Theorizing with managers: how to achieve both academic rigor and practical relevance?

Purpose. There are heightened concerns that the theory-praxis gap is widening, despite decades of academic literature addressing the issue. We propose that one viable solution to this challenge is involving practitioners in research processes as active, reflective and empowered participants. Most extant discussions addressing the inclusion of managers as partners in theorizing restrain themselves to an ‘if’ question, arguing whether or not it is possible to create sufficiently rigorous knowledge in collaboration with practitioners. This leaves the ‘how’ question unanswered, i.e., how should such gap-bridging research be conducted in practice. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate how academic researchers in management and marketing can theorize with managers in order to generate results that are both academically rigorous and managerially relevant. Design/methodology/approach. Based on a literature review of collaborative theorizing processes, we develop a conceptual framework highlighting the main research design decisions when theorizing with managers. The use of the framework is illustrated with four research program examples. Findings. Most accounts of theorizing with managers use – explicitly or implicitly – abduction as the main mode of inference. In addition to this philosophical commonality, our literature review identified twelve themes that should be considered when designing collaborative research processes. The four illustrative examples indicate that theorizing with managers is an effective way of producing and socializing both academically sound and managerially relevant knowledge. On the other hand, collaborative theorizing processes are time-consuming and studies using abductive reasoning may be more challenging to publish in top-tier journals. Originality/value. This paper makes two contributions. First, we go beyond the extensive academic literature which provides a plethora of explanations and ideas for potential remedies for bridging the theory-praxis gap by offering a detailed description how one particular solution, theorizing with managers, unfolds in practice. Second, we ground collaborative theorizing processes in the philosophy of science and put abduction forward as a common nominator for such studies

Use of Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) Detectors for an Advanced X-ray Monitor

We describe a concept for a NASA SMEX Mission in which Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors, developed at CERN, are adapted for use in X-ray astronomy. These detectors can be used to obtain moderately large detector area and two-dimensional photon positions with sub mm accuracy in the range of 1.5 to 15 keV. We describe an application of GEMs with xenon gas, coded mask cameras, and simple circuits for measuring event positions and for anticoincidence rejection of particle events. The cameras are arranged to cover most of the celestial sphere, providing high sensitivity and throughput for a wide variety of cosmic explosions. At longer timescales, persistent X-ray sources would be monitored with unprecedented levels of coverage. The sensitivity to faint X-ray sources on a one-day timescale would be improved by a factor of 6 over the capability of the RXTE All Sky Monitor.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figs., in X-Ray and Gamma Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy XI, SPIE conference, San Diego, Aug. 200

High level vision with the deformable pyramid

Une pyramide de graphes, constituant un modèle multirésoltuion déformable est utilisée pour la reconnaissance de formes. Cette pyramide permet de décrire des formes complexes par des maillages de leur surface, elle est construite à partir d'un volume de référence. Le modèle est ensuite déformé pour s'adapter aux données tout en conservant ses propriétés topologiques et géométriques. Cette nouvelle méthode permet l'extraction rapide, robuste et précise du modèle dans le cadre de l'imagerie cardiaque volumique par résoance magnétique. Les potentialités de la pyramide déformable sont illustrées par l'extraction d'un modèle du thorax et du coeur en mouvement

Ekternalitas PT. AMP Plantation terhadap masyarakat Nagari Bawan Kecamatan Ampek Nagari Kabupaten Agam

PT. AMP Plantation merupakan perusahaan yang bergerak dibidang produksi minyak goreng bersumber dari kelapa sawit berdiri ditahun 1994. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengidentifikasi eksternalitas setelah adanya Perusahaan tersebut. Jenis penelitian ini dengan data primer yang dikumpulkan dengan dokumentasi dan wawancara pada seratus responden. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini metode cross tab. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat eksternalitas terhadap pendapatan, eksternalitas terhadap kesehatan, eksternalitas terhadap pendidikan, eksternalitas terhadap sarana. Kata kunci: ekstrenalitas, pendapatan, kesehatan, pendidikan, saran

Basin-scale spatio-temporal variability and control of phytoplankton photosynthesis in the Baltic Sea: The first multiwavelength fast repetition rate fluorescence study operated on a ship-of-opportunity

This study presents the results of the first field application of a flow-through multi-wavelength Fast Repetition Rate fluorometer (FRRF) equipped with two excitation channels (458 and 593 nm). This device aims to improve the measurement of mixed cyanobacteria and algae community's photosynthetic parameters and was designed to be easily incorporated into existing ferrybox systems. We present a spatiotemporal analysis of the maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and functional absorption cross section (σPSII) recorded from April to August 2014 on a ship-of-opportunity commuting twice per week between Helsinki (Finland) and Travemünde (Germany). Temporal variations of Fv/Fm and σPSII differed between areas of the Baltic Sea. However, even though the Baltic Sea is characterized by several physico-chemical gradients, no gradient was observed in Fv/Fm and σPSII spatial distribution suggesting complex interactions between biotic and abiotic controls. σPSII was sensitive to phytoplankton seasonal succession and thus differed according to the wavelength used to excite photosystems II (PSII) pigments. This was particularly true in summer when high σPSII(593) values were observed later and longer than high σPSII(458) values, reflecting the role of cyanobacteria in photosynthetic light uptake measured at community scale. In contrast, Fv/Fm variations were similar after excitation at 458 nm or 593 nm suggesting that the adjustment of Fv/Fm in response to environmental factors was similar for the different groups (algae vs. cyanobacteria) present within the phytoplankton community

Signal Space Separation Beamformer

We have combined Signal Space Separation and beamformers (SSS beamformer). The SSS beamformer was tested by simulation in the presence of simulated brain noise. The SSS beamformer performs at least as well as the conventional beamformer, provided that the expansion order is sufficiently high. For beamformer outputs which depend on power or power difference normalized by the projected noise, the spatial resolution of the SSS beamformer is significantly better than that of the conventional beamformers if the sources are deeper, and about the same as that of the conventional beamformer when the sources are superficial. For beamformer outputs which depend on the ratio of powers, the spatial resolutions of the SSS and conventional beamfomers are the same. The sensor noise covariance matrix in the SSS basis is non-diagonal. The SSS beamformers with diagonalized noise covariance matrix exhibit better spatial resolution than that with non-diagonal noise covariance matrix. The SSS beamformers are computationally more efficient than the conventional beamformers

Search for the ac Josephson effect in superfluid He3

Experiments testing for the existence of the ac Josephson effect in superfluid He3, analogous to phenomena observed in superconducting microbridges, have been performed. Small holes were employed as the weak link between two reservoirs filled with He3; several different orifice geometries were tried. Simple model calculations suggest that steps in the flow characteristics should be observable with our resolution when an ac pressure modulation is applied across the weak link. We found that such effects do not exist for the parameter values used in our experiments. © 1983 The American Physical Society

Theorizing with managers to bridge the theory-praxis gap: foundations for a research tradition

Purpose –To refine an agenda concerning the theory-praxis gap in order to develop a foundation for a research tradition. Approach – We synthesize and build on the suggestions the suggestions in commentary articles by Kohli (2017), Leeflang (2017) and Möller (2017). Findings – We develop a research agenda consisting of issues. 1. The need for a systemic view of business practice 2. The need for innovative and meaningful theoretical understanding 3. The need to identify conditions and approaches for collaborative theorizing 4. To further define and instruct the abductive approach 5. To explore pragmatic realism to ensure both practical outcomes and truthful theories Originality/value – The five issues are a step towards developing a theory-praxis research tradition