Management without theory for the twenty-first century

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-395
Author(s):  
Jean-Etienne Joullié
Keyword(s):  
First Century ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Studies ◽  
Research Paradigms ◽  
Management History ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Object Of Study ◽  
Psychological Determinism

Purpose This paper analyses the origin, conceptual underpinnings and consequences of the idea of management theory. It argues that despite claims to incommensurability and except for critical studies authors, management researchers come together in their quest for performativity. The search for theory has condemned management scholars to espouse structural-functional-positivist assumptions. As such, mainstream management theorists assume and promote psychological determinism. Equivocations, ambiguities, tautologies and imprecise language obscure this implication, however, hollowing out management theory of its performative quality. A century after its inception, the quest for management theory has failed. Another avenue for management scholarship exists, one in which management history is a major contributor. Design/methodology/approach This paper offers a historical and conceptual analysis, relying on relevant philosophy of science scholarship. The object of study is the concept of management theory. Findings Most commentators on management theory rely on a widespread view (of postmodern lineage) according to which incommensurable management research paradigms exist. Allowance made for critical management studies, this paper argues otherwise, namely, that current management research paradigms are merely variations on a positivist theme. It further contends that mainstream management research has failed in its quest to identify theory, even if the language used to report research findings obfuscates this fact. Research limitations/implications A notable implication of this paper is that management academics should reconsider what they do and in particular abandon their quest for theory in favour of management history. Originality/value This paper builds on arguments that philosophers of science and scholars specialising in sociological analysis have long recognised to offer a new thesis on management theory in particular and management academia in general.

scholarly journals Bridging the relevance-ranking chasm: mission impossible?

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy Zolkiewski
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
First Century ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Business Research ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
Business And Management ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to debate the challenges related to balancing relevance and ranking in management research. Design/methodology/approach This is a commentary on and review of challenges faced by twenty-first century management academics. Findings There is a chasm between managerial relevance and current managerial research; however, with academic buy-in, there are ways in which the chasm can be crossed. Research limitations/implications The implications of this are wide reaching for management researchers. They are challenged to consider different methodologies, strategies and dissemination avenues for their research. Practical implications Researchers need to consider not only collaboration with practitioners, as they pursue solutions to managerial problems, but also more inter-disciplinary research that addresses the wicked problems of management in practice. Social implications Solving the challenge of managerial relevance of business research has the potential to allow the contribution of business academia to be fully appreciated by practitioners. Originality/value The value of this thought-piece is that it challenges business and management academics to challenge the status quo and fight to make their research relevant to and valued by the business world.

A quest for teacher leadership in the twenty-first century – emerging themes for future research

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-372
Author(s):  
Mo Wang ◽  
Dora Ho
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Leadership ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Research Synthesis ◽  
Leadership Capacity ◽  
First Century ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Emerging Themes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a research synthesis of findings drawn from studies of teacher leadership published in English-based journals from 2000 to 2018. The goal of the research synthesis was to develop new insights into teacher leadership through a theoretical discussion and to identify emerging themes for future research. Design/methodology/approach The methodology employed in this study was systematic review. The study first identifies a body of relevant literature and research on teacher leadership from the English-based journals from 2000 to 2018. Information concerning the nature of the studies as well as substantive findings was extracted from each of the articles. Synthesis of findings was accomplished by identifying key themes in the literature. Findings The synthesis yielded four themes: “the notion of teacher leadership,” “the theoretical perspectives are used for understanding teacher leadership,” “the factors are influencing the development of teacher leadership,” and “the approach to build and develop leadership capacity.” Originality/value This paper attempts to offer a critical review on the current literature and research on teacher leadership, reveal if there are any gaps in the ongoing debate, and identify the agenda for future research. This paper not only explores “what there is,” but also examines “what is missing,” and “what could be improved upon” by reviewing research findings that emerged in the teacher leadership literature produced from 2000 to 2018. The paper could shed light on the existing research about teacher leadership.

Brand management – standing out from the crowd

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ceridwyn King
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Brand Management ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Integrative Research ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality ◽  
New Research

Purpose This paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how brand management research has evolved to inform future hospitality research agendas that are both theoretically and practically innovative and relevant. Design/methodology/approach A review of leading tourism and hospitality journals, augmented by a review of leading mainstream marketing and services journals, over the past 20 years was undertaken. Focusing on papers with an emphasis on the brand, as reflected in the title, over 263 articles were reviewed. Findings In contrast to the more established mainstream literature, brand management research in the hospitality literature is limited in both its depth and breadth. In seeking to go beyond mere replication, and in consideration of industry needs, the review informs the articulation of an integrative research framework that reflects the extant literature and illuminates new research pathways that, in anticipation of making a significant contribution to brand management theory, will enhance hospitality academic and practitioner understanding of brand management. Research limitations/implications The comprehensive critical review affords insight into areas of brand management research innovation, both from a topic and methods perspective. The proposed research agenda not only reflects industry priorities but also responds to gaps within academia’s current understanding of brand management theory, particularly within a service context. Grounded in classical theories and industry insight, the pursuit of topics advanced in the research agenda are expected to make a significant contribution to the theoretical understanding of the brand management concept in an applied setting, in addition to providing timely and relevant insight to practitioners seeking to stand out from the crowd. Originality/value With brands dominating the hospitality landscape, insight derived from thought leading and innovative research is needed. With no comprehensive review of brand management research within the tourism and hospitality literature, clarity with respect to what is known and, more importantly, what is not known is not apparent. This paper addresses this paucity and, in doing so, gives hospitality academics a clear pathway to conducting meaningful and relevant brand management research from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Brand resonance score for CBBE model: an application in financial services

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1490-1507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raja Ambedkar Ande ◽  
Angappa Gunasekaran ◽  
Punniyamoorthy Murugesan ◽  
Thamaraiselvan Natarajan
Keyword(s):  
Brand Equity ◽  
Mutual Fund ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
First Century ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fund Managers ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Brand Resonance

Purpose Brand resonance will significantly improve the profits of the services industry in the twenty-first century. The purpose of this paper is to find the resonance score for modified customer-based brand equity (CBBE) model in mutual fund financial services and improve the conceptualization of customer-based mutual fund services’ brand equity through brand resonance. Design/methodology/approach The path values of SEM model was used to estimate the relative weights of criteria and sub-criteria in analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model and it was empirically tested with a sample of 240 mutual fund investors. Findings The brand resonance using AHP has been quantified. The resonance quantification of each brand has been demonstrated using two renowned Indian mutual fund services brands State Bank of India and Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Research limitations/implications The interdependency of the factors which influence the resonance score is not explored. Practical implications Research findings provide useful guidelines for fund managers/analysts of mutual fund services companies while improving the brand equity and strong brand’s resonance with investors. Originality/value The paper examines quantification of resonance for modified CBBE model in mutual fund services using data from a sample of investors in India with two mutual fund brands. The AHP structure model helps firms effectively quantify the resonance score.

The explicit dimension: what we could not learn from Polanyi

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 333-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Grandinetti
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Alternative States ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Knowledge Management Theory

Purpose – This paper aims to clarify that the link between Michael Polanyi’s tacit knowledge theory and the field of knowledge management research does not withstand in-depth analysis. Second, the paper suggests a way to emerge from the ambiguity that unavoidably results from using the tacit knowledge concept in knowledge management studies. Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins with an analysis of the tacit knowledge theories developed by Polanyi, by cognitive psychologists and by knowledge management scholars. It goes on to formulate a new conceptual framework of tacit knowledge. Findings – This proposal consists in assuming that the terms “unconscious” and “tacit” are not interchangeable and, consequently, redefining the epistemological profile of knowledge management theory so as to acknowledge the existence of two planes of analysis. One is occupied by the process through which individuals gain knowledge, or the knowing process, which may be unconscious or conscious. The other contains the dichotomy between tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge, where the two terms indicate two alternative states that only consciously developed knowledge can adopt. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides support for the two-planes idea by referring to contributions from various disciplines, and particularly from cognitive psychology studies concerned with unconscious knowledge; a more thorough and extensive review would be needed, however, to fully demonstrate the proposal. Originality/value – Distinguishing between two planes of analysis makes it possible to unveil the mystery of tacit knowledge.

The frontier and evolution of the strategic management theory

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liwen Tan ◽  
Jingkun Ding
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Strategy Management ◽  
First Century ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Management Journal ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Scientometric Method ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
The 1960S

Purpose – This paper aims to help scholars to know the frontiers in the strategic management field. On studying, it was noted that business strategic management originated from America in the 1960s and has experienced more than half a century. However, strategic management development lacks systematical summary in the twenty-first century. The scientometric method was appliedto find out the frontiers and progress of the research of strategic management in the twenty-first century, based on the literature from 2001 to 2012 in the Strategic Management Journal. Design/methodology/approach – In the paper, the authors mainly used the scientometric method and applied keywords, co-occurrence method combined with multistatistical methods and mutation words analysis, author co-citation, literature co-citation and keywords co-occurrence (national). Findings – The findings show that the strategic management research focuses on the following theories and academic thoughts: knowledge-based view, network organization research and dynamic capability are the mainstream; besides, strategy risk, the stakeholders analysis of strategy management, corporate reputation and strategic concept also attract the attention of researchers; Barney, Teece and Porter have made significant contributions to strategy management research since the twenty-first century. Originality/value – The findings in the paper will help scholars in the field of strategic management to know the main frontiers of the theory, as well as the main contributors.

scholarly journals Contextualizing phenomenology in event management research

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vassilios Ziakas ◽  
Nikolaos Boukas
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Event Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Framework ◽  
Phenomenological Perspective ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Philosophical Framework ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
Perceived Experiences

Purpose – Although the core phenomenon of events is the experiences and the meanings attached to them, there is limited management research on the experiential, existential and ontological dimensions of events. Phenomenology provides a sound philosophical framework for studying the multifaceted dimensions of experiences and associated meanings of events. However, quite surprisingly, phenomenology has not yet been systematically applied on the event management field. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to introduce phenomenology to the study of events, demonstrate its value for the field and encourage as well as guide its application on event management research. Design/methodology/approach – A review and synthesis of the main phenomenological streams of thought was undertaken in order to develop a research paradigm for the application of phenomenology on the event management field. Findings – The paper explains why phenomenology is needed in the study of events and their management, its conceptual underpinnings and streams of thought and finally suggests a research framework for conducting phenomenological studies in event management. Research limitations/implications – The consequences of the phenomenological perspective are delineated for explaining how the study of event meanings and experiences can be undertaken from this perspective. The limitations of phenomenology are noted such as the emphasis on “lifeworld” subjectivity and subsequent difficulty to claim the generalizability of research findings. Practical implications – The suggested research framework can guide future event management research on how to apply phenomenology to the study of event experiences and meanings. On this basis, practitioners can get insight regarding how to develop and design events that optimize the perceived experiences of attendees. Originality/value – While the experiential paradigm and the phenomenological turn have been spread across many disciplines emphasizing the essence of lived experiences in a variety of human interactions and exchanges, the event management field lags behind. This is unfortunate and has to be addressed as the experiences and meanings shape the essence of events. Therefore, this conceptual paper hopes to inspire, encourage and guide event management researchers to embrace and apply the phenomenological perspective on their future research endeavors, which can profitably complement and expand the predominant research paradigms in the field.

What’s next for CSR?

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 17-19
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
First Century ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Business And Management ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – The core ideas behind corporate social responsibility (CSR) have been with us for the best part of a century, and certainly in the latter decades of the twentieth century, it became one of the hottest topics in both business and management research and practice. Since the start of the twenty-first century, the topic has matured, and also faced severe scrutiny with challenges such as the global financial crisis and widespread globalization. So after all these years how has it roared, and is it still relevant or merely now part of the furniture. Practical implications – Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Management as an integrating activity

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-470
Author(s):  
Sébastien Damart ◽  
Sonia Adam-Ledunois
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Textual Analysis ◽  
Fundamental Principle ◽  
Scientific Management ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Management Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management History

Purpose This research aims to compare the contributions of two authors and practitioners from the 1920s whose work was, to a certain extent, at odds with the dominant scientific management approach of the period. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a comparative textual analysis of texts written by Sheldon and Follett in the 1920s has been performed. This technique consists of a hierarchical descendant classification, which we use to uncover the thematic universes that Sheldon and Follett create in characterizing the fundamentals of management activity. Findings This comparative textual analysis shows that Follett and Sheldon developed two different ways of relying on a singular fundamental principle of management: integration. Originality/value A comparative analysis of Follett and Sheldon’s work has never been attempted. While textual analysis has been used in management research, to the authors’ knowledge, such analyses are rare in research seeking to understand management history.

Digital transformation as a strategy to reach sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Gomez-Trujillo ◽  
Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Revolution ◽  
Critical Studies ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
Research Findings

PurposeThis paper aims to summarize previous research findings on the mutual relation between digital transformation and sustainability at a firm-level. Up to date, there is a gap in the literature linking both concepts and a generalized call for more studies.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a systematic literature review of 89 published studies. After detailed content analysis filters, the authors used 75. The authors present the results following the “Six W” guidelines for systematic literature reviews.FindingsFindings reveal that it is possible to suggest a research framework that considers digital transformation as a driver and a predecessor of sustainability. To survive the digital revolution, companies need to enhance their digital capabilities and balance their economic, environmental and social impacts.Research limitations/implicationsThe precision of the equation used to search manuscripts might have excluded some critical studies that analyze both topics with different connotations beyond merely “Digital transformation” and “Sustainability.” Moreover, the heterogeneity of the findings makes it difficult to classify the findings in a specific context.Originality/valueThe present paper serves as a base to understand the implications of digital transformation on sustainable development for businesses and societies.

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