“I work on research programs”

So, why does it make sense for many of us to work on research programs? It gives meaning, it gives direction, it generates inertia, and it definetly motivates me to keep pushing.

Interestingly, in recent years talks, at least two of the scholars being honored with the TIM Distinguished award made a reference to the benefits of working on research programs, or on doing programmatic research:

Alfonso Gambardella at TIM AoM 2023 event:

[embed]✂️ A. Gambardella - TIM AoM 2023 - "I work on research programs" 53 seconds · Clipped by Ferran Giones · Original video "TIM Distinguished Scholar Luncheon AOM 2023" by TIM Divisionyoutube.com

Gautam Ahuja at TIM AoM 2019 event:

[embed]✂️ G. Ahuja - TIM AoM 2019 - Programmatic research is critical 45 seconds · Clipped by Ferran Giones · Original video "TIM Distinguished Scholar 2019" by TIM Divisionyoutube.com

So, what does it take to do programmatic research? Extracted from Covin & McMullen (JBR-2019) https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0148296319302541

“Programmatic research has several characteristics and benefits worthy of consideration. Regarding its characteristics, first, programmatic research is focused on understanding the antecedents, con- sequences, and dynamics surrounding phenomena. Simple relationships among variables are recognized as only interpretable within the larger contexts within which those relationships exist (Parke, 1994). Accordingly, programmatic research calls for research frameworks that mirror the complexity of the phenomena under investigation. Second, and related to this point, programmatic research is not piecemeal. Investigations conducted within research programs may be sharply focused, but they do not stand alone. Rather, individual studies are components of collective activity sets wherein knowledge inter-relationships are recognized when specific relationships are being explored.”

In addition to the cumulative-knowledge generating benefit of programmatic research relying on rich, multifaceted datasets, there is also a practical, identity-defining benefit for researchers. More specifically, as a career-building strategy, scholars are often encouraged to become “thought leaders” in particular topical areas of their choosing. This is typically accomplished in an empirical sense by collecting lots of data, in one data collection effort or several, on the topic in question. The results of those studies are then (hopefully) published, thereby enabling the researcher to contribute to and potentially lead the scholarly conversation.