Experiments in Strategy Research: A Critical Review and Future Research Opportunities

2021 ◽  
pp. 014920632110444
Author(s):  
Mark T. Bolinger ◽  
Matthew A. Josefy ◽  
Regan Stevenson ◽  
Michael A. Hitt
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Strategy Research ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Strong Focus ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Level Of Analysis

We review extant experimental work in strategic management and argue that experiments constitute an underused methodology that has significant potential. We examine and categorize 179 experiments from 119 published articles over a 20-year period, delineating the contributions of these experiments to the strategic management literature. In doing so, we identify topic areas in which experiments have been effectively deployed as well as several literature streams that have a limited amount of prior experimental research. We discuss specific challenges of using experiments in strategy research, especially given its strong focus on the firm level of analysis. We also emphasize approaches for how experiments can be instrumental in extending management theories and accelerating behavioral microfoundations of strategy research. In light of past contributions and gaps, we discuss specific opportunities and means of designing innovative experiments, propose novel potential research questions, and provide a best practices methodological guide that scholars can use when considering experimental designs. Overall, our work documents experimental research and provides a methodological practicum, thereby offering a platform for future experiment-based research in strategic management.

Information Technology and Strategy

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul L. Drnevich ◽  
David P. McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Central Argument ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Value Of It ◽  
Level Performance

A central argument in strategic management is that a firm’s resources or capabilities can be sources of competitive advantage, which may lead to superior firm performance. Investments in Information Technology (IT) resources and capabilities represent one of the largest recurring expenditures made by firms. However, despite the magnitude of these investments and their presumed strategic importance to firms, demonstrating a definitive link between IT resource investments and firm-level performance has remained elusive. A review of the last 25 years of the MIS and Strategy literatures, indicates that each of these ‘two camps’ has contributed important insights and a strong co-evolutionary relationships, yet the strategic importance of IT lacks clear theoretical grounding and consistent empirical support. To address this deficiency, in this paper we review the theoretical bases for economic value creation to develop taxonomy for the roles and performance implications of IT, which integrates strategic management theory to offer a contingency perspective for how the roles and value of IT will vary in different strategic and environmental contexts. We apply the taxonomy as a lens through which to examine a sample of prominent prior research on the topic. The authors conclude with a discussion highlighting directions for future research.

Anti-plagiarism Software in an Irish University

2010 ◽  
pp. 127-140
Author(s):  
Angelica Risquez
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Institutional Practices ◽  
Software Applications ◽  
Research Questions

A variety of anti-plagiarism software applications have appeared in recent years, but the pedagogical and institutional practices underpinning their use remains largely unexplored. It is essential to increase the amount of evidence-based literature that investigates the use of anti-plagiarism software in higher education. In the light of this, this chapter explores the integration of anti-plagiarism software in an Irish university since early 2006 and the progress made to date. We use data gathered from our own context to show how instructors are using this software to date, what trends emerge and what can be deduced about the adoption of the system to guide future research questions. Best practices are suggested for educators in order to help them to use anti-plagiarism software in proactive, positive, and pedagogically sound ways.

Reconciling the historical divide between strategy process and strategy content

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-427
Author(s):  
Craig Randall ◽  
Eric B. Dent
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Historical Development ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Strategy Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategy Process ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Core Concepts ◽  
Level Of Analysis

Purpose Early works in strategic management described strategy process and were quickly followed by a plethora of strategy content articles focusing on tools, theories, frameworks and models for use in strategizing. Subsequently, strategy research and pedagogy diverged along these lines and the two streams have not been satisfactorily reconciled. As the process incorporates content and content requires process, this paper seeks to answer the question; can some relational consistency and historical reconciliation be developed? The purpose of this paper is to propose a process/content interrelation and a generic model of strategizing. Design/methodology/approach The authors first identify the opportunity for this integration through the historical development of the two streams. The authors then review contemporary scholarly literature, strategic management textbooks and university syllabi to determine which elements of the strategy process and content are most frequently promulgated. Findings The authors discover a generally ubiquitous core of concepts, but great inconsistency in how they are emphasized, linked and/or applied. Beyond these core concepts, faculty syllabi included a wide range of more idiosyncratic content (appearing very infrequently – possibly related to instructor research or interest areas), such as blue ocean or game theory. The authors then propose a 2 × 2 matrix with axes of the level of analysis and stage of activity. The authors provide a populated matrix and discuss the implications of this matrix for future scholarship and teaching. Originality/value This paper begins a process of integrating the historical divide between strategy process and strategy content. It provides insights for classroom faculty, historians and practitioners.

scholarly journals Contextualizing employment outcomes in family business research: current findings and future research avenues

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Amato ◽  
Rodrigo Basco ◽  
Nicola Lattanzi
Keyword(s):  
Family Business ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Employment Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
The Family ◽  
Aggregate Effect ◽  
Level Of Analysis

AbstractThe empirical evidence of family business phenomenon in terms of employment outcomes is contradictory highlighting the micro–macro gap in the existing research. To address this contradiction, our study disentangles the role of context in family firms’ employment outcomes. To do so, we conduct a systematic literature review of 67 articles focusing on three employment-related outcomes—namely, growth, downsizing, and quality of labour—published in peer-reviewed journals from 1980 to 2020. Based on a two-by-two framework to classify this extant research, we unpack what we know about family firms and employment outcomes and where we can go from here. We highlight three main findings. First, current research is context-less since has mainly focused on the firm level in one context (i.e., region or country) and there is a lack of studies comparing family firms’ employment outcomes in different contexts and explicitly measuring the effects of contextual dimensions on family firms’ employment outcomes. This context-less approach could explain the conflicting results and lack of theoretical predictability about the family effect on employment across contexts. Second, the lack of understanding of the context in which family firms dwell highlights the need for future research to focus on context by theorizing about employment outcomes—that is, measuring context and its interactions with family- and job-related variables. Third, there is a need to further explore, analyse, and theorize on the aggregate effect of family firms on employment outcomes at different level of analysis (e.g., local, regional, and national).

scholarly journals A review of current work in research of Trombe walls

2021 ◽  
Vol 248 ◽  
pp. 03025
Author(s):  
Xin Wang ◽  
Qiao Xi ◽  
Qingsong Ma
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Simulation Research ◽  
Theoretical Simulation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Trombe Wall ◽  
Research Questions

Sustainable architecture and green building are recognized techniques to address the energy and environmental crises. In this regard, the Trombe Wall has also attracted attention for its potential ability to address the energy and environmental crises. Trombe Wall is regarded as a sustainable architectural technology for insulation. This article reviews the classification and configuration of Trombe Wall and the most relevant content of Trombe Wall research carried out in various countries over the past few decades. This review discusses the characteristics of the main subspecies of the Trombe Wall. In terms of content, according to the research methods of different types of Trombe walls, they can be divided into two categories: theoretical simulation research and experimental research. The advantages of this sustainable architectural technology have been highlighted, and future research questions have been identified.

An Academic Exploration into the Core Principles and Building Blocks of COBIT 5

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven De Haes ◽  
Wim Van Grembergen
Keyword(s):  
Good Practice ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Future Research ◽  
General Management ◽  
The Core ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Practice Framework ◽  
Enterprise Governance

Recently a new version of COBIT, the good-practice framework for enterprise governance of IT, was released. Although is it not always clearly articulated in its documentation, this new COBIT 5 framework incorporates many concepts and theories out of the IT and general management literature. This paper wants to position COBIT as a framework for enterprise governance of IT, and explores how the core principles and building blocks of the framework are derived from insights from theory and literature. This discussion could help or inspire other scholars to derive potential research questions and hypothesis around this practice-oriented framework, as a basis for future research programs.

A systematic review on the internationalization of Chinese SMEs: Thematic expansion, new impulses and potential avenues for future research

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Hänle ◽  
Bart Cambré ◽  
Stefanie Weil
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Contexts ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Review Study ◽  
Push And Pull

Purpose Supplementing an earlier review paper on the internationalization of Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (ICS) that covers the period 1991–2012, the purpose of this paper is to examine how research on this topic has thematically expanded in recent years. Specifically, the authors aim to examine the literature between 2013 and 2020, highlight advancements and synthesize potential avenues for future research. Design/methodology/approach Based on the systematic literature review method (Denyer and Tranfield, 2009; Kraus et al., 2020), the authors considered more than 5,700 peer-reviewed journal articles, of which 107 were included in the narrative synthesis. Findings Research on the ICS has become more widespread and mature in the period since 2013. First, there are more papers investigating firm-level characteristics and sources of internal capabilities. Second, the state of knowledge regarding social networks and institutional contexts in the internationalization process has increased. Consequently, new knowledge exists regarding push and pull patterns and the role China’s institutional environment is playing. Third, growing interest can be noted in studying entrepreneurship in the context of Chinese SMEs’ global expansion. Additionally, the paper exposes promising areas for future research and suggests more than 20 potential research questions. Originality/value This review in the growing debate on the ICS is the first of its kind that consciously drives the work of a previous review study forward. This enables tracking the progress of research (“mapping of the field”) and identifying important avenues for future research that can further advance the debate. The comprehensive review also discovered one relatively new variable – the role of Chinese returnee entrepreneurs – which shows the significant influence on SME internationalization and attracts growing scholarly attention.

Corporate Social Responsibility: An Overview From an Organizational and Psychological Perspective

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ante Glavas ◽  
Mislav Radic
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Level Of Analysis

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an important topic for both academics and practitioners because it potentially influences all aspects of an organization—from relationships with stakeholders to strategy to daily routines and practices. Thus, scholars have explored CSR for close to one hundred years. Prior research has been primarily conducted at the organizational and institutional levels, but has largely overlooked the individual-level of analysis, which is a major gap considering that CSR is enacted by and influences people. Recently, this gap has been addressed by an increased focus on the individual level of analysis—also known as “micro-CSR.” However, CSR is a multilevel construct, so even when focusing on the individual level, all levels need to be taken into consideration at the same time. Moreover, CSR is cross-disciplinary. Prior research has often focused on disciplines such as strategy, but fields such as psychology have much to offer—especially because CSR is conducted through and affects individuals. Moreover, due to the historical focus of CSR on the organizational level of analysis, most studies have aggregated CSR to the firm level. These studies have shown mixed results of the effects of CSR. One reason is that when CSR is aggregated, the variance at the individual level of analysis is lost. Employees might react both positively and negatively to CSR. For example, CSR is often extra-role (e.g., volunteering, being part of committees) and can have a negative effect of role strain and stress. For other employees, they might find tension with the way that CSR is carried out. Future research could dive more deeply into the psychology of CSR and how, when, and why employees might react to CSR differently.

scholarly journals Examining Data Repository Guidelines for Qualitative Data Sharing

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison L. Antes ◽  
Heidi A. Walsh ◽  
Michelle Strait ◽  
Cynthia R. Hudson-Vitale ◽  
James M. DuBois
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Data Sharing ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Substantial Variation ◽  
Secondary Use ◽  
Rich Information ◽  
Research Questions

Qualitative data provide rich information on research questions in diverse fields. Recent calls for increased transparency and openness in research emphasize data sharing. However, qualitative data sharing has yet to become the norm internationally and is particularly uncommon in the United States. Guidance for archiving and secondary use of qualitative data is required for progress in this regard. In this study, we review the benefits and concerns associated with qualitative data sharing and then describe the results of a content analysis of guidelines from international repositories that archive qualitative data. A minority of repositories provide qualitative data sharing guidelines. Of the guidelines available, there is substantial variation in whether specific topics are addressed. Some topics, such as removing direct identifiers, are consistently addressed, while others, such as providing an anonymization log, are not. We discuss the implications of our study for education, best practices, and future research.

User and Firm Generated Content on Online Social Media

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 34-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhinita Daiya ◽  
Subhadip Roy
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Media Communication ◽  
Communication Content ◽  
Online Social Media ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Social Media Communication ◽  
Level Of Analysis

Social media communication content has gained a lot of interest in e-commerce literature. The present research note explores the scope of social media communication content across content source and levels of analysis. Based on a comprehensive review of 36 empirical papers spanning a decade (2004-2016), the research in social media content source is divided as user generated and firm generated. The levels of analysis are divided into three groups: users and society, platforms and intermediaries and firms and industries. Subsequently, a grid with six cells is created that has the content source (user/firm) on one axis and level of analysis on the other. The findings reveal communication content across users and society to be the most researched area, whereas, platforms and intermediaries being the least researched. Further, a set of future research questions are proposed for content in social media across various levels of analysis.

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