SIMA-SIM School of Research Methods

What normally distinguishes the figure of the academician in virtually every field of investigation is, first, the ability to punctually apply logical and methodological rigor in his/her studies and research. In-depth knowledge and the rigorous application of research methodologies is in fact the essential watershed for being able to carry out the research profession in a coherent and effective way. In the past, research methods in management were quite simple and essentially dichotomous: it was de facto necessary to choose between the use of a qualitative methodology (based on the case study) or a quantitative methodology (based on statistical and/or econometric analysis). These methodologies were normally studied during the research doctorate course by young scholars in training. With the tremendous acceleration imprinted on almost all processes in recent years, as we well know, today it is becoming more and more difficult to succeed in "chasing the variety and chasing the quantity" of the new emerging methods (not only qualitative and quantitative, but also mixed, not based only on cases, but also on ethnographic investigations, on grounded theory, on QCA and so on) and thus succeed in "always keeping up" with the new methodological acquisitions. This happens even though PhDs usually make an effort to get students to study (certain) research methods!
In this sense, the SIMA-SIM School of Research Methods stands as a fundamental link between the most recent methodological acquisitions in the managerial field and the intellectual growth of the new academic generation that will have to know and apply these methodologies. On the basis of previous research experiences of the teachers involved in the schools, of the conversations carried out in several meetings (conferences, workshops, thematic groups) with colleagues of various academic generations and, perhaps even more, with the constant comparison with the SIMA Next Gen, since about a year the SIMA-SIM School of Research Methods has identified and started to launch a real coherent portfolio of methodological activities, some in presence and others online, aimed at fulfilling study needs and meeting intellectual curiosities - sometimes emerging or even emerged, sometimes still latent - of young Italian scholars.
First of all, since last summer, the SIMA-SIM School of Research Methods has organized the first once again residential and face-to-face post-pandemic initiative, namely the School of Research Methods Summer Edition "Introduction to Research Methods", held with the passionate participation of about twenty doctoral students from all over the peninsula on 18, 19 and 20 July 2022 at the Imperia campus of the University of Genoa. Following this first post-pandemic experiment, two online editions of the Digital Academy were held, respectively entitled "Introduction to Python" (12, 26 November and 3 December 2022), and "Basic elements of computer science and Introduction to Python", which is coming to an end in these days, and also the School of Research Methods Winter Edition on the considerable theme of "Academic Writing" (10, 20, 24, 20 and 30 March 2023). Given the considerable success of the first Digital Academy, we decided to repeat it closely during the same academic year.
What's cooking for the future? Between 12 and 15 July, in the splendid setting of the Sienese countryside at the Certosa di Pontignano and the Department of Business and Law of the University of Siena, the School of Research Methods Summer Edition on the "Qualitative Approaches”, which is promoted for the first time together with the British partner academy, namely the British Academy of Management (BAM) with the qualified participation of a roster of international teaching faculty and students. Even this initiative, whose registration deadline was initially set for April 20, promises to be very successful: in fact, we can confirm that the places have already sold out!
What else? This is another world and therefore we imagine it could be the theme of our next editorial!

Giovanni Battista Dagnino – Direttore SIMA-SIM School of Research Methods

Elena Casprini – Co-direttrice SIMA

Rossella Gambetti – Codirettrice SIM