It’s a common criticism leveled against business schools: their professors dwell in ivory towers, publishing obscure research papers read by few and of little practical value. Critics argue that the time and resources poured into academic research could be better spent directly benefiting students and the broader business community. Yet, rankings like the Financial Times incorporate research output as a significant factor (10% of the final score), suggesting that research is indeed considered important.
Business schools are facing increasing scrutiny about their relevance, making it crucial to articulate the value of academic research and the role of business school professors. As a business school professor myself, like many of my colleagues, my aim is to produce rigorous and relevant research that informs not just my teaching and students, but also businesses and policymakers. While the broader benefits of management research are clear, the question remains: why should research matter to prospective MBA students and those considering business degrees?
Filtering Fads from Facts: How Research-Active Faculty Enhance Your MBA Experience
Have you encountered Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a cornerstone of motivation theory? If your organizational behavior or leadership courses are taught by research-active faculty, you’re likely to learn about the framework’s lack of robust scientific backing. This highlights a critical benefit of business school research: it equips faculty with the ability to discern credible, evidence-based management ideas from popular but unsubstantiated theories.
As Professor Matthew Cronin aptly points out, the marketplace of management ideas can be a “market for lemons.” Students and managers alike often struggle to distinguish between well-supported concepts and those lacking empirical validation.
Alt text: Light bulb diagram representing creative ideas, symbolizing the innovative thinking fostered by MBA programs that value research.
Engaging in research, including the peer-review process, hones a faculty member’s ability to evaluate management ideas critically. Academics dedicate significant time to reviewing research, staying abreast of the latest findings and the most credible answers to specific research questions. This rigorous process of vetting and understanding the current research landscape directly benefits MBA students.
Consequently, faculty members immersed in research can deliver cutting-edge insights grounded in solid evidence. This provides MBA graduates with a significant competitive edge, equipping them with the frameworks and critical thinking skills necessary for effective decision-making in today’s complex and uncertain business environment.
Signaling Quality and Rigor: Research as a Benchmark for Top MBA Programs
The Academy of Management Journal, a leading peer-reviewed journal in management, publishes approximately 70 articles annually, often authored by teams of 2-4 researchers. With an estimated 200-250 academics publishing in this top outlet each year, compared to the 18,000 members in the Academy of Management, the selectivity is evident. Publishing in such journals demands years of rigorous data collection, analysis, and theoretical development, all subject to intense scrutiny to ensure the validity of the research.
For MBA programs, faculty research productivity, particularly publications in highly selective journals, serves as a key indicator of quality. It signals the expertise, research skills, and rigorous training of the faculty. While research prowess doesn’t automatically translate to teaching excellence, research activity is often considered a baseline requirement for faculty recruitment at top business schools. Schools then seek out those researchers who can also excel in the classroom. In reality, strong research skills and effective teaching abilities are frequently found together.
Beyond Academia: Direct Applications of Management Research for MBA Students and Businesses
The notion that business school academics solely produce esoteric, unread papers is increasingly outdated. There’s a growing emphasis on academics to engage with broader audiences and translate their research into accessible, practical formats. Publications like Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review bridge the gap between academic rigor and practical application, often featuring robust, research-backed insights for practitioners.
For instance, my own research on well-being and remote work, while not initially destined for top-tier academic journals, yielded findings with immediate practical implications. We published these findings directly in MIT Sloan Management Review and I have since utilized these insights to advise numerous organizations in developing effective hybrid work policies.
Alt text: Couple planning travel, representing MBA students strategizing their career paths and leveraging business school research for real-world application.
MBA students also benefit directly from the research conducted within their business schools, gaining early exposure to cutting-edge ideas and research findings. This direct connection to faculty research enriches the MBA curriculum and provides students with valuable, applicable knowledge.
While progress has been made, business schools and their faculty should continue to enhance public engagement with their research to demonstrate its relevance in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Initiatives like the UK’s Research Excellence Framework, which evaluates universities based on the impact of their research on communities, organizations, and policy, represent a positive step towards ensuring academic research translates into tangible real-world benefits.
