Recent continued events have shaken the academic community’s foundations, leading us to a decisive crossroads. The reported severe charges of data falsification leveled against Professor Gino from Harvard University and the resignation of Dr. Tessier-Lavigne as President of Stanford University due to reported flaws in his research highlight the imperative for rigorous ethical guidelines and exhaustive examination procedures in the research community.

We are facing a scenario characterized by Herman Aguinis as an “irresponsible research perfect storm.”  Invoking an analogy with the film ‘The Perfect Storm,’ Dr. Agunis predicted and sounded an alarm concerning imminent threats that could devastate the management field. His open-source paper https://lnkd.in/ee6-_b2S stated this.

So, what do we do?

Our Response as Journal Leaders

As Editors in Chief of JSBM and JICSB and integral members of the leadership teams of Jeffrey Alves (Editor of JICSB), Katia Passerini (Interim President of Seton Hall), Eric Liguori, Head of the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Rowan University, we are monitoring these developments. Actively engaging with the academic community and liaising with our publisher, Taylor & Francis Group, we acknowledge the necessity to confront these issues and preserve the integrity of scholarly work.

I recommended that our team devise plans that focus on the following:

#1: Enhancing Transparency: By encouraging more open data reporting, we aim to make study findings universally accessible, thus reinstating confidence in academic research.

#2: Leveraging Technology: We intend to harness technology to simplify research data access, narrowing the divide between researchers and the broader readership.

#3: Celebrating Trial and Error: In acknowledging that research is a process of discovery and growth, we honor both success and failure, promoting a balanced perspective that values innovative findings and insightful questions leading to unexpected outcomes.

Conclusion

As distinguished scholars gather at esteemed venues such as AOM in Boston and ICSB this week, our cooperative, human-centered approach lays the foundation for a transformative era in academic research.

As my esteemed colleague, Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Immediate Past Chair of ICSB, succinctly articulated, ‘ We need a paradigm shift in how research is done and classified.’ This profound insight captures the essence of our mission and emphasizes the critical necessity for a transformative approach.’

I end it with a quote from Albert Einstein “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its reason for existence.”

May our academic community persist in its quest for knowledge, exploration, and the pursuit of truth and excellence.

by: Ayman ElTarabishy
Editor-in-Chief of JSBM
President & CEO, ICSB

The United Nations Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day is an annual event celebrated on June 27th. The day was created to recognize MSMEs’ critical role in driving economic growth and creating jobs worldwide. In addition, it is an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges MSMEs face and encourage governments, policymakers, and stakeholders to take action to support them.

MSMEs are the backbone of many economies, providing employment and contributing to GDP. However, they often face significant challenges like limited finance, markets, and technology access. Therefore, supporting MSMEs is crucial to creating a more inclusive and sustainable global economy.

In collaboration with Argentina, the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) created the UN MSMEs Day. In 2017, the ICSB proposed the idea of a dedicated day to recognize the contribution of MSMEs and the challenges they face. The UN General Assembly adopted the proposal in April 2017, and since then, the day has been celebrated annually on June 27th. Dr. Ayman ElTarabishy, President & CEO of ICSB and Deputy Chair of the Department of Management at the George Washington University School of Business proposed the idea.

ICSB continues to play a crucial role in promoting policies and initiatives that support MSMEs. As a global organization dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship and small business, the ICSB works closely with governments, academia, and industry to identify and address the needs of MSMEs. Through its research, advocacy, and education efforts, the ICSB is helping to create a more supportive environment for MSMEs worldwide.

The UN MSMEs Day is a significant opportunity to highlight the challenges that MSMEs face and call attention to the need for policies and programs that support their growth and development. Here are some examples of initiatives from around the world that are working to support MSMEs:

South Africa’s National Small Business Act: The South African government has implemented various policies and programs to support MSMEs, including the National Small Business Act, which aims to create a supportive regulatory environment for small businesses. The Act provides for establishing a Small Business Council, which advises the government on policies and initiatives to support small businesses.

India’s Startup India program: In 2016, the Indian government launched the Startup India program to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. The program offers a range of incentives and support, including tax breaks, funding, and mentorship, to help startups and MSMEs grow and succeed.

Germany’s Mittelstand: Germany’s “Mittelstand” refers to the country’s network of small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of the country’s economy. The German government has implemented various policies to support the Mittelstand, including access to finance, education, training, and research and innovation support.

United States Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is a US government agency that supports small businesses through loans, training, and counseling services. The SBA also advocates for small businesses at the national level, ensuring that policies and regulations support small business growth and development.

These are just a few examples of the many initiatives and programs worldwide that are working to support MSMEs. The UN MSMEs Day provides a valuable opportunity to showcase these initiatives and to encourage governments and stakeholders to do more to help small businesses.

South Korea’s economic growth since the 1960s has been remarkable, transforming from a low-income agrarian society to a thriving, high-income industrialized economy. Research has shown that government policies played a crucial role in this transformation, mainly through strategic investments in physical and human capital and export promotion strategies. In addition, a focus on technological research and development helped to create a competitive advantage in the export market and cultivate a highly educated workforce.

Entrepreneurship has a complex history in South Korea, with cultural values and traditions significantly shaping the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. Confucianism, a religion and philosophy emphasizing education, hard work, and community loyalty, has been a driving force behind South Korea’s cultural value system and has influenced its society for generations. Despite this, there has been relatively little research on the connection between cultural context and entrepreneurship in South Korea.

However, a new academic paper to be published in July 2023 by the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) seeks to address this gap in our understanding. The paper will explore the historical evolution of Korean entrepreneurship, focusing on the role of Jo Shik, a renowned Confucian scholar during the Joseon dynasty, and the city of Jinju in South Korea. The authors argue that these factors were instrumental in shaping the development of Korean entrepreneurship and that understanding their influence is crucial for understanding the country’s entrepreneurial landscape today. 

This paper will be the first academic publication on the history of Korean entrepreneurship in Confucian culture to be published in a Western academic journal. It promises to shed new light on this fascinating topic.

Evans, P., & Rauch, J. (1999). Bureaucracy and growth: A cross-national analysis of the effects of “Weberian” state structures on economic growth. American Sociological Review, 64(5), 748-765.

Rhee, J., Park, T., & Lee, D. H. (2010). Drivers of innovativeness and performance for innovative SMEs in South Korea: Mediation of learning orientation. Technovation, 30(1), 65-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2009.04.008.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized how we learn and access information. However, it is crucial to create a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance on how to use AI-powered tools effectively. Faculty should support students using AI through the Socratic method and video-based learning.

The Socratic method is a teaching method that encourages critical thinking and active engagement. The technique involves asking questions to stimulate students’ thinking and help them develop their ideas. In a Socratic classroom, the teacher guides the discussion and encourages students to explore ideas and challenge assumptions.

Using ChatGPT as an example, a teacher can use the Socratic method to engage students in a discussion about the information generated by the tool. For instance, a teacher could ask the students to develop a prompt and then tell ChatGPT to create a response. Afterward, the teacher could ask the students to analyze the response and evaluate its accuracy, reliability, and relevance. The teacher could then ask follow-up questions to help students understand the context and meaning of the answer.

Video-based learning, on the other hand, leverages multimedia content to enhance the learning experience. Videos can supplement lectures and give students a more engaging and interactive learning experience. Teachers can use videos to explain complex concepts, provide real-world examples, and offer visual aids that support learning.

It is common for students to feel apprehensive about using AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT, especially when they are unsure about how to use them correctly. However, instead of punishing students for using these tools, educators should teach them how to use them correctly and ethically. In addition, students should learn the importance of referencing and citing sources using AI-generated content. By doing so, we can help students develop critical thinking skills and encourage them to engage with technology responsibly and ethically.

In conclusion, AI is a powerful tool that has the potential to transform the way we learn and access information. Faculty should support students using AI through the Socratic method and video-based learning. The Socratic method can encourage critical thinking and active engagement, while video-based learning can provide students with a more engaging and interactive learning experience. By teaching students how to use AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT correctly and ethically, we can help them develop critical thinking skills and use technology to enhance their learning and growth.

by: Ayman ElTarabishy, President & CEO, ICSB
Deputy Chair, Department of Management, GWSB