Constellations of Transdisciplinary Practices: A Map and Research Agenda for the Responsible Management Learning Field

Abstract

The emerging field of responsible management learning is characterized by an urgent need for transdisciplinary practices. We conceptualize constellations of transdisciplinary practices by building up on a social practice perspective. From this perspective, knowledge and learning are 'done' in interrelated practices that may span multiple fields like the professional, educational, and research field. Such practices integrate knowledge across disciplines (interdisciplinarity) and sectors (intersectorality) in order to learn to enact, educate, and research complex responsible management. Accordingly, constellations of collaborative transdisciplinary practices span the three layers of the responsible management field: Professional responsible management, responsible management education, and responsible management research. We apply this framework to map both recent responsible management learning publications and contributions to this special issue. We notice that although the responsible management field's aspiration for transdisciplinarity is high the degree to which it has been realized is low. This results in our proposal for a research agenda, which points out impediments to transdisciplinary, and research directions for the responsible management learning field. We also highlight theoretical implications of our conceptual framework for the larger transdisciplinarity discussion.

Top business schools legitimacy quest through the Sustainable Development Goals

“…Responsible management practices need to respond to global and urgent social, economic, ethical and environmental issues and responsible managers need to be trained ( Laasch and Gherardi, 2019 ). Business schools are trying to recover a relevant role they had in the past and, in order to get the acceptance by society, they are focusing on responsible management practices ( Alajoutsijarvi et al., 2015 ; Laasch et al., 2020 ).…”

“…The most relevant CSR framework for business schools policies is the one defined by the United Nations, through two organizations that collaborate with companies and educational institutions all around the world: the Global Compact and The Principle for Responsible Management Education (PRME) ( Escudero, 2011 ). The 17 SDGs, 169 targets and 232 indicators design a multistakeholder roadmap for global sustainable development ( Laasch et al., 2020 ; Wigmore-Álvarez et al., 2020 ) and business academics have an important role in training future management on the importance of these goals’ pursuing and achievement through an holistic view of organizational management ( Christ and Burritt, 2019 ). CSR: A Tool for Legitimacy …”

“…Business schools are asked to make a deep reflection to rediscover and reaffirm their role and relevance in society, taking a step further than simply reviewing their programs ( Khurana and Nohria, 2008 ; Laasch et al., 2020 ; Martell Sotomayor, 2008 ; Martell Sotomayor and Castiñeira, 2010 ; Rayment and Smith, 2013 ; Starkey and Tempest, 2009 ; Waddock and Lozano, 2013 ; Wigmore-Álvarez et al., 2020 ), acknowledging and encouraging reflection on values ( Huehn, 2016 ). Business schools have to generate useful knowledge for business management ( Adler and Harzing, 2009 ; Irwin et al., 2011 ) and, in addition, educate future professionals to practice their job always with the aim of impacting positively the society ( Irwin et al., 2011 ), thanks to their critical thought and capability to inquiry about organizations and management priorities, and advancing the general public interest ( Mintzberg and Gosling, 2002 ).…”

“…To understand business schools legitimation strategies, we focused this research on the “17 UN Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs), since these goals represent the most important and valued roadmap for global sustainable development, and they are a “Call to action” for companies and institutions to be a “Force for Good” for the creation of a better world ( Laasch et al., 2020 ; Wigmore-Álvarez et al., 2020 ). According to Christ and Burritt (2019) , developing a greater understanding of knowledge-generation and application in relation to the SDGs in business school is needed and the framework must be filled in quickly.…”

“…With the objective of regaining legitimacy, business schools are strengthening their Social responsibility (CSR) strategies ( Cornuel and Hommel, 2015 ; Miotto et al., 2019 ). Being an important actor and responsible game changers ( Araç and Madran, 2014 ), business schools are fostering the “UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda” and they are working for the achievement of the UN SDGs ( Laasch et al., 2020 ).…”