Papers by Nelson Blackley
This research project examined how UK retailers could use academic research to help identify key ... more This research project examined how UK retailers could use academic research to help identify key challenges, which is both important and timely given the academic research expertise which exists within UK universities and the significant social and economic impact of the UK retail sector, which is experiencing rapid change.
The literature review covered key themes related to the main research question including the definition and role of academic research, organizational learning, knowledge and competitive advantage, the ‘research-practice gap’ and the challenges facing the UK retail sector. Qualitative primary research data was then gathered through a series of semi-structured interviews with nine leading academics, as well as senior representatives from four major UK retailers. The research philosophy was interpretive, and sought to form structures and map out the interviewees’ interpretations, views and positions about the research question.
The research findings confirmed that political, institutional, career development and competitive drivers are encouraging academics to publish rigorous and theoretical research in highly rated academic journals, although often the academics themselves question the relevance and accessibility of this research to retail practitioners. Most retailers therefore have limited awareness or interest in academic research. This has created an ‘academic-practitioner’ gap, the existence of which is preventing relevant knowledge being generated by collaborative academic research projects, then being translated into learning and applied to the UK retail sector.
The overall conclusion of this study, supported by the findings from both the literature review and the research data, is that several fundamental changes are required to enable “UK retailers to use academic research to help identify key challenges”, none of which have yet been recognised or implemented by most academics or retail practitioners. These changes are identified together with recommended actions to improve alignment and engagement.
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Papers by Nelson Blackley
The literature review covered key themes related to the main research question including the definition and role of academic research, organizational learning, knowledge and competitive advantage, the ‘research-practice gap’ and the challenges facing the UK retail sector. Qualitative primary research data was then gathered through a series of semi-structured interviews with nine leading academics, as well as senior representatives from four major UK retailers. The research philosophy was interpretive, and sought to form structures and map out the interviewees’ interpretations, views and positions about the research question.
The research findings confirmed that political, institutional, career development and competitive drivers are encouraging academics to publish rigorous and theoretical research in highly rated academic journals, although often the academics themselves question the relevance and accessibility of this research to retail practitioners. Most retailers therefore have limited awareness or interest in academic research. This has created an ‘academic-practitioner’ gap, the existence of which is preventing relevant knowledge being generated by collaborative academic research projects, then being translated into learning and applied to the UK retail sector.
The overall conclusion of this study, supported by the findings from both the literature review and the research data, is that several fundamental changes are required to enable “UK retailers to use academic research to help identify key challenges”, none of which have yet been recognised or implemented by most academics or retail practitioners. These changes are identified together with recommended actions to improve alignment and engagement.
The literature review covered key themes related to the main research question including the definition and role of academic research, organizational learning, knowledge and competitive advantage, the ‘research-practice gap’ and the challenges facing the UK retail sector. Qualitative primary research data was then gathered through a series of semi-structured interviews with nine leading academics, as well as senior representatives from four major UK retailers. The research philosophy was interpretive, and sought to form structures and map out the interviewees’ interpretations, views and positions about the research question.
The research findings confirmed that political, institutional, career development and competitive drivers are encouraging academics to publish rigorous and theoretical research in highly rated academic journals, although often the academics themselves question the relevance and accessibility of this research to retail practitioners. Most retailers therefore have limited awareness or interest in academic research. This has created an ‘academic-practitioner’ gap, the existence of which is preventing relevant knowledge being generated by collaborative academic research projects, then being translated into learning and applied to the UK retail sector.
The overall conclusion of this study, supported by the findings from both the literature review and the research data, is that several fundamental changes are required to enable “UK retailers to use academic research to help identify key challenges”, none of which have yet been recognised or implemented by most academics or retail practitioners. These changes are identified together with recommended actions to improve alignment and engagement.