1. Topicality of academic articles and issues of the review process DGT Workshop Sep 16, 2006, Munich Prof. Dr. Christian Laesser University of St. Gallen

2. DGT Munich Sep 16, 2006 Page 2 © IDT-HSG, University of St. Gallen Measurement of the relevance of research topics and results discipline as such education working life

3. DGT Munich Sep 16, 2006 Page 3 © IDT-HSG, University of St. Gallen Basic questions To what extent are tourism and management –sciences? –professions? Where do research questions ought to come from? From –„Further research“ sections in papers? –practical needs and problems? How is research impact measured? –by CSSI and similar? –by transmission of results in practice and implementation of potential conclusions?

4. DGT Munich Sep 16, 2006 Page 4 © IDT-HSG, University of St. Gallen Paper producers and their audiences Full academic Partial Academic Full Practitioner Full academic Partial Academic Full Practitioner Research and paper producer Solution receiverProblem producer Full academic Partial Academic Full Practitioner

5. DGT Munich Sep 16, 2006 Page 5 © IDT-HSG, University of St. Gallen Structure of a scientific paper: Diverging interests between reader groups Abstract Problem production –Introduction/ Purpose (Precondition of LitResearch) –Reserach Question Research production –Literature Review –Method and Data Solution reception –Results –Discussion –Conclusion Questions for further research

6. DGT Munich Sep 16, 2006 Page 6 © IDT-HSG, University of St. Gallen Scientific work and its standards vs. practical work and its standards Scientific work and its standards intersubjective traceability by means of application of qualified methods and an objective view Reliability Validity (external and internal) Consistency Practical work and its standards practical relevance – real answers on real questions by means of application of simple qualified methods and a perspective view Coherence Consistency

7. DGT Munich Sep 16, 2006 Page 7 © IDT-HSG, University of St. Gallen Interlinking basic and applied research and their corresponding publication Basic research: internationally publishable results No distinctive customer group Long term research strategy Methods development Applied research: Publishable results Broadly defined customer group Clearly delimited research object Methods application Consulting: Not necessarily publishable Clearly delimited customers Customer ownership of results Recommendations DiffusionApplication Meta projects Comparisons, aggregation New (research) questions Meta projects Comparisons, aggregation New (research) questions On demand/ customer driven Cash cow Practice for research assistants Case studies for lectures Building up of close industry relations (nationally and internationally) Mix of customer driven/ self initiated Costs covered Practice for full academic staff Full results transfer to lectures Securing agenda leading position in regional and industry terms deficit Further education for academic staff Results serve as basis for other projects Creating an international profile

8. DGT Munich Sep 16, 2006 Page 8 © IDT-HSG, University of St. Gallen Positioning a journal = Guideline for the review process Audience Rationale and fundament of research questions Degree of complexity (in terms of traceability) of content (vs. rigor of methodological approach?) Qualification or claim to transmit conclusions into actions (applicability of results) Degree of overriding of review results by editor