Research
Aparna's research primarily revolves around strategic contradictions. Her current work within this broad area focuses on three key themes: organizational ambidexterity; and the dynamics of othering and the distinction between value creation and impact generation. Specifically, within scholarship, her current projects examine strategic contradictions of quiet quitting and managing up, othering and inclusion and its effect on newcomer socialisation strategies; academic identity, explored through the paradoxes of belonging and agency; students' entrepreneurial intentions, shaped by the tensions between autonomy, social recognition, and impact, and finally, the paradox of education and its changing impact on poverty alleviation through time.
Organisational ambidexterity
Through her recent works in organisational ambidexterity, Aparna explores how the paradoxical interpretation of threat and opportunity in clean energy transitions are not necessarily different across the stakeholders within and outside energy utilities.
Framing othering in enterprises and organisations
Aparna is interested in how enterprises may other beneficiaries and frame distinctions between value and impact, and similarly how organisations may other newcomers through distinct socialisation strategies.
Othered academic identities
Through her recent projects in this area, Aparna explores the belonging and agency paradoxes impacting identities in education and through them the authenticity of educational offerings and its overall impact on poverty alleviation in society.