Rise of the most excellent scholar, demise of the field: a fictional story, yet probable destiny

Mehmet Orhan (), P. Matthijs Bal and Yvonne van Rossenberg
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Mehmet Orhan: Métis Lab EM Normandie - EM Normandie - École de Management de Normandie = EM Normandie Business School
P. Matthijs Bal: University of Lincoln [UK]
Yvonne van Rossenberg: Radboud University [Nijmegen]

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Abstract: This article presents a fictional narrative about Professor Sackker, the solitary researcher in the field of Sackker Studies, once known as Management and Organizational Studies. Despite its absurdity, the story portrays Sackker's dominance, marked by his inevitable rise with record-breaking publications and citations, stifling competition, and leaving him as the ultimate winner and ruler. Through personal reflections, his story explores his career strategies, provides insights into his success, and explains how he shaped, transformed, and eventually (but unwittingly) destroyed the field. This narrative, though fictional, mirrors real concerns in today's reality: growing inequalities, the dominance of elite scholars, and erosion of meaning in academic careers as a function of hyper-competition. We examine the prevalence of systemic issues plaguing academia. Despite challenges, the article also aims to inspire hope. By illuminating these problems and integrating them into scholarly discussions, there lies an opportunity for change, empowering the next generation of academics.

Date: 2024-08-09
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Published in Culture and Organization, 2024, 31 (1), pp.86-105. ⟨10.1080/14759551.2024.2383891⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05494940

DOI: 10.1080/14759551.2024.2383891

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