Editor's perspective: Published South Asian research: current standing and future directions

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper (editorial) is to take a stock of the research focused upon South Asia, in order to evaluate if it has produced useful results, and to discuss its future directions as per the scope and mission of the South Asian Journal of Global Business Research. In view of pleas for greater attention to context effects, the authors use the concept of contextualization as the basis for analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative content analysis of research published in 21 top‐tier business journals is employed, including a total of 96 articles focusing upon South Asia or any South Asian country.

Findings

A contextualization typology is presented, related to purpose (whether context guides the research or not) and methodology (whether new or old framework and/or scales are used) and continuum of attention to contextualizations for hypotheses and/or research questions, and research findings in order to discuss the status of published South Asian research.

Research limitations/implications

The authors discuss limitations of their philosophical underpinning and epistemological standing that have influenced their analytical approach and results.

Originality/value

This paper presents a contextualization typology as a starting point to discuss contextualization in international business theory and practice. The paper also provides directions for future research for scholars interested in South Asian research.

Citation

Khilji, S.E. and Matthews, C.D. (2012), "Editor's perspective: Published South Asian research: current standing and future directions", South Asian Journal of Global Business Research, Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 154-176. https://doi.org/10.1108/20454451211252705