Strategic Research Plan 2023-2028

Land Acknowledgement

We offer our gratitude to the lands on which the University of Guelph campuses are situated and the Indigenous ancestors who have inhabited these lands for centuries. We recognize that our campuses are located on the lands of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum and we offer our respect to the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, Six Nations of the Grand River and the diverse communities of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples who now reside on these lands. We also recognize that our educational and research enterprises occur on Indigenous lands and we endeavour to ensure that our activities honour and respect Indigenous peoples. We recognize that acknowledging the land we are on and Indigenous peoples’ relationship with the land is a starting point. As a school of business and economics, we recognize the role business, research, and education have had, and continue to have in the systemic mistreatment and harm of Indigenous peoples, communities, cultures, and lands. It is our responsibility and understanding that Lang needs to play a meaningful role in addressing the ongoing damage of colonization and developing a better future for all peoples. The 94 Calls to Action for Truth and Reconciliation and Bi-Naagwad | It Comes Into View, U of G’s Indigenous Initiatives Strategy provide us with opportunities to further reflect on the role we as educators and researchers can and should have towards collective action. We recognize there is significant work to be done to learn and unlearn in order to build trust, community, and partnership. Our strategic research plan aims to demonstrate our commitment, as well as the need for action and provide an opportunity for the Lang community to engage in their own personal journey of reflection, reconciliation, and action.

Message from the Dean and Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies

We are pleased to present the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan (SRP). The Lang School is a vibrant research community that is home to over 85 full-time faculty members whose scholarship impacts consumers, employees, employers, organizations, industries, markets, economies, societies and indeed the entire planet. The Lang SRP serves as a guiding document in our efforts to advance academic knowledge, train the researchers of tomorrow and enhance the practices of organizations, industries, and professions.

The Lang School’s accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) signals our commitment to continuous improvement in our thought leadership, engagement and societal impact. This plan sets out the research vision, principles, goals and strategic research actions that will guide that improvement.

The Lang SRP is an extension of the Lang Strategic Plan, detailing its Priority #3: Research Excellence. As can be seen in the pages that follow, we have an inclusive and principles-driven definition of research excellence that reflects the strengths and diversity of Lang’s scholarly community. The SRP also aligns with the principles and goals of the University of Guelph’s 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan. This alignment ensures that the Lang School’s research strategy coincides with the broader priorities of the School and the University.

This iteration of the SRP, the second since the Lang School’s naming and accreditation, represents a ‘refresh’ rather than a complete rethink of our research mission. This is purposeful, to allow us to continue with our momentum from the previous SRP and to provide consistency for our scholarly community. Having said that, we are more committed now than ever before to finding ways to advance reconciliation in our research and scholarship and to seeking opportunities to establish relationships with Indigenous-led businesses and organizations. By strengthening indigenization, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our research we help to ensure relevance and innovation.

We look forward with excitement to the next five years of the Lang School’s continued development. We are certain that our collective research impact will continue to grow.

Dr. Sara Mann Dean, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics

Dr. Sean Lyons Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies

Research Strengths

Lang scholars are the University’s primary contributors to business research, one of the areas of disciplinary excellence in the University of Guelph’s Strategic Research Plan (2023-2028). Scholars in the Lang School possess world-class expertise on a wide range of topics across economics and business disciplines. Our research addresses critical problems affecting consumers, employees, employers, organizations, industries, markets, economies, societies and indeed the entire planet. Advancing business as a force for good® we lead the shift toward more ethical, responsible use of resources. Our research encompasses three inter-related streams:

Research Mission and Guiding Principles

The research mission flows from the overall vision, mission and values of the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics:

Vision: To be recognized locally and globally for our commitment to developing future leaders for a sustainable and equitable world.

DISCIPLINE-FOCUSED KNOWLEDGE CREATION

To develop and test theory and explore phenomena that transcend industries and professions, including disciplines such as economics, marketing, consumer studies, organizational behaviour and entrepreneurship.

INDUSTRY-FOCUSED RESEARCH PROFESSIONALLYFOCUSED RESEARCH

To understand and support the effective operation of organizations in a variety of industries, including food and agribusiness, hospitality, tourism, real estate and housing, and sport and event management.

To understand and improve practical issues in a range of professions, including finance, accounting, project management, human resource management and management education.

Mission: To inspire purpose by promoting responsible and sustainable businesses and communities through interdisciplinary learning, problemsolving, and critical thinking. Our ability to inspire purpose and cultivate business as a force for good® in society is guided by, and established within, three foundational pillars:

THREE FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS:

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY

Creating high quality and innovative research and partnerships that enhance local and global communities through economic, human, and societal impact and entrepreneurship.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE

Commitment to the development of leadership for a sustainable future through our teaching, research, and community engagement, with a strong emphasis on Indigenization, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

OUR RESEARCH MISSION:

TO GENERATE AND MOBILIZE EXCELLENT RESEARCH THAT HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON BUSINESS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD®

Advocating for responsible, ethical, and sustainable business and organizational practices through dynamic and impactful research, pedagogical innovation, and intellectual curiosity.

Our Guiding Research Principles

Lang’s Research Goals and Strategic Priorities

INCLUSIVE AND PLURALISTIC VIEW OF RESEARCH, WHICH ENTAILS: HIGH QUALITY RESEARCH WITH IMPACT

Lang’s mission of business as a force for good® requires that we create and share knowledge to make a positive impact. This necessitates a dual focus on the quality and scholarly impact of research.

#2

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH PRACTICE

In support of business as a force for good®, our research culture embraces socially responsible research practices, which include:

• Sound methodology and transparency in the reporting of research findings

• Supporting research that serves the good of society, including research addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

• Positively impacting society and communities with our research activities and outputs

• Stakeholder engagement in the research process

• Broad and accessible sharing of knowledge

#1 #3

#4

• Diversity of research partners and audience. In addition to the academic community, our collective body of research is conducted with, relevant for and shared with many groups, including students, executives, consumers, policymakers, not-forprofits, entrepreneurs, Indigenous peoples and the general public.

• Diversity of contribution. Our scholarly contributions include both traditional academic scholarship (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles, books, conferences) and action-focused scholarship (e.g., policy papers, technical reports, expert testimonial, communityengaged and community-led scholarship). This makes our work accessible to a broad audience.

• Varied research foci. Our scholarship focuses on topics, methodologies, and themes including discovery, integration, application, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. We strive for alignment of all of our work with the mission and strategic priorities of the Lang School and the University of Guelph.

#5

INDIGENIZATION,

In the content, design, conduct, and mobilization of our research, we continuously strive for, and work towards an equitable, diverse, inclusive and indigenized research environment and process within the Lang School. IEDI principles are practiced through active responsibility for ongoing personal and professional development as researchers develop critical consciousness of the inequities that result from unequal distributions of power and influence in unexamined aspects of the research system.

COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP

The Lang School recognizes that today’s economic, societal and governance challenges are complex and interconnected, necessitating innovative and crosscutting responses. This requires collaborations that transcend academic disciplines, institutions, sectors and nations.

The Lang Strategic Research Plan provides direction for the continuous improvement of the School’s collective research activity and outcomes. In keeping with our guiding research principles, we recognize that individual researchers contribute in diverse ways to the goals and priorities set out in this Plan.

RESEARCH GOALS

Our research goals specify the outcomes we collectively work toward in service to our research mission. Our goals are purpose-driven, long term, forwardfocused, actionable, and measurable, and are purposely aligned with the research goals in the University of Guelph’s Strategic Research Plan 2023-2028.

RESEARCH PRIORITIES KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Our research priorities are the specific areas of performance on which we seek to make continuous improvement, which are further articulated by key performance indicators.

Our key performance indicators (KPIs) are the measurable indicators we use to track our overall continuous improvement toward our research goals and priorities.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (IEDI)

Goal 1: Elevate Excellence Goal 2: Amplify Impact

We aim to be ranked among the top 15 Canadian researchintensive business schools in our various disciplinary areas by building on our strengths to secure competitive research funding and produce high quality research contributions.

We will be a Canadian business school leader in the mobilization of knowledge by increasing engagement with industry, communities, not-for-profit partners and policymakers throughout the research process. We will pursue inclusive and open scholarship that creates a positive impact on society.

1. Research Funding

Securing external funding to support research activity, student training, and increase Lang’s allocation of research supports (e.g., Research Enhancement Funding, Canada Research Chairs) as indicated by:

• Number of tri-agency grant applications per faculty member

• Number of research grants secured per faculty member

• Per capita value of research grants secured

• Lang’s proportion of institutional tri-agency grant funding to merit Canada Research Chair allocations

• Funding from non-government sources

2. Research Quality

The rigour and relevance of faculty’s scholarly output, indicated by:

• Quality of peer-reviewed journals in which research is published.

• Peer reviewed journal publications in top-tier journals (e.g., in ABDC A level+, ABS level-4+, FT50)

• National and international research awards and honours

• Lang’s ranking on appropriate research indicators and lists that align with our unique strengths, vision and mission

• Individual disciplinary areas’ rankings and scholarly metrics

3. Scholarly Impact

The observable impact of scholarly work on stakeholder groups, indicated by:

• Number of scholarly contributions per year per faculty member

• Number of citations to Lang scholars’ published work

1. Knowledge Mobilization

The reciprocal flow of research knowledge between researchers, knowledge brokers and knowledge users—both within and beyond academia.

• Proportion of Lang scholars’ work that is open access

• Influence on industry practices (e.g., faculty participation on advisory boards, consultation with industry groups)

• Influence on public policy and practice (e.g., faculty appearance before government committees, tribunals, and hearings)

• Volume and reach of knowledge translation activities

• Media mentions of research and researchers

2. Societal Impact

The creation and dissemination of research knowledge that contributes to the betterment of individuals and society. Societal impact can be at the local, regional, national, or international level, indicated by:

• Alignment of Lang research outputs with the SDGs

• Engagement of, and collaborations with, communities in research creation and sharing

• Influence on public policy and practice (e.g., faculty appearances before government committees, tribunals, and hearings)

Goal 3: Promote Partnership and Collaboration

We will be recognized globally as a Canadian business school research partner of choice for industry, government, and not-for-profit organizations and leverage strong internal and external academic collaborations to enhance our creation and mobilization of research knowledge.

RELATED PRIORITIES AND KPIS:

1. Industry and Cross-Sector Partnership

Engaging and partnering with industry, public and not-forprofit stakeholders, and Indigenous organizations in the creation and dissemination of knowledge, indicated by:

• Collaboration with industry and external societal partners

• Leveraging of partnerships toward externally funded grants, particularly for tri-agency, OMAFRA/ Alliance.

• Non-industry research partners (public and not-for-profit) and Indigenous organizations

• Total sponsored research revenue (i.e., grants and contracts)

2. Collaborative Research

Working in partnership with scholars across departments, colleges, disciplines, institutions, and nations in the creation and application of knowledge, indicated by:

• Collaboration with scholars across departments, disciplines, institutions and nations

• Outreach activities via research centres and institutes.

• Identifiable clusters of research strength that integrate the work of multiple Lang researchers

Goal 4: Embed Research in All We Do

We will keep research at the forefront in Lang by ensuring that it is embedded in all activities, including teaching, research support, administration, governance, and community engagement.

RELATED PRIORITY AND KPIS:

1. Embedding Research in all we do

The transfer of research knowledge to enhance research skills, critical thinking, and evidence-based decision-making in all functions of the Lang School.

• Evidence of incorporating the scholarship of teaching and learning into the development of teaching best practices

• Incorporation of research knowledge in the classroom

• Research opportunities and training for undergraduate students

• Use of research competencies and evidence in decision making by committees, administrators and leaders across the School

• Presence of content specialists on relevant policy and advisory committees

Goal 5: Develop the Research Leaders of Tomorrow

We will increase our capacity to support the success of the next generation of research leaders by providing high-quality and meaningful training opportunities to a diverse and inclusive population of researchers across a variety of disciplines and approaches to research.

RELATED PRIORITY AND KPIS:

1. Contribution to Training Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP)

The training and development of research competencies in graduate student researchers and postdoctoral research fellows, indicated by:

• Research-focused student supervision (i.e., MSc, PhD)

• Progress in improving equity, diversity and inclusion outcomes for highly qualified research personnel

• Proportion of graduate students among our student population

• Percentage of early-career faculty who have secured external developmental (seed) funding

• HQP allocations in competitive grant competitions

• Number of Mitacs or other industry funded placement opportunities for students

• Alignment of graduate recruitment with faculty research

• Number of postdoctoral fellowships

• Number of faculty publications co-authored with undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows

• Career outcomes of graduates of research-based graduate programs

Strategic Research Plan 2023 – 2028