Useful Research Advancing Theory and Practice

Useful Researchis designed to discuss the legitimacy and importance of conducting useful research to benefit both theory and practice in the field of organizational and management research. It examines how useful research can be achieved and it argues that in order to keep organizational research relevant to theory and practice, the approach must deviate from the orthodoxy of positivistic research approaches. The contributing authors were selected for their demonstrated ability to conduct useful research, and they bring their unique professional experience to their chapters by describing the choices they make and the tactics they employ.The core message of this book is that in order to conduct research that is useful, researchers must learn from practice and intentionally position their work so that it finds a pathway to practice. While each chapter can stand alone, the book is crafted to provide multiple complementary perspectives on the topic of useful research. It does an outstanding job of describing what it takes to bridge the gap between theory and practice. It goes beyond advocacy, theoretical debate, and restatements of the problem to focus on the types of research methods that produce useful research. Topics include crafting research programs to yield useful knowledge, academic careers that yield useful knowledge, pathways to practice, institutional agents such as MBA programs and journals.

Susan Albers Mohrman is a senior research scientist at the University of Southern California’s Center for Effective Organizations in the Marshall School of Business. She directs the organization design program at CEO.

Edward E. Lawler III is Distinguished Professor of Business at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and founder and director of the university’s Center for Effective Organizations. BusinessWeek proclaimed him one of the top six gurus in the field of management.

Introduction
Chapter 1 Research for Theory and Practice: Framing the Challenge
--Susan A. Mohrman and Edward E. Lawler III, Center for Effective Organizations, University of Southern California

Part 1 Exemplars of Useful Research
Chapter 2 Crossing Boundaries to Investigate Problems in the Field: An Approach to Useful Research
--Amy C. Edmondson, Harvard Business School
Chapter 3 Collaborative Organization Design Research at the Center for Effective Organizations
--Susan A. Mohrman and Allan M. Mohrman, Jr., Center for Effective Organizations, University of Southern California
Chapter 4 A Ten Year Journey of Cooperation
--Lynda Gratton, London School of Business
Chapter 5 Commentary: Walking on Three Legs
--J. Richard Hackman, Harvard University

Part 2 Bodies of Work that have Influenced Theory and Practice
Chapter 6 Rigor and Relevance in Organizational Research: Experiences, Reflections, and a Look Ahead
--Philip Mirvis, Boston University and Edward E. Lawler, III, Center for Effective Organizations, University of Southern California
Chapter 7 Can Relevance and Rigor Coexist?
--C.K. Prahalad, Ross School of Business, The University of Michigan
Chapter 8 Making a Difference and Contributing Useful Knowledge: Principals Derived from Life as a Scholar-Practitioner
--Michael Beer, Harvard Business School & TruePoint
Chapter 9 On Knowing and Doing: A Perspective on the Synergies between Research and Practice
--Michael L. Tushman, Harvard Business School

Part 3 Pathways: Research to Practice
Chapter 10 Academic-Consultant Collaboration: Doing Research Across the Divide
--Ruth Wageman, Harvard University & Hay Group
Chapter 11 Integrating Theory to Inform Practice: Insights from the Practitioner-Scholar
--Ramkrishnan (Ram) V. Tenkasi, College of Business, Benedictine University
Chapter 12 Organization Development Scholar Practitioners: Between Scholarship and Practice
--Jean M. Bartunek, Department of Organization Studies, Boston College and Edgar H. Schein, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chapter 13 Professional Associations: Supporting Useful Research
--Wayne F. Cascio, University of Colorado, Denver
Chapter 14 Sticky Findings: Research Evidence Practitioners find Useful
--Denise M. Rousseau, Heinz College and Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University and John W. Boudreau, Center for Effective Organizations, University of Southern California
Chapter 15 Popular and Influential Management Books
--George S. Benson, College of Business Administration, University of Texas at Arlington
Chapter 16 Commentary: Observations as to Pathways for Doing “Useful Research”
--Gary Latham, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Chapter 17 Practitioner Perspectives: Comments from a Panel Discussion
--David Nadler, Ian Ziskin, Ed Lawler, Mike Beer, and Sue Mohrman

Part 4 Barriers and Enablers
Chapter 18 How Business Schools Shape (Misshape) Management Research
--Thomas G. Cummings, University of Southern California
Chapter 19 Counterpoint: Now is a Great Time for Conducting Research with Relevance to Practice!
--Sara L. Rynes, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa
Chapter 20 On the Verge of Extinction: Some Final Reptilian Thoughts…
--James O’Toole, University of Denver

Part 5 Putting It All Together
Chapter 21 Reflections on Research for Theory and Practice from an Engaged Scholarship Perspective
--Andrew H. Van de Ven, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Chapter 22 What We Have Learned
--Susan A. Mohrman and Edward E. Lawler III, Center for Effective Organizations, University of Southern California
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Center for Effective Organizations
About the Editors