafor, Chief Executive Officer — Cornerstone Academy Trust
The Challenge
Cornerstone Academy Trust, a twelve-school MAT in the East Midlands, was investing significantly in professional development but struggling to translate training into sustained changes in classroom practice. A culture of compliance rather than genuine professional learning had developed across several schools.
The Research
Dr. Okafor conducted an action research study over two academic years, working with three pilot schools to design, implement, and evaluate a model of Evidence-Based Teacher Learning Communities (EBTLCs). His research drew on theories of professional learning communities, implementation science, and school improvement to design and study an intervention grounded in evidence and responsive to local context.
The Impact
The EBTLC model has since been rolled out across all twelve schools in the Trust. An independent evaluation commissioned by the Trust found measurable improvements in teacher professional agency and in pupil progress measures in English and Mathematics in participating schools. The model has been shared with three other MATs in the region through a partnership arrangement.
"I came to the EdD sceptical about whether academic research had anything to offer me after twenty years in schools. Three years later I realised the scepticism was the problem — not the research. The EdD changed how I think about everything I do professionally." — Dr. Benjamin Okafor
Rebuilding After Crisis: Strategic Renewal in a Mid-Sized Retail Business
Dr. Annette Rousseau, Managing Director — Rousseau Home & Living
The Challenge
Rousseau Home & Living, a family-owned UK homeware retailer with fourteen stores and a growing e-commerce operation, had faced near-collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery was underway, but the business lacked a coherent strategic framework for navigating the post-pandemic retail environment, and the leadership team had divergent views on the right direction.
The Research
Dr. Rousseau used her DBA to conduct a rigorous examination of strategic renewal processes in independent retailers — combining a systematic review of the strategic management literature with in-depth case study work inside her own business. Her research applied sensemaking and dynamic capabilities frameworks to understand how independent retailers rebuild strategic coherence after existential crises.
The Impact
The DBA process itself became a vehicle for strategic renewal. The structured enquiry, the theoretical frameworks, and the discipline of evidence-based analysis gave Dr. Rousseau and her leadership team a common language and a rigorous process for strategic decision-making. Since completing her doctorate, the business has grown revenue by 34%, opened two new stores, and been shortlisted for the Retail Gazette Independent Retailer of the Year award.
"I started the DBA to understand my business better. I finished it understanding myself better as a leader — and that turned out to matter more. The rigour of doctoral thinking is not something I leave in the thesis. I use it every day." — Dr. Annette Rousseau
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Every Brenkley Doctoral College researcher brings a unique professional context and a set of questions that matter to their field. These stories show what is possible. Yours could be next.