Updating Reay, Berta & Kohn EBMgt systematic review: an update from 2009-2012

Evidence-based management (EBMgt) is a relatively new and emerging movement in management theory, and modeled after evidence-based medicine (Briner, Denyer, & Rousseau, 2009). Interest in the topic appears to be gaining momentum, with an increasing amount of literature being published each year. However, according to the systematic review conducted by Reay et al. (2009), this literature, for the most part remains based more on expert opinion and very little empirical studies. As a result, Reay et al. (2009) called for more empirical research to be conduct on EBMgt. This study reviews the most recent literature on EBMgt to evaluate whether the calls for increased research on the topic have generated stronger levels of evidence. The author replicates Reay et al. (2009) and uses the same inclusion criteria to qualify the published research during the period between 2009 and 2012. The results of this research will be compared to that of Reay et al. to determine whether the research on EBMgt remains, for the most part, expert opinion or has the research strengthened since the last systematic review. Overall, the findings of this study, similar to Reay (2009), find a severe lack of empirical research regarding EBMgt. This systematic review reiterates the need for more research generating stronger levels of evidence to promote the development, transition of EBMgt learning into practice. This study adds fUrther support to the call for more empirical research to be conducted on EBMgt and its potential benefits to organizational performance.