Reclaiming Relevance Through Problem‐Driven Interdisciplinary Research

Abstract Management studies initially emerged as an applied field, uniquely positioned to tackle practical organizational problems through interdisciplinary research. Over time, however, the field has prioritized abstract theoretical contributions over real‐world engagement, fragmenting into disciplinary silos ill‐equipped to address complex contemporary management problems, such as climate change, technological disruptions, and social inequalities. Although this theoretical turn has deepened the rigor of the field, it has eroded the field’s distinct value and relevance. We call for management studies to reclaim its applied origins through interdisciplinary, problem‐driven research, which leverages the field’s unique integrative capacity while preserving theoretical depth. Drawing on Herbert Simon’s distinction between well‐ and ill‐structured problems, we propose a framework that matches problem types to appropriate forms of interdisciplinary engagement: coordination for moderately well‐structured issues, collaboration for moderately ill‐structured ones, and co‐creation for highly ill‐structured challenges. This framework offers a conceptual scaffold for scholars seeking to engage with pressing organizational and societal challenges while navigating the institutional and epistemic barriers to interdisciplinary research. By returning to its applied origins through problem‐driven, interdisciplinary research, management studies can restore both its scholarly legitimacy and societal relevance.