Developing a culture of research-mindedness

1. Developing a culture of research-mindedness What is the aim of research methods courses and the ensuing dissertation in business and management? Is it to produce mini-me academics or simply to encourage students to read widely and deeply? Or is it to develop what I call ‘research mindedness’ as a core capability for future professionals, managers and organisational leaders? Research- mindedness will be at the heart everything I do as a professional, manager and leader The art of management seems to be largely about learning to live with muddles, diversions, displacements or dilemmas. At best, it is choosing between least-worst alternatives or equally intractable scenarios. From a critical perspective, what seems most of all important is that students develop an awareness and sensitivity to the several purposes of management research and reporting, its bases of evidence and the contexts and criteria of evaluative judgements. In other words, that they begin to develop research-mindedness. • What is the structure of the unit? • A series of group inquiry projects • Gaps for thinking and reflecting • Several strands in parallel • Organisational dilemmas • Professional development – ‘finding a voice’ • Developing a practice-based dissertation proposal Colston.Sanger@port.ac.uk