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Doing more interesting and influential research through problematization

Thursday 19th April 2018 | 9:30 to 4:30 (refreshments from 9am) | Wolfson Research Exchange room 1, Library
Professor Jorgen Sandberg, University of Queensland, Australia

As researchers, most of us want to produce interesting and influential ideas and theories. Interesting research is beyond the diligent reporting of empirical findings and the validation of established knowledge.

Problematization as a methodology for theory development enables the researcher to identify, articulate and challenge different types of assumptions underlying existing literature and, based on that, to formulate research questions that may facilitate the development of more innovative, influential and relevant theories.

The overall purpose of the workshop is to provide an opportunity to enhance your ability to develop more interesting, influential and citable research ideas and, thus, to increase the chances of getting published in top-tier journals in our field. More specifically, we will in the workshop discuss the mechanism behind problematization, as well as actively work with your own research, trying to make it more interesting and influential through problematization. The main focus in the workshop, therefore, is how to develop interesting ideas and research questions, rather than specific techniques for writing journal articles.

Presenter’s biography


Jorgen is Distinguished Research Environment Professor in Organization Studies at the Warwick Business School, and Professor in Management and Organization in the UQ Business School at the University of Queensland, Australia. His main research interests include competence and learning in organizations; research methodology; practice theory; theory development; and philosophy of science. He is currently doing research on knowing in professional practice, sensemaking in organizations, and the development of more novel and impactful theories within organization studies. He has published extensively in top-tier journals, including Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Organization Behavior, and Harvard Business Review, as well as several books, including Skillful performance: Enacting capabilities, knowledge, competence and expertise in organizations (with Rouleau, Langley and Tsoukas, Oxford University Press, 2017), Constructing research questions: doing interesting research (with Alvesson, Sage, 2013), and Managing understanding in organizations (with Targama, Sage, 2007).

Practical arrangements

Refreshments will beavailable upon arrival and lunch will be provided at 12:30pm. Please use the registration form to indicate any specific dietary requirements you may have.

A small number of bursaries are available to non-Warwick students. If you would like to be considered for one of these bursaries please indicate your interest on the booking form. You will be notified if you have been sucessful in securing a bursary.

Registering your interest:

To register your interest in this Advanced Training workshop please use the booking form.