Crossing Boundaries to Increase Relevance in Organizational Research

Abstract

In this volume, Palmer et al. and Miller et al. take different approaches to assessing the relevance debate in organizational studies. After commenting on these papers, we recommend that a “full-cycle” approach to conducting research can help organizational scholars increase the relevance of their work. We then describe how key elements of this approach can be incorporated into Organizational Behavior doctoral programs to help students produce research that is both rigorous and relevant. This approach can help faculty and doctoral students alike take advantage of our field’s position at the intersection of the social science disciplines, other business school constituents, and the organizational world of practice.