Alienation among Management Scholars

Abstract

In a conceptual synthesis of a large body of literature, we explore drivers of alienation among management scholars through the lens of a classical path goal motivational model. Some scholars have become alienated from doing research due to the socio-political context of publishing. Although their unitary complaints are irksome, collectively these can amount to a career gauntlet – “a perfect storm” – of compounding challenges that permanently drive away scholars from doing academic research. To better understand this process, we show the pernicious interplay of these challenges in an expectancy model of costs, risks and rewards, each manifesting several of Blauner's (1964) drivers of work alienation – meaninglessness, powerlessness, self-estrangement and isolation. We conclude by suggesting mitigating conditions, summary propositions, and remedial implications.