The problems with theory and new challenges in theorizing
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Wood, Geoffrey
Phan, Phil
Wright, Douglas
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The Academy of Management Perspectives (AMP) is unique within the community of management journals in that it focuses on critically making sense of existing theory and evidence, rather than ab initio contributions to theory or summaries of existing states of the literature. This mission reflects a particularly pressing challenge to our field of research. While empirical management journals have steadily increased the analytical sophistication and quality of the data in the research they publish, the same cannot be said for contributions to theory. In this paper, we explore some of the common weaknesses in the way some theories are deployed, and consider the questions emanating from building and using theory. We recognize there is a vast literature on the problems of theorizing (Arend et al., 2016; Koontz, 1961; Tsoukas, 2017). We also acknowledge the many excellent publications on writing theory (e.g., Barney, 2018; Clark, Wright & Ketchen, 2016). Hence, our purpose is not so much to revisit these themes but to motivate a conversation that will lead to more meaningful theory and, ultimately, impact on practice. Kurt Lewin observed long ago that there is nothing so practical as a good theory (Lewin, 1951). We proceed by providing some evidence for the routine misapplication of theory. We then illustrate what we mean by contrasting the applications of institutional theory, agency theory, and the resource-based view, and some of the confusion this has created. Finally, we suggest some solutions for this problem and the questions that scholars might ask themselves before deploying a theory.
Date Issued
2018-11-01
Date Acceptance
2018-09-14
Citation
Academy of Management Perspectives, 2018, 32 (4), pp.405-411
ISSN
1558-9080
Publisher
Academy of Management
Start Page
405
End Page
411
Journal / Book Title
Academy of Management Perspectives
Volume
32
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© Academy of Management Perspectives.
Subjects
1503 Business And Management
Business & Management
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-11-29