The Fit Forum emerged from conversations between Bruce Lewin and Steve Hearsum in early 2009. Both have a professional interest in how ‘fit’ is experienced in organisations, as well as an innate curiosity when it comes to translating theory into practice.
Our initial conversations were around ‘fit’ in the context of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) due diligence, of interest to both of us as practitioners and researchers. We quickly established we shared a curiosity regarding the broader human experience of ‘fit’, and realized that this was an area that at best could be described as under-researched and fragmented, although neglected and under valued would be more accurate. We have found no evidence of a coherent body of work or school of thought that links together the different facets and types of ‘human fit’, and whilst there are myriad opportunities to attend conferences on aspects of organisational life, events dedicated to any aspect of ‘fit’ are thin or the ground, in fact they are non-existent.
The paucity of research in this area, when one looks at it holistically, is striking. A rare exception is the Open University’s Fit Project and the three e-conference’s on fit they have staged, the last in November 2009. The Fit Forum seeks to build on the themes explored by these events, and broaden the inquiry by extending an invitation to interested parties from across the fields of management research and academia, business leaders and managers, practitioners and researchers.
What is Fit?
The Fit Forum emerged from conversations between Bruce Lewin and Steve Hearsum in early 2009. Both have a professional interest in how ‘fit’ is experienced in organisations, as well as an innate curiosity when it comes to translating theory into practice.
Our initial conversations were around ‘fit’ in the context of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) due diligence, of interest to both of us as practitioners and researchers. We quickly established we shared a curiosity regarding the broader human experience of ‘fit’, and realized that this was an area that at best could be described as under-researched and fragmented, although neglected and under valued would be more accurate. We have found no evidence of a coherent body of work or school of thought that links together the different facets and types of ‘human fit’, and whilst there are myriad opportunities to attend conferences on aspects of organisational life, events dedicated to any aspect of ‘fit’ are thin or the ground, in fact they are non-existent.
The paucity of research in this area, when one looks at it holistically, is striking. A rare exception is the Open University’s Fit Project and the three e-conference’s on fit they have staged, the last in November 2009. The Fit Forum seeks to build on the themes explored by these events, and broaden the inquiry by extending an invitation to interested parties from across the fields of management research and academia, business leaders and managers, practitioners and researchers.