New action plan for business schools focuses on research to benefit society

Sponsored by SAGE Publishing, AACSB Report Presents a Roadmap for Impactful Research

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AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or AACSB) has released, “Research That Matters: An Action Plan for Creating Business School Research That Positively Impacts Society”. Sponsored by SAGE Publishing, the thought paper includes three common components of impactful research and a five-part plan that business schools can use to produce research that leads to a positive societal impact.

The thought paper includes:

• An examination of the increasing importance of societal impact as a research priority across business and management and AACSB’s role in guiding societal impact in research.
• The three common components of research that creates societal impact: research that is cross-disciplinary, at the intersection of academia and practice, and that creates real change useful to stakeholders.
• A five-step roadmap business schools can use to develop and refine plans that cultivate research with positive societal impact.

“We’re proud to have worked with AACSB on this thought paper, which mirrors SAGE Business & Management’s own mission-driven approach in developing a wide range of resources that empower students and researchers to affect positive change in society,” says Kristi Ward, Senior Director for SAGE Library Editorial. “Our team is committed to responding to the evolving needs of the business school and working with scholars across the discipline to facilitate how research and its outputs can lead to real-world innovation.”

AACSB’s 2020 business accreditation standards require business schools to demonstrate their positive impact on society. This thought paper continues AACSB’s role in driving business schools to place societal impact at the center of their missions and activities.

“AACSB is thrilled to collaborate with SAGE Publishing on creating such an insightful and thought-provoking paper,” said Caryn Beck-Dudley, President and CEO of AACSB International. “Creating thought leadership like this demonstrates how business education continues to lead by example and illustrates the many ways business can make a positive impact on society.”

SAGE and AACSB are holding a joint webinar, “Enriching the B-School Classroom by Partnering with Socially Innovative Enterprises,” on October 13 (9AM PT / 12PM ET). The session will focus on the growing importance of social enterprises of all sizes—from certified B Corps to socially responsible investing and more—and how educators can build connections with these companies to enrich the business curriculum for their students.

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About SAGE Publishing 

SAGE is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and a growing suite of library products and services.  

Driven by the belief that social and behavioral science has the power to improve society, we focus on publishing impactful research and enabling robust research methodology. We produce high quality educational resources that support instructors to prepare the citizens, policymakers, educators, and researchers of the future. We publish more than 1,000 journals and 900 new books globally each year, as well as library products and services that include archives, data, case studies, and video. SAGE is majority owned by our founder, Sara Miller McCune, and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company’s continued independence. 

About AACSB International

Established in 1916, AACSB International (AACSB) is the world’s largest business education alliance, connecting educators, learners, and business to create the next generation of great leaders. With a presence in more than 100 countries and territories, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education. Learn how AACSB is transforming business education for a better society at aacsb.edu.