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Bridging the conference gap:a challenge to enhance theresearch – practice dialoguePhilip Graham Dr a & Martin Kormanik ba Perspectives Incorporated , Richmond, VAb O.D. Systems , Alexandria, VAc Perspectives Incorporated , 11219 Hixson Place, Richmond, VA,23236, USA E-mail:Published online: 17 Feb 2007.

To cite this article: Philip Graham Dr & Martin Kormanik (2004) Bridging the conference gap: achallenge to enhance the research – practice dialogue, Human Resource Development International,7:3, 391-393, DOI: 10.1080/1367886042000245996

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1367886042000245996

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. SOAP BOX .

Bridging the conference gap: a challenge to enhancethe research –practice dialogue

Philip GrahamPerspectives Incorporated, Richmond, VA

Martin KormanikO.D. Systems, Alexandria, VA

As practitioners, we have the opportunity to attend numerous conferences geared

toward practice in OD, HRM and HRD. Instead, in an effort to lead the profession

through research we choose to participate in the more academic conferences, such asthose sponsored by the Academy of Management and the Academy of Human

Resource Development. This year at AHRD in particular, from the pre-conference

workshops to the conference symposia and innovative sessions, the Austin conferenceprovided a clarion call to bridge the gap between research and practice. In every

session, it seemed that someone touted the reciprocal benefits of the practitioner –

researcher relationship.Despite being energized by these academic conferences, we remain frustrated. Our

expectation is simple enough. Every year we see great potential for engaging in

meaningful dialogue and substantive interaction with fellow practitioners andacademic colleagues. Unfortunately, each year it seems that the communication that

actually takes place falls short of that potential due to the usual progression of rote

conference sessions listening to one-way dissemination of information with little tono opportunity for substantive and meaningful interaction. While we are warmly

engaged by our academic colleagues and feel totally welcome and respected as

members of the academy, we are nevertheless distanced by the presentation format ofresearch in symposium style. Three questions at the end of forty-five minutes of

hurried research presentations or brief comments exchanged while walking from the

keynote address to the first symposium of the day do not embody meaningfuldialogue and substantive interaction. That said, we offer some suggestions for ways

to enhance the research – practice dialogue.

Rather than question the hard work of conference organizers, our challenge isfocused more on conference presenters and participants. In many conference

presentations, attendees sit quietly listening to pro forma presentations of what may

represent months or years of research. All too often, the focus and the majority of theallotted time is spent on the background and methods of the study, with each

presenter intent on demonstrating his or her expertise and rigor in research.

Predictably, coverage of the findings and conclusions is done in a hurried fashion,leaving only minutes to identify implications for theory, research and practice. The

HRDI 7:3 (2004), pp. 391–393

Human Resource Development InternationalISSN 1367-8868 print/ISSN 1469-8374 online ª 2004 Taylor & Francis Ltd

http://www.tandf.co.uk/journalsDOI: 10.1080/1367886042000245996

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lack of adequate attention to the implications and applications of the research isfrustrating. Although session chairs work diligently to keep presentations on time,

and then desperately try to engage the listeners in a question and answer session that

follows, there is seldom sufficient time allocated for a meaningful social dialogueamong interested parties.

A few years ago we heard Kenneth Goodpaster deliver an outstanding keynote

address on themoral dimensions of corporate leadership.He called for the need tomeetinsanity with integrity. Noting the corporate pattern of avoiding the close examination

of purposes and practices by ‘pushing for the top’, he challenged us to ‘pause and look

inside’ regarding what we are doing and why we are doing it. It was a provocativeaddress. The response of the academy, however, was to ask a few general questions from

the floor and head off to the next symposium.No dialogue. No substantive interaction.

No pause to look inside of who we are, what we do, or why. We ‘rushed to the top’ topublish and present so that we might not ‘perish’. Yet we lost an incredibly valuable

opportunity for reflection, inquiry, and dialogue within the academy.

To improve the level of dialogue and content of interaction, we suggest that theframework for conferences and the submission and presentation of papers be altered.

What would it be like if we took an hour after each keynote speaker to break into

groups of eight to ten and discuss what had been presented? Perhaps we could eventake ninety minutes to ask one another questions, to pause to look inside. What

would it be like if the page limit for research paper submissions included a minimal

amount for conclusions and implications? Reviewers could also challenge the authorsto go further in developing the conclusions and implications sections. What would it

be like if symposia session chairs were given more time and training to facilitate,

ensuring that emerging researchers, seasoned academics and scholar practitioners hadan equal voice? Perhaps each paper symposium could have fewer papers, structuring

the format with less time on background and methods and more time allotted to

conclusions, implications and interaction with those attending.It would also be helpful if more time could be scheduled between formal

conference sessions. Increasingly, we hear from both practitioner and academic

colleagues that the learning from incidental and informal contacts is greater than thelearning obtained from attending formal conference sessions. We have learned to

adjust as individuals by spending more time inviting colleagues into informal

dialogues over food, drinks, a walk or meeting in the lounge.Our observation is that there is a substantial gap between the stated purpose of

academic conferences and the real purpose. The apparent ‘purpose-in-use,’ to

paraphrase Argyris and Schon, is to publish and present as many research papers aspossible in as short a time as possible. Being scholar-practitioners, we understand that

our conference expectations may be different from the expectations of our colleagues

from academia. As we work to find the common ground between research andpractice, we seek a balance between the researchers’ need for publication, presentation

and academic rigor and the practitioners’ need for implications and applications.

Although making these changes might force a reduction in the number ofconference sessions and papers presented, doing so might also inspire a challenge to

improve the quality of the research product. We continue to hope for the

development of joint ventures with our academic colleagues. Our fervent desire isto see research influence practice, and in turn for practice to influence research in

Soap Box

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reciprocal fashion. At the very least, we want to begin a conversation in ourcommunity of scholarship on ways to engage one another meaningfully in the

conference forum.

Addresses for correspondence

Dr Philip GrahamPerspectives Incorporated

11219 Hixson Place

Richmond, VA 23236USA

E-mail: pgraham-pci@comcast.net

Martin Kormanik

1200 Prince Street

Alexandria, VA 22314USA

E-mail: mkormanik@odsystems.com

Graham: Bridging the conference gap

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