Foundations, lessons, and insider tips for MSR research

Abstract

Any new field of inquiry struggles with issues such as domain uniqueness, research methodologies, construct definition and operationalization, and foundational literature identification. Following Hambrick's (1990) seminal study of strategic management, we similarly examine the management, spirituality, and religion (MSR) field. Using Hambrick's methodology for citation analysis and a dataset of the founding decade of MSR empirical articles, we offer a guide for those doing MSR research. Study outcomes include the 50 most cited MSR works, the 50 most cited journals that MSR scholars use as the foundation of their research, and a theme analysis of the 50 foundational works. Our goals are threefold: to list the seminal works that should inform the framing of future work, to list a variety of possible MSR journal scholarship inspirations and outlets, and to empirically demonstrate current and past MSR research topics so new and experienced MSR scholars can move beyond extant work.

Keywords:

• spirituality
• research
• citation analysis
• foundation

Acknowledgements

A version of this paper was presented at the 2009 Academy of Management meeting, Chicago. The authors gratefully acknowledge the comments and suggestions made by the anonymous Academy reviewers. This paper won the first JMSR ‘Best Paper on Management, Spirituality & Religion Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management’ award.

Notes

1. On April 24, 2008 MSR executive board members were informed by the Academy Board of Governors that their application for divisional status had been denied. The Five Year Review decision was unanimous to allow MSR to continue as an Interest Group, and the BOG offered extensive feedback in support of its division status denial to assist the group in moving forward to apply again.