youtu.be/9cFKdWzqLHk
Rethinking Academic Impact: Is “An A” Really Enough?
The mantra “an A is an A” is shaping academic careers, but is it elevating or limiting the quality and relevance of our research? This award-winning article from
@AOMConnect Perspectives challenges the dominance of elite journal publications as the sole benchmark for scholarly value. Here are 5 key takeaways:
1️⃣Journal Rankings Have Become the New Currency: Publishing in “A journals” now defines success in academia, often outweighing the content, relevance, or rigor of the research itself. This trend simplifies evaluation but may overlook meaningful contributions.
2️⃣Performance Management Drives the “A-counting” Mentality: Universities have adopted journal rankings to standardize rewards and manage faculty performance. While intended to bring objectivity, this approach has institutionalized a competitive race for publication slots.
3️⃣ The System Rewards Quantity Over Quality: Focusing on A-journal hits has led to questionable research practices, such as selective reporting and p-hacking. These practices threaten the credibility of research and discourage innovation.
4️⃣Theory Is Privileged Over Practical Impact: Many A-journals prioritize theoretical contribution, sidelining practical relevance. As a result, research often serves other researchers more than it benefits real-world managers or policymakers.
5️⃣ There’s a Better Way Forward: The article offers practical reforms: performance systems should use multiple indicators, not just journal lists, and encourage research that’s rigorous, transparent, and impactful across diverse audiences.
Let’s broaden how we define scholarly excellence. Counting A’s may be easy, but true impact is harder—and worth the effort.
Get the article: Aguinis, H., Cummings, C., Ramani, R. S., & Cummings, T. G. 2020. “An A is an A:” The new bottom line for valuing academic research. Academy of Management Perspectives, 34(1): 135-154.
doi.org/10.5465/amp.2017.019…
No time? Listen to the podcast:
youtu.be/9cFKdWzqLHk
#AcademicResearch #Scholarship #BusinessSchools #ResearchImpact #ManagementScience #PerformanceEvaluation #ResponsibleScholarship