Implications and Future Research for Management Scholars

Abstract

The general approach to theory building suggested for the field of strategy and organizations is a building block model, whereby the usefulness of a multitude of theories is found for explaining organizations in different contexts. Thus, it is not suggested that we eliminate or choose organizational theories based on popularity; instead, we should value and utilize the diversity in different conceptions of firms and organizations. Using more theories helps to fill gaps that a chosen dominant theory leaves open, rather than attempting to extend that theory until it really has no clear paradigm. Rather than watering it down, recognize it for the strengths it offers; leave other theories to demonstrate their complementary strengths rather than viewing them as competition against a favored paradigm. The latter approach does not serve us well if our goal is to search for the truth, from a maintenance point of view, and think ahead, from a view of prescience in theory building; remember that the “truth” in society and the social sciences is often socially constructed. Theories that may not seem useful in a particular context today may be useful in a future context.