About
Dr. Yihan Liu is a Senior Lecturer in Work, Organisation, and Management at the University of Liverpool Management School, where she has been a faculty member since September 2018. With a strong background in critical organisation studies, Dr. Liu brings a distinctive interdisciplinary lens to her teaching and research, drawing on insights from sociology, history, and ethics to examine how organisations operate within complex and evolving social, spatial, and technological environments. She holds a PhD in Organisation Studies and Management from Royal Holloway, University of London, where she developed her expertise in qualitative research methods, historical analysis, and the study of organisational space and identity.
At Liverpool, Dr. Liu plays an active role in both teaching and research supervision. She teaches on Organisation Theory, Leadership, HRM and mentors postgraduate students at taught and research levels, supporting projects that range from workplace transformation and leadership ethics to the implications of AI in HRM. Her work offers critical insights into how organisations navigate uncertainty, construct legitimacy, and respond to pressing societal challenges such as climate change and digital disruption. Her supervisory interests span theoretical, methodological, and empirical approaches, with a particular focus on the following areas:
1. Spatial and Temporal Dimensions of Organisational Life
Dr. Liu is keen to supervise projects that investigate how organisations are shaped by spatial arrangements (such as workplace design, remote work, or spatial symbolism) and temporal dynamics (including historical narratives, organisational memory, and future-oriented strategising).
2. Organisational Memory, Archives, and Professional Identity
Students with an interest in historical and archival methods are encouraged to pursue research exploring how organisations construct and mobilise their pasts to shape culture, identity, and strategic positioning.
3. Organisational Identity and Entrepreneurship in Digital Contexts
This area invites projects focused on how start-ups and entrepreneurial ventures construct and maintain organisational identity, particularly in digital or hybrid environments.
4. Business Ethics, Corporate Responsibility, and Climate Accountability
Students interested in ethical governance, sustainability, and the socio-political role of business are encouraged to develop projects that critically examine how organisations engage with societal and environmental challenges. Dr. Liu is particularly interested in supervising research that explores how organisations use rhetorical history, storytelling, and legitimacy-building strategies to address issues such as climate change, CSR, or stakeholder accountability.