Barriers in Management Research Productivity: A TISM and Fuzzy MICMAC Study

Despite its crucial role in the social and economic development of a nation, the output of management research in India remains limited. India significantly lags global standards for academic research output. Despite having research interests, most academics are unable to produce high-quality output. This study aims to pinpoint the barriers affecting the research output of Indian management academicians. This study identified and validated 15 barriers to research productivity among Indian management academicians through a literature review and expert discussion. Contextual linkages among barriers were drawn using the total interpretative structural modelling (TISM) technique, and a hierarchical, nine-level model was developed. Further, the driving and dependence powers of the barriers were determined through a Fuzzy MICMAC analysis. The results indicate that institutional and resource-based challenges, such as rigid grant procedures, inadequate incentives, weak research culture, and limited collaboration, act as strong driving barriers. Motivation-related constraints and workload pressures emerge as dependent barriers, influenced by deeper systemic issues.