Journal of Management Studies· 2026Q1
What Future for Genetics in Management Research?
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- 2026year
Short summary
Two opposing viewpoints debate the future of genetics in management research: one advocating for deeper genetic exploration for precise measurement and causal inference, the other cautioning against reductionism and suggesting genetics is better suited for explaining evolutionary conditions.
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Key points
- One perspective argues for deeper genetic research to enhance measurement and causal inference in management.
- The opposing view cautions against reducing complex behaviors to genetic factors.
- This alternative perspective suggests genetics is better for explaining evolutionary conditions that shape behavior.
- The debate calls for careful consideration of the appropriate use of genetic explanations in management research.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract The author teams on this Point‐Counterpoint debate agree that the search for genetic explanations of organizational behaviours has been underwhelming – yet they have very different visions for the future of genetics in management research. The Point argues for a deeper dive into the field of genetics to ensure more precise measurement and make better causal inferences. In contrast, the Counterpoint cautions against reducing complex human behaviour to molecular causes and sees genetics as better suited to explain distal evolutionary conditions from which behaviours emerge. The introduction to this collection summarizes the core ideas in each article and their recommendations. The introduction then positions the Point‐Counterpoint debate against the broader challenge of seeking to advance management research with knowledge from a different discipline. It concludes with a call for researchers to carefully consider when and under what conditions it is warranted to search for genetic explanations, rather than uncritically embracing genetic explanations or dismissing them outright.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Management Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
Organizational Behavior and Human Resource ManagementBusiness, Management and Accounting