Research or ReSearch

Joseph
P Joseph
18169520

Introduction
In this article I will be putting together the analysis I have made on the
importance of research in organisation and management studies. The
article also briefs about the relationship between Pure research and
Applied research, and the significances of both of them are examined with
regard to the current debates about organisation and management
research. To start with, the term research is used when there is a
systematic investigation carried out. The basis of research is the need for
knowledge and explanations for certain phenomena. Research in
organisation and management studies have been distinguished into pure
research and applied research. Pure and applied research are terms
borrowed from the scientific lexicon, it refers to two ends of a linear
continuum, pure is closer to an idea and applied closer to
application(Sankaran 2006). Research taken forth with the aim of
contributing to theories and techniques by assuming the variables
associated with the research those are not measured to be a constant are
called as pure research. The main motive in pure research is to
understand why things happen. Whereas, with applied research there is
an importance given to the means by which things can be changed. In
Applied research the variables related to the research is considered to be
changing constantly(lee 2000).
This being said, there has been a lot of arguments and debates regarding
research in organisation and management studies. Are the topics chosen
for research worthwhile? Is it important to have individuality for the
journals that are published? The systemization of research methodology
the right way? What is the long term feasibility of the theories followed
presently in organisational and management practices? How is the society
affected by the research that is carried out in organisation and
management studies? Does the present research take into consideration
all the variables that make up an organisation or is it biased towards
fulfilling the interests of only the elite section of the organisation? These
are the questions I will try to answer in this article and how these
arguments are applied to pure research and applied research.

Discussion
With the expansion of the management field the number academic
articles published has increased manifold(Gabriel 2010). Even though the

number of articles published has risen hugely, the publication of

interesting ground breaking ideas has not happened(Clark and Wright
2009). This fact can be the right justification for the argument whether the
right topics are chosen as the subjects for research. The major reason to
why this paradoxical shortage of innovative ideas coming into light is the
almost total dominance of the gap spotting research within management
studies. The driving factor for this excessive publications of articles is the
urge given to the academics by their institutions to publish
articles(Alvesson and Sandberg 2013). The vast number of article not
getting published has forced the academics to choose their topics
carefully and in turn look into incremental research and not creative
research(Clark and Wright 2009). This turn of events has a huge
implication on pure research and applied research. The domination of gap
spotting research with management studies limits the possibilities for pure
research and the resources allocated for pure research. New innovative
ideas are always expected to happen with pure research and the limitation
of this research has a direct influence on the lack of innovative ideas. The
large influx of incremental research in management studies has led to the
poor quality of applied research article being published and thus asking
more questions on the topics that are chosen for research in
organisational and management studies.
There is a sharp decline in the publication of unique ideas coming out
from research in organisation and management studies. Alvesson and
Gabriel in 2013 has stated that the format of major journals is similar to
bureaucracy. The constraints that are put forward to academics by the
rules and standards make them create their research based on what
others have already published. This lead to the publication of predictable
articles which has limited imagination and creativity. This is major reason
that promote gap spotting(Alvesson and Sandberg 2013) and thus further
the unavailability of good journal articles being published that are unique
and have a creative touch to it. This lack of freedom experienced by the
academics has forced them to comply with the very same problem that
these academics point out as meaningless and irrelevant(Alvesson and
Spicer 2012). There is a direct implication of this reflecting on the pure
and applied research in organisation and management studies. The lack of
pure research is evident from the fact that there is little individuality in the
articles that are being published. A good article that is published should
not be merely an intellectual work but rather an identity of the academic
who has published it(Alvesson and Willmott 2002).
By the formation of numerous universities, there is race that has started
between these institutions to compete with each other and become more
or less like what it is supposed to look like. This lead them to be under
pressure to comply with other institutionalized myth(Alvesson and
Sandberg 2014). This has made the institutions to reach a position where
the number of academic staff outnumber the faculty. There is a set of
rules and strict yardsticks laid out for the methodology that has to be
followed in order to have an article published. Is this practice an effective
means to bring out unique ideas? I do not think so. The compliance of

academics to following what is already put forward by others or in other

words systemization of the research methodology has a negative
influence on the quality and uniqueness of ideas that will come out
research that is carried out in organisation and management studies. It
can be noted that the influence of managerial hierarchy has a direct
influence on the surrender of intellectual autonomy. The availability of
bonus for publishing article and punishments for not doing so are major
reasons why there is research going on to how successfully publish a
research paper(Alvesson and Spicer 2012). This has led to a situation
where there is very limited scope for pure research and the academics are
confined to work within the constraints and look forward to applied
research to have a progress in their career.
There are numerous management practices that are being condemned
nowadays which where once strengthened by the ideas and studies that
has come out from research on organisation and management studies.
There are numerous studies that are now being conducted on business
ethics and even new subjects drafted out defining the ethics in business
practices. As Ghoshal points out that there is no need for further study on
the ethics of business practices but certain ideas that legalize unethical
practices in business should be omitted out of business schools so that
future leaders and managers do not find a reason to justify their unethical
actions based on what they studied in school(Ghoshal). There should be
importance given to the society as a whole when research is carried out in
management and organisation studies and not merely an economic
benefit that has to be the purpose of a research. This notion has a major
implication in pure research as it is not meant to produce instant
economic profits. Whereas many applied research is aimed at solving a
situation or to gain economic growth(Clark and Wright 2009). It is
explained clearly by Donald Campbell that many public polices taken in
the U.S is backed by the social theories that has come out of research.
This factor has a valid relevance to the stress given to applied research.
Many applied research is based on the need for finding solutions and thus
there is emphasis given on the same. Pure research doesnt have the
luxury of providing such economic benefits in that short period of time
and hence is neglected.
An organisation is made up of different stakeholders. There are the
workers, the managers, the ceos, the share holders, the consumers, the
suppliers and so. It is evident that most organisations have a research
department nowadays. But it is interesting to note that most of the
research that is carried out is to keep the interests of the shareholders and
the managers in tact. The consideration given to consumers and and the
workers are minimal(Ghoshal). There is very little thought given to make
the conditions of the workers or the satisfaction of the customers through
research. This is driven by the economic gains that can be brought about
by the proper application of applied research that is aimed at producing a
that sought after profit.

Conclusion
I would like point out that with the managerialism of academic research
that is relevant now has a major impact on the pure research in
organisation and management studies(Alvesson and Sandberg 2013).
There is a trend seen within academics nowadays to see research as a
game and researchers as gamers. In this way there is importance give to
find ways to get the article published and not for the material that is being
published. There are a number of notable reasons for this situation. With
the large number of academics pursuing a career in research of
organisation and management studies there is a constant demand for
these academics to publish in more journals. There is big time constraint
on this too. This leave out the possibility of pure research being taken by
the academics as pure research is very time consuming and not sure of
producing instant economic gains.
This leave the academics with only one option of doing applied research.
The high rate of rejections in publication of research in organisation and
management studies has forced the academics to play safe and restrict
their study limited to the guidelines expected by journals. The unique
nature or individuality of studies conducted is lost by this. This being
mentioned I would also want to point out the practice in place right now of
giving financial bonus for publishing papers and punishments for not
doing so.
This situation has brought out an environment where research is confined
to research only on the already conducted research, which is basically
applied research. How does pure research survive with these
standardization and time constraints? Pure research is very time
consuming and might not look into the methods and standards that is put
forward to be followed. In order to sustain pure research, research and
development department should set aside ample resources only for pure
research.
As practitioners of the present management theory are comfortable with
what is followed in the business practices there is a curious question of
ethics in business management. Are the management practices right? To
what extend should organisations follow ethics in its business practices. I
feel that it is not a purposeful act by the business practitioners to perform
unethical practices. It is the flawed ideas imbedded by wrong theories
followed in business practices that is the reason for unethical practices.
The more the number of pure research that can be carried out is congenial
for better theory to be brought out to negate the unethical outcomes of
the old theories.
The impact of research in organisation and management studies is
immense on the society. The theories and ideas that come out of these
research has a direct implication on the society. I feel that it is important
to put the goodwill of the society into consideration when research on
organisation and management studies are conducted. Not mere economic
benefits should be the purpose of a business research.

The concepts of old theories should be re analyzed so as to validate its

efficiency and impact with the future of the organisation. This lead to the
dilemma of what is right and what is wrong. Should it be pure research or
applied research that has to be given importance with the study of
organisation and management. I feel it is right to have a balance between
the two types of research as both have their importance with the
development of organisation and management studies.

Reference
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