A Distance Framework to Understand the Academia-Practicioner Gap

This paper lays out a framework for understanding the academia-practitioner gap. In this framework, there are three dimensions of distance between academia and practice: (1) Product, (2) Mindset, and (3) Process. Within each category, there are multiple elements that can be used as a comprehensive way to identify all the challenges in transferring academic research to practice. This approach is both firmly grounded in and distinct from existing frameworks like Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation, Roberts’ Marketing Science Value Chain, Wierenga’s Success of Marketing Management Support Systems and Lilien’s analysis of Bridging the Academic-Practitioner divide. After describing the framework, the paper looks at how researchers can better understand the role of intermediaries in bridging the gap between academia and practice by identifying which types of distance they help close.