Rigor and Relevance in Organization Studies: Idea Migration and Academic Journal Evolution

23 Pages Posted: 5 Feb 2007

See all articles by Richard L. Daft

Richard L. Daft

Vanderbilt University - Organizational Behavior

Arie Y. Lewin

Duke University - Fuqua School of Business

Date Written: December 30, 2006

Abstract

This paper addresses the issues of rigor and relevance in organizational studies in the context of idea migration and journal evolution. The paper argues that creeping parochialism can happen to any journal, which reflects the evolving narrowness within boundaries of academic sub-communities. Evidence suggests that ideas do migrate across academic sub-communities, although the underlying process is not well understood and the idea flow is not symmetrical. Two kinds of knowledge relevance are discussed - the value for end users such as managers in organizations, and the value for one's own or other academic sub-communities. Evidence about the journal article review process is also analyzed along with the amount of time required to recognize the significance of a published article. Implications of these points for a journal such as Organization Science are discussed.

Keywords: organization studies, philosophy of science, review process

Suggested Citation

Daft, Richard L. and Lewin, Arie Y., Rigor and Relevance in Organization Studies: Idea Migration and Academic Journal Evolution (December 30, 2006). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=960984 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.960984

Richard L. Daft (Contact Author)

Vanderbilt University - Organizational Behavior ( email )

Nashville, TN 37203
United States

Arie Y. Lewin

Duke University - Fuqua School of Business ( email )

Box 90120
Durham, NC 27708-0120
United States
919-660-7832 (Phone)
919-681-6244 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/faculty/alpha/ayl3.htm