Typologies as a Unique Form of Theory Building: Toward Improved Understanding and Modeling
Abstract
Organizational typologies have proved to be a popular approach for thinking about organizational structures and strategies. Authors developing typologies, however, have been criticized for developing simplistic classification systems instead of theories. Contrary to these criticisms, we argue that typologies meet the criteria of a theory. When typologies are properly developed and fully specified, they are complex theories that can be subjected to rigorous empirical testing using the quantitative models we develop. We conclude by discussing the advantages of typological theories and presenting guidelines to improve the development of typologies.
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Snow and Ketchen Jr. (2014) argued that well-developed typologies are more than just classification systems; rather, a typology articulates relationships among constructs and facilitates testable predictions.
“Snow and Ketchen Jr. (2014) argued that well-developed typologies are more than just classification systems; rather, a typology articulates relationships among constructs and facilitates testable predictions (cf.Doty and Glick 1994).”
From Designing conceptual articles: four approaches (2020) · cites this paper as Doty and Glick 1994
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- Authors
- Doty, D. H., & Glick, W. H.
- Affiliations
- University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (US)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- ORCID
- Doty, D. Harold
- Venue
- The Academy of Management Review
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 1994-04
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 230
- ISSN
- 0363-7425 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2024380716
- Cited by
- 1,716
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 94 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 121 · 2022: 130 · 2021: 87 · 2020: 111 · 2019: 81 · 2018: 85 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 88 · 2014: 96 · 2013: 61 · 2012: 67
- FWCI
- 12.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Business Strategies and Management Research
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management Theory and Practice
- Keywords
- organizational typology, theory development, typology development, classification systems, organizational structure, organizational strategy, theory testing, quantitative modeling, typological theory
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