Myopic rhetorics: Reflecting epistemologically and ethically on the demand for relevance in organizational and management research

Knights, David

Abstract

I examine the relevance debate in organizational/management research and teaching as a disciplinary rhetoric that should be treated with a degree of caution if not skepticism. For enslavement to relevance is in danger of reducing our independence as academics-something that, from my experience of working with a consortium of practitioners, I know that management values. Here, however, I do not suggest resisting relationships with management. On the contrary, I endorse them as a way of developing productive, ethical research and learning; building sources of access for research; and enhancing teaching. Also, such relationships can supplement existing research-funding resources, although it Is still necessary to retain some epistemological distance from management practice while engaging with It as an ethical project. © 2008 Academy of Management Learning & Education.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2008
• Deposit Date: Oct 26, 2010
• Journal: Academy of Management Learning and Education
• Print ISSN: 1537-260X
• Electronic ISSN: 1944-9585
• Publisher: Academy of Management
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 537-552
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/AMLE.2008.35882194
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1006701
• Publisher URL: http://aom.metapress.com/app/home/journal.asp?referrer=parent&backto=homemainpublications,2,5;
• Contract Date: Nov 7, 2016