What influences business academics’ use of the Association of Business Schools’ (ABS) list? Evidence from a survey of UK academics

Walker, J. T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3477-0236, Fenton, E., Salter, A. and Salandra, R. (2019) What influences business academics’ use of the Association of Business Schools’ (ABS) list? Evidence from a survey of UK academics. British Journal of Management, 30 (3). pp. 730-747. ISSN 1467-8551 doi: 10.1111/1467-8551.12294

Abstract/Summary

The development of the Association of Business Schools’ (ABS) list in 2007 and its rapid adoption by UK business schools has had a profound effect on the nature of business and management academics’ ways of working. Using a large-scale survey of UK business academics, we assess the extent to which individuals use the Academic Journal Guide (AJG/ABS) list in their day-to-day professional activities. In particular, we explore how their perceptions of the list, the academic influence of their research, academic rank and organizational context drive the varied use. Building on prior research on the importance of univalent attitudes in predicting behaviour, we find those who have either strong positive or negative views of the list are more extensive users than those who are ambivalent. We also find that the extent of use of the AJG/ABS list is greatest among those academics who have lower academic influence, in the middle or junior ranks within Business Schools and in middle and low-status universities. We explore the implications of these findings for the value of journal rankings and for the management of business schools.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/75771
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Henley Business School > International Business and Strategy
Publisher	Wiley
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