Title: Evolution of academic research in French business schools (2008-2018): isomorphism and heterogeneity

Authors: Patricia Laurens; Christian Le Bas; Linh-Chi Vo

Addresses: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Gustave Eiffel, 5 Bd Descartes, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France ' ESDES, Lyon Catholic University (UCLy), Lyon, France; UR CONFLUENCE: Sciences et Humanités (EA1598), Lyon Catholic University (UCLy), Lyon, France ' ESDES, Lyon Catholic University (UCLy), Lyon, France; UR CONFLUENCE: Sciences et Humanités (EA1598), Lyon Catholic University (UCLy), Lyon, France

Abstract: In the perspective of institutional theory, business education is an institutional field, in which two major institutional forces are accreditations and rankings. In this context, French business schools (BS) have adopted an isomorphic response by starting to engage in research and publishing in academic journals. Studies have discussed their research as a new institutional trajectory. However, what remains unknown is how they differ from each other in such research dynamics. To bring new insights to the discussion, this quantitative study examines, over the period of 2008-2018, the evolution of research of French BS by systematically comparing the 'best' schools with other schools in all analyses. The results indicate a strong isomorphism in terms of publication quantity and productivity, scale of research collaboration and the internationalisation of research. However, these schools are heterogeneous in terms research quality and scale of international research collaboration, reflecting the diversity in their research strategy.

Keywords: business schools; academic research; isomorphism; institutional theory; France.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2024.139188

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2024 Vol.14 No.4, pp.361 - 383

Received: 17 Dec 2023
Accepted: 06 Feb 2024
Published online: 24 Jun 2024 *

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