Mysuru: The SDM Institute for Management Development (SDM-IMD), Mysuru, conducted a Research Development Programme on “Crafting Impactful Research Papers: Mastering the Art of Publishing in a Highly Indexed Journal” in city recently.

Delivering the inaugural address, Dr. (Lt. Col.) S.N. Prasad, Director, SDM-IMD, underscored the importance of research that creates meaningful impact beyond academic publications.

He urged researchers to critically examine whether their work contributes to the advancement of knowledge, influences the intended scholarly community and addresses broader societal challenges.

Highlighting that management research derives its true value from practical application, Dr. Prasad emphasised the need to assess research through the lens of its real-world relevance and impact.

Speaking on the importance of intellectual integrity, he stressed that the originality and authenticity of research ideas must always remain uncompromised.

While acknowledging the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in research, he noted that AI should serve only as an enabling tool to enhance research capabilities, with researchers retaining complete ownership of conceptualisation, critical thinking, analysis and scholarly contributions.

Encouraging participants to pursue bold and innovative research, Dr. Prasad observed that radical ideas often emerge when researchers move beyond confirmatory thinking and challenge established assumptions. Describing research writing as the highest expression of human intellect, he remarked that every scholarly work should embody curiosity, originality and meaningful exploration.

Addressing the participants, Dr. B. Venkataraja, Associate Professor of Economics, SDM-IMD and the resource person for the programme, highlighted that publishing in highly indexed journals has become an integral component of academic careers. However, he noted that contemporary academia is increasingly being questioned for producing research with limited practical relevance.

He emphasised that researchers must continually reflect on the significance and societal impact of their work, ensuring that their contributions address real-world issues and advance their respective disciplines in meaningful ways.