Research
Research credo
The essence and the uniqueness of my research work is its international, collaborative, multidisciplinary and applied character. I strongly believe that these are very important ingredients for delivering an excellent research especially for subject matters like strategy, organizational development and entrepreneurship, Based on many years of academic work with prominent universities and research centres around the globe, I know that it is also of utmost importance that the results of a research should advance our teaching methodologies, contribute to the theoretical concepts, but also serve managerial practices worldwide. Otherwise they are useless. My research experience in a multicultural environment has taught me that comparative studies and research of literature from diverse authors (not only North America) is the path to the international success of a research project. I believe that for teaching and research on strategy and entrepreneurship, one should have a vast international experience and a wide perspective: this is both a specialized, but also a very interdisciplinary topic.
Research areas
- Strategic planning and management: incl. in the arts, culture, entertainment industries and the non- profit sector
- Entrepreneurship: incl. social entrepreneurship and digital entrepreneurship
- Application of online technologies and social networks in the entrepreneurial and management practice
- Corporate social responsibility (CRS)
Achievements
During my academic career I have received a number of research fellowships, grants and awards, among them: FULBRIGHT Fellowship in Economics; Fellowship Grant by the Japan Foundation; NISPAcee Fellowship; Post-Doctoral Research Grant by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; ARTSLINK Fellowship at the UCLA, California. Among others, I have published in: The Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society, Canadian Journal of Communication, Culturelink publication series, European Cultural Foundation discussion papers. I have completed numerous research projects, feasibility studies and business plans for Canadian and international organizations, foundations and governments.
Image:© Valeriy Klamm (Novosibirsk)
My latest book
The many years of profound academic research and international practical experience in my professional career resulted in my latest book “Strategic Management in the Arts”, to be published by Routledge (Taylor & Francis) in November 2012: http://www.amazon.ca/Strategic-Management-Arts-Lidia-Varbanova/dp/0415530024. The book focuses on innovative thinking and entrepreneurial actions in the arts sector as two primary vectors in strategic management and discusses the necessity to cultivate an intrapreneurial climate in the arts. It is structured to walk the reader through each element of the strategic plan systematically. It also emphasizes that an effective strategy is the one that constantly responds to dynamic external changes, preparing the organisation to act accordingly by utilising its full capacity and resources.
My current research
I am currently a Research Associate with David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Concordia University. My current research (to be completed at the end of 2012) is on incorporating sustainability into strategies and management functions of arts organizations in Canada. The research is based on a combination of research methods, such as: desk research, qualitative analysis of selected cases and targeted focused interviews with key managers and directors.
Samples of completed research
Strategic Planning Framework and Directions of Development, Canadian Arts Presenting Association (CAPACOA) (www.capacoa.ca), 2011
Inventory of Resources on Intercultural Dialogue: Part II. Research. Rainbow Platform Europe and Culture Action Europe (http://www.intercultural-europe.org), 2011
Survey and evaluation on the usability and users’ satisfaction of the Young Cultural Policy Research Forum (survey and evaluation) LabforCulture, 2011
Evaluation, documentation and online archiving of the Black/North SEAS project: SEASDoc
(survey and evaluation), 2011
Image: © Evgeniy Fedoskov (StPeterburg)
Innovative Cultural and Artistic Responses to Climate change (collaborative research), LabforCulture, 2010
Feasibility Study and Action Plan on e-learning education in international context for countries in transition, European Cultural Foundation, 2010
Feasibility Study and Business Plan for a Web-based Arts and Culture Regional Calendar – MAXguide
Metro Vancouver, 2010
The Power of Arts, Culture and Creativity to Transform Post-Industrial Urban Spaces (research paper)
Musagetes Foundation, Canada, 2010
Developing and Revitalizing Rural Communities through Arts and Creativity: An International Literature Review and Inventory of Resources (collaborative research)
Centre for Expertise in Culture and Communities, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, 2009
The Impact of European Capitals of Culture on the local independent cultural sector (collaborative research), European Cultural Foundation, 2009
Social Entrepreneurship, European Cultural Foundation, 2009
Access of young people to culture. A study initiated by the European Commission, in cooperation with Interarts, Barcelona, 2009
Feasibility study and strategy for setting up a new body on Roma arts and culture, Soros Foundation, 2009
Inventory of Resources on Intercultural Dialogue. Research. Rainbow Platform for Intercultural Europe and Culture Action Europe (collaborative research and build up of an online platform), 2008
Culture and Sustainability: Building the Linkages from the Ground Up, Centre of Expertise on Culture and Communities, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver (research project), 2008
Development of the Business case for E-cultural Dialogue of the Canadian Heritage, commissioned by NIVA (feasibility study), 2008
Virtual Culture and Its Impact on Cultural Tourism, The case of Bulgaria, Culturelink (research), 2008
Social Impact Study and Gender Equality Report, Related Strategy and Action Plan (feasibility study)
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and HVNetworks, 2007
Definitions and Conceptual Issues, related to Social Impact of Culture, Cultural Consumption and Participation for Improving Statistical Indicators for Creative Industries in Asia-Pacific region (research study)
UNESCO Institute of Statistics, Montreal, Canada, 2004-2005
Towards the development of a multi-disciplinary Asia-Europe Cultural Portal: Cultural Information Resources in Europe-a Selective Examination (research and consulting)
Asia-Europe Foundation, Singapore, 2005
Cultural Cooperation in Europe on the Web: An Overview of Existing Information Tools and Mechanisms in Preparation for a European Cultural Cooperation Portal (feasibility study and research, incl. marketing strategy), European Cultural Foundation, Amsterdam, 2004
Financing Cultural Practices in South-East Europe, Research. ECUMest, 2003
Cultural Cooperation in Europe: The Case of Bulgaria (Research study). Interarts, Barcelona/European Commission, 2003
Assessment of the Soros Centers for Contemporary Arts: Current State and Perspectives, Internal research, Open Society Institute, Budapest, 2002
Consulting in establishment of the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Management, Vilnius, Lithuania. Feasibility study and consulting. UNESCO, 1999
Privatization of culture: Comparative Analysis of Arts Sectors in Selected Central and Eastern European Countries (Research, supported under the RSS of the Open Society Institute), 1997
Public-Private Sector Cooperation as Part of the Cultural Policy in Japan: current situation and perspectives (Research study, supported by the Japan Foundation), Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan, 1995
Democracy in Arts Organisations. Forms of Creative Employees’ Participation in Arts Management. The Experience in Selected Countries and Possibilities for Its Application in Bulgaria (Research study, supported by the NATO Democratic Fellowship Program, Brussels, Belgium), 1993
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Page images: Project Birthmark On the Map
Artists’ credits:
1. Andrey Rudakov (Moscow)
2. Valeriy Klamm (Novosibirsk)
3. Evgeniy Fedoskov (StPeterburg)