Prescriptive Theorizing in Management Research: A New Impetus for Addressing Grand Challenges

IF 7 1区 管理学 Q1 BUSINESS Journal of Management Studies Pub Date : 2024-01-15 DOI:10.1111/joms.13035
Marvin Hanisch
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Abstract

Although management research has a rich tradition of both descriptive and prescriptive theorizing, the latter is often (and erroneously) viewed as unscientific, purely practice-oriented, or simply a corollary of descriptive analysis. Prescriptive theorizing concerns how things should be and how they can be achieved, as opposed to descriptive theorizing, which focuses on why or how things are (interrelated). Accordingly, prescriptive theorizing has strong normative and instrumental properties, which are especially relevant when addressing pressing societal, ecological, and ethical concerns, also referred to as grand challenges, that demand a re-evaluation of established norms and behavioural patterns. However, this opportunity is currently underutilized in the management literature, and there is a lack of guidance on how to leverage the principles of prescriptive theorizing. Therefore, I clarify its main characteristics, outline how scholars can construct rigorous prescriptive arguments, and show how normative and instrumental reasoning can promote positive social change. Embracing prescriptive theorizing as a vital complement to descriptive theorizing in management research provides scholars with an intellectual toolkit to actively engage in the urgent discourse on grand challenges and develop compelling new and impactful theories.

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管理研究中的规范性理论:应对重大挑战的新动力
尽管管理研究在描述性理论和规定性理论方面都有着丰富的传统,但后者常常(而且错误地)被视为不科学、纯粹以实践为导向,或者仅仅是描述性分析的必然结果。规定性理论涉及事物应该如何以及如何实现,而描述性理论则侧重于事物为何或如何(相互关联)。因此,规定性理论具有很强的规范性和工具性,在解决紧迫的社会、生态和伦理问题(也被称为重大挑战)时尤为重要,因为这些问题要求对既定规范和行为模式进行重新评估。然而,目前管理文献中对这一机遇利用不足,也缺乏如何利用规范性理论原则的指导。因此,我将阐明其主要特点,概述学者们如何构建严谨的规范性论证,并说明规范性和工具性推理如何促进积极的社会变革。将规定性理论化作为管理研究中描述性理论化的重要补充,为学者们提供了一个知识工具包,使他们能够积极参与有关重大挑战的紧急讨论,并发展出令人信服、有影响力的新理论。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
16.40
自引率
5.70%
发文量
99
期刊介绍: The Journal of Management Studies is a prestigious publication that specializes in multidisciplinary research in the field of business and management. With a rich history of excellence, we are dedicated to publishing innovative articles that contribute to the advancement of management and organization studies. Our journal welcomes empirical and conceptual contributions that are relevant to various areas including organization theory, organizational behavior, human resource management, strategy, international business, entrepreneurship, innovation, and critical management studies. We embrace diversity and are open to a wide range of methodological approaches and philosophical perspectives.
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