TY - JOUR
T1 - Capturing causal complexity
T2 - Heuristics for configurational theorizing
AU - Furnari, Santi
AU - Crilly, Donal
AU - Misangyi, Vilmos F.
AU - Greckhamer, Thomas
AU - Fiss, Peer C.
AU - Aguilera, Ruth V.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Academy of Management. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Management scholars study phenomena marked by complex interdependencies among multiple explanatory factors that combine to bring aboutan outcomeof interest. Yet, theorizing about causal complexity can prove challenging for the correlational theorizing that is predominant inthe fieldofmanagement, givenits "net effects thinking" that emphasizes theuniquecontributionofindividualexplanatoryfactors. Incontrast,configurationaltheoriesandthinking arewell suited to explaining causally complexphenomena. In this article, we seek to advance configurational theorizing by providing a model of the configurational theorizing process,whichconsists of three iterative stages-scoping, linkingandnaming. Ineachstage,wedevelopandoffer severalheuristics aimedat stimulating configurational theorizing. That is, these theorizing heuristics are intended to help scholarsdiscover configurationsofexplanatory factors,probethe connectionsamongthese factors, and articulate the orchestrating themes that underpin their coherence.We conclude with a discussion of how configurational theorizing advances theory development in the field of management and organizations, and beyond.
AB - Management scholars study phenomena marked by complex interdependencies among multiple explanatory factors that combine to bring aboutan outcomeof interest. Yet, theorizing about causal complexity can prove challenging for the correlational theorizing that is predominant inthe fieldofmanagement, givenits "net effects thinking" that emphasizes theuniquecontributionofindividualexplanatoryfactors. Incontrast,configurationaltheoriesandthinking arewell suited to explaining causally complexphenomena. In this article, we seek to advance configurational theorizing by providing a model of the configurational theorizing process,whichconsists of three iterative stages-scoping, linkingandnaming. Ineachstage,wedevelopandoffer severalheuristics aimedat stimulating configurational theorizing. That is, these theorizing heuristics are intended to help scholarsdiscover configurationsofexplanatory factors,probethe connectionsamongthese factors, and articulate the orchestrating themes that underpin their coherence.We conclude with a discussion of how configurational theorizing advances theory development in the field of management and organizations, and beyond.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85120850015&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85120850015&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5465/amr.2019.0298
DO - 10.5465/amr.2019.0298
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85120850015
SN - 0363-7425
VL - 46
SP - 778
EP - 799
JO - Academy of Management Review
JF - Academy of Management Review
IS - 4
ER -