26 May, 2025, Bengaluru: “If you want to be a good scholar, you need to be an engaged one”, said Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore, while addressing participants of the Summer Research Methodology Workshop 2025 at IIM Bangalore, hosted by the Office of Research and Publications (R&P) from 19th May 2025. The workshop concluded earlier today with the Editors’ Panel and valediction. Altogether 97 candidates from across India, including faculty and PhD students from other Indian Institutes of Management, took part in this workshop. Around 12 IIMB faculty members, who are well published in their respective domains, were involved with the workshop.
Providing valuable insights on ‘Research Leadership’ during the valediction, Professor RT Krishnan listed rigor, insight and relevance as the essential criteria for engaged scholarship. “However, the outcome of all this should be impact; you need to figure out how to extend the benefit of your research beyond academic journals. If you are smart in designing your research, you can take the outcome of your research in different directions to benefit academia, industry, policy making, and more.”
He quoted from papers co-authored by IIMB faculty and Doctoral scholars to explain the model of engaged scholarship further, adding, “To make research more impactful, you have to find interesting problems and provide unique solutions for the same. In India, the different and unique phenomena going around us give us a plethora of ideas to work on our research and publish in top journals. Working in the sustainability domain has also become crucial.”
He summed up his talk listing how to draw an action plan to be successful and impactful in research. “Remember that being a scholar is akin to a marathon, not a sprint, where personal vision as well as aspiration, focus, strategic intent and research plan are vital. View yourself as more than just a teacher – but as an engaged scholar. Benchmark yourself against the best in the world. Be committed to continuous improvement and embrace new technology as well as pedagogy. Manage time judiciously – try to align teaching, research and writing. This should be your individual agenda as a scholar.” He also explained the importance of personal effectiveness adding, “Prioritize and put first things first.”
“As an outstanding teacher, as a rigorous researcher, through contribution to practice, and sometimes through all three, can you be truly impactful. Become experts in your domains, an expert in an emerging method or approach, identify or build a unique dataset and then mine it. Develop a knack to identify interesting problems across domains and ways of addressing them.” He concluded by telling the participants that the best return gift they could give to IIMB faculty engaged in this workshop was to practise all that they have learnt in the workshop.
Editors’ Panel
The Editors’ Panel conducted on the concluding day of the workshop comprised discussions with a focus on research and paper development towards publication. The panel featured Prof. Mukta Kulkarni, Dean, Programmes, Chairperson, Office of International Affairs and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area; Prof. Srinivasan Rangan, Chairperson and faculty, Finance & Accounting, and Programme Director Prof. Sushanta Kumar Mishra, Chairperson of Research & Publications, Centre for Teaching & Learning and C-DOCTA, Editor-in-Chief of IIMB Management Review and faculty of OBHRM, and was moderated by Programme Director Prof. Deepak Chandrashekar of the Strategy area.
The discussion saw the panelists talk about paper rejections, reasons for rejection, how to work around feedback from reviewers and editors, and make improvements. The panelists recommended not to write misleading titles, focus on writing the abstract and introduction to get attention from Editors, not to copy from other research, when writing to the Editor before submission – to just send the synopsis and not the entire paper. Prof. Srinivasan was of the view that pre journal submission talk in conferences was more legitimate. It was also discussed that cover letters, if it was just a repeat of the abstract, was of no value. Prof. Deepak made a point by saying that it was only important if it was mentioned why it was potentially important to what was being written for the journal.
Prof. Srinivasan explained that instead of writing a cover letter at the initial stages, it was wiser to learn from rejections and then frame a cover letter. It was pointed out that in case of multiple papers being submitted, cover letter was an opportunity to state how one particular paper was different from the other. Waiting a reasonable amount of time, before writing to the Editor asking for the status, was recommended as well. “Can write to the Managing Editor too for faster response”, Prof. Mukta pointed out, adding, “Never turn around and submit the exact paper to another journal, you can end up with the same reviewer or one with similar views. Instead, take note of what the reviewer says, focusing on substantial comments, and work on the paper.”
Response letter, which can state what has been changed in the paper based on feedback, and what not, and the reasons why, was another aspect discussed. “Although papers get rejected in the first round, there can be a germ of an idea which can prove to be very meaningful, so rewrite a clear response document, mention how you have applied feedback from reviewers, address their concerns, and be authentic and serious in responding”, explained Prof. Srinivasan.
Addressing concerns surrounding use of AI, Prof. Mukta said if AI was used, then the researcher has to declare. Prof. Srinivasan recommended not to write entire papers based on AI, but to use it for select sections only. Prof. Sushanta shared that IMR is in the process of devising policy asking researchers if they had used AI/ChatGPT and in which way. The process of networking was discussed as well.
The panel discussion was followed by the Programme Directors addressing the participants. Prof. Sushanta Kumar Mishra thanked the participants adding that the workshop is sure to streamline their research process. “Just as we consider it our duty to help other academicians pick up and hone research skills, we hope that you carry this forward and make valuable contributions to solve problems of the society, government and the nation. Do not just consume all that you have learnt here, please spread and share these methods.”
Prof. Deepak Chandrashekar delivered the vote of thanks adding that faculty engaged in conducting sessions of the workshop are full of admiration of the aptitude and potential of all the participants.
The event concluded with all the candidates receiving a Certificate of Participation from IIM Bangalore, on successful completion of the workshop.
