The aim of this paper is to stimulate debate about criteria for assessing the scientific contribution of a piece of management research and to guide and encourage researchers in writing papers for publication. The paper also seeks to reduce the number of papers submitted to journals and reviewers which are really unfinished early drafts or which do provide knowledge which could contribute to reducing suffering.
The paper draws on and discusses the difference between practical research for a manager and scientific research, as well as the author's experience as researcher, writer, reviewer, editor, research methods course leader and director of research.
The discussion highlights that the author should draft the paper under the suggested headings and fulfil criteria of validity, reliability, supported conclusions, generalisability, ensuring that each section follows on from the other, and that the findings are related to previous research.
This is the author's personal view about how to carry out and write research to get published, without discussions of other views.
The findings in this paper may provoke more debate about management science and the role of this journal. The guidance may help many researchers publish their management research.
The paper links practical guidance with discussion of criteria for scientific contribution in a readable way.
