What Makes a Process Theoretical Contribution?

Abstract

In recent years, there have been many calls for scholars to innovate in their styles of conceptual work, and in particular to develop process theoretical contributions that consider the dynamic unfolding of phenomena over time. Yet, while there are templates for constructing conceptual contributions structured in the form variance theories, approaches to developing process models, especially in the absence of formal empirical data, have received less attention. To fill this gap, we build on a review of conceptual articles that develop process theoretical contributions published in two major journals ( Academy of Management Review and Organization Studies) to propose a typology of four process theorizing styles that we label linear, parallel, recursive and conjunctive. As we move from linear to parallel to recursive to conjunctive styles, conceptual reasoning becomes more deeply embedded in process ontology, while the standard structuring devices such as diagrams, tables and propositions traditionally employed in conceptual articles appear less useful. We offer recommendations that may be helpful in enriching and deepening process theoretical contributions of all types.

Process Multiplicity and Process Dynamics: Weaving the Space of Possible Paths

“…Given the significance of process multiplicity as both a practical and an academic concern, it is important to develop tools that allow us to theorize and operationalize process multiplicity. Building on Cloutier and Langley's (2020) notion of alternate pathways, we operationalize process multiplicity (as distinct from multiplicity of other phenomena) as a space of possible paths. We can identify this space of possible paths by analysing the sequential relations between actions in a process.…”

How firms undertake organizational changes to shift to more-exploratory strategies: A process perspective

“…To investigate our question, we adopted a process perspective (Cloutier and Langley, 2020;Langley, 1999;Langley et al, 2013). This perspective is useful for understanding "how and why things emerge, develop, grow, or terminate over time" (Langley et al, 2013, p. 1); therefore, it is useful for exploring how firms shift to more exploration.…”

“…To summarize our contribution, we offer a process model outlining the firms' adjustment of organizational structures to increase exploration. We adopt a recursive style to theorize process (Cloutier and Langley, 2020), which reflects processes as ongoing cycles of adaptation and reproduction. Although our model ends with "organizational adaptation of exploratory outcomes," the premise is that the process continues.…”

Of Organizing and Sensemaking: From Action to Meaning and Back Again in a Half‐Century of Weick’s Theorizing

“…As such, our goals are twofold: first, to examine in depth Weick’s theorizing of organizing, sensemaking, and their interconnections, and second, to examine Weick’s processes of theorizing itself, and especially the ways in which it reflects attention to activity, temporality and flow (Langley et al, 2013). We believe that by so doing, it affords us, as researchers, an exemplary model that offers ‘rich conceptual handholds and metaphors for the expression of processes … [which] provides a useful starting point for conceptual contributions’ (Cloutier and Langley, 2020, p. 6). Notably, Weick engages in ‘classic process thinking heuristics … [that] include: thinking of phenomena in terms of gerunds or verbs instead of nouns (Weick, 1979)’ (Cloutier and Langley, 2020, p. 20).…”

“…We believe that by so doing, it affords us, as researchers, an exemplary model that offers ‘rich conceptual handholds and metaphors for the expression of processes … [which] provides a useful starting point for conceptual contributions’ (Cloutier and Langley, 2020, p. 6). Notably, Weick engages in ‘classic process thinking heuristics … [that] include: thinking of phenomena in terms of gerunds or verbs instead of nouns (Weick, 1979)’ (Cloutier and Langley, 2020, p. 20). Thus, we seek to explicate these processes, in order to illuminate the ‘ongoing flow of organizational … phenomena in insightful ways’ (Cloutier and Langley, 2020, p. 21).…”