In academia, creating impactful research is both an accomplishment and a journey filled with challenges. I am thrilled to share the success story of my article titled 'A systematic literature review on employee relations with CSR: State of the art and future research agenda,' published two years ago in Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. This work garnered attention as a top downloaded and cited paper and represents an intensely personal journey through grief and resilience.
Onkila, T., & Sarna, B. (2022). A systematic literature review on employee relations with CSR : State of art and future research agenda. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 29(2), 435-447. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2210
As I embarked on this research, my life was deeply affected by the illness of my mother, who was hospitalized and admitted to the ICU for six months. Tragically, she passed away shortly after I began my work on this paper. During this time, I grappled with feelings of anger and frustration, struggling to comprehend the challenges that life presented. These emotions compounded the difficulties I faced as my article experienced initial desk rejections, leading to a sense of despair and self-doubt.
In reflecting on the data set we had gathered, I contemplated whether the volume of literature reviewed (331 Articles) was too overwhelming. I considered reducing the scope of our work, fearing we might not do justice to the large data. set. However, the steadfast support of my co-author and supervisor, Dr. Tiina Onkila, was crucial during this struggle. Her conviction in our original approach and her understanding of my emotional state provided the encouragement I needed to retain the comprehensive dataset, fostering a collaborative environment that ultimately allowed us to achieve publication.
With perseverance and a shared vision, we refined our article and finally saw our efforts come to fruition. The acknowledgement our research has received—first being named a Top Downloaded Article for its impressive engagement during its first year, and later recognized as a Top Cited Article for 2022-2023—not only marks a professional milestone but also serves as a testament to resilience in the face of adversity.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Dr. Onkila. I am not comfortable with public speeches, and I have often found it difficult to adequately convey my appreciation for her support during a particularly challenging time in my life. Her empathy and belief in our work inspired me to channel my struggles into something meaningful.
This experience has imparted vital lessons about the importance of support, dedication, and the often unseen strength we possess within ourselves to overcome challenges. I hope my story resonates with others facing their difficulties, encouraging them to seek paths to success and find solace in the support of those around them.
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