ANN ARBOR—The Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business is the inaugural recipient of the Academy of Management’s research impact award.

The award recognizes researchers or research centers that have had a major impact on management practice in the real world. The Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship was selected as the first winner of AOM Practice Theme Committee’s Research Center Impact Award for its work in helping to create purpose-driven organizations and uplifting work environments.

“Producing research that influences academics is rewarding. Producing research that also impacts the world of practice is deeply satisfying,” said Bob Quinn, faculty director of the center. “We are grateful to receive this recognition from the Academy of Management.”

The Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship studies what is positive about organizations and the people who comprise them. It then develops ways that companies can use the information to affect positive change, such as increase employee morale, reduce costly turnover or otherwise improve the managerial aspects of an operation. The center is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

The Academy of Management, an internationally renowned scholarly management organization, counts more than 19,000 member organizations from 109 countries and works to promote excellence and deeper scholarly understandings of established management disciplines.

The award will be presented to at the academy’s annual meeting in August.