‘The rules of the game’: How business research journals discourage knowledge translation to practice and what needs to change

Abstract

Abstract What makes business research seemingly irrelevant outside of the closed circle of academia? This question has been discussed and debated in various forms in academic circles. Concerns such as increased relevance, access, and better communication are routinely touted as the way forward. However, these recommendations are often targeted towards researchers rather than academic journals which have strict publishing requirements. This research explores the role of academic business journals, the key means of communication between research and practice, in contributing to the research-practice divide and, hence, research irrelevance. We analysed the journal requirements and guidelines for authors of top-rated business journals from research areas including management, marketing, accounting and finance and tourism. Factors related to article structure, content, writing style, focus on theoretical and practical implications, journal subscription methods and fees, as well as journal primary target audiences and contributors, were analysed and qualitatively coded. Our analysis suggests that journal guidelines and requirements inhibit research communication to practice and, hence, contribute to business research irrelevance. We provide various recommendations as a way forward to improve the ‘rules of the game’, and develop a publishing model that will allow business research to contribute to the challenges facing our planet, societies and businesses.