A tribute to those associated with this tribute, with great gratitude

ABSTRACT

The author expresses heartfelt gratitude for this special issue and to collaborators throughout his career. He notes that his fundamental commitment has been to conducting theoretical studies that are methodologically rigorous and socially relevant – increasingly in the form of engaged scholarship, and he reviews applied communication research publications across his career. He addresses three ongoing foci in connection with his current roles in technology management: small firms’ choice and use of advanced information and communication technologies to enable key interaction structures; team dynamics in start-up firms; and innovation in technology companies. Three challenges and opportunities for applied communication researchers are offered: the prevalence and importance of small businesses as sites for studies; the need for a larger number and wider range of fully developed theories that are grounded in communication and that have significant sway with practitioners; and conferences for communities of researchers (and in some cases practitioners too) in specific areas of scholarship and practice as potent forums for connection and ongoing collaboration.

Keywords:

• Applied communication research
• engaged scholarship
• theory and practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.