On Synthesis of Relevance and Rigor: A Critique of Freek Vermeulen’s Solution

Xin Li

    Research output: Working paperResearch

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    Abstract

    This paper presents a critique of Freek Vermeulen’s synthesis of rigor and relevance in management research, and argues (1) at the first glance, Vermeulen’s papers are very appealing; (2) but with a closer scrutiny, we can unveil the weak and shaky foundations of his argument; (3) as a consequence, his solution of ‘adding a second loop’ to make management research meet dual needs of rigor and relevance is illusory and merely an applied science fiction; (4) and finally, there are two real contributions of his papers to the irrelevance debate, but they are not like what we might have thought.
    Original languageEnglish
    Place of PublicationFrederiksberg
    PublisherDepartment of International Economics and Management, Copenhagen Business School
    Number of pages21
    Publication statusPublished - 2009
    SeriesWorking Paper / Department of International Economics and Management, Copenhagen Business School
    Number2-2009

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