Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

9-2025

Abstract

As an applied science, our field aims to improve organizational effectiveness and solve practical problems (Hideg, DeCelles & Tihanyi, 2020; Pfeffer & Fong. 2002; Pillutla & Thau, 2013). However, despite the increasing sophistication in methods and greater emphasis on theory in recent decades, we have not made commensurate strides in relevance and impact. As we see it, the heart of this challenge is the culture in our field that demands novel theoretical advancement from every paper (Aguinis & Cronin, 2022), which may inadvertently constrain our ability to address pressing organizational challenges. Previous appeals to enhance our impact as an applied science have primarily focused on urging individual scholars to undertake research that is more relevant for the pressing problems faced by organizations and businesses – see, for example, calls by the Responsible Research in Business and Management or editors of the Academy of Management Journal (George et al., 2016; Tsui, 2013, 2016).

Keywords

Publication systems, practical impact, applied sciences, knowledge accumulation, replication, research relevance, scientific rigor

Discipline

Organizational Behavior and Theory | Scholarly Publishing | Strategic Management Policy

Research Areas

Strategy and Organisation

Publication

Organization Science

Volume

36

Issue

5

First Page

2028

Last Page

2039

ISSN

1047-7039

Identifier

10.1287/orsc.2025.20459

Publisher

Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences

Embargo Period

9-4-2025

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2025.20459

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