Cultivating and embracing plurality in abductive inquiries within strategy research

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Choudhury, Prithwiraj; Moeen, Mahka; Wormald, Audra
• 署名单位: University of London; London School Economics & Political Science; University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Madison; University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina School of Medicine
• 刊物名称: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0143-2095
• DOI: 10.1002/smj.70120
• 发表日期: 2026

摘要

Research Summary Abduction offers a mode of scientific inquiry that focuses on formulating explanations for unexplained phenomena. By building a bridge between philosophy of science and strategic management research, this article offers a pluralistic view of abduction, highlighting abductive triggers as the starting point in seeking explanations and the essential role of both creative and selective abduction in formulating explanations. Additionally, this article provides practical guidance for the design, execution, and evaluation of abductive research, including the usefulness of abduction for studies not designed as abductive. We offer orienting considerations about abduction's steps and elements, illustrate with examples, and outline potential missteps. Abduction does not lend itself to a fixed template, and we aim to lower the barriers to using abduction in strategic management research.Managerial Summary Abductive inquiry develops explanations for unexplained observations. This article connects philosophy of science with strategic management research to highlight the variety of forms abduction can take, including generating explanations in creative abduction and adjudicating explanations in selective abduction. By providing strategic management researchers with greater clarity about abductive inquiry, the article contributes to the development of explanatory insights that can help managers identify the causes underpinning organizational outcomes and make informed strategic decisions. This contribution is relevant because strategy is concerned with how interdependent organizational choices and actions influence outcomes, requiring managers not only to predict what may happen, but also to explain why outcomes occur so that they can intervene effectively.