A Comparison of Journal Submissions to the UK's Research Assessment Exercises 1996 and 2001 for UoA 43 (Business and Management Studies)

This paper reports on doctoral research being undertaken into journal submissions to the UK RAE, specifically for BMS (Business and Management Studies -- Unit of Assessment 43). Data gathered post-1996 and more recently post-2001 enables a longitudinal approach to be taken. Although only one part of the evidence in RAE submissions, the listing of published journal outputs provides the primary evidence for research quality to most RAE panels, and is a significant driver of the final grade awarded, and thus the funding received by submitting institutions. Pertinent issues to this UoA are discussed (the nature of management research, discipline boundaries, modes of knowledge production) which invariably have an effect on the type of research produced, publication outlet decisions and ultimately assessment. A detailed analysis is made comparing the results of the submissions to, and results of the last two RAEs for this very large field. The diversity of titles and subject coverage is discussed, and implications for the future are considered.