Responsible by Design: From Socially Responsible Science to Practical, Accountable Implications

This editorial argues that management research should be responsible by design rather than merely responsible in retrospect. Bringing together the critique of socially irresponsible research systems and the warning that practical implications can themselves be harmful when overstated or poorly framed, it develops a publishing stance for Management Research Quarterly (MRQ) centered on three connected expectations: socially meaningful problem selection, methodological credibility, and careful, conditional practical implications. The editorial also suggests that journals should treat editorial infrastructures, review criteria, and communication practices as part of responsible research. In doing so, it positions MRQ as an open-access venue where transparency, relevance, and ethical interpretation can be jointly institutionalized across the full research pipeline.