The RRBM course was truly a unique and rewarding experience. First, the world-class mentors and presenters not only share their wisdom and insights, but also encourage the students to challenge their assumptions, think critically, and engage in rigorous debates on important topics in social science and practice. Second, a culturally diverse and multi-disciplinary cohort of doctoral students from across the world offer learning and networking opportunities unlikely available anywhere else. Third, a deep dive into the philosophy of science and principles of responsible research provides the foundation to address current issues in the social sciences and society. The course is hard work, but the rewards are commensurate with the efforts required.

Justin, United States, 2021 cohort

I must say that I had high expectations of this course and these expectations were remarkably exceeded. In fact, I think I was able to get the most out of this course and I am ready to use it in the course of my PhD.

This experience would only have been better if it had been face-to-face, as it is really hard to develop solid relationships online.

Furthermore, your teaching styles and methods will serve as a “role model” during my professional and academic life. The extremely well organized way you presented all the contents and lectures (starting with the syllabus and ending with each of the session closings, including the last one) is impressive.

I am a little exhausted after so much reading and discussions, but really happy to have completed it. Although this was a course, it definitely felt like a full first year of a PhD!

Pedro, Portugal, 2021 cohort

Have you ever wondered what it really means when a threshold of p < .10 versus a p < .05 is used for significance hypothesis testing? (Hint: It’s related to the risks involved as organizations implement management practices. It’s not about whether the effect is “more/less significant” nor whether reviewers would find the results “more/less credible.”)

Have you ever wondered why some people will argue that our research should be value-free, while considering organizational values for performance and profit-making as acceptable (and oftentimes taken-for-granted)? Have you also wondered to what extent researchers’ own values (e.g., values for achievement, status, or societal welfare) have played a role in their scientific work?

Have you ever wondered if there is a parallel between translating physics knowledge to engineering practices, biochemical knowledge to medical practices, and management knowledge from your own studies to managerial practices?

If you find any of the above questions intriguing, you will find the course delightful, just as I did. I did not find definitive answers on all the topics, but the interactive discussions and the relevant readings, helped me expand my perspectives to think through these complex issues.

Perhaps these issues do not seem apparent in our day-to-day research. Yet, through the learning in this course, I have come to realize how deeply embedded these issues are in many of our research decisions. Just because we are not always conscious of the implications and influences of our decisions and actions, the impact nevertheless exists. I appreciate the opportunity and the safe space in which I could learn to be more mindful of what we really do as social scientists.

Of course, it was also a lot of fun to make friends with a bunch of inspiring and friendly faculty and peers from around the world!

Grace, United States, 2021 cohort

What Does “Flattening the Curve” Mean? Will It Also Flatten the Global Economy?
Farok J. Contractor

The Excruciating Choice Governments face an “excruciating choice” between “flattening the (coronavirus) curve” by imposing quarantines and lockdowns and the huge, unprecedented economic impact on the world economy that is already in recession. The Health and Human Services Department of the US Federal Government is planning for the possibility of an 18-month medical and economic…

Online Events

We are also happy to host or promote online events that relate to or support the themes and goals of RRBM. Feel free to contact us if you are organizing (or are aware of) such an online event or if you would like to invite a member to present RRBM to one of your events.…

Conferences

We are happy to promote conferences that relate to or support the themes and goals of RRBM. Upcoming conferences Accountability in a Sustainable World Date: 24-25 September More info about the Conference here   Paper Development Workshop  Date: 26-27 September More information about the Workshop here   Past conferences Undergraduate Consortium 2024  Theme: Reimagining Business…

Newsletters

Though our preferred mean of engaging with members of the community is via the endorsement procedure, you have the possibility to simply register to receive our bi-monthly newsletter by filling in this form: Click Here "*" indicates required fields LinkedInThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Email* Name* First Last TitleAffiliation All…

Chronology

For the die-hard historians, here is a chronology of major events from summer 2014 to now.         July 17, 2014 Anne Tsui gave a talk on “socially responsible scholarship” at the 50+20 Conference, Hong Kong Poly University. Ulrich Hommel of EFMD was in the audience and invited Anne Tsui to write an…

Covid-19, business and faith: An intriguing field for research in (and the practice of) responsible management
Fabien Martinez

The worldwide spread of the Covid-19 infection has no precedent in the modern world as a health crisis that calls upon the extraordinary and immediate unity of all constituents of our society. Often seen as a utopia in contemporary society, unity must now concretely permeate our daily lives. While doubts are raised about the effectiveness…