Professor Tom Donnelly
My research vision
My research focuses on the international automotive industry with particular reference to Western Europe and China. The main thrust of the research has been on merger activity; restructuring in the UK industry, the growth and development of the industry in China, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the industry, and the challenges posed by climate change and alternatively fuelled vehicles. I maintain a small interest in Finnish high tech industrial development. The inspiration for this research comes simply from my long-standing interest in the auto industry. All I really want to achieve is an improvement in our understanding of the industry through the application of economic theory.
Emeritus Professor of Automotive Business, Centre for Business in Society
Biography
After graduating from the Universities of Strathclyde (BA Hons) and Aberdeen (Ph.D) Tom became a lecturer at Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University). Over many years he taught economic history, economics and strategic management at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Tom became Head of the Department of Business and then of Management before becoming Head of Postgraduate Research Programmes in the Faculty of Business in addition to serving on many university committees. His research has focussed on a number of areas in economic history and economic development with a high concentration on the international automotive industry and he was later appointed Professor of Automotive Business. As part of his research, Tom was a founder member of the Centre for Local Economic Development (CLED), the Centre for Business History (CBH) and the Motor Industry Observatory(MIO) with all three now forming part of CBiS. The MIO is consulted regularly by national and international media to comment on events in the car industry. Tom has also been a Visiting Professor at the Institut d’Administration des Entreprises at the University of Caen, Oulu University of Applied Sciences in Finland, and the Silesian University in the Czech Republic. Finally, he is an Associate Editor of the Dictionary of National Biography (OUP).
Selected outputs
- Donnelly, T., Begley, J., and Collis, C. (2016) ‘The West Midlands Automotive Industry: The Road Downhill’. Business History 59 (1), 56-74. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2016.1235559
- Begley, J., Collis, C., and, Donnelly, T. (2015) ‘Skills Shortages a brake on the British car industry’. Local Economy 36 (6), 593-608. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269094215598112
- Begley, J., Collis, C., and Donnelly, T. (2015) ‘The Move to Low Carbon and Electric Vehicles: implications for English rurL MOTORISTS’. Regional Studies Conference. Held 24-27 May 2015 in Piacenza, Italy.
- Begley, J., Colllis, C., and Donnelly, T. (2015) ‘FDI in the UK Low Carbon Vehicle Sector’. Regional Studies Network; Low Carbon Mobility - Policy Approaches and Regional Development in Mature and Emerging Economies. Held 8-9 October 2015 at Jagellonisan University, Poland.
- Donnelly, T. (2015) The Dignity of Work, 10 May 2015. Oxford: Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford
- Donnelly, T., and Thoms, D.W. (1985) The Motor Car Industry in Coventry Since 1890. London: Croom Helm Ltd.
- Donnelly, T., and Thoms, D.W. (2000) The Coventry Car Industry: Birth to Renaissance. Aldershot: Ashgate Press.
- Donnelly, T. (1994) The Aberdeen Granite Industry. Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press.
- Gomes, E., Donnelly, T., Collis, D., and Morris, D. (2010) Mergers and Analysis in the Global Automobile Industry. New York: Edwin Mellen Press.
- Donnelly, T., and Collis, C. (2012) 'Joint Ventures and the Development of the Chinese Automotive Industry'. International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management 12 (4), 318-319.
- Donnelly, T., and Morris, D. (2003) 'The Chinese Car Industry: Problems and Prospects'. In Chinese Economic Transition and International Marketing Strategy. Ed. by Alon, I. Westport CT: Greenwood Publishing Press.
- Donnelly, T., and Hyry, M.M. (2004) 'Urban and regional high technologies: The case of Oulu'. Local Economy 19 (2), 1-16.
- Donnelly, T., and Thoms, D.W. (1989) 'Trade unions, management and the search for production in the Coventry motor industry'. Business History XXXI (2), 98-113.
- Donnelly, T., Begley, J., and Collis, C. (2010) 'Towards Sustainable Growth in the Chinese Automotive Industry: internal and external obstacles and comparative lessons'. International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management 10 (2/3), 289-304.
- Jarvis, D., Berkeley N., and Donnelly, T. (2012) 'Capturing the economic benefits of a transformative shift to low carbon automobility: A case study of the West Midlands, UK'. Local Economy 27 (7), 692-704.
Selected projects
- Business Records in Coventry (1975-77): This centred on the identification/retrieval of business and industrial records in the Coventry region. The project was SSRC financed.
- Business Development in Aberdeen in the 18th century (1977): A study of economic and industrial growth with focus on the role of merchants in overseas trade. (SSRC funded)
- Business Records in Coventry. (1982): A follow-up to project 1 (Manpower Services Commision (MSC) funded.
- An Oral History of the Coventry car Industry (1983): Interviews with a large range of people associated with the csar industry. Tapes in university library. (MSC funded)
- Development of UK car Industry since (1945): Research in industrial development of car industry for subsequent book. (MSC funded)
- Management in the Car Industry: Study of key managers in growth and development of car industry in Coventry (MSC funded)
- Rover Car company 2010/11: Study of trends in European car market for Chinese owners of MG Rover.
- The prospects for alternative fuelled vehicles (AFV) in Coventry: Study into how well prepared the city is to take advantage of future changes in car transport technology (Funded by Coventry city Council).
