HOW CONTRASTIVE EXPLANATION FACILITATES THEORY BUILDING

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Tsang, Eric W. K.; Ellsaesser, Florian
• 署名单位: University of Texas System; University of Texas Dallas
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0363-7425
• 发表日期: 2011
• 页码: 404-419
• 关键词: TRANSACTION COST; joint ventures; CONSTRUCTION; inference; ecology; models; field

摘要

We introduce the theory of contrastive explanation, the core argument of which is that we do not explain an entire phenomenon but only aspects of it. Using the example of transaction cost economics, we illustrate how contrastive explanation can assist organizational researchers in creating, broadening, and deepening their theories through posing suitable contrastive questions. We summarize our discussion into eight heuristic rules that will serve as useful theory-building tools.