Subject Index
Academy of Management Review, 23
Advances in Developing Human Resources, 23
Anti-intellectual positions, 5
Applied disciplines
balance of theory and practice in, 2
challenges of theory building in, 10
current status of theory building in, 6–10
general method of theory building in. See General Method of Theory Building in Applied Disciplines
Apply phase of theory building, 8, 40, 41, 48–49, 111–120
approaches to, 115–117
definition and description of, 112–114
diagram on relationship to other phases, 8f, 30f, 52f, 74f, 94f, 112f, 122f, 176f
for learning organization culture theory, 149–152, 170f
quality indicators on, 120
for scenario-planning theory, 162–163, 164, 173f
as starting point for theory building, 115
status assessment tool on, 168f, 169, 170f, 173f
Argyris, C., 31–32
Assessment criteria, 26–28
in Conceptualize phase, 70–71
in Confirm phase, 107–108
in Operationalize phase, 90–91
on status of theory, 135, 165–174, 179
Assumptions
conceptual, 57
contextual, 57
in selection criteria, 59
Auditing of existing theories, 179
Bacon, Francis, 34
Bench-top theories, 7
Bias affecting theory building, 9, 59
The Black Swan (Taleb), 118
Blanchard, Ken, 53
Boundaries of theories
assessment of, 71
contextual assumptions on, 57
defined in Conceptualize phase, 68
Dubin on, 56
establishing context and location for operation of theory, 20
in learning organization culture theory, 141, 170f
in scenario-planning theory, 156–157, 172f
status assessment tool on, 170f, 172f
in theory framework, 23, 24, 24f, 25–26
and types of theories, 21–22, 68
Brache, A. P., 11–12
Bucket metaphor on theory building, 166–169, 177
Case study approach, 60, 77, 80
Conceptualize phase in, 40, 54, 62f, 85, 139–140
Confirm phase in, 102
existing literature on, 23
interpretative orientation in, 18
mixed methods in, 102
Operationalize phase in, 83, 84–85, 86
Categorical statements, falsifiability of, 82
Causality, conceptual development on
Dubin on, 55–56
Whetten on, 56–57
Champy, J., 10–11
Change
confirmation of, 108
theory of, 53
Chermack, T. J., 158
scenario-planning theory of, 135, 153–164
Choi, M., 158
Clarity of theory, assessment of, 27
Cohen, B., 9
Cohesion of elements in theory building, 20
Complexity of theory, 177
Comprehensiveness of theory, 8–9
Conceptual assumptions, 57
Conceptualize phase of theory building, 8, 39–40, 48, 51–72
definition and description of, 51–52
diagram on relationship to other phases, 8f, 30f, 52f, 74f, 94f, 112f, 122f, 176f
initiation of, 53
inputs to, 53–54
for learning organization culture theory, 139–141, 170f
problems with theories limited to, 176–177
purpose of, 39
quality indicators on, 70–71
for scenario-planning theory, 155–157, 163, 164, 172f
status assessment tool on, 167, 168f, 170f, 172f
Storberg-Walker on, 54, 59–61, 62f
Confirm phase of theory building, 8, 41, 48, 93–109
approaches to, 96–102
description of, 94–95
diagram on relationship to other phases, 8f, 30f, 52f, 74f, 94f, 112f, 122f, 176f
for learning organization culture theory, 144–149, 146f–148f, 149f, 170f
quality indicators on, 107–108
recommended resources on, 95–96
for scenario-planning theory, 160–162, 161f, 173f
status assessment tool on, 168–169, 168f, 170f, 173f
Constant comparative analysis method, 87, 105
Contextual assumptions, 57
Contributing theories, 24, 24f
Conversation Quality and Engagement Checklist, 158
Cycle of theory-research-practice, 36, 37f
Data collection and analysis, 103f, 105
on learning organization culture theory, 145, 146f–148f, 170f
in mixed methods approach, 102–103, 102f
on scenario-planning theory, 160, 173f
status assessment tool on, 168f, 170f, 173f
Deduction, in General Method of Theory Building in Applied Disciplines, 8f, 30f, 44, 52f, 74f, 94f, 112f, 122f, 176f
Deductive hypothesis method, 39, 40
Developing Sociological Knowledge: Theory and Method (Cohen), 9
Dimensions of Learning Organization Questionnaire, 145–149, 146f–148f
application of, 150–151
as empirical indicator for scenario-planning theory, 158
Disciplined imagination approach to theory building, 54, 57–59
Disconfirmation, 93. See also Confirm phase of theory building
Domains of theory, empirical and theoretical, 71
Donnelly, J. P., 96
on laws of interaction, 55–56, 66
on operationalization of theory, 78, 79, 157
on quality indicators for Conceptualize phase, 70–71
quantitative approach to theory building of, 54, 55–56, 62f
Economic theory of performance improvement, 125
Edison, Thomas, 96
Einstein, Albert, 82–83
Empirical indicators, 79–80
in scenario-planning theory, 158–159
Empirical testing, 27
in Conceptualize phase, 71
in Confirm phase, 107
in Operationalize phase, 78, 79–80, 158–159
Ethical issues in performance improvement theories, 76, 76f
Exactness and rigor in Conceptualize phase, 70
Existing theories, auditing and testing of, 179
Experimental designs, 97, 99f, 101
and preexperimental design, 97, 98f
types of, 99f
Expertise, practical and theoretical, 38f
Facilitating Learning Organizations (Marsick & Watkins), 150, 151, 152
Falsifiability, 81–83
The Fifth Discipline (Senge), 137, 138
Freire, Paulo, 18
Fruitfulness of theory, 118
General Decision Making Style Survey, 158
Generalizability, 9
in assessment of theory boundaries, 71
of local theories, 22
in research-to-theory strategy, 35
and transferability, 80
General Method of Theory Building in Applied Disciplines, 8, 29–49
Apply phase in, 41, 111–120. See also Apply phase of theory building
bucket metaphor on, 166–169, 177
Conceptualize phase in, 39–40, 51–72. See also Conceptualize phase of theory building
Confirm phase in, 41, 93–109. See also Confirm phase of theory building
diagram of, 8f, 30f, 52f, 74f, 94f, 112f, 122f, 176f
learning organization culture theory case example, 135, 137–153
limitations of, 42
next steps in use of, 175–180
Operationalize phase in, 40, 73–92. See also Operationalize phase of theory building
Refine phase in, 41–42, 121–130. See also Refine phase of theory building
scenario-planning theory case example, 135, 153–164
theory status assessment tool in, 135, 165–174, 168f, 179
unique contribution of, 2
Gioia, D. A., 15
Google Scholar, 88
boundaries of, 68
operationalization of, 77
on performance improvement, 68
Grounded theory approach, 60, 77, 80
Conceptualize phase in, 40, 54, 62f
Confirm phase in, 101
existing literature on, 23
interpretative orientation in, 18
mixed methods in, 101
Operationalize phase in, 83, 84, 86
Hammer, M., 10–11
Holton, E. F., 96
How Organizations Work: Taking a Holistic Approach to Enterprise Health (Brache), 11–12
“How” question
in case study approach, 84
in conceptual development, 56–57
Human capital theory, 16, 21, 57
Hypnosis, self-report measures on, 75
Hypothesis
compared to theory, 14
definition of, 80
falsifiability of, 81–83
quality indicators on, 91
in quantitative approach to operationalization, 78, 80
Ideological bias in theory building, 9
Imagination, disciplined, theory building as, 54, 57–59
Importance of theory, assessment of, 26
Improving Performance: How to Manage the White Space on the Organization Chart (Rummler and Brache), 11
Induction, in General Method of Theory Building in Applied Disciplines, 8f, 30f, 44, 52f, 74f, 94f, 112f, 122f, 176f
Information, false, spread of, 5, 10
Innovation
local theories on, 22
midrange theories on, 21–22
Inquiry studies
connection of results to theory, 103f, 105, 148–149, 162
data collection and analysis in, 103f, 105, 145, 160
design of, 103f, 104–105, 144–145, 160
on learning organization culture theory, 144–149, 146f–148f, 170f
on scenario-planning theory, 160–162, 161f, 173f
status assessment tool on, 168f, 173f
In Search of Excellence (Peters & Waterman), 65
Insights, new, in Refine phase, 126–127, 128f
for learning organization culture theory, 171f
for scenario-planning theory, 173f
status assessment tool on, 168f, 171f, 173f
Internet, spread of misinformation on, 5
Interpretivism, 16–18, 17f, 19
Interviews, pattern analysis of responses in, 87
Irrelevant theories, 24f, 25–26
Johnson, Spencer, 53
Jordan, Louis, 94–95
Kleiner, A., 11
Knowledge
midrange theories on management of, 21–22
outcome, 33
process, 33
Korte, R. F., 158
Lawler, E. E., 96
Laws
of interaction, Dubin on, 55–56, 66
universal, and grand theories, 21
Learning organization culture theory, 135, 137–153
Conceptualize phase of, 139–141, 170f
Confirm phase of, 144–149, 146f–148f, 149f, 170f
Operationalize phase of, 141–144, 170f
Refine phase of, 151–152, 171f
status assessment, 169–173, 170f–171f
Learning organizations, 135, 137–153
compared to organizational learning, 139
definition and description of, 138–139
Learning theory, 124
boundaries of, 68
falsifiability of, 83
operationalization of, 77
Logical consistency of concepts, assessment of, 70
Logic-in-use, 33
Lynham, S. A., 15
Marsick, V. J., 44
learning organization culture theory of, 135, 137–153, 169–173
McGregor’s X-Y theory, 21
Measurement methods determined in Operationalize phase, 74–75, 78, 87–88
empirical indicators in, 79–80, 158–159
instrument development in, 88
for learning organization culture theory, 143, 170f
quality indicators on, 91
for scenario-planning theory, 158–159, 172f
Mental Measurements Yearbook, 87
Mental Model Style Survey, 158
boundaries of, 68
Misinformation, spread of, 5, 10
Mixed methods approach, 18, 19
Apply phase in, 117
Confirm phase in, 96, 100 –103, 102f
Operationalize phase in, 77, 83–85
Modeling as theorizing process, Whetten on, 54, 56–57, 61
Models, compared to theories, 15, 89
Mohrman, S. A., 96
Multiparadigm theory building, 60, 100–103
Multiple-regression research, 19
Nimon, K., 158
Observational statements, falsifiability of, 82
Open minds in Refine phase, 123
Operationalize phase of theory building, 8, 40, 48, 73–92
approaches to, 77–85
assessment of, 27
definition and description of, 73–75
diagram on relationship to other phases, 8f, 30f, 52f, 74f, 94f, 112f, 122f, 176f
for learning organization culture theory, 141–144, 170f
purpose of, 40
quality indicators on, 90–91
for scenario-planning theory, 157–159, 164, 172f
status assessment tool on, 167–168, 168f, 170f, 172f
Operationism, 79
Organizational learning, compared to learning organizations, 139
Outcome knowledge, 33
Outliers, local theories on, 22
Paradigm issues, 18–20
in Conceptualize phase, 60
in Confirm phase, 100–103
Parsimony of theory, assessment of, 27
in Conceptualize phase, 70, 71
in Operationalize phase, 91
Pattern theories, 100
Performance improvement theories, 119
boundaries of, 68
refinement of, 124–126
Personal theories-in-practice, 31, 32–33
Peters, Tom, 65
Confirm phase in, 96–97
Operationalize phase in, 75, 80
Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory, 75
Philosophical orientations in theory building, 16–18
comparison of, 17f
Pink, Dan, 114
Pitre, E., 15
Practicality of theory, assessment of, 28, 107–108
Practice, and theory building, 38, 38f
in Apply phase, 41
in Confirm phase, 41
in Operationalize phase, 40
in Refine phase, 41–42
in theory-research-practice cycle, 36, 37f
Preciseness of theory, assessment of, 27
Prediction statements, propositions as, 79
Preexperimental designs, 97, 98f
Pretest-posttest study design, 98f, 99f, 105
on scenario-planning theory, 160
Problem statements in theory building, 58, 66
Process knowledge, 33
definition of, 79
empirical tests for, 79
hypotheses derived from, 80
in learning organization culture theory, 141–142, 170f
as prediction statements, 79
quality indicators on, 90–91
results indicators on, 87
in scenario-planning theory, 157, 172f
status assessment tool on, 168f, 170f, 172f
Psychometric evaluation, 75, 88
Putnam, Robert, 108
Apply phase in, 117
Conceptualize phase in, 57–61
Confirm phase in, 96, 97–100, 162
Operationalize phase in, 75, 77, 78, 80–83, 87
with quantitative approach. See Mixed methods approach
to scenario-planning theory, 162
Quality indicators
on Apply phase, 120
on Conceptualize phase, 70–71
on Confirm phase, 107–108
on Operationalize phase, 90–91
on Refine phase, 129
Apply phase in, 117
Conceptualize phase in, 54, 55–57, 62f
existing literature on, 23
grand theories in, 21
Operationalize phase in, 75, 77, 78–80, 87
with qualitative approach. See Mixed methods approach
to scenario-planning theory, 162
Reconstructed logic, 33
Reductionism, 177
Reengineering movement, 10–11
Reengineering the Corporation: A Manifesto for Business Revolution (Hammer & Champy), 11
Refine phase of theory building, 8, 41–42, 49, 121–130
case example of, 124–126
definition and description of, 122
diagram on relationship to other phases, 8f, 30f, 52f, 74f, 94f, 112f, 122f, 176f
generation of new insights in, 126–127, 128f
investigation of new insights in, 127, 128f
for learning organization culture theory, 151–152, 171f
open and thoughtful minds in, 123
outcome of, 42
purpose of, 41–42
quality indicators on, 129
for scenario-planning theory, 164, 173f
status assessment tool on, 168f, 169, 171f, 173f
updates to theory in, 127, 128f
Relationships identified and described in Conceptualize phase, 66
“how” question on, 56–57
laws of interaction on, 55–56, 66
Relevance of theory
and irrelevant theories, 24f, 25–26
misconceptions about, 30, 43–44
and utility, 43
Reliability of measurement instruments, 91
Research
mixed methods approach to. See Mixed methods approach
qualitative approach to. See Qualitative approach
quantitative approach to. See Quantitative approach
in research-to-theory strategy, 34–35
in theory-research-practice cycle, 36, 37f
in theory-to-research strategy, 35–36
Research in Organizations: Foundations and Methods of Inquiry (Swanson & Holton), 96
The Research Methods Knowledge Base (Trochim & Donnelly), 96
Research questions developed in Operationalize phase, 88–89, 90f
for learning organization culture theory, 143–144, 170f
quality indicators on, 90–91
for scenario-planning theory, 159, 172f
status assessment tool on, 168f, 170f, 172f
Results indicators determined in Operationalize phase, 74–75, 78, 87–88, 90f
for learning organization culture theory, 143, 170f
quality indicators on, 90–91
for scenario-planning theory, 158–159, 172f
status assessment tool on, 168f, 170f, 172f
Reynolds, P. D., 34
Rigor of theory
and exactness, 70
and relevance, 33, 41–42, 43, 44
Royal Dutch/Shell, scenario planning in, 154
Rummler, G. A., 11–12
Scenario planning, 153–164
definition and description of, 154–155
key concepts in, 155–156
Scenario Planning in Organizations (Chermack), 162
Scenario-planning theory, 135, 145, 153–164
Apply phase of, 162–163, 164, 173f
Conceptualize phase of, 155–157, 163, 164, 172f
Confirm phase of, 160–162, 161f, 173f
Operationalize phase of, 157–159, 164, 172f
status assessment tool on, 172, 172f–173f
Schon, D. A., 31–32
Sculpting the Learning Organization (Watkins & Marsick), 137
Selection criteria in theory building, 59, 66
Sequential explanatory design, 102
Sequential exploratory design, 102–103
Shop Class as Soulcraft (Crawford), 54, 118
Signal theory, 113
Simplicity of theory, 177
assessment of, 27
Social construction approach, 22
Conceptualize phase in, 40, 54, 62f
existing literature on, 23
Operationalize phase in, 80, 83, 86, 87
Song, J. H., 158
Status assessment tool on theory building, 135, 165–174, 179
Stimulus-response theory, 21
Storberg-Walker, J., on conceptual development, 54, 59–61, 62f
Symptom management theory, 81
System states, Dubin on, 56
Taleb, N. N., 117
Team building theory, falsifiability of, 82
Theories
boundaries of. See Boundaries of theories
comprehensiveness of, 8–9, 27, 107
criteria in assessment of, 26–28
definition of, 1, 6, 14–15, 32
empirical validity or verifiability of, 27
existing, auditing and testing of, 179
fruitfulness of, 27–28, 118, 120
importance of, 26
operationality of, 27
personal theories-in-practice, 31, 32–33
preciseness and clarity of, 27
relevance of. See Relevance of theory
in research-to-theory strategy, 34–35
rigor of, 33, 41–42, 43, 44, 70
in theory-research-practice cycle, 36, 37f
in theory-to-research strategy, 35–36
trustworthy, 32, 33, 41, 42, 44
types of, 20–22
units of, 55
use of term, 166
utility of, 24f, 25, 28, 30–32, 33, 43
Theory building
bucket metaphor on, 166–169, 177
challenges in, 9–12, 29, 42–43
characteristics of successful scholars in, 178
cohesion among choices in, 20
common strategies in, 34–36
current status of, 6–10
existing literature on, 23
general considerations in, 33–36
general method in applied disciplines. See General Method of Theory Building in Applied Disciplines
as incomplete, inappropriate, or overwhelming, 8–9
learning organization culture theory case example, 135, 137–153
misconceptions about, 30, 43–44
need for, 2
philosophical orientation in, 16–18, 17f
purpose of, 20
scenario-planning theory case example, 135, 153–164
status assessment tool on, 135, 165–174, 168f
use of term, 134
Theory Building: A Practical Guide to the Construction and Testing of Theoretical Models (Dubin), 9
Theory-research-practice cycle, 36, 37f
Theory status assessment tool, 135, 165–174, 179
Theory-to-research strategy (theory-then-research strategy), 35–36
Thought trials in theory building, 58–59, 66
Thoughtful minds in Refine phase, 123
Torraco, R. J., 23
Training systems theory, 124
Trochim, W., 96
Trustworthiness of theories, 41, 42, 44
in personal theories-in-practice, 32, 33
Tuckman, B. W., 82
Units of theory, Dubin on, 55
Useful Research: Advancing Theory and Practice (Mohrman & Lawler), 96
Utility of theory, 24f, 25, 28, 30–32, 33, 43
confirmation of, 107
Verifiability of theory, assessment of, 27
Wack, P., 156
Waterman, Bob, 65
Watkins, K. E., learning organization culture theory of, 135, 137–153, 169–171
Weick, K. E., theory building approach of, 54, 57–59, 62f
Welch, Jack, 2
“What” question in conceptual development, 56
Whetten, D. A., 66
on conceptual development, 54, 56–57, 61, 62f
A Whole New Mind (Pink), 114
Who Moved My Cheese? (Johnson & Blanchard), 53
“Why” question in conceptual development, 57
Wilson, E. O., 177
Work analysis theory, 124–125
Xerox, innovation and knowledge management studies in, 21–22