Symphonya. Emerging Issues in Management

Ouverture de “Management Science in Transition: Challenges for Global Research”

Silvio M. Brondoni, Nicola Bellini — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

This Issue of Symphonya.Emerging Issue in Management arises from the needs and concerns expressed by a growing number of researchers, especially young people in the early stages of their academic careers, of not being able to publish their scientific works due to the high costs required by the largest international publishers.
In the eighties, with the massive help of electronic publishing, large commercial publishing houses have increased their control of the science system. The proportion of the scientific output published in journals under their ownership has risen steadily over the past 40 years.
Where is the business research system going to? So, how to proceed now? Journals taking large fees without providing robust editorial or publishing services has created what some have called an age of academic racketeering. How can we return to the centrality of the science of management, without the commercial and profit conditioning created by the biggest publishers?
First of all, it is now essential that the American and European Antitrust Authorities activate antimonopoly measures on an international scale. However, anti-cartel measures are not sufficient. Without any doubt, in order to ensure a robust progress of the science of management, and more generally of the sciences and of humanity as a whole, scientific research must return to a centrality of universities and research centers, with the predominance of researchers affiliated to international schools of thought and with autonomous and authoritative journals.

The Lock-In of Management Studies

Nicola Bellini — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

This paper proposes a systemic narrative that contributes to understanding the current state of management studies. It argues that a lock-in situation is occurring due to the convergent impact of cognitive, functional, and political constraints. Cognitive lock-ins originate from a dominant epistemology. Functional lock-ins relate to the oligopolistic structure of the industry. Political lock-ins derive from the cooperative behavior of power structures. The paper suggests that a lock-in situation is inherently resilient, but signs of a possible change are increasingly visible.

European Union Policies for the Evaluation of Universities

Paolo Cherubini — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

EU universities play a crucial role in addressing challenges by fostering innovation, competitiveness, and societal progress. To ensure the quality of higher education institutions, the EU has refined its university evaluation policies, particularly in the areas of quality assurance (QA) and accreditation.
Research assessment in EU universities has also been under scrutiny, with concerns about the inappropriate use of bibliometric indices and rankings. The EU has made efforts to promote Open Science and establish a new European Research Area, focusing on qualitative evaluation and responsible use of quantitative indicators. The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) has presented an agreement to reform research assessment, emphasizing peer review and discouraging the use of rankings.
International university rankings continue to influence perceptions of university quality. In response, the European Commission introduced U-Multirank as a multidimensional alternative that considers teaching, research, knowledge transfer, international orientation, and regional engagement. However, U-Multirank is relatively unknown and lacks media resonance.
The impact of initiatives like CoARA and U-Multirank remains uncertain. EU universities must continue to adapt to these evolving evaluation mechanisms as they strive to meet the diverse challenges facing the region.

Ethics in Management Research and Artificial Intelligence

Daniela M. Salvioni, Alex Almici — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most important and transformative technologies of our time, with potential applications in the field of scientific research. The advancement of management studies can benefit from the adoption of tools and methodologies based on AI. In this article, we argue that the use of AI-based tools for the development of scientific contributions in the field of management studies entails opportunities but also risks in the absence of an ethical approach, closely related to the intention to offer effective contributions to scientific advancement.

Diamond Open Access: A Viable Approach to Scholarly Communication

Ginevra Peruginelli, Sebastiano Faro — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

In the last twenty years, the Open Access (OA) movement has significantly altered the landscape of academic publishing, advocating for economic models such as transformative agreements and Article Processing Charges (APCs). However, the APC model has faced criticism due to its associated inequalities and questionable sustainability. As a result, the Diamond OA model has emerged as a more equitable and inclusive alternative, as it does not impose financial burdens on authors or readers. Instead, it relies on funding from grants and institutional support, thereby fostering bibliodiversity and enhancing accessibility. The viability of this model hinges on the collaborative use of shared resources and infrastructure, along with ongoing backing from research organizations and institutions. In Italy, despite the increasing prevalence of OA publications, the market continues to be dominated by both large and small commercial publishers. This situation highlights the urgent need for enhanced public support and the implementation of strategies aimed at financing and sustaining Diamond OA journals.

Co-authorship in Management Journals: Ethical Rules for Scientific Research

Mario Risso — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

In recent years, there has been a gradual increase in the number of research collaborations and the production of scientific articles. To date, few studies have analysed this phenomenon in the field of management sciences. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of the phenomenon, with a focus on the production of articles in 12 leading journals in the field of management.
Data reveals a twofold phenomenon: firstly, the exponential multiplication of articles in some top journals, and secondly, the near disappearance of articles with a single author and the concomitant growth of articles attributed to five or more authors. This trend gives rise to the necessity of addressing ethical and practical aspects in order to cope with the phenomenon, which could otherwise undermine the reputation and quality of scientific production in management.

The Primacy of Management Schools in a New Perspective of Scientific Research

Silvio M. Brondoni — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Since the 1980s, globalization has profoundly changed the social life of nations & has marked the decline of schools of management in the progress of managerial sciences. In the following decades, due to the serious European publishing crisis, major international publishers have developed M&A processes, offering growing paid subscriptions to universities and research centres.
The publishing industry is now global with a growing number of editorial products, less and less differentiated & commercially oriented, that marginalize the scientific production of management schools.
And now? today a new global perspective in management research is needed. A new global perspective in management research must be focused in schools of management, universities, academies and most authoritative global journals.