| Author: | Weick, K. E. |
| Title: | Theory construction as disciplined imagination. |
| Journal: | Academy of Management Review
1989 : OCT, VOL. 14:4, p. 516-531 |
| Index terms: | ORGANIZATIONAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY |
| Language: | eng |
| Abstract: | The process of theory construction in organizational studies is portrayed as imagination disciplined by evolutionary processes analogous to artificial selection. The quality of theory produced is predicted to vary as a function of the accuracy and detail present in the problem statement that triggers theory building, the number of and interdependence among the conjectures that attempt to solve the problem and the number and diversity of selection criteria used to test the conjectures. It is argued that interest is a substitute for validation during theory construction, middle range theories are a necessity if the process is to be kept manageable, and in the case of great complexity metaphors and similar representations are inevitable. |
SCIMA