Dr Marian Evans

Marian Evans joined the Business School as a Lecturer in Enterprise in October 2014. She gained her first degree at Cambridge University, returning back into Higher Education to study for an Executive MBA in 2012, winning the best student performance award. She completed her PhD on small business opportunity-related decision-making in 2019.  Her teaching expertise focuses on small business decision-making and entrepreneurial cognition, reflecting interest and prior experience in entrepreneurial SMEs. Currently she is deputy Programme Leader for the Executive MBA, responsible for guiding and supporting apprentices during their work-based projects, e-portfolio and End Point Assessment preparation.

Prior to joining De Montfort University, Marian taught in schools and Further Education colleges in London, Huntingdon and Peterborough, before starting a SME retail and electronic manufacturing business and later becoming a director of a manufacturing company. Currently she is a director of a business consultancy, working in industry as an assessor for Business Improvement Techniques (Lean Manufacturing) apprenticeships.  Marian also writes and moderates international qualifications for City and Guilds in quality control and operational processes. 

Centre for Enterprise and Innovation 

Evans, M. (2019) Exploring decision-making: an information processing perspective, in Higgins, D., Jones P. and McGowan, P. (eds) Creating Entrepreneurial Space: Talking through Multi-voices, Reflections on Emerging Debates, Bingley, Emerald Publishing, pp45-71.

Entrepreneurial cognition

Creative problem solving and strategic decision-making

Small business growth

Business and Personal Skills development

Introduction to Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ENTE1521)

Consulting Live (ENTE 2509)

Creative Management and Marketing (ENTE 3506)

Module leader for Entrepreneurship and Strategic Decision-Making (ENTE 5002)

EMBA Work-based project

PhD 'Exploring how entrepreneurs make decisions on the growth of their business: A cognitive perspective' (De Montfort University)

MBA (Distinction) Dissertation: ‘Why do entrepreneurial SMEs fail to grow?' (De Montfort University)

CMI Diploma in Strategic Direction and Leadership, Level 8 (CMI)

CMI Chartered Manager (CMI)

Bachelor of Education B.Ed. (Cambridge University)

Strategy and Management (Undergraduate)

Research methods and skills (International pre-Masters)

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (Undergraduate and post graduate)

Executive Masters in Business Administration (Degree apprenticeships)

DMU Best Student Performance, Executive MBA, 2012

Institute of Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ISBE)

Fellow, Chartered Management Institute

Fellow, Higher Education Academy

NLP Licensed Education Practitioner

A1 Assessor Certificate

National Skills Academy for Manufacturing Certificate for Advanced Learning Practice

Evans, M. (2019) Conversations across the table: team decision-making, Institute of Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference, Newcastle, November 14th-15th, 2019. Contribution type: Full paper.

Evans, M. (2018) Making Decisions for Small Business Growth: A Cognitive Style Approach, Institute of Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference, Birmingham , November 7-8th, 2018. Contribution type: Full paper.

Evans, M. (2018) Learning by doing: using experience to develop expertise, Organisational Learning, Knowledge and Capabilities (OLKC) Conference, Liverpool, April 25-27th 2018. Contribution type: Full paper.

Evans, M. (2017) Developing cognitive versatility; Thinking it through.  Institute of Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference, Belfast, November 8-9th, 2017. Nominated for award in Entrepreneurial Practitioner Learning Track. Contribution type: Full paper.

Evans, M. (2016) Exploring how Entrepreneurs make Decisions on Growth:  A Cognitive Perspective.  Institute of Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference, Paris, October 27-28^th, 2016. Nominated for award in Entrepreneurial Practitioner Learning Track. Contribution type: Full paper.

Entrepreneurship and small business decision-making

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