Book Review: How to Do Relevant Research: From the Ivory Tower to the Real World. Mirvis, P. H., Mohrman, S. A. & Worley, C. G. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021. 200p. ISBN: 978-1-78811-939-9

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21680/2176-9036.2026v18n1ID42052

Keywords:

Sweet Spot; Engaged Scholarship; Actionable Knowledge; Abduction; Pattern Matching; Realist Rationality; Rigor and Relevance; Case Studies.

Abstract

Objective: The central objective of this approach is to overcome decades-long tension in academia by demonstrating that systematic research can simultaneously advance theory and generate knowledge relevant to urgent practical problems. The authors advocate for the "sweet spot," an intersection where scientific rigor (internal validity) and practical relevance (usefulness) are optimized. This focus aims to produce actionable knowledge—applicable, useful, and theoretically grounded—that supports managerial action.

Methodology: The methodology is characterized by Engaged Scholarship, requiring philosophical pluralism and the co-creation of knowledge with practitioners. The ideal theorizing process is abduction, which systematically combines empirical observation (practice) and theoretical frameworks (what is known) to formulate plausible hypotheses. Rigor is optimized for field reality, employing multiple methods and parallel studies, such as case studies and natural experiments.

Results: Knowledge produced in the sweet spot should have conceptual value (models and frameworks), instrumental value (actionable tools and recipes), and symbolic value (justifies actions and confers credibility). The application of this research promotes realist rationality in decision-making, which recognizes human cognitive limitations and the value of considering evidence from multiple sources, including the interests of diverse stakeholders.

Study Contributions: The main contribution is a roadmap for researchers to operate as "bilinguals," capable of insourcing practitioners' knowledge to enrich theory. Relevant research advances theorizing through disciplined imagination, focusing on mid-range theory and generating theories for practice (action-oriented).

 

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Author Biographies

Marcos Paulo Soares, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie

Doutorando em Contabilidade e Mestre em Finanças, filiado à Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie na unidade de Finanças, Controladoria e Tecnologias de Gestão.

José Carlos Tiomatsu Oyadomari, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie

Doutor em Ciências Contábeis e filiado à Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie como coordenador do curso de doutorado na unidade de Finanças, Controladoria e Tecnologias de Gestão.

References

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8. Mirvis, P. H., Mohrman, S. A., & Worley, C. G. (2021). How to do relevant research: From the ivory tower to the real world. Edward Elgar Publishing.

9. Mohrman, S. A., Gibson, C. B., & Mohrman, A. M. (2001). Doing research that is useful to practice: A model and empirical exploration. Academy of Management Journal, 44(2), 357–375. https://doi.org/10.5465/3069461

10. Rousseau, D. M. (2006). Is there such a thing as "evidence-based management"? Academy of Management Review, 31(2), 256–269. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2006.20208679

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Published

05-01-2026

How to Cite

Soares, M. P., & Oyadomari, J. C. T. (2026). Book Review: How to Do Relevant Research: From the Ivory Tower to the Real World. Mirvis, P. H., Mohrman, S. A. & Worley, C. G. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021. 200p. ISBN: 978-1-78811-939-9. REVISTA AMBIENTE CONTÁBIL - Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Norte, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.21680/2176-9036.2026v18n1ID42052

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2026): Jan./Jun.

Section

Section 5: Thesis, Dissertation, and Book Reviews (S5)

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