In this article I describe and compare a number of alternative generic strategies for the analysis process data, looking at consequences these emerging theories. evaluate strengths weaknesses in terms their capacity to generate theory that is accurate, parsimonious, general, useful suggest method are inextricably intertwined, multiple often advisable, no strategy will produce without an uncodifiable creative leap, however small. Finally, argue there room organizational research literature...

Process studies focus attention on how and why things emerge, develop, grow, or terminate over time. We identify various ontological assumptions underlying process research, explore its methods challenges, draw out some of substantive contributions revealed in this Special Research Forum Studies Change Organization Management. take time seriously, illuminate the role tensions contradictions driving patterns change, show interactions across levels contribute to change. They may also reveal...

This article, together with a companion video, provides synthesized summary of Showcase Symposium held at the 2016 Academy Management Annual Meeting in which prominent scholars—Denny Gioia, Kathy Eisenhardt, Ann Langley, and Kevin Corley—discussed different approaches to theory building qualitative research. Our goal for symposium was increase management scholars’ sensitivity importance theory–method “fit” We have integrated panelists’ prepared remarks interactive discussion into three...

In this article, we draw on five case studies in health care organizations to develop a process theory of strategic change pluralistic settings characterized by diffuse power and divergent objectives. The creation collective leadership group which members play complementary roles appears critical achieving change. However. is fragile. We identify three levels “coupling” between leaders. organization, environment that need be mobilized permit Since it difficult maintain coupling at all...

Pluralistic organizations characterized by multiple objectives, diffuse power and knowledge-based work processes present a complex challenge both for strategy theorists practitioners because the very nature of as usually understood (an explicit unified direction organization) appears to contradict natural dynamics these organizations. Yet pluralism is some extent always in perhaps increasingly so. This article explores usefulness three alternate complementary theoretical frames understanding...

Set on its current course thirty years ago by Herbert Simon’s notions of bounded rationality and sequential stages, the research literature organizational decision making is claimed in this paper to have suffered from three major limitations labeled reification, dehumanization, isolation. In particular, it has been stuck along a continuum between cerebral stage theories at one end apparent irrationality theory organized anarchies other. This seeks open up respects. First, concept “decision”...

This paper argues that organizational communication research, and in particular a perspective focuses on narrative, can contribute important ways to understanding the practices of strategy. Narrative is believed be critical sensemaking organizations, multiple levels forms narrative are inherent strategic practices. For example, found micro-stories told by managers others as they interact go about their daily work, formalized techniques for strategy-making whether or not explicitly...

Why are some less solidly supported health care innovations widely adopted while others with apparently stronger scientific support remain underused? Drawing on four case studies, the authors argue that way in which distribution of benefits and risks map onto interests, values, power adopting system is critical to understanding how diffuse.

This paper reviews the literature on forms of leadership that in one way or other imply plurality: is, combined influence multiple leaders specific organizational situations. We identify four streams scholarship plural leadership, each focusing somewhat different phenomena and adopting epistemological methodological assumptions. Specifically, these focus sharing teams, pooling at top organizations, spreading across boundaries over time, producing through interaction. The research vary...

This paper reviews the literature on forms of leadership that in one way or other imply plurality: is, combined influence multiple leaders specific organizational situations. We identify four streams scholarship plural leadership, each focusing somewhat different phenomena and adopting epistemological methodological assumptions. Specifically, these focus sharing teams, pooling at top organizations, spreading across boundaries over time, producing through interaction. The research vary...

This paper reviews the literature on an important but mysterious phenomenon in qualitative research methodology: conceptual leap that generates abstract theoretical ideas from empirical data. Drawing epistemological, prescriptive and reflexive writings, leaps are described as constituted by both ‘seeing’ ‘articulating’, grounded abductive reasoning, part of ongoing dialectical process. Methods for approaching conditions their realization discussed context four dialectic tensions: between...

This article reviews scholarship dealing with the notion of "boundary work," defined as purposeful individual and collective effort to influence social, symbolic, material, or temporal boundaries, demarcations; distinctions affecting groups, occupations, organizations. We identify explore implications three conceptually distinct but interrelated forms boundary work emerging from literature. Competitive involves mobilizing boundaries establish some kind advantage over others. In contrast,...

Research on institutional logics has exploded in the last decade. Much of this work taken its inspiration from Friedland and Alford’s call to “bring society back in” organizational analysis. Interestingly, when Alford published their seminal piece, another body with similar focus emerged France under banner French Pragmatist Sociology. In article, we discuss how Sociology complements by helping it address main limitations or blind spots. These include (a) microfoundations recursiveness (how...

In recent years, there have been many calls for scholars to innovate in their styles of conceptual work, and particular develop process theoretical contributions that consider the dynamic unfolding phenomena over time. Yet, while are templates constructing structured form variance theories, approaches developing models, especially absence formal empirical data, received less attention. To fill this gap, we build on a review articles published two major journals ( Academy Management Review...

When organization members strive to radically change routines, they face a puzzle: How can bring about in performances when these are guided by pre-existing ideas on how perform the routine, that themselves recursively reproduced? Drawing insights from longitudinal case studies of two initiatives patient processes hospitals, this paper suggests types “spaces”—bounded social settings characterized social, physical, temporal, and symbolic boundaries—are important mechanisms through which...

This paper draws on a case study of large public hospital to examine the processes leadership and strategic change in organizations where goals are unclear authority is fluid ambiguous. The history describes evolution roles during period radical which general acquires university affiliation while moving towards more integrated form management. traces tactics used by members group stimulate change, corresponding impact these both progress themselves. It suggested that requires collaborat ive...

This article explores the challenges of mandated collaboration among public health care organizations. in-depth longitudinal multiple case study examines interests and values various organizational actors in three collaborative initiatives, focusing on mobilization power within governance frameworks available to them. The authors elaborate alternate readings processes examined: managerialist views poor interorganizational as a failure adequately manage process; symbolic focuses value...