Against evidence-based management, for management learning

Morrell, K.; Learmonth, M.

doi:10.5465/amle.2014.0346

Against evidence-based management, for management learning

Morrell, K.; Learmonth, M.

Authors

K. Morrell

M. Learmonth

Abstract

Evidence-based management has been widely advocated in management studies. It has great ambition: all manner of organizational problems are held to be amenable to an evidence-based approach. With such ambition, however, has come a certain narrowness which risks restricting our ability to understand the diversity of problems in management studies. Indeed, in the longer term, such narrowness may limit our capacity to engage with many real-life issues in organizations. Having repeatedly heard the case for evidence-based management, we invite readers to weigh up the case against. We also set out an alternative direction - one that promotes intellectual pluralism and flexibility, the value of multiple perspectives, openness, dialogue, and the questioning of basic assumptions. These considerations are the antithesis of an evidence-based approach, but central to a fully rounded management education.

Citation

Morrell, K., & Learmonth, M. (2015). Against evidence-based management, for management learning. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 14(4), 520-533. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2014.0346

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Jul 26, 2015
Online Publication Date	Jul 29, 2015
Publication Date	Dec 1, 2015
Deposit Date	Jul 27, 2015
Publicly Available Date	Jan 15, 2016
Journal	Academy of Management Learning and Education
Print ISSN	1537-260X
Electronic ISSN	1944-9585
Publisher	Academy of Management
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	14
Issue	4
Pages	520-533
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2014.0346
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1402100