Josephine Pryce

Scholar of Organisational Behaviour, Flâneuse, Work Futures, Ethnographer, Social Innovator, Botanist

I came to JCU in 1998 as a graduate of Hospitality Management, to continue my business studies, progressing to completion of a PhD in Organisational Behaviour in 2004. During that time, I worked in the hotel industry and developed a strong appreciation of the challenges faced by workers, employers and organisations in service industries. My PhD extended understanding of service predispositions, human relations in the workplace and organisational culture, and developed a fascination for the nature of work, the notion of occupation, the construct of occupational culture and the skills, knowledge and attitudes of constituent workforces. I am also keenly interested in ontologies, epistemologies, paradigms, and methodological approaches to research.

My research interests in methodologies have seen me develop expertise as a qualitative researcher with knowledge and know-how of a range of methodologies and methods that bring rigour and innovation into associated paradigms. i am an expert user of NVivo with strong capabilities in thematic analysis.

While at JCU, I have realised my passion for transforming student lives, the role of experiential learning, the idea of ‘developing professionals’ and bridging of the gap for students as they transition from learner to practitioner. I have undertaken research which examines the nexus between being a student and becoming a Human Resource Management Professional. This research was supported by a WIL@JCU Grant 2011.

My teaching and research interests lie in the area of organisational behaviour, with a focus on the sustainability of working lives' and capture many aspects of work. Through my research work, I explore meaningful work, voluntary work and the notion of occupation. My research enables me to learn about people from all walks of life, quality of working life for workers, and the work that occupies people with disabilities. This work includes research relating to: FIFO workers; tradespeople; youth; volunteers; older workers; and working parents. Through this research, I seek to contribute to making a difference in every day and working lives of people and their well-being; to contribute to sustained labour markets; and, engage with workforce trends and the future of work'.

In recent years, I have had the opportunity to: avidly pursue my research interest in hospitality, well-being, mental health, occupational communities, job satisfaction, industrial/railway heritage, dining experiences, and travellers' experiences; contribute to the literature in these domains; and, have been able to work on collaborative projects, with colleagues in Australia and overseas.

My scholarship looks beyond the world of employment and the centrality of work to economies. Rather, it seeks to challenge assumptions about work. It values people. Rather, it seeks to challenge assumptions about work. It values the space beyond workplaces and asks people, especially Business Leaders to address the three Ps - People, Planet and Profit. Through my teaching and my research, I endeavour to empower people through activation of self-awareness and development of an understanding of themselves and their worth as they work with others, within organisations, institutions, and society and more broadly, as global citizens. Hence, I explore avenues whereby individuals can enhance their well-being and worth and that of others as we work collaboratively toward a sustainable future.

I have substantial business and management experience, with my portfolio including management of a post office on a RAAF base for nearly five years, where I turned that business from a non-profitable one into a thriving enterprise that was a focal hub for that Defence Force community. In addition, I have over ten years' experience working in the hospitality industry, especially in the Tropical region of Far North Queensland.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Mental health & well being of workers (paid and volunteers)
• Meaningful work and/or occupation for people with ongoing mental illnesses
• The role of gardens in communities and society and in relation to people's well-being

MEDIA

November 2020: Public Webinar on How to Build a Resilient Economy