Possibilities for critical management education and studies

This research note builds upon recent discussions in this journal in an exploration of different scenarios for the way that critical management education and studies can relate to mainstream management education and studies. It is argued that there is no choice but for there to be a relationship of some sort between the two, albeit of a complex sort. Three scenarios are envisaged. In one, the two approaches largely ignore each other and their relationship is left tacit and covert. In the second, there is an engagement between the two. In the third, critical approaches gain ascendancy and become the mainstream. Whilst fraught with difficulties, the conclusion is that the second scenario, that of engagement, is preferable.