Studying the Unusual in Organizations

There has been ongoing dialogue in our field regarding the value of examining extreme, unconventional, or unsettling contexts in management research. To further add to, and extend, such discussions, we have put together a panel of scholars who have conducted studies examining the unusual in organizations, succeeded in publishing it in top journals, and crafted their research identities in different ways. In doing so, we aim to provide a forum for scholars to reflect on the 'dos and do nots' for data collection and paper writing, plus tips on how to theorize when conducting research that many others may perceive as different, odd, unconventional, or even taboo. We hope to offer guidance to doctoral students, junior faculty and/or those who may be new to working with such populations on how they can best navigate the challenge of theorizing, and increase the likelihood of their efforts being favorably received by top management journals.