Actionable research is the way forward: PIM and PIMA launch PIMARC

The panel discussion on ‘reflecting reality through research’

The Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) recently launched Postgraduate Institute of Management Annual Research Conference (PIMARC) – a first-of-its-kind research conference that strives to connect academics and practitioners. As the pioneer in management education in Sri Lanka, PIM took this initiative to promote the concept of combining the expertise of both disciplines when conducting research in order to fill the void for action-centric research in the industry.

Attended by many dignitaries, distinguished guests, and experts from both academia and industry, the event kicked off with a welcome address by PIM Alumni President and Asset Line Insurance Brokers Managing Director Jayalal Hewawasam, who discussed the focus of PRIMARC explaining that it aims to connect academics and practitioners to discuss how best to combine their expertise in conducting research that can deliver value-driving results to organisations. 

PIM Director and PIM Alumni Patron Professor Ajantha Dharmasiri further elaborated on the major proportion of prevailing research that falls into the broader category of social research. Today’s research needs are driven by business objectives and thus, the main aim of initiating this conference was to bridge the gap between academics and practitioners to combine their expertise and produce practically applicable research that can assist the business world that is actionable, applicable, practical, and industry relevant. This he said is the primary goal of PRIMARC. He added that PIM Alumni is the largest body of MBA Alumni in Sri Lanka and as such, PRIMARC is another milestone in the institute’s journey of living its motto – mind before action.

Conference Chairperson Dr. Nilakshi Galahitiyawa endorsed these views by stating that PIM and PIM Alumni has been instrumental in enabling learning and growth opportunities for the industry and that this initiative will launch yet another wave of knowledge dissemination for industry decision-makers and top researchers.

The keynote address was delivered by Chief Guest and UNSW Canberra, Australia School of Business Accounting and Governance Associate Professor Jim Fredrick Rooney who commended PIM on this initiative which he mentioned was an important step taken in the right direction to make Sri Lanka a research-savvy nation.

The conference saw the presentation of three research papers covering areas of identity-based destination image on destination loyalty by H.M.A. Lakmal, the role of charismatic leadership and computer self-efficacy on HRIS user acceptance and user behaviour by Harini Perera, and the impact of integrated thinking on value creation by an organisation by Roshan W. Herath.

A panel discussion was also organised on the topic ‘reflecting reality through research’ moderated by Dr. Samantha Rathnayaka with Professor Ajantha Dharmasiri, Professor Jim Rooney, Lanka Hospitals Corporation Group CEO Dr. Prasad Medawatta, Lion Brewery Head of HR Surani Amarasinghe, and economist, marketer, and specialist in tourism and travel Malraj B. Kiriella making up the panel.

Professor Dharmasiri said that research must focus more on findings and should not only be knowledge communicators but rather knowledge creators and solution providers, whilst Professor Rooney stressed on the need to understand the fundamental differences between academics and practitioners in order to achieve synergistic expertise. Adding other perspectives, Dr. Medawatta stated the need for a holistic approach to be adopted when conducting empirical research that will be useful to the industry while Kiriella highlighted the importance of compactness and authenticity in positioning Sri Lanka as a brand.

The conference marked a significant milestone in PIM and PIMA’s quest to nurture knowledge based decision making in the local business sector. Delivering concluding remarks, PIM Alumni Association Vice President and Hayleys Aventura IRM General Manager Denzil Perera mentioned that PIM Alumni will continue to co-organise PIMARC as an annual event with support from both academic and industry experts and that this annual event strives to bring out a research revolution connecting academics and practitioners to conduct research that would yield actionable results to enhance Sri Lanka’s development goals.