Getting too close to the fire: The challenge of engaging stories and saving lives

Abstract

There is a long and troubled history in the relationship between management research and management practice. Much is often made of the negative impact in terms of management practice of the two so-called foundation reports both published in 1959 in the USA. A re-reading of these, however, suggests that the bigger issue is the conflation of analytical approaches with superior management performance. This remains a basis for researchers and practitioners to engage, but such engagement also requires a sense of critical distance and distinct identities between the two groups, which recognizes the differing nature of practice knowledge alongside research-based knowledge. © 2011 The Author. British Journal of Management © 2011 British Academy of Management.