Prof Rachel McLean
Liverpool Screen School
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: R.McLean@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 4760
Professor Rachel McLean is Director of both Liverpool Screen School and Liverpool School of Art & Design. Rachel’s own career path reflects the eclectic range of disciplines that she leads in her current role/s. After graduating with a first degree in English Literature, she worked as a curator in the British Library’s Western Manuscripts department, and in HE Libraries before completing a PhD in electronic commerce (sponsored by United Utilities). Lecturing posts in Business, Information Systems, Digital Marketing and Creative Technology at various universities brought Rachel to her current role, in which she draws on creativity to drive forward initiatives and to inform strategic planning.
Rachel’s extensive and varied research portfolio includes international publications on application of technology in business and society, information systems, research methods and creative prototyping.
Rachel holds a number of prestigious external roles including; Member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) Business Enterprise Board, Chair of the LCRCA Digital & Creative Cluster Board, Member of the ESRC Review College, REF 2021 panel member for UoA 34 Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management. In 2016, Rachel was elected as President of the UK Academy of Information Systems (UKAIS), becoming the first woman to hold this post since the Academy was founded 25 years ago. She is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
Degrees
2004, University of Salford, United Kingdom, PhD
1990, University College London, United Kingdom, MSc Information Management
1987, PNL, United Kingdom, BA (Hons) English
Academic appointments
Lead for LJMU on Music Futures AHRC Creative Clusters Programme, Faculty of Society and Culture, Liverpool John Moores University, 2025 - present
Peer Review College Member, UKRI ESRC, 2024 - present
Director of Liverpool School of Art and Creative Industries, Faculty of Society and Culture, Liverpool John Moores University, 2024 - present
Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Arts, professional and Social Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, 2023 - 2024
REF2021 Panel Member for UoA 34 Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management, HEFCE, 2019 - 2021
Professor of Digital Media, Liverpool Screen School, Liverpool John Moores University, 2016 - present
Director of Liverpool Screen School, Liverpool John Moores University, 2014 - present
Associate Dean Research, APSS, Liverpool John Moores University, 2013 - 2015
Highlighted publications
Fenton A, Proctor C, McLean R, Quan-Haas A. 2023. Social media, S-Commerce and social capital: A netnography of football fans and organizations International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 20 :63-68 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Oates BJ, Griffiths M, McLean R. 2022. Researching Information Systems and Computing SAGE 9781529786910
McLean R. 2016. Creatively prototyping the future high street Production Planning and Control, 27 :477-489 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Books (authored)
McLean R, Griffiths M, Oates BJ. 2025. Researching Information Systems and Computing Sage. London
Oates BJ, Griffiths M, McLean R. 2022. Researching Information Systems and Computing SAGE 9781529786910
McLean R. 2012. Customer Knowledge, Empowerment & The Internet: An exploration of customer experiences of shopping online. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. 978-3659269172
Journal article
Fenton A, Proctor C, McLean R, Quan-Haas A. 2023. Social media, S-Commerce and social capital: A netnography of football fans and organizations International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 20 :63-68 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Kayas O, McLean R, Hines T, Wight G. 2018. Resisting government rendered surveillance in a local authority Public Management Review, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
McLean R. 2016. Creatively prototyping the future high street Production Planning and Control, 27 :477-489 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
McLean R, Griffiths M, Fletcher G, Greenhill A. 2016. The Social Supply Chain and the Future High Street Supply Chain Management: an International Journal, 21 :78-91 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
McLean R, Griffiths M. 2015. Unleashing Corporate Communications Via Social media: A UK Study of Brand Management and Communications with Customers Journal of Customer Behaviour, 14 :147-162 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Greenhill A, Holmes K. 2014. Creating Communities: The Use of Technology in Craft and DIY Communities of Practice Journal of Systems and Information Technology, 4
McLean R, Bell F, Griffiths M, Greenhill A, Fletcher G. 2013. Science Fiction Prototypes: technology narratives between futures Futures, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Holmes K, McLean R, Green G. 2012. Crafting a future online: A study of how independent craftspeople adopt social media and web technologies Journal of Systems and Information Technology, 14 :142-154 DOI Publisher Url
McLean R, Oliver PG, Wainwright DW. 2010. The myths of empowerment through information communication technologies: An exploration of the music industries and fan bases Management Decision, 48 :1365-1377 DOI Publisher Url
McLean R, Hilditch J, Green G. 2010. The music industry in the twenty-first century: challenges and innovation Management Decision, 48 :9-10 Publisher Url
McLean R, Wainwright D. 2009. Social Networks, Football Fans, Fantasy and Reality: How Corporate and Media interests are invading our Lifeworld Journal of Information Communication and Ethics in Society, 7 :54-71 DOI Publisher Url
Cushman M, Mclean R. 2008. Exclusion, inclusion and changing the face of information systems research Information Technology & People, 21 :213-221 DOI Publisher Url
Avila-Porro D, Light B, McLean R. 2008. Web-mediated market interactions and enterprise software Cutter IT Journal, 21 :29-33
Kayas OG, McLean R, Hines T, Wright GH. 2008. The panoptic gaze: Analysing the interaction between enterprise resource planning technology and organisational culture International Journal of Information Management, 28 :446-452 DOI Publisher Url
McLean R. 2008. Pixel chix and digi guys: Exploring the experiences of the "Digital citizen" in two contexts International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, 4 :1-21 DOI Publisher Url
McLean R. 2006. A tale of two e-citizens: A consideration of engagement in the e-society in two contexts Proceedings of the 14th European Conference on Information Systems, ECIS 2006,
McLean R. 2006. Cafe Culture: The Use of Knowledge Cafes as an Innovative Learning / Teaching Method Learning and Teaching in Action, 5
McLean R, Blackie NM. 2005. SERF or sovereign? e-commerce and the promise of consumer empowerment Proceedings of the 13th European Conference on Information Systems, Information Systems in a Rapidly Changing Economy, ECIS 2005, :13
McLean R, Kayas O, Henderson A. 2005. Use of the Internet by Health Professionals and Consumer Support Groups: a case analysis. Comunications Communications of the IIMA, 5 :107-113 DOI Publisher Url
McLean R, Blackie NM. 2004. Customer and Company Voices in eCommerce: A Qualitative Analysis Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 7 :243-249 DOI Publisher Url
McLean R. 2003. Perspectival Reviews Management Learning, 34 :487-490 DOI Publisher Url
McLean R, Bell F, Fletcher G, Greenhill A, Griffiths M. Making MadLab: A creative space for innovation and creating prototypes Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Forthcoming., DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Chapters
McLean R. 2009. Serf or Sovereign: the myth of the e-Commerce PowerShift Whitworth B. Handbook of Research on Socio-Technical Design and Social Networking Systems Information Science Reference 978-1605662640
McLean R, Richardson H. 2009. The Customer Rules and Other e-ShoppingMyths Computer Supported Cooperative Work :173-193 Springer London 9781848002067 DOI Publisher Url
McLean R. 2009. The Myth of the e-Commerce Serf to Sovereign Powershift Handbook of Research on Socio-Technical Design and Social Networking Systems :731-747 IGI Global DOI Publisher Url
McLean R, Blackie NM. 2008. E-Commerce as Knowledge Management Knowledge Management :2768-2787 IGI Global DOI Publisher Url
McLean R, Blackie NM. 2008. E-Commerce as Knowledge Management Electronic Commerce :1618-1637 IGI Global DOI Publisher Url
McLean R, Blackie NM. 2005. E-Commerce as Knowledge Management Contemporary Research in E-Marketing, Volume 1 :69-92 IGI Global DOI Publisher Url
Conference publication
McLean R, Greenhill A, Fletcher G, Griffiths M. Designing your future with Science Fiction: From Shopping Mall to Tailored Shopping Experience SCIFI-IT'2017 Conference Proceedings, SCIFI-IT'2017
Kayas O, McLean R, Hines T, Wright GH. The Panoptic Gaze: Analysing the Interaction between Enterprise Resource Planning Technology and Organisational Culture 13th United Kingdom Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS)
McLean R, Kayas O, Henderson A. Use of the Internet by Health Professionals and Health Consumer Support Groups: A Case Study 10th United Kingdom Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS)
Kayas OG, McLean R. The antecedents and outcomes of algorithmic management United Kingdom Academy for Information Systems
Highlighted activities
Membership of professional bodies:
UK Academy of Information Systems, UKAIS President Elect (first woman to be elected to this role), http://www.ukais.org.uk/NewsItem/NewsItem.aspx?NewsItemID=A1338641-D937-43C1-A660-53CBAE323595. 2014
Research Grants Awarded:
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): 25000, New Dynamics of Ageing Preparatory Networks Programme. Jointly funded by the ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, AHRC, BBSRC., Judith Sixsmith. Mike Cushman, Experiences and Uses of Technology in Older Age RES-351-25-000100. 2006
Other Professional Activity:
Panel member for REF2021 UoA 34 Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management..
Professional activities
Research Grants Awarded:
Duration of research project: 5 years, Grant value (£): 6.5 million, AHRC Creative Clusters, Richard Koeck, MusicFutures. 2025
Duration of research project: 4 months, Grant value (£): 121,339, Office for Students, Sarah Haynes LJMU. Zoe Wallace Agent Academy, Short Courses Challenge. 2021
Duration of research project: 5 months, Grant value (£): 9,000, LJMU QR Funding, Stephanie Janes, LJMU Research Assistant., Blue Light (Emergency) Services and Social Media (BLESSM). 2016
Duration of research project: 3 years, Grant value (£): 13,000, JISC, Broadcasting Hubs. 2015
Duration of research project: 36 months, Grant value (£): £248,041, Innovate UK, Dr Andy Ross, Diane Marsh, Dr Fiona Borthwick, Developing & Marketing Sustainable Building Services. 2014
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): 25000, New Dynamics of Ageing Preparatory Networks Programme. Jointly funded by the ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, AHRC, BBSRC., Judith Sixsmith. Mike Cushman, Experiences and Uses of Technology in Older Age RES-351-25-000100. 2006
Duration of research project: 12 months, Grant value (£): 16,500, Arts Council England and Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), Kate Homes and Bolton@Home, Using Smart Materials in Community Regeneration and Employability Activities.
Other Professional Activity:
Chair of Digital & Creative Cluster Board for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.. 2024
Member of the ESRC Peer Review College. 2024
Co-Investigator on £3 million bid to AHRC CoSTAR Lot 2 call. Bidding team shortlisted to attend for interview. Partners include University of Liverpool, LCC, AdLib,. 2023
Panel member for REF2021 UoA 34 Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management..
External committees:
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Board Member and Chair of the Digital and Creative Cluster Board, Business Enterprise Board, https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/business-and-enterprise-board. 2024
Conference organisation:
Conference Chair 2016 - 2018. I chair this annually., UKAIS Annual Conference. 2018
Track Chair on Social Media and Digital Collaborations track, International Conference on Information Systems, http://icis2015.aisnet.org/en/paper-submissions/tracks/18-tracks/49-track-social-media. 2015
Co Chair, UKAIS Doctoral Consortium, http://www.ukais.org.uk/conference/conference2013/. 2007
Membership of professional bodies:
UKAIS (First woman in 25 years of the existence of UKAIS), President of UKAIS. 2016
Chartered Institute of Management, Ordinary member. 2015
UK Academy of Information Systems, UKAIS President Elect (first woman to be elected to this role), http://www.ukais.org.uk/NewsItem/NewsItem.aspx?NewsItemID=A1338641-D937-43C1-A660-53CBAE323595. 2014
Higher Education Academy, Fellow. 2003
Fellowships:
HEA, Fellow, http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/. 2007