Pressure is growing on academics to produce directly applicable solutions for overcoming daunting world problems such as poverty, development, and environmental degradation. Calls for improving the relevance of management... [ view full abstract ]
Pressure is growing on academics to produce directly applicable solutions for overcoming daunting world problems such as poverty, development, and environmental degradation. Calls for improving the relevance of management research to practice are not new. This paper describes the methodology employed by researchers at Universidad de los Andes School of Management to develop a cost-effective, scalable approach for a triple-pronged training and applied research program addressed to improving the competitive and environmental performance of small- and medium-size firms (SME) in Latin America’s emerging economies. Overall objectives sought from the methodology span: a) impacting organizations in a vulnerable social, economic and environmental context; b) building a database capable of supporting scientific and practitioner-oriented impact assessment; and c) strengthening capacity for applied research.
The program, centered on SME, became known as the Sustainable Enterprise Network (Red-ES, in Spanish). Launched in Mexico in 2006 and Colombia in 2013, Red-ES engaged more than 6,000 SME in Mexico and 300 SME in Colombia by December 2017.
Outcomes of the triple-pronged program include: a) design of a methodology with proven impact on target organizations; b) development of applied research capacity required for a scalable program; c) pursuing academic research for publication in learned journals; and d) production of learning models, teaching cases and other instructional resource materials.
The paper contributes to knowledge by identifying the advantages of deploying the proposed methodology, and describing the critical resources needed for its development – thus representing a reference for both scientists and non-scientific actors addressing the challenges of sustainability-related problem-centered research.
Keywords: problem-centred research, triple helix, societal impact, academic impact, small and medium sized enterprises
1b. Research methods and methodologies (including the role of academia, policy engagement
