University of Minnesota
Carlson School of Management
MGMT 8101
Theory Building & Research Design

Spring 2007, Tuesdays 1:15-4:30 p.m. in 1-127 CSOM

Prof. Andrew Van de Ven - Instructor
3-402 CSOM Bldg., Phone: 624-1864; Web Page
Office Hours: MW 2-3:30 pm

 

MGMT 8101 Topics and Assignments - Spring 2007

Course Syllabus

LMS

CourseLib

 

Sessions
1. Jan. 16
2. Jan. 23
3. Jan. 30
4. Feb. 6
5. Feb. 13
6. Feb. 20
7. Feb. 27
8. March 6

9. March 7 (9-12 a.m.)

(March 12-16)
10. March 20
11. March 21 (9-12 am)
March 27 & April 3
12. April 10
13. April 17
14. April 24
15. May 1

Topics
Introduction and Overview
Developing a Research Proposal (submit research proposal recipe)
Philosophy of Science Underlying Engaged Scholarship

Formulating the Research Problem or Question
Grounded Methods of Problem Formulation (submit research problem & question)

Building a Theory
Justifying a Theory  (share theory reports with peers)
Two Modes of Thought: Variance and Process Theories (submit theory reports)
Variance Research Designs

(University Spring Break)

Process Research Designs

Constructing and Evaluating Measurement Instruments
Work day

Evaluating and Improving Research Designs (submit research design)
Implementing Research and Problem Solving
Writing and Publishing Crafts
Reviewing and Evaluating Research Proposals (submit final research proposal)

 

1.      Course Introduction and Overview - Tuesday, January 16 top

Before Class:

1. Browse this MGMT 8101 course web site.

3. Check out UofM Libraries CourseLib for resources on the web.

 

Topics:

Why would you want to take this course?

1. Course overview.
2. Engaged Scholarship for a Professional School.

3. Students introduce themselves and their research interests.

 

Readings:

Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 1.

- Share your comments, questions, problems on chapter 1

 

Notes:

Notes on Engaged Scholarship in a Changing Field

 

2.      Developing a Research Proposal - Tuesday, January 23 top

Topics:

You want to develop a research proposal?  No problem.  Fill in the blanks of this "recipe."

1. Basic components of a research proposal.
2. Basic components of a theory. 
3. Cover the bases of the "Diamond Model."

 

Exercise:

Nominal group exercise to identify difficulties in developing your research proposal. 

 

Readings:

Whetten, "What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution," AMR, 1989.

Van de Ven & Delbecq, "The Nominal Group as a Research Instrument…" AJPH, 1972.

Davis & Parker, “Writing the Doctoral Dissertation,” NY: Barron’s, 1997, chapters 2 and 8.

 

Notes:

Class Slides and Notes on Developing a Research Proposal.

Be sure to review these notes to avoid false starts in completing the “recipe”

 

Submit:

Outline for research proposal using this "recipe."

 

3.      Philosophy of Science Underlying Engaged Scholarship - Tuesday, January 30 top

Topics:

What philosophy of science are you practicing?

1.        Positivism

2.        Relativism and Postmodernism

3.        Pragmatism

4.        Critical Realism

 

Exercise:

Design a research project from different philosophical positions

 

Readings:

Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 2.

 

Supplementary Readings:

Azevedo, “Updating organizational epistemology,” in Baum (2002), pp. 715-732.

McKelvey, “Model-centered organization science epistemology,” in Baum (2002): 752-780.

Alvesson & Skoldberg, “Reflexive Methodology,” 2000, Chapters 1 and 7
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class slides on philosophy of science

 

4.      Formulating the Research Problem - Tuesday, February 6 top

Topics:

What problem and question do you want to study?

1.        Situating the problem

2.        Grounding the problem in reality

3.        Diagnosing the problem

4.        Problem solving by formulating the crucial question

 

Exercise:

Identify an anomaly you observed in your study and suggest a way to resolve it.

 

Readings:

Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 3

 

Supplementary Readings:

Davis, "That's Interesting," (1971) and That's Classic!" (1986).
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class Slides on Problem Formulation

 

5.      Grounded Methods of Problem Formulation - Tuesday, February 13 top

Topics:

In what reality is your research problem grounded?

1.      Grounded methods for problem formulation and theory building

2.      Case study strategy and methods

3.      Problem formulation is a grounded theory building process

4.      What are the consequences of your problem statement for theory and practice?  

 

Exercise:

Review your problem statement with another student and provide one another feedback.

For examples of formulating theoretical and practical problem statements
see Will Wittkopf, (1997) and Andrew Jansma (2001) Mgmt 8101 students.

Readings:

Yin, Case Study Research: Design and methods, Third Edition, Sage, 2003.

 

Supplementary reading:

Daugherty, "Grounded theory building," in Baum, 2001.
Eisenhardt, "Building theory from Case Study Research," AMR, 1989.
Tsoukas, "The validity of Idiographic Research Explanation," AMR, 1989.
Barley, "Images of Imaging: Notes on doing longitudinal fieldwork," OS, 1990.
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

Notes:

Class Slides on Grounded Problem and Theory Building.

 

Submit:

Statement of research problem and question. Place this Evaluation Form 1  on the cover page.

 

6.      Building a Theory, Part 1 - Tuesday, February 20 top

Topics:

What is your answer to your research question?

1. Conceiving a theory

2. Constructing the theory
3. Arguing the theory

Exercise:

Exercises in theory building moves

 

Readings:

Van de Ven, Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 4

 

Supplementary Readings:

Weick, "Theory Construction as Disciplined Imagination," AMR, 1989.

Bacharach, "Organizational Theories: Some Criteria for Evaluation," AMR, 1989.

Tsoukas, "The Missing Link," AMR 1991. 

Bruner, “Going Beyond the Information Given,” Chp. 13 in Anglin (ed.) Norton, pp. 218-238.
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class slides on Theory Building

7.      Building a Theory, Part 2 - Tuesday, February 27 top

Topics:

Why should anyone believe your answer to your research question?

1.      Characteristics of research propositions and hypotheses.

2.      Develop a plausible answer to your research question. 

3.      Develop a "crucial" proposition that juxtaposes two plausible answers.

4.      Identify the assumptions: domain, time, space where proposition holds. 

5.      State a few hypotheses that derive from your proposition. 

Exercise:

Peer group workshop reviewing one-another’s theories/arguments.

 

Readings:

Supplementary Readings:

Whetten, “Modeling-as-Theorizing,” 2002.

Rousseau, "Issues of Level in Organization Research," ROB, Vol. 7, 1985.

Poole & Van de Ven, "Using Paradox to Build ... Theories,” AMR 1989.

Zaheer, et al., "Time Scales and Organizational Theory," AMR, 1999.
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class slides on theory building, part 2.

Example of a good report by Mary Jo Graham in 2003 class.

 

Assignment:

Bring to class your theory paper with revisions of problem/question section.

  • Mark (with pen) the revisions you made in your paper from last draft.
  • Attach your “old” problem report with my assessment (so I can remember what I said).
  • Place  Evaluation Form 2 on the cover page.

 

Based on peer feedback in class, revise your paper and submit it by next class.

8.       Two Modes of Thought: Variance and Process Models - Tuesday, March 6 top

Topics:

Do you want to study how or why something happens?

1.        Variance (causal) and process (narrative) reasoning

2.        Assumptions of variance and process theorizing

 

Readings:

Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 5

 

Supplementary Readings:

Bruner, Two Modes of Thought, Chp. 2 in Actual Minds, Possible Worlds, 1986.
Mohr, Variance and Process Theories in Explaining Organizational Behavior, 1982.
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class slides on variance and process modeling.

 

Submit:

Theory Reports with revision of problem/questions section

  • Mark (with pen) the revisions you made in your paper from last draft.
  • Attach your “old” problem report with my assessment (so I can remember what I said).
  • Place  Evaluation Form 2 on the cover page.

 

9.       Variance Research Designs – Wednesday, March 7, 9 a.m. - noon top

Topics:

Show us the evidence that X causes Y.

  1. Variance research question & unit of analysis
  2. Causal, contingent, and interacting relationships
  3. Randomized, quasi, and non-experimental studies.
  4. Sampling and sample size..
  5. Causal or path analytic models.
  6. Factors threatening internal, external, statistical and construct validities.

 

Exercise:

Compare and contrast a few student experimental designs.

 

Readings:

Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 6

 

Supplementary reading:

Shadish, Cooke & Campbell, Chp. 1-3 in Experimental and Quasi-Exp. Designs, 2002.

Singleton & Straits, Chapters 4, 6-9, & 16.

- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class slides on variance research design

 

Assignment:

Complete this worksheet to design a variance study for your research question or theory.  

Bring it to class for discussion.

(University Spring Break - No classes March 12-16)

10. Process Research Designs – Tuesday, March 27 top

Topics:

Show us evidence for your story of how this process unfolded.

1.      Process theory questions focus on order and sequence of events.

2.      Narrative study designs.

3.      Defining and measuring events or incidents.

4.      Analyzing temporal patterns in event sequence data.

 

Exercise:

Compare & contrast a few student process study designs.

 

Readings:

Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 7

Sminia, “Practices of Process Research in Strategic Management,” 2007.

 

Supplementary Readings:

Bruner, “The Narrative Construction of Reality,” Critical Inquiry, 1991: 1-21.

Polkinghorne, Narrative Knowing and the Human Sciences, 1988, Chapters I, II, & VII.

Pentland, "Building process theory with narrative," AMR, 1999.

Poole, et al, (2000) chapters 3-5 on process research design.
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class slides on process research design

 

Assignment

Complete this worksheet to design a process study for your research question or theory.

Bring it to class for discussion.

Invitation

You are invited to a six-hour Process Research Methods Workshop on Saturday, August 4, 2007 in conjunctions with the Academy of Management Conference in Philadelphia.   This workshop covers a spectrum of theories and methods for conducting process research undertaken to examine how change unfolds in individuals, groups, organizations, and programs.  The workshop is designed to support a community of scholars across Academy divisions who want to share and become acquainted with methods for conducting process studies.  The morning session includes plenary discussions and exercises lead by the following workshop faculty:

 

8:30     Introductory overview – Andy Van de Ven, U. of Minnesota

8:45     What is processual analysis? – Andrew Pettigrew, U. of Bath

9:45     Learning from a classic process study – Steve Barley, Stanford U.

10:30   Learning from a study in progress – Paula Jarzabkowski, U. of Aston

11:15   Wrap-up comments on process methods – Harry Sminia, U. of Sheffield

 

The afternoon session (from 1 – 4 p.m.) focuses on small group round-table discussions with faculty and participants of short papers that are submitted by participants describing their process research projects. These paper discussion groups are being organized by Clive Smallman, Lincoln U., New Zealand.  The workshop concludes with a faculty panel session and suggestions for building our community of process research scholars.  The panel and group discussions will be lead by the morning workshop faculty, as well as faculty of past process research workshops, including: Kevin Dooley (Arizona State U.), Ann Langley (HEC, Montreal), Brian Pentland (Michigan State U.), and M. Scott Poole (U. of Illinois).

 

Registration is required to participate in the Process Research Workshop.  We ask you to submit a short (1000-2000 word) paper describing your process research project by July 2, 2007.  Your paper will be grouped, distributed to, and read before the workshop by other participants and the faculty moderator of each paper session.  For further information, see website on Process Research Methods PDW

 

 

 

11.    Constructing and Evaluating Measurement Instruments– Wednesday, March 21, 9 a.m. - noon top

Topics:

Measurement is fundamentally a problem of conceptualization.
1. Questionnaires, interviews, archival data, & field notes.
2. Frames of Reference in a measurement instrument.
3. Psychometric procedures for evaluating a measurement instrument

Exercise:

Evaluate your definitions and measures of key constructs in your proposal.

 

Readings:

Van de Ven & Ferry, "Measuring and Assessing Organizations," Chapter 3, 1980
Mathison, “Why Triangulate?” Ed Researcher, 1988.

Meyer, “Visual Data in Org Research,” Org Science, 1991.

 

Supplementary reading:
Singleton & Straits, Chapters 4 & 9. 

Bass, Cascio, & O'Connor, "...Estimates of Frequency & Amount," JAP, 1974.
Lazarsfeld & Menzel, "Relation Between Individual and Collective Properties..." 1969.

Campbell, "Psychometric Theory," in Dunnette Handbook, 1976.
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class slides on constructing and evaluating measures

Notes on Nisbett’s attribution theory research for measurement.

 

Assignment:

Develop definitions and measures of key constructs in your research proposal.

 

 

Tuesday, March 27 and April 3—Work days (No Classes)

12. Evaluating and Improving Research Designs - - Tuesday, April 10  top

Topics:

Problems and questions in designing your research studies.

Exercise:

Peer evaluations of student research design reports

 

Readings:

Supplementary Readings:

Singleton & Straits, Chapters 10-13. 

Daft, “Learning the Craft of Organizational Research,” AMR, 8, 4 (Oct. 1983: 539-546)

Argyris, “Dangers in Applying Results from Exper. Soc. Psych.” Amer. Psychlogist, 1975
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Van de Ven, Class slides on reviewing research designs.

 

Submit:

Based on peer feedback in class, revise your research design report

& submit by end of week in Van de Ven’s mailbox in CSOM 3-365.
Clearly identify any revisions made in report, and attach last version of report

 Attach a copy of Evaluation Form 3 placed on the cover page.

 

13.  Communicating  Research and Problem Solving - Tuesday, April 17 top

Topics:

Knowledge for whom?  For what?

How do you intend to have your research findings understood and used by your audience?

How do you plan to communicate your research findings?

 

Exercise:

Small group discussions of these questions.

 

Readings:

Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 8.

 

Supplementary Readings:

Carlile, Transferring, translating, and transforming: An integrative framework for managing knowledge across boundaries, Organization Science, 15, 5 (Sept-Oct. 2004): 555-568.

Tsoukas, Refining common sense: Types of knowledge in management studies, Journal of Management Studies, 31, 6 (Nov. 1994):761-780.

Evered & Louis, Alternative Perspectives in the Org. Sciences,” AMR, 1981: 385-395.
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

 

Notes:

Class slides on communicating and using research

 

14.    Writing and Research Norms - Tuesday, April 24 top

Topics:

Research and writing for whom? …for what?
Writing research reports for funding, academic and professional audiences.
Presenting research reports at academic and professional conferences.

Who do you wish to impact with your research findings.

 

Exercise:

Verbal and written presentation exercises.

 

Readings:

Green, Jr. A rhetorical theory of diffusion, AMR, 29, 4 (2004):653-669.

Huff, “Learning to be a good writer,” 2002.
Meyer, "Balls, Strikes, and Collisions on the Base Path," 1995.

Review how to make your sessions exciting at AOM conferences

 

Supplementary Readings:

Huff, Writing for Publication, pp. i-51, 1998.

Van de Ven & Schomaker, "The Rhetoric of Evidence Based Medicine," HCMR, 2002.

Singleton & Straits, chpt. 17.
- Share your comments, questions, problems on readings

.

Notes:

Van de Ven class notes on Writing and Publishing Norms

 

Assignment:

Prepare final research proposal for next class.

 

15. Implementing Research Proposals – Tuesday, May 1 top

Topics:

Challenges and experiences in implementing research proposals

What have we learned to prepare for these research implementation challaenges?

The ethics of engaged scholarship.

 

Special Guest

Alison Davis-Blake, Professor & CSOM Dean, will lead informal discussion of challenges and experiences she and her Texas colleagues had in implementing their NSF research proposal.on supply chain integration.

 

Readings:

Practicing Engaged Scholarship, Chapter 9

Davis-Blake et al, NSF Research Proposal on supply chain integration.
Research proposal examples by Ferrin, Rau, and Arling, past Mgmt8101 students.

 

Supplementary Readings:

Brief, "Still servants of power," JMI, 2000.

Gioia, "Business Education’s Role in the Crisis of Corporate Confidence," 2002.