ARC Internal Seminar with Xin Li
The emergence and persistence of the irrelevance problem in management research: What can we do about it?
by PhD student Xin Li, Asia Research Centre
This seminar aims at
-
analyzing the emergence and persistence of the management research’s irrelevance problem, in a systematic manner, in terms of the self-referential nature of management studies as science, the paradigm maintenance of the established orthodox, and the external impact on the attitude and behavior of management academics;
-
pointing out that there is a possibility of combining practical relevance and academic rigor in management research and the distinctive structural feature of this combination;
-
spelling out the inconvenient truth that the management academia is like a naked carnival, i.e., not only the king but also everyone are naked, i.e., without the clothes of relevance;
-
painting a very unnerving and dismal prospect of management studies, without sudden and dramatic external pressure, it is extremely unlikely a fundamental change will happen from within the management academia;
-
and finally, arguing the only way out is neither to call for collective action nor urging individual responsiveness, rather, the burning need is to awaken our long-lost sense of shame, i.e., awareness of the need of the clothes of relevance!
Note:
This seminar is based on two papers Xin Li has written for the Academy of Management 2009 Annual Meeting submitted on 15th Jan. 2009.
The two papers are titled as:
-
The management academia: A naked carnival
-
On synthesis of relevance and rigor - A critique of Vermeulen’s solution
The Asia Research Centre Internal Seminars is a series of seminars to share knowledge among members. To build up a lively and commited research community, members of the ARC network and other interested scholars will present and discuss their current research at the seminars.
The ARC Internal Seminars are mainly for researchers affiliated with the Asia Research Centre, but other interested scholars are most welcome to attend.
Please note: As the centre will host a small lunch for the participants, should you wish to attend please inform us about your attendance no later than two days before the seminar at arc.int@cbs.dk