Scholars have long noticed a considerable gap between organizational research findings and management practices. Although much has been written about the causes and consequences of this gap, little practicable suggestions have been made to narrow it. This research paper acknowledges the existence of the research-practice gap in general and in the field of International Management (IM) in particular. It views the gap in terms of a knowledge transfer and a knowledge production problem and includes causes specific to the field of International Management. The suggestions provided to narrow the research-practice gap are structured into academic initiatives and practitioner initiatives. Suggestions of academic initiatives refer to the academic publication process, researcher-practitioner interaction, contextualization and context theory. Suggestions of practitioner initiatives refer to implementation issues and the role of practitioners in the establishment of a more collaborative research paradigm.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE RESEARCH-PRACTICE GAP
2.1 Defining the Research-Practice Gap
2.2 Causes of the Research-Practice Gap
3. WHAT CAN ACADEMICS DO?
3.1 Reexamine the academic publication process
3.2 Interact more and more efficient with practitioners
3.3 Be not afraid of context
4. WHAT CAN PRACTITIONERS DO?
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the persistent research-practice gap within the field of International Management, aiming to identify its core causes and provide actionable strategies for both academics and practitioners to foster better collaboration and knowledge application.
- The role of the academic publication process in limiting research relevance.
- Challenges in knowledge production and knowledge transfer between academia and management.
- The dominance of quantitative methodology and the need for context-sensitive theory.
- Strategies for improving researcher-practitioner interaction and communication.
- The importance of multi-disciplinary perspectives in management research.
Excerpt from the Book
Causes of the Research-Practice Gap
Knowledge Production. Academia often fails to integrate practitioner’s perspectives into research design and to relate findings to practical applications. The reasons are deeply embedded in the nature of our academic world. In order to pursue a academic career, scholars write academic articles, often in collaboration with each other rather than with practitioners, and eventually publish their work after it has undergone a critical review by their own peers. Academics are the ones sitting at the publishing journal’s editorial boards, reviewing submissions, and deciding on the articles that get published. Hence, there is a unilateral academic paradigm of good research where practitioners have little voice. Senior researchers mentor upcoming talents and produce new professors who enter the academic world with the same, inherited paradigms. Vermeulen (2007) refers to this as a closed loop. This dilemma is especially problematic as researchers and practitioners often do not share the same thought-worlds. While researchers are mainly concerned with the production of novel technical knowledge and building abstract theory, management professionals are most concerned with concrete practices that increase administrative efficiency in a concrete environment (Cascio, 2007).
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the research-practice gap in International Management and outlines the paper's goal of exploring how research can effectively contribute to management practice.
2. THE RESEARCH-PRACTICE GAP: This section defines the gap as a dual problem of knowledge production and knowledge transfer while detailing the academic and structural causes behind it.
3. WHAT CAN ACADEMICS DO?: This chapter proposes solutions for researchers, including reforming the publication process, enhancing engagement with practitioners, and adopting more context-sensitive and multi-disciplinary research approaches.
4. WHAT CAN PRACTITIONERS DO?: This section discusses the necessary support from professional associations and the role of leadership in advocating for evidence-based management to bridge the gap.
Keywords
International Management, Research-Practice Gap, Knowledge Production, Knowledge Transfer, Evidence-based Management, Academic Rigor, Relevance, Context-sensitive Theory, Multi-disciplinary Research, Tacit Knowledge, Practitioner Interaction, Publication Process, Management Practice, Research Impact, Context Theorizing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper addresses the significant disconnect between academic research findings and their practical application within the field of International Management (IM).
What are the main thematic areas explored in the text?
The core themes include the limitations of current academic publication models, the challenges of knowledge transfer, the dominance of quantitative methods, and the necessity of incorporating context and multi-disciplinary views.
What is the research question addressed by the author?
The primary question is: "How can International Management research contribute to International Management practice?"
Which scientific methodology does the paper utilize?
The paper employs a critical literature review and conceptual synthesis to examine academic paradigms and institutional structures within management research.
What does the "main body" of the paper cover?
The main body explores the root causes of the research-practice gap, such as the "closed loop" of academia, and provides specific recommendations for both academics and practitioners to narrow this divide.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include International Management, research-practice gap, evidence-based management, knowledge transfer, and academic rigor.
How does the author define the "closed loop" in academia?
It describes a system where senior researchers mentor new professors using the same inherited paradigms, prioritizing internal peer review over practical application or practitioner input.
What is meant by "context-sensitive theory" in this paper?
It refers to research that moves beyond static, homogenized models by accounting for dynamic cultural and situational variables that define management phenomena.
- Quote paper
- Bachelor of Science Sebastian Walter (Author), 2009, How can International Management Theory contribute to International Management Practice?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/140244
