Inequalities in Research Translation: Toward more Equitable Pathways to Impact

Abstract

In March 2019, Vivek was preparing to present a report based on his research on the labour conditions in fashion supply chains in India. This presentation was part of a series of events aimed at engaging stakeholders, including exporters in India who supply to large brands worldwide. However, just two hours before the scheduled event, Vivek received surprising news: the main point of contact, a gatekeeper in the industry, had decided to withdraw and asked the exporters to boycott the event.

Facing this sudden setback, Vivek urgently called the gatekeeper and other key industry members. It quickly became apparent that they were opposed to the report because it highlighted the negative practices uncovered by the research. The industry gatekeepers wanted to protect the industry's reputation and avoid scrutiny of their labour practices. Consequently, out of the hundreds of invitees, only 30 showed up at the event.

While some attendees expressed support for the research report and its objectives, a significant portion of the audience resisted the findings and even expressed anger. The event highlighted the tension between the research findings and the vested interests of industry stakeholders, underscoring the complexities involved in bringing about meaningful change in industry practices.

Garima's initial encounter with the challenges of research translation occurred during her study in India, focusing on business partnerships with NGOs. The NGOs in her study worked closely with marginalized beneficiaries, including victims of sex trafficking and women living in impoverished villages. Garima faced situations where business managers would ask for the audio recordings of her interviews with the NGOs and their beneficiaries, which were conducted as part of the project.

Recognizing the potential implications and ethical concerns, Garima firmly declined the managers’ request. It became evident that these managers wanted to control the data, and, hence, the translation and interpretation of the insights derived from the research. Their intention was to influence the narrative surrounding the findings by downplaying or omitting aspects that may be unfavourable to their business interests or reputations.

This essay stems from our frustrating and challenging experiences in our efforts toward research translation and impact. However, the essay is not a mere venting of frustration; instead, we want to explore solutions and actions.

We are not the first to emphasize the significance of research translation in driving practical impact. In fact, others have recognized research impact as a translation problem (Shapiro et al., 2007). However, we have come to realize that research translation is more than the straightforward rendering of evidence. It is a process in which the interests, agendas, and power dynamics of various actors come into play. Our hope is that we can show how we have experienced these dynamics, and what the research community can do about these implicit inequalities.

Our experience with research translation shows that the complexity of translating research is currently hidden behind a ‘façade of rationality’ (Hodgkinson, 2012). Challenging this facade is especially important when we study marginalized stakeholders in the global South, such as lower caste workers or slum dwellers in India, stuck in entrenched poverty and exploitation. Moreover, we see that the inequalities compound when these translation efforts are led by researchers from these contexts.

To address some of these inequalities, we propose three pathways that management and organization researchers can follow. These pathways are not prescriptive templates. Instead, they are a call to action for the research community to translate their insights with concern and sensitivity toward who is included and who is left behind.

We have penned this essay with a clear call to action for our colleagues who aspire to make a meaningful impact in the global south. Our call is for them to pause and carefully recognize the inherent inequalities in the research translation process. Conventional solutions often fall short in this context. They require adaptation, if not complete replacement, and ask for the researchers to be mindful of the power and resource disparities. Our call is for researchers to recognize and break free from the cycle of perpetuating centuries-old inequalities in the guise of research translation. Importantly, our call to action must not be taken to mean that the responsibility for this transformation rests solely on the shoulders of individual researchers. The responsibility extends to business schools’ leadership, academic leaders, and institutions that guide business researchers. We acknowledge that addressing these complexities is no easy feat. However, it is a collective imperative that demands our unified efforts and urgent action. Let's act!