Theory-building Process Research Articles

Cultural dynamics: formal descriptions of cultural processes

Author(s): Fischer, Michael D | Abstract: Formalization is typically associated by both supporters and detractors of formal methods with an emphasis on form over content or meaning. However well founded, this association fails to capture why we employ (or not) formal descriptions of what we are describing.One problem arises when we try to directly link human thought to human behavior (or vice versa); assuming the process of going from one to the other is complex and idiosyncratic, but direct. In this paper I examine an approach to developing a formal system that helps us represent the relationship between ideational and behavioral aspects of socio-cultural phenomena in a manner that is consistent with, and helps address the connections between, symbolic and materialist approaches.People embedded in cultural processes demonstrate remarkable powers of creation, transformation, stability and regulation. Culture gives agents the power to hyper-adapt: not only can they achieve local minima and maxima, they modify or create the conditions for new adaptations. Culture transcends material and behavioral contexts. Cultural solutions are instantiated in material and behavioral terms, but are based in large part on ‘invented’ symbolic constructions of the interaction space and its elements. We will present an example of how a symbolic system 'drives' the material organization of human groups, explore how symbolic systems act over material domains as a general case, and examine some of the implications of this for multi-agent modelling as a theory-building process.

Decision‐related uncertainties perceived by people with cancer—modelling the subject of shared decision making

Aim was to survey distinctive qualities of decision-related uncertainty in cancer. Assessment of differential perception of uncertainties is a prerequisite for the study of cognitive coping as mediated by risk communication. A theory building process was initiated. Using in-depth interviews with cancer patients subjective representations of uncertainty associated with medical decisions were explored. Grounded theory techniques were applied to extract categories out of the interview material. The qualitative process led to an eight-dimensional model. Five raters achieved a Fleiss agreement coefficient of 0.61 attributing raw material from interviews to the categories. Patients expressed uncertainties concerning (1) disease-related issues (prognosis/diagnosis, treatment), (2) risk communication issues (deciphering information, role in the medical dyad, physician's trustability) and (3) aspects of coping with life considering the disease (mastering requirements, social integration, causal attribution). We found support for a multidimensional model of uncertainty. This approach can be helpful in the investigation of further issues concerning communication and coping with uncertainty related to medical decisions in cancer and other diseases. It sharpens shared decision making theoretically and thereby provides the basis for a measurement concept.

Toward a General Research Process for Using Dubin's Theory Building Model

Dubin developed a widely used methodology for theory building, which describes the components of the theory building process. Unfortunately, he does not define a research process for implementing his theory building model. This article proposes a seven-step general research process for implementing Dubin's theory building model. An example of a theory building process is used to explicate a research process that will aid new theorists and reviewers of theory in conceptualizing a rigorous and systematic process to implement Dubin's model.

The Development of the Person: The Minnesota Study of Risk and Adaptation From Birth to Adulthood: By L. A. Sroufe, B. Egeland, E. A. Carlson, and W. A. Collins: A Review

I begin this review of Sroufe, et al. (2005) with some thoughts about theory building and clinical process. In the early 1960s, author Ernest Hemingway was reportedly asked by a magazine interviewe...

American Humanitarian Intervention: Toward a Theory of Coevolution

The goal of this study is twofold. First, it seeks to move beyond the exploration of motivations for understanding why the United States launches some humanitarian interventions and avoids others. Second, it initiates a theory building process to map the complex international and domestic environment that frames American humanitarianism. To explain the selectivity of U.S. engagement, the article establishes a typology of actors, restraints, and concerns involved in the humanitarian policy-making process. It then presents a theory of coevolution that serves as a framework for understanding the interactive and diffusive dynamics between policy makers and their broader operating environment. With illustrative case studies on Operation Provide Comfort in Iraq (1991), Operation Allied Force in Kosovo (1999), and Operation Unified Assistance in response to the Asian Tsunami (2004), this study suggests that U.S.-led humanitarian interventions are part of larger episodes of engagement that hold consequences for subsequent involvements. It finds that altruistic interventions are often blurred with self-interested power pursuits, as American humanitarianism is the product of a confluence of domestic political factors, historical milieu, and international normative advancement.

Modeling and Simulation in Inquiry Learning: Checking Solutions and Giving Intelligent Advice

Inquiry learning is a didactic approach in which students acquire knowledge and skills through processes of theory building and experimentation. Computer modeling and simulation can play a prominent role within this approach. Students construct representations of physical systems using modeling. Using simulation, they execute these representations to study the phenomena or systems modeled. However, the modeling task is complex, and students can fail to create adequate models, which prevents effective learning. This necessitates supportive measures to scaffold the modeling processes. In this paper, we address the issue of designing such support through the development of intelligent advice to be incorporated in modeling environments. The advice is based on the definition of a family of reference solutions for each modeling problem, on the comparison of the reference solutions with the students' solutions, and on the use of an advice knowledge base. This advice guides the students to the construction of a better solution, helping them acquire the knowledge required for successful modeling and for the correction of modeling mistakes. In a collaborative session, having the advice encourages discussion between students about the advice and the best way of proceeding. Empirical validations of the advice approach are presented.

The organizational form of vertical relationships: Dimensions of integration

In this paper we argue that the organizational form of a buying firm's vertical relationship with a supplier can be defined as a configuration of four distinct, but related dimensions of integration. These dimensions pertain to ownership integration (the extent that the firm owns the upstream component supplier), coordination integration (the intensity of information exchange to align the two stages of production), task integration (the extent that the buying firm performs upstream tasks), and knowledge integration (the extent that the buying firm possesses knowledge about the upstream component). Ranging from fully integrated to fully disintegrated, these dimensions can be combined to form various organizational configurations that better reflect the true nature of organizational forms than one-dimensional conceptualizations. Drawing on distinct fields of research (e.g. transaction costs economics, information-processing theory, and learning) the goal of this paper is to improve our understanding of the four dimensions of integration and their interrelationships. This is an important step for future processes of configurational theory building and normative testing.

Corporate Strategies of Busines Groups in the Wake of Competitive Shocks: Lessons from Argentina

Conventional economic and management theories explain that business groups facing market liberalization policy reforms (i.e., competitive shocks) would have incentives to reduce corporate portfolios and increase internationalization. We empirically examine the strategic responses of Argentine business groups and, through an inductive theory building process, propose refinements to this theory. We argue that such a strategy process is moderated not only by differences in market forces set out by policy reforms across different economic segments but also by the path dependency of resources and capabilities as well as management decision‐making style of individual business groups. We discuss implications for theory and practice.

Developing new frameworks for operations strategy and service system design in electronic commerce

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop new frameworks for operations strategy and service system design in electronic commerce (EC) to provide strategic insights to academics and practitioners.Design/methodology/approachProduct/service process matrices for intangible and tangible products in EC operations are presented based on the classification of products and delivery channel options and three cases are investigated to illustrate the newly developed matrices.FindingsThe fit between two dimensions (characteristics of product/service, service delivery processes) in the matrices contributes to firm's competitiveness through market expansion and improvement of customer services. Through the case studies, it was confirmed that the conceptual framework developed in this study illustrates actual EC operations well.Research limitations/implicationsFurther case or empirical research on more diverse products or services will be required to increase robustness of the matrices and to additionally confirm the results of this study including the effects of the “fit”.Practical implicationsThe new frameworks have the potential to be useful as a planning tool in developing an operations strategy and service system design, as well as a diagnostic tool for examining the causes of poor service quality and low customer satisfaction resulting from a mismatch between two dimensions.Originality/valueThe development of new frameworks is an important first step in the gradual process of theory building and theory testing, as well as providing strategic insights for practitioners.

International human resource management: overcoming disciplinary sectarianism

International human resource management (IHRM) research is becoming an increasingly important topic in light of the relentless pace of globalisation. Three strands of research contribute to our understanding of IHRM, the most dominant being research on human resource management in multinational companies. This paper categorises the literature in the field, highlighting disciplinary introspection within and between each strand. Argues that, by neglecting to embrace the contributions of research from cross‐cultural management and comparative human resource management, the field lacks the necessary conceptual and methodological tools to advance. Concludes by suggesting areas where collaboration and cross‐fertilisation between disciplines can occur before embarking on the integrative process of theory building.

Building New Management Theory by Integrating Processes and Products of Thought

This article advocates that more strategy researchers and managers become engaged in aninteractive, reciprocating research process, the objective of which is building pragmatic strategic management theory. To this purpose, the authors suggest how researchers and managers may engage in theory-building processes in which generalized theories of researchers and contextual theories of managers interactively evolve in a new model of double-loop learning. In particular, the authors suggest the following sequence of activities: (a) Researchers should propose integrative theories thought to be generally applicable; researchers and managers should then consider applicability of strategy theory to specific competitive contexts. (b) This strategic logic is then formulated by managers and applied to specific competitive contexts. (c) The market response leads to refining or to redefining the firm’s strategic logic. (d) The firm’s experience in formulating and in testing strategic logics inform researchers’ efforts to develop new strategy theory.

International compensation: learning from how managers respond to variations in local host contexts

Managers and researchers recognize that the tensions created by the interplay of globalization and national environments influence the behaviours of multinational enterprises (MNEs). We develop a model to help explain the effects of both global and local host environments on the design of managerial compensation systems in MNEs. We use a grounded theory-building process by integrating information we obtained from exploring the international compensation systems (ICS) of five MNEs. We extend two contemporary perspectives of IHRM – the national culture and strategic alignment models–and develop the idea that it is the relative degree of variation within and between local host contexts that is critical to understanding managers' ICS decisions. We present a different, pragmatic experimentation view of managers' ICS decision making, which we believe offers insights into how managers deal with the interplay between pressures to create aligned, integrated global systems and pressures to conform to local host contexts.

Teaching and assessing social work law: Reflections from a post-qualifying programme

This article continues a process of theory building, which has periodically been reported in this journal. Here details are provided of a post-qualifying programme on teaching and assessing social work law, devised for practice teachers and for academic staff. It then presents issues and themes, which emerged from the experience of the first cohort of candidates. It concludes with an evaluation of the programme and identifies further work that would consolidate the practice, and practice teaching of social work law in welfare organisations.

The User-Oriented Evaluator’s Role in Formulating a Program Theory: Using a Theory-Driven Approach

Program theory plays a prominent role in many evaluations, not only in theory-driven evaluations. This paper presents a case study of the process of developing and refining a program’s theory within a user-oriented evaluation. In user-oriented (or utilization-focused) evaluations, primary users can play a role in defining their own program theory. This is different, however, from the typical process by which a program theory is developed when using theory-driven evaluation framework. This case study concerns a university’s academic outreach program with three local school districts. The program’s objective is to increase the number of University of California eligible and specifically University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) admissible students from targeted local public schools. The authors helped develop and refine outreach staff’s program theory. The evaluation procedures are described and results of the theory building process presented.

The development of children’s beliefs about intelligence

We review research in the development of children’s beliefs about intelligence and propose that this development represents simultaneous processes of concept acquisition and theory building. Research in beliefs about the nature of intelligence has focused on children’s definitions of intelligence, beliefs about the component structure of intelligence, and the criteria children use to evaluate ability. Children’s beliefs about the stability of intelligence have been examined in terms of constancy, controllability, capacity, the origins of intelligence, and mechanisms of change. Researchers have also examined the relationships among beliefs about intelligence and the relationship between those beliefs and achievement behaviors. We summarize prior theoretical frameworks used to explain the development of children’s beliefs and propose a new integrative model to understand children’s conceptions.

The User-Oriented Evaluator’s Role in Formulating a Program Theory: Using a Theory-Driven Approach

Program theory plays a prominent role in many evaluations, not only in theory-driven evaluations. This paper presents a case study of the process of developing and refining a program’s theory within a user-oriented evaluation. In user-oriented (or utilization-focused) evaluations, primary users can play a role in defining their own program theory. This is different, however, from the typical process by which a program theory is developed when using theory-driven evaluation framework. This case study concerns a university’s academic outreach program with three local school districts. The program’s objective is to increase the number of University of California eligible and specifically University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) admissible students from targeted local public schools. The authors helped develop and refine outreach staff’s program theory. The evaluation procedures are described and results of the theory building process presented.

Evaluating evolutionary archaeology

It has often been observed that archaeologists are adept at borrowing theory but not very good about building it. Analyses of the uptake by archaeologists of perspectives from a diversity of sources indicate that such borrowings rarely (if ever) lead to the building of archaeological theory. The return of explicit discussion of evolutionary theory within archaeology affords us the chance to explore whether the traditional pattern of borrowing is being repeated once again, and, if it is, to suggest some strategies which might help us to do better. The core of the paper comprises two case studies to support an argument that evolutionary archaeologists need to integrate the development of evaluation strategies into the process of theory building. These studies focus our attention on the need to reconcile interpretation and inference with the temporality of archaeological records, and provide good examples of how a serious consideration of problems that are revealed by this reconciliation can be a positive force in theory building.

Total quality management and theory: An exploratory study of contribution

This paper explores the position of total quality management (TQM) with respect to theory. Amongst the findings of this exploratory examination is that: TQM is still in the early stage of theory development; TQM tends to be viewed as part of operations management rather than an academic subject in its own right, but this is changing and TQM is becoming established as an independent discipline; and that the works of international quality management experts such as Crosby, Deming, Feigenbaum and Juran have provided the baseline for the advancement of TQM theory through areas such as management by fact, customer focus, process orientation and teamwork. It is also pointed out that to extend the scope of TQM theory it is necessary to incorporate appropriate management theories into its development and that much remains to be done for TQM to reach the stage of 'refine/extend' in the theory building process. The paper also argues that TQM has made a contribution to management theory and some of the developments in this area are pointed out.

Case study methodology as a means of theory building: performance measurement in facilities management organisations

Uses a research study (involving case study analysis of performance measurement in facilities management organisations) to describes the process of theory building. From this study it draws out lessons about research strategies – from specifying the research questions to reaching closure – and about the strengths and weaknesses of case study method as a research tool.

Re‐evaluating the marketing concept

In marketing literature often it is argued that the marketer should pay attention to the customers’ needs and wants in order to achieve and maintain successful business relationships. This fundamental approach is often referred to as the “marketing concept” and is one of the most important and famous concepts ever developed in marketing literature. The article describes a proposed generic deficiency in the usage of the marketing concept in marketing literature. It is also proposed that there is a necessity to extend the marketing concept towards the perspective of a holistic marketing channel context. Therefore, it is argued that the point of departure, in any marketing process of theory building, modeling, and development of conceptual frameworks in marketing, must be from the customer’s perspective and eventually from the ultimate consumer’s perspective.