In search of relevance: perspectives on the contribution of academic—practitioner networks

This paper contributes to the current debate on the relevance of academic research to organizational practice but departs from the conventional view of perceiving the problem as one of improving the diffusion of knowledge from research to practice. Two theoretical lenses — Mode 2 and actor network theory — are drawn upon to examine case vignettes of the authors’ involvement in academic—practitioner collaborations. The resulting analysis assists us in understanding the production of knowledge relevant to practitioners and, by implication, has the potential to free industry—academic collaborations of unrealistic demands