دانلود رایگان مقاله تئوری پایه در حال توسعه تحقیقات کسب و کار خانواده

Abstract

Theoretically grounded research is important for the continued development and growth of the family business field. This article identifies some recurring problems observed in theory building and testing in family business research and how to best avoid them. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding theories’ assumptions, propositions and boundaries as well as the need to contextualize arguments, designs, analysis and interpretations.

8. What to do next?

What can we do, besides avoiding the pitfalls I have highlighted, to improve theory building in family business research? I believe, we need to keep in mind five things as we embark on theory building in our future studies. First and most obvious is we need to continue to use theory to guide, inform and even challenge our thinking. There is no alternative to using theory: theory-free research is often without substance or its cumulative effect is debatable. Theory building is both exciting and challenging but there are many guides that can provide a successful roadmap in this regard (e.g., Bartunek et al., 2006; Corley & Gioia, 2011; Sutton & Staw, 1995; Whetten, 1989) Second, we should teach and read the writings of the original theories. I am struck by the number of family business scholars who invoke popular theories without ever reading the original articles and other publications that have introduced these theories. As noted, these researchers appear to rely on summaries and reviews of the theories, rather than thoroughly reading the original works that embody the theory. These summaries and reviews are stylized presentations of theory and therefore frequently overlook some of the nuances involved. These nuances are an integral part of the recipe that make a theory work. Learning from examples of effective theory use therefore is an important way to enrich theory development in family business research. Some of the best cited papers using a given theory offer such examples. Seeing how skilled researchers have invoked and applied the theory is a great way to learn. Asking these researchers for help is also useful in improving one’s research and expediting individual learning. We learn by reading the literature, and learning from research exemplars can significantly improve our collective learning. Third, researchers need to learn more concretely about the assumptions and boundaries of the theory and keep them in mind. Assumptions are especially important in explaining and identifying causal mechanisms. Violating these assumptions may render the theory invalid. The same goes for the boundaries of a theory— knowing and observing them is important for selecting the right question (and theory), and making sure that the results and their explanations are meaningful. Fourth, family business researchers could be more creative in applying theory. Theory building is not a mechanical process of citing the relevanttheory and connecting with variables. Argument and design should build the foundation for making this connection. Creativity in arguments and research design would lay a foundation for achieving interesting findings. The setting is also another important consideration, especially when applying relatively new theories to new settings (Zahra, 2007). Looking for and trying to address paradoxes and surprising findings can also enrich the field.