Realism and constructivism in strategy research: A critical realist response to Mir and Watson

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Kwan, KM; Tsang, EWK
• 署名单位: Wayne State University; Hong Kong Baptist University
• 刊物名称: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0143-2095
• DOI: 10.1002/smj.199
• 发表日期: 2001
• 页码: 1163-1168
• 关键词: constructivism; REALISM; relativism; STRATEGY RESEARCH; philosophy of science; epistemology

摘要

Mir and Watson (2000) advocate that constructivism has the potential to inform strategy research. In their discussions, they compare constructivism with realism, and highlight certain alleged strengths of the former over the latter. Although their paper provides some insights, their version of constructivism is problematic and their understanding of realism is inaccurate. In this note we clarify some key issues concerning constructivism and realism. Moreover, we argue that Mir and Watson's insights can be accommodated within a critical realist frame work. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.