The pursuit of relevance in interaction and networks research

The paper investigates the perceptions of researchers working in interaction and networks research concerning the relevance of academic research in the field to practical management decision-making. Managerial relevance was defined along five dimensions – level of interest, potential practical value, lead-time, development required, and overall relevance. Perceptions of relevance were measured using a face-to-face questionnaire administered to researchers in the field. The perceived relevance of their own work and of work presented at the 15th IMP conference were measured. A “relevance gap” was identified, with researchers perceiving their own work to be of much greater practical relevance than the conference proceedings. Hypotheses to explain differences in perceptions of relevance are tested. Implications for the research agenda are considered, in terms of making research more relevant, and communicating more effectively with managers