Union‐Jacking the research agenda. A study of the frontstage and backstage of Business Strategy and the Environment 1992–1998

Abstract

The purpose of this discussion article is to show some descriptive characteristics of research carried out in environmental management. Thus, it is an invitation for reflection on environment-related research in management. To start this reflection, we use data from Business Strategy and the Environment (BSE) in the years from 1992 to 1998. BSE is a journal that is to a great extent dedicated to research on environment-related management issues. To identify characteristics of environment-related research in management, we utilize data from the frontstage of the journal (published articles and their authors) and from the backstage (references used in these articles). The database includes the titles and authors of 150 articles and their 4297 references. We present descriptive data on key terminology, country origins of the articles, number of references used per article over time, age changes of the stock of references, most cited authors and most cited works. Based on these observations we draw conclusions concerning power structures and formulate research questions that will contribute to a better understanding of the research in strategic environmental management. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment