Matters for judgement: some thoughts on method in management history

Abstract

Paper Type: ConceptualPurpose: This paper reflects on some aspects of method in management history and the importance of the self-reflection on their world-view that must accompany authors' endeavours, in order to be articulated in the matters they proffer for the reader's judgement. Approach:Drawing on the insights proffered by Evans (1999:1) about how to study, research, write about and read history, this paper offers some thoughts on the importance of giving due consideration to method in management history.Research & Practical Implications: Thomas Hobbes (1660/1994:32) observed that "Out of our conception of the past, we make a future". It behoves us then, as managers and management scholars, to be satisfied that our conceptions of the past are developed in ways that, as far as possible, avoid the problems that would make them less than useful in creating that future. This paper identifies some of the issues of which those seeking to create the future must be cognisant. Value:If knowing accurately the history of management thought is of importance to scholars and practitioners, then this paper alerts practitioners and commentators to the need for a sound method in producing, and learning from, the lessons of management history.

The entrepreneurial marketing of Trumpet Records

“…It is recommended that those conducting historical case research should clearly specify the assumptions underlying the approach, as investigations using historical cases can take many forms (Lamond, 2006). Explicitly stating the underlying assumptions that support the ontological and epistemological views of the researchers is essential (Eisenhardt and Graebner, 2007) so that readers can determine the plausibility (Weick, 1989) and persuasiveness (Siggelkow, 2007) of the implications and findings derived from the research.…”

Reexamining some management lessons from military history

“…That means studying the historical event to be cited with some care and not hastily or superficially (Lamond, 2006). In studying a topic in-depth, management scholars and other social scientists are likely to make heavy use of secondary studies for their work.…”

CSR: the co-evolution of grocery multiples in the UK (2005-2010)

“…The retail industry was worth £295bn in 2009 of which £150bn was accountable to grocery multiples (IGD, 2010 Reviews of the grocery multiple sector by the Competition Commission (2003;2006; have referred to unfair pressure on suppliers and the growing dominance of the oligopolistic group (Bevan, 2005). But at the same time, Wal-Mart (1999) was allowed to takeover Asda which in turn took over Netto (2010), while Morrisons was the preferred bidder for Safeway (2004).…”

“…Data collection is from secondary sources (see Table III) where exegesis of the written word leads to explanation (Lamond, 2006). The categorisation of strategic actions emerges based on common themes and patterns from within the sources, which is iteratively fine-tuned.…”