A practical guide for making theory contributions in strategic management

CITATION

Makadok, R., Burton, R., & Barney, J. (2018). A practical guide for making theory contributions in strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 39(6), 1530-1545. doi:10.1002/smj.2789

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ABSTRACT
Rather than introducing radical new “grand theory” paradigms,
most theory contributions in strategic management
extend, clarify, or apply received theories in new and
interesting ways. Here we offer a guide on how to make
these kinds of contributions to theory. Theory usually
begins with a research question, which can come from
the phenomenon of interest, variations/limitations of
existing theory, or intellectual creativity. Along with the
question, there are a number of more craftsmanship-level
aspects of a theory where contributions can be made: the
mode of theorizing, the level of analysis, an understanding
of the underlying phenomenon, causal mechanisms,
constructs and variables, and boundary conditions. These
aspects of the theory lead to a set of outcomes in the form
of explanations, predictions, or prescriptions. The articles
in this special issue are interpreted through our framework
as illustrations of this approach to making theory
contributions.


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