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Strategic management and the philosophy of science: the case for a constructivist methodology

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  • Raza Mir
  • Andrew Watson

Abstract

In this paper, we suggest that constructivism has the potential to inform research in strategic management. The realist paradigm currently dominates strategy research, and constructivism, a well‐established tradition in the philosophy of science, is often ignored. However, a study of strategy literature and research reveals that it is drawn upon more frequently than is explicitly acknowledged. Constructivism occupies a methodological space characterized by ontological realism and epistemological relativism. Ontological realism is an important cornerstone of a field as applied as strategy, while epistemological relativism helps us explore the constructed nature of the field, where the researcher is an active participant rather than a reactor or information processor. In this paper, we demonstrate the precedents and possibilities for constructivist research in strategic management. We examine some of the existent constructivist works in the strategy literature, and point to specific techniques, including historical analysis, to demonstrate how this perspective may advance the boundaries of strategy research. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Raza Mir & Andrew Watson, 2000. "Strategic management and the philosophy of science: the case for a constructivist methodology," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(9), pages 941-953, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:21:y:2000:i:9:p:941-953
    DOI: 10.1002/1097-0266(200009)21:93.0.CO;2-D
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    Cited by:

    1. Mehmet Ali Köseoglu & John A. Parnell & Melissa Yan Yee Yick, 2021. "Identifying influential studies and maturity level in intellectual structure of fields: evidence from strategic management," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(2), pages 1271-1309, February.
    2. Schuetzenmeister, Falk, 2010. "University Research Management: An Exploratory Literature Review," Institute of European Studies, Working Paper Series qt77p3j2hr, Institute of European Studies, UC Berkeley.
    3. Middleton, Stuart & Liesch, Peter W. & Steen, John, 2011. "Organizing time: Internationalization narratives of executive managers," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 136-150, April.
    4. G Burt, 2011. "Towards the integration of system modelling with scenario planning to support strategy: the case of the UK energy industry," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(5), pages 830-839, May.
    5. M.-J. Avenier, 2010. "Retrouver l'Esprit de la vallée du Constructivisme en remontant à ses sources épistémiques," Post-Print halshs-00526755, HAL.
    6. Frohwein, Torsten, 2014. "Grundlagen der Theorie der Firma: Methodologie wissenschaftlicher Theorien," Research Papers on Innovation, Services and Technology 1/2014, University of Stuttgart, Institute of Business Administration, Department I - Institute of Research & Development and Innovation Management.
    7. Charbel Macdissi & Taïeb Hafsi, 2007. "Le caractère social du management stratégique des firmes d’une région ultrapériphérique:le cas de la Guadeloupe," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 10(4), pages 37-72, December.
    8. Dimo Dimov, 2007. "Beyond the Single-Person, Single-Insight Attribution in Understanding Entrepreneurial Opportunities," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(5), pages 713-731, September.
    9. John T. Steen & Peter W. Liesch, 2007. "A note on Penrosean growth, resource bundles and the Uppsala model of internationalisation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 193-206, March.
    10. Patten, Elena & Ozuem, Wilson & Howell, Kerry & Lancaster, Geoff, 2020. "Minding the competition: The drivers for multichannel service quality in fashion retailing," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    11. Christian Homburg, 2007. "Betriebswirtschaftslehre als Empirische Wissenschaft — Bestandsaufnahme und Empfehlungen," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 59(56), pages 27-60, January.
    12. Jacques-Bernard Gauthier & Lavagnon Ika, 2022. "The rigor-relevance gap in Project Management research: It's time to stop the lament and think and act reflexively," Working Papers hal-03563085, HAL.
    13. Reihlen, Markus & Ringberg, Torsten, 2013. "Uncertainty, pluralism, and the knowledge-based theory of the firm: From J.-C. Spender’s contribution to a socio-cognitive approach," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 706-716.
    14. Marina SOLESVIK, 2018. "The Rise and Fall of the Resource-Based View: Paradigm Shift in Strategic Management Elite Theory and Development of the Methodology for Researching Economic Well-Being in Mass Society," Journal of New Economy, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 19(4), pages 5-18, August.
    15. Alain Charles Martinet, 2008. "50 ans de recherche en stratégie:normalisation ou pluralisme épistémologique ?," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 11(Special), pages 39-66, June.
    16. Schwens, Christian & Kabst, Ruediger, 2011. "Internationalization of young technology firms: A complementary perspective on antecedents of foreign market familiarity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 60-74, February.
    17. Dimo Dimov, 2007. "From Opportunity Insight to Opportunity Intention: The Importance of Person–Situation Learning Match," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(4), pages 561-583, July.

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