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The wicked problem of measuring real-world research impact: Using sustainable development goals (SDGs) and targets in academia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 October 2020

Geoffrey R. Chapman Open the ORCID record for Geoffrey R. Chapman [Opens in a new window] ,
Ashley Cully Open the ORCID record for Ashley Cully [Opens in a new window] ,
Jennifer Kosiol Open the ORCID record for Jennifer Kosiol [Opens in a new window] ,
Stephanie A. Macht Open the ORCID record for Stephanie A. Macht [Opens in a new window] ,
Ross L. Chapman Open the ORCID record for Ross L. Chapman [Opens in a new window] ,
Janna Anneke Fitzgerald Open the ORCID record for Janna Anneke Fitzgerald [Opens in a new window]  and
Frank Gertsen Open the ORCID record for Frank Gertsen [Opens in a new window]
Geoffrey R. Chapman*
Affiliation:
School of Business and Law, CQUniversity, 400 Kent St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Ashley Cully
Affiliation:
Griffith Business School, Griffith University, 1 Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD4222, Australia
Jennifer Kosiol
Affiliation:
Griffith Business School, Griffith University, 1 Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD4222, Australia
Stephanie A. Macht
Affiliation:
School of Business and Law, CQUniversity, 400 Kent St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Ross L. Chapman
Affiliation:
School of Business and Law, CQUniversity, 400 Kent St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Janna Anneke Fitzgerald
Affiliation:
Griffith Business School, Griffith University, 1 Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD4222, Australia
Frank Gertsen
Affiliation:
Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, The Faculty of Engineering and Science, Fibigerstraede 16, 9220Aalborg, Denmark
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

This paper proposes that the United Nation's sustainable development goals (SDGs) and associated targets form an effective framework for determining real-world research impact. Existing bibliometrics that assess the quality of academic work are usually quantitative and self-referential, reducing the focus on real-world issues. The same measurements are often adopted by funding bodies, pressuring researchers to increase compliance, and further reducing integrity and real-world impact. A series of world cafés were conducted, collecting data on how researchers, their institutions, and network organisations can contribute to, and measure research aligned with the SDGs and targets. The results showed that participants were generally positive towards using the SDGs and targets to measure impact and quality of academic research. Suggestions to assist greater adoption of the SDGs and targets as a measure of impact included: aligning governmental and institutional funding; changing key performance indicators; increasing cross-disciplinary work; aligning mission/vision statements; and legitimising SDG-focused projects at conferences.

Keywords

sustainable development goalsreal-world impactresearch impactbibliometricswicked problems
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 26 , Special Issue 6: Wicked Problems and Sustainable Development Goals , November 2020 , pp. 1030 - 1047
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2020

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