Faculty

Professor Robert Spillane

Professor in Management

BCom (Applied Psychology) (UNSW), PhD (Psychology) (Macq)

Teaching Areas

• People & Organisations

Research Area Affiliations

• Reflective Practice

Contact Details
Phone:  +61 2 9850 8995
Email:     robert.spillane@mgsm.edu.au

Research Statement

Professor Spillane teaches and writes on philosophy and psychology and their application to management. He examines theories of personality, motivation, managerial values, group dynamics, occupational stress and counseling and their relevance for, and application to management. He is also interested in the history of Western ideas, demonstrating that the field of management, which is of recent origin, necessarily draws on a wide range of ancient wisdom.

Contribution to Management Practice

In the 1970s Professor Spillane trained with American psychologist, Dr. Albert Ellis, and since the 1980s he has worked with psychiatrist, Professor Thomas Szasz. He practiced psychotherapy in Sydney for 25 years, working especially on occupational stress, RSI and ADHD. He has written more than 130 professional articles, thirteen books and a play – “Entertaining Executives” – which was first performed at the Mermaid Theatre, London in May, 2006.

Media Topics

• Philosophies of Management
• Psychology and its Misapplication to Management
• Australian Managerial Values
• Leadership and Management

 

publications

journal articles

• Spillane, R. (2008). Medicalising Work Behaviour: The Case of Repetition Strain Injury. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 46 (1), 85-98.
• Spillane, R. (2007). Personality Testing: Undermining Management. Australian Career Practitioner, 18(3), 18-21.

books

• Spillane, R. (2011). The Rise of Psychomanagement in Australia, Melbourne, Australia: Michelle Anderson Publishing.
• Spillane, R. (2010). Enlightened Eccentrics: Philosophers in the Age of Reason, Melbourne, Australia: Michelle Anderson Publishing.
• Spillane, R. & Martin, J. (2010). Personality and Performance: Foundations for Managerial Psychology (Chinese translation), Beijing, China:  China Machine Press.
• Spillane, R. (2009). Questionable Behaviour: Psychology's Undermining of Personal Responsibility, Melbourne, Australia: Michelle Anderson Publishing.
• Spillane, R. (2008). An Eye for an I: Living Philosophy, Melbourne, Australia: Michelle Anderson Publishing.
• Marks, B., Rodney, M., & Spillane, R. (2006). The Management Contradictory, Melbourne: Michelle Anderson Publishing.
• Spillane, R. (2005). Questionable Behaviour: An Introduction to Psychology, Sydney: Art Gallery Society of NSW.
• Spillane, R. & Martin, J. (2005). Personality and Performance: Foundations for Managerial Psychology, Sydney: UNSW Press.

book chapters

• Spillane, R. (2006). "Gardner on Leadership", In J. A. Schaler (Ed.) Howard Gardner Under Fire, (pp. 183-202). Chicago:  Open Court.

conference papers

• Spillane, R. (2006). The Mind and Mental Illness: A Tale of Two Myths. Mind and Its Potential: Conference of the Vajaranya Institute.
• Spillane, R. (2005). Personality Testing at the Workplace: Arguments For and Against. NSW Mining Industry Conference.