Business
Sustainability
My primary research interest is in business sustainability, which are business processes that aim to assure the prosperity of today’s and tomorrow’s generations. I particularly like the WCED (1987) definition of sustainability development, which is development that “meets the needs of present generations without compromising the needs of future generations.” Sustainable businesses seek to meet society’s (basic) needs, while doing so within the Earth’s regenerative capacity. Concepts such as equitable wealth distribution and the circular economy are central to sustainable development.
Although the principles of sustainable development are largely indisputable, businesses often find it challenging to subscribe to them. Most companies seek short-term profits, which hampers their ability to see systems and creative opportunities to solve systems problems. Those companies that are able to embed sustainability principles in their operations tend to be more resilient and generate long-term profits.
My research focuses on the dimensions of time, space, and scale in business strategy, which has been informed by a systems perspective. Each business is a system that operates in the system. The wicked problems we currently face are related to systems disruptions.
My research in business sustainability is primarily targeted towards high quality journals. I have published in the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, and the Strategic Management Journal, among others. My research has been also been reported in the Wall Street Journal, the Guardian, and the Globe and Mail.
Qualitative
Research
I apply both qualitative and quantitative methods in my research. However, I am particularly fond of qualitative methods, as they bring the researcher closer to the phenomena. Qualitative research forces the researcher to see the texture of the phenomena through observations and conversations, yet forces the researchers to step back and understand more abstract patterns. This ability to zoom in and zoom out helps qualitative researchers to generate groundbreaking research. The dissonance between the abstract and theoretical and that which is concrete and contextual is central to the craft of qualitative researchers.
I believe qualitative research is particularly salient to business sustainability, as the theories-in-use are incomplete. It is for this reason that development in its current form is unsustainable. We need new ways of seeing business strategy and practice.
My advocacy for qualitative research motivated me to accept six years of editorial work as an Associate and Deputy editor at the Academy of Management Journal and write several editorials. I also continue to advocate for qualitative research in thought pieces and editorials.
Research-Practice
Gap
The gap between management research and management practice is vast. Few management researchers influence practice, yet many seek to do so. In this stream of research, I aim to understand why there is a gap between research and practice and how that gap can be bridged. Much of this resaerch is powered by my personal efforts to bridge the gap. For example, I founded the Network for Business Sustainability (www.nbs.net) in 2003, which aims to bridge the gap. Similarly, I founded Innovation North research on this gap. Some of this work has been published in the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Perspectives, and the British Journal of Management.