Debate Over Rigor and Relevance in Scientific Study of Management

Abstract

Purpose: This article provides a general review of the debate over rigor and relevance in academia, specifically in the scientific field of management. It seeks to contribute to the body of literature while emphasizing instances where the gap between rigor and relevance has been bridged, along with the role of business schools. Approach:This takes the approach of underscoring the most important works in the present literature regarding rigor and relevance, and then focusing on three points of emphasis: 1) role of business schools in the debate; 2) main points of contention; and 3) strongest examples of success in this field. Findings:The most important findings in this work indicate that the debate surrounding relevance and rigor still persists and may also be reaching a breaking point where the two sides of the debate cannot reconcile. Various proposed solutions to the debate are available but meaningful action has yet to be taken. Implications:The practical applications of this work are manifold. Scholars would have a clearer understanding of the environments in which their works are operating and practitioners would find academic works in management more accessible.Value: This work provides a description of both the points of contention in the rigor vs. relevance debate and the points of successful unification of the two.

Towards a standardized approach of assessing social context of persons receiving home care in Flanders, Belgium: the development and test of a social supplement to the interRAI instruments

“…The imminent implementation of the BelRAI instruments in the home care setting, and the expressed need of home care organizations and professionals for a supplement to assess social context indicators provided us with a healthy breeding ground for successful collaboration and innovation. During the project, there was a continuous search for balance between scientific rigor and practical relevance [60]. We were aware that our research (and the implementation of BelRAI instruments) could only significantly impact the care landscape and its players if we considered the pressing problems in that setting and society at large [61].…”

Pragmatismo: A Conexão Entre a Teoria E a Prática

“…Essa proposta torna-se imperiosa diante das críticas recorrentes e pertinentes ao distanciamento entre a pesquisa acadêmica e as necessidades da prática profissional, exaustivamente discutidas na literatura (Hansen, Otley & Van der Stede, 2003;Hughes, O'Regan & Wornham, 2008, Quattrone, 2009Birnberg, 2009;Avenier & Bartunek, 2010;Baldvinsdottir;Mitchell & Nørreklit, 2010;Tucker & Parker, 2014;Sidor, 2015;Wood Jr. & Souza, 2019;Sharma & Bansal, 2020;Costa, Machado & Câmara, 2022).…”

Notas Sobre o <i>Rigor-Relevance Gap</i> no Contexto do Mestrado Profissional

“…Por fim, cabe o registro de que estas sugestões reverberam discussão recorrente na academia. Sidor (2015), por exemplo, em seu trabalho sobre o debate do rigor e da relevância na academia, apresenta uma série de indicações, dentre as quais destacam-se: os acadêmicos devem examinar os problemas com os quais os profissionais realmente se preocupam, para ganhar mais relevância sem abandonar o rigor; adotar medidas, nas escolas de negócio, uma vez que métodos de instrução e pesquisa podem impactar na atitude que os pesquisadores têm em relação à relevância e à prática; publicar estudos especificamente para as pessoas que trabalham no campo da gestão em linguagem acessível para estes. Assim, tais medidas tendem a minimizar um grande obstáculo, responsável pelo rigor-relevance gap.…”