Rate My Professor Katherine Sugars

Dr Katherine Sugars serves as a Lecturer in the School of Management and Marketing at Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University. She holds a BSc with Honours, an MBA, and a PhD from Murdoch University, awarded in 2022 for her thesis titled 'A lived experience theory of schism (LETS)'. This doctoral work, supervised by Dr Megan Paull and Ian Boudville, developed a grounded theory from qualitative analysis of schism events in small nonprofit organisations across Western Australia. The theory elucidates the processes of conflict escalation, factionalisation, and organisational disintegration in community-based groups, offering insights into group dynamics, leadership failures, and recovery strategies.

Sugars' research specialisations centre on schism and conflict resolution in nonprofits, community organising, nonprofit governance, and volunteer engagement with a focus on diversity and inclusion. In 2024, she co-authored the report 'Volunteer engagement and diversity: Building parent participation in P&Cs across Western Australia' with Dr Megan Paull, funded by Volunteering WA and produced in partnership with the Western Australian Council of State School Organisations (WACSSO). Drawing on 238 survey responses and 14 interviews, the study identifies barriers to diverse volunteering in Parents and Citizens associations, including interpersonal conflicts, cliques, power struggles, cultural mismatches, and biases. It introduces a four-dimensional model encompassing organising principles, action cycles, embracing styles, and fostering belonging, purpose, and enjoyment to enhance P&C functionality and inclusivity. The report provides actionable recommendations for recruitment, retention, conflict management, and equity practices. Recognised as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2024, Sugars contributes to teaching in business and management disciplines, including academic skills for postgraduates. Her scholarship advances practical solutions for sustainable community volunteering and nonprofit resilience in Western Australia.