The SIBE Group (Strategy, International Business & Entrepreneurship), in collaboration with the Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship, recently hosted a full‑day Research Publishing Workshop that brought together doctoral students, early‑career researchers, and established academics from the University of Liverpool and other institutions.
The workshop focused on the full publication journey in leading management journals, from developing a strong research idea, through theory building and methodological choices, to navigating the peer‑review process.
We were delighted to welcome three highly respected scholars and experienced journal editors, who shared practical, honest, and accessible advice based on their own research and editorial experience.
Professor Ann Langley (HEC Montréal) opened the workshop with a talk on building strong theory from qualitative and process research. She explained how rich data can be turned into clear and compelling theoretical contributions, highlighting the importance of telling a convincing “theory story” that develops over time. Her presentation offered concrete examples of how researchers can move from descriptive findings to more abstract theoretical insights that speak to a wider audience.
Professor Christian Tröster (Kühne Logistics University) focused on publishing quantitative research and what editors and reviewers typically look for when assessing empirical papers. He discussed how to clearly position a paper’s contribution, ensure methodological rigour, and communicate findings in a way that is both precise and engaging. His advice was especially helpful for early‑career researchers seeking to understand common reasons for revise‑and‑resubmit decisions and rejections.
Professor Raghu Garud (Pennsylvania State University) closed the keynote sessions with a thought‑provoking presentation on process thinking, creativity, and theory development in management and entrepreneurship research. He encouraged participants to think carefully about how ideas evolve over time, and how researchers can craft theoretical contributions that are both novel and meaningful. His talk emphasised curiosity, experimentation, and persistence as central to successful research careers.
A highlight of the day was the interactive panel discussion and Q&A session, where speakers engaged in open conversation with participants. Topics included responding to reviewer comments, dealing with rejection, choosing the right journal, and balancing creativity with structure in academic writing. The session provided a rare opportunity for candid discussion about the realities of academic publishing.
The workshop clearly demonstrated the value of bringing scholars together across career stages to share experiences and support one another in producing high‑quality research. We look forward to building on this success and continuing these important conversations through future SIBE/BCfE research collaborations.