Our series of BAM Masterclasses are delivered by prominent management theorists from across the globe each year. These online webinars are an exceptional learning experience, revealing how top academics think about the world, what inspires them, and how they develop and apply their ideas. Where do influential ideas come from? What leads to them to being widely taken up?
The Masterclasses provide a platform for attendees to deepen their understanding of key research topics and academic practices. Led by esteemed experts, these sessions are crafted to address the evolving needs of the academic community. The masterclasses foster a collaborative environment where participants can engage with cutting-edge insights, explore contemporary debates, and share best practices. Tailored to support the advancement of academic careers, the masterclasses enable participants to stay at the forefront of research and practice.
Webinar Synopsis
This masterclass explores the concept of methodological fit and the need for a golden thread running throughout a piece of research. Using Saunders’ research onion as an aide memoir, questions are posed at each of its layers to help ensure methodological fit.
Noting the limited guidance offered by top journals regarding methods, the importance of demonstrating rigour and robustness in relation to quality criteria for qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research designs is discussed.
The masterclass will offer insights on writing a transparent methods section which can demonstrate rigour and robustness and a clear golden thread revealing fit.
Benefits of attending
- Understanding of methodological fit and its importance
- Recognition of the utility of the research onion
- Insights on writing a transparent research methods section
- Insights on demonstrating rigour and robustness
Provider Information
Who Should Attend?
The event speaks to Section A1-A3, C1-C3, D1-D3, E1-E3 as detailed in the BAM Framework.
Speakers
Professor Mark Saunders
Mark N.K. Saunders is Emeritus Professor of Business Research Methods, holding visiting professorships at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (University of Pretoria), and the University of Worcester.
His textbook, Research Methods for Business Students (9th edition), was ranked the world's 10th most cited article or book in Business and Economics by the Financial Times. His research focuses on research methods, the human resource aspects of change management (particularly trust), SME success, and pedagogic practice. He has co-authored and/or edited over 30 books - including How to Keep Your Doctorate on Track (2026, 3rd edition) - and published over 150 research articles and chapters in leading journals, his research has been cited over 120,000 times.
He serves as a consulting editor for the International Journal of Management Reviews, European Editor for the Service Industries Journal and is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Trust Research, the European Journal of Management and Human Resource Development Quarterly. Having formally retired, Mark lives with his partner and their two children in South Africa’s Western Cape spending some of his time undertaking researcher development, writing and researching.
Chaired by
Professor Stephanie Decker
Stephanie Decker, FAcSS, is Professor of Strategy at Birmingham Business School. She has contributed substantially to interdisciplinary research that draws on historical knowledge to expand and problematise management knowledge.
This research stream was recognised in the REF 2022 panel report for its contribution to the theoretical sophistication of business history. Her work spans methodological and theoretical issues, as well as empirical research on the role of international business in global contexts that are often underrepresented in business research, such as Africa. She has been joint editor-in-chief of Business History since 2020.
As former Co-Vice Chair for Research & Publications at the British Academy of Management, she has developed BAM’s Open Access strategy to support the continued excellence of our journals, British Journal of Management and International Journal of Management Reviews, as well as supporting the further development of the BAM research grants scheme.
She co-authored the BAM Guide to Decolonising the Business School Curriculum with the BAM Vice Chair for Equality, Diversity, Inclusivity & Respect and continues to champion interdisciplinary research in business, management and beyond.
Contact
Please contact the BAM Office at [email protected] with any queries.
Event Fee
BAM Members: Free
Non-Members: £60
Registration closes on 20th January 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
If you are booking multiple paid events as a Non-Member, it may be cheaper for you to purchase a BAM Membership as nearly all BAM Events are free or at a discounted rate for Members.
For more information, please visit BAM Membership
Payment and Cancellation Policy
Payment for the event must be received before the start date of the event concerned. Access will not be permitted to the event if full payment has not been received.
Cancellations
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Cancellations received within 14 days of booking your place on the event will receive a full refund.
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Cancellations received after the 14-day cancellation period and later than 14 days before the start date of the event will not be eligible for a refund.
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Although we endeavour to run all events as advertised, BAM reserves the right to cancel any event if, for example, there are not enough people to justify running the event or if other significant unforeseen circumstances arise.
To cancel a booking a cancellation request must be submitted via your BAM Account, to do this:
- Go to your BAM Account
- Click 'My Events'
- Under 'Upcoming Events' will be the booking, please click Cancel Booking
- Follow the steps and complete the request