Aligning process questions, perspectives, and explanations

Andrew Van de Ven, Harry Sminia

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    15 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This essay describes different kinds of research questions, process perspectives, and types of explanations to argue pragmatically that the quality and coherence of process research will be enhanced when these ingredients of process research are aligned. A distinction is made between questions about process past (what has happened?), process present (what is going on?), process future (where are we going?), and process action (what should we do?); which are then associated respectively with the historical reconstruction, becoming/ emergent, unfolding, and developing/control process perspectives. Each of these research questions requires a specific and distinct type of explanation, in terms of a unique sequence of events, a key event, a generalizable pattern of events, or a social mechanism. A hierarchy of logical relationships between questions and explanations is discussed, leading to implications for management research as well as manage- ment practice.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationConstructing identity in and around organizations
    EditorsMajken Schultz, Steve Maguire, Ann Langley, Haridimos Tsoukas
    Place of PublicationOxford
    PublisherOxford University Press
    Pages306-319
    Number of pages14
    ISBN (Print)9780199640997
    Publication statusPublished - 19 Jan 2012

    Publication series

    NamePerspectives on Process Organization Studies
    PublisherOxford University Press
    Volume2

    Keywords

    • process questions
    • perspectives
    • explanations

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Aligning process questions, perspectives, and explanations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this