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GSM 6190

Theory in Management

Title : What constitutes a theoretical contribution?

Authors : David A.Whetten (University of Illinois)

Published :Academy of Management Review. 1():

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%y : &e'at hariffudin b. ul*ifli (+& ",!$-)

&ohaad /a0if b. a2i Abdul &ubin (+& ",!$3)

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Introduction

The author:

4 e56lained the necessary in'redients of a theoretical

contribution

4 6ro6osed several si6le conce6ts on theory

develo6ent 6rocess4 hel6ed ease the counication 6robles re'ardin'

e56ectation and standards of a 'ood conce6tual

7ritin'

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The article is divided into , sections:

4 What are the buildin' bloc*s of theory develo6ent?

4 What is a le'itiate value added contribution to theory

develo6ent?

4 What factors are considered in 2ud'in' conce6tual6a6ers?

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What are the building blocks of theory develoment!

Theory ust contain four essential eleents:

What"8 7hich factors (variables9 constructs9 conce6ts)should be

considered as 6art of e56lanation of the social and individual6henoena of interest?

T7o ri'ht factors:

1# co6rehensiveness (are all relevant factors included)# 6arsiony (should soe factors be deleted because

they add little additional value to our understandin'?)

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#o$. 8 o7 are the factors related? ;6erationally this

involves usin'

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Why# What are the underlyin' 6sycholo'ical9

econoic9 or social dynaics that 2ustify the selection of

factors and the 6ro6osed causal relationshi6? Therational constitutes the theory=s assu6tions9 the

theoretical 'lue that 7elds the odel to'ether

Who% Where% When8 set boundaries of 'enerali0ability

and constitute the ran'e of the theory. Test the'enerali0ability of core 6ro6ositions. Whether

theoretical effects vary over tie.

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What is a legitimate value added contribution to theorydeveloment!

There are three broad thees:

1"&riti'ues should focus on multile elements of the

theory.

Pro6osed i6roveents addressin' only a sin'le eleent

of an e5istin' theory are seldo 2ud'ed to be sufficient.

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("Theoretical criti'ues should marshal comelling

evidence

# lo'ical: the theory is not internally consistent

# e6irical: its 6redictions are inconsistent 7ith thedata

accuulated fro several studies

# e6isteolo'ical: its assu6tion are invalid9 'iven

inforation fro another field

)"Theoretical criti'ues should roose remedies or

alternatives.

>ritiues should share res6onsibility for craftin' i6roved

conce6tuali0ations.

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What factors are considered in *udging concetual aers!

4 What+s ne$? # does the 6a6er a*e a si'nificant9 value

added contribution to current thin*in'? &odification or

e5tensions of the current theories should alter e5tant@6resentvie7s in i6ortant 7ays. It=s not necessarily loo*in' for ne7

theories

4 So $hat? # The 6ur6ose of the standard theoretical 6a6ershould be to alter research 6ractice9 not si6ly to t7ea* a

conce6tual odel in 7ays that are of little conseuences

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4 Why so? Theory develo6ent 6a6ers should be built on a

foundation of convincin' ar'uentation and 'rounded in

reasonable9 e56licit vie7s of huan nature and

or'ani0ational 6ractice. &ust be lo'ic and su66orted by

co6ellin' evidence.

4 Well done? &ust reflect seasoned thin*in'9 conveyin'

co6leteness and thorou'hness. &ulti6le eleents (7hat9

ho79 7hy9 7hen#7here#7ho) covered9 7ell rounded.Ar'uent ust be broad and current. Bo lo'ical fla7s.

Thou'ht over an e5tended 6eriod of tie. Infored by

e5tensive 6eer revie7.

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4 ,one $ell? &ust flo7 lo'ically. Clo7 lo'ically. >entral ideas

easily accessed. n2oyable to read. Pro6er len'th and forat

4 Why no$? The to6ic of conte6orary interest of scholars in

the area. hould advance current discussions9 stiulate ne7discussions9 or revitali0e old discussions. hould not

redundant9 unconnected or antiuated and

4 Who cares? Pa6ers 7ritten on to6ics 7ith narro7 a66eal areof hi'her standard. They are e56ected to a*e a ore

si'nificant contribution to current thin*in' and research

6ractice.

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&onclusion

4 Theory develo6ent 6rocess and criteria for 2ud'in'

theoretical contributions need to be broadly understood so

that researchers@ contributors as 7ell as revie7ers@editors

can counicate effectively.

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Thank you