Management Studies that Break Your Heart
Today, Gail Whiteman discusses her recent article, Management Studies that Break your 
Heart, in Journal of Management Inquiry.
- Who is the target audience for this article?
There are two target audiences for this article: management scholars and the people that we study.
- What Inspired You To Be Interested In This Topic?
My own personal experiences inspired me to write this article.
- Were There Findings That Were Surprising To You?
Yes. By taking my own emotional responses to research seriously as analytic signals, I was able to critically assess some of the hidden gender issues inherent in stakeholder theory, and also to identify boundary conditions of overly sanitized, neutral theoretical language. By refusing to continue to hide my own emotional reactions to my academic work, I was able to enrich my analysis and also achieve greater authenticity in my self-perceptions of my work.
- How Do You See This Study Influencing Future Research And/Or Practice?
I hope that this article will encourage other management scholars to come out of the “emotional” closet and disclose more about their own emotional reactions to research.
- How Does This Study Fit Into Your Body Of Work/Line Of Research?
This article was one of the bravest things I ever wrote because it was so close to my heart that I felt vulnerable. At the same time, I see this article as the natural maturation of an entire body of research that I have conducted on corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
- How Did Your Paper Change During The Review Process?
The review process encourages more self-reflection and the use of concrete examples to make my point. The suggestions by reviewers definitely improved the process and also gave me the courage to delve deeper into this issue.
- What, If Anything, Would You Do Differently If You Could Go Back And Do This Study Again?
If I wrote this article again, I would write even more vulnerably with greater self-disclosure.
