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Critical realism and constructivism in strategy research: toward a synthesis

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  • Raza Mir
  • Andrew Watson

Abstract

We agree with Kwan and Tsang (2001) that critical realism represents an important point of epistemological departure from mainstream realism, and that it has the potential to inform strategy research. To that end, Kwan and Tsang's argument for a critical realist perspective is valid. There however exist substantial nontrivial differences between constructivism and critical realism. While critical realism contests some of the default assumptions of empiricism and realism which treat social systems as closed systems, it is still predicated upon an inherent order of things that is graspable by research. Constructivism instead focuses on the manner in which researchers constitute theories in the act of describing them. This important distinction makes constructivism far more of a departure from empiricism than critical realism, and therefore it has a different set of implications for strategy research. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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  • Raza Mir & Andrew Watson, 2001. "Critical realism and constructivism in strategy research: toward a synthesis," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(12), pages 1169-1173, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:22:y:2001:i:12:p:1169-1173
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.200
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    Cited by:

    1. M.-J. Avenier, 2010. "Retrouver l'Esprit de la vallée du Constructivisme en remontant à ses sources épistémiques," Post-Print halshs-00526755, HAL.
    2. Frohwein, Torsten, 2014. "Grundlagen der Theorie der Firma: Methodologie wissenschaftlicher Theorien," Research Papers on Innovation, Services and Technology 1/2014, University of Stuttgart, Institute of Business Administration, Department I - Institute of Research & Development and Innovation Management.
    3. Metzger Matthew L. & King Jesse S., 2015. "Extending Constructivist Perspectives on Opportunity Production Through An Incorporation of Effectual Logics," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 5(4), pages 323-345, October.
    4. Samantha B. Meyer & Belinda Lunnay, 2013. "The Application of Abductive and Retroductive Inference for the Design and Analysis of Theory-Driven Sociological Research," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 18(1), pages 86-96, February.
    5. Mingers, John, 2015. "Helping business schools engage with real problems: The contribution of critical realism and systems thinking," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 242(1), pages 316-331.
    6. Pinget, Amandine, 2016. "Spécificités des déterminants des innovations environnementales : une approche appliquée aux PME [Specificities of determinants for environmental innovation : an approach applied to SMEs]," MPRA Paper 80108, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Christian Homburg, 2007. "Betriebswirtschaftslehre als Empirische Wissenschaft — Bestandsaufnahme und Empfehlungen," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 59(56), pages 27-60, January.
    8. Alain Charles Martinet, 2008. "50 ans de recherche en stratégie:normalisation ou pluralisme épistémologique ?," Revue Finance Contrôle Stratégie, revues.org, vol. 11(Special), pages 39-66, June.
    9. Sumit Mitra & Aakriti Deepak, 2024. "Role of Technology in Solid Waste Management: Social Enterprise in a Pandemic," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 10(1), pages 26-40, January.

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