The DOI matches its Crossref record; 107 of the 107 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Strategies for Theorizing from Process Data
Abstract
In this article I describe and compare a number of alternative generic strategies for the analysis of process data, looking at the consequences of these strategies for emerging theories. I evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the strategies in terms of their capacity to generate theory that is accurate, parsimonious, general, and useful and suggest that method and theory are inextricably intertwined, that multiple strategies are often advisable, and that no analysis strategy will produce theory without an uncodifiable creative leap, however small. Finally, I argue that there is room in the organizational research literature for more openness within the academic community toward a variety of forms of coupling between theory and data.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Citations
Cites
Lincoln, Y. S., Guba, E. G., & Pilotta, J. J. (1985) · International Journal of Intercultural Relations · doi:10.1016/0147-1767(85)90062-8 · Cited by 45,787
Handbook of Qualitative Research
Crozier, G., Denzin, N., & Lincoln, Y. (1994) · British Journal of Educational Studies · doi:10.2307/3121684 · Cited by 26,666
The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research
Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (2017) · Aldine (Routledge reprint) · doi:10.4324/9780203793206 · Cited by 25,789
Basics of Qualitative Research
Ozanne, J. L., Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1992) · Journal of Marketing Research · doi:10.1177/002224379202900312 · Cited by 17,864
Basics of Qualitative Research
Ozanne, J. L., Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. M. (1992) · Journal of Marketing Research · doi:10.2307/3172751 · Cited by 17,852
Building Theories from Case Study Research
Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989) · The Academy of Management Review · doi:10.2307/258557 · Cited by 17,455
(2008) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-77282-0_6 · Cited by 17,411
(1990) · Cited by 11,110
(1969) · Virtual Defense Library (Ministerio de Defensa) · Cited by 10,735
Powers, C. H., & Giddens, A. (1988) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2579442 · Cited by 8,854
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 6,601–6,700 of 7,502
Köhlke, J. (2023) · Carl von Ossiezky University of Oldenburg
Pham, D. D. T. (2021) · Corpus Université Laval (Université Laval)
Tensions in Transdisciplinary Research : A study of a climate research group
Anderson, L. (2023) · Uppsala University Publications (Uppsala University)
Rajala, S. (2022) · Osuva (University of Vaasa)
Beyond the National Environmental Programmes (NEPs): environmental governance in drylands China
Kong, Z.-H. (2024) · White Rose eTheses Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York)
Jiménez-Pernett, J. (2022) · Papyrus : Institutional Repository (Université de Montréal) · doi:10.71781/1320
Education sector and the digital shift : incumbent responses to technological change
Steiner, E. (2021) · Digital Library of the University of Innsbruck (University of Innsbruck)
Diduc, A. (2018) · Osuva (University of Vaasa)
ten Brink, M. (2025) · TU/e Research Portal
Becoming a keystone: How incumbents can leverage technological change to create ecosystems
Pushpananthan, G. (2022) · Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology)
Capacidade analítica de Big Data (bdac) e sua relação com a Inovação Verde na agricultura
Ribeiro, F. L. (2023) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Circular business models in fashion retail : Exploring the complexity of scaling
Hultberg, E. (2024) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Hale, M. M., & 116546 (2021) · Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB)
Être leader : tensions, stratégies et dynamiques au cœur du travail identitaire
Geinoz, L. (2023) · Papyrus : Institutional Repository (Université de Montréal) · doi:10.71781/18351
(2017) · Institutional Research Information System (University of Udine)
Exploring the long-term sustainability of a nursing best practice guidelines program
Fleiszer, A. R. (2015) · eScholarship@McGill (McGill) · doi:10.82308/18752
Delporte, M. G., Hurst, B., Bartlett, J. L., & Hatcher, C. (2023) · International journal of communication
ROBOTS IN THE FIELD: THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE ELEMENTS IN ORGANISATIONS’ STRATEGY SEARCH
Hettich, A., Constantiou, I., & Lehrer, C. (2025) · CBS Research Portal (Copenhagen Business School)
Nussipova, G. (2023) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Talent Management in Chinese University Context: A Comparative Case Study Approach
Liu, M. (2024) · Repository@Hull (Worktribe) (University of Hull)
Lee, B. H. Z. (2025) · Enlighten: Theses (The University of Glasgow) · doi:10.5525/gla.thesis.85406
Askenbom, N., & Ulvhed, K. (2025) · Diva portal (Dalarna University Library)
Tinguely, P. N., Shrestha, Y. R., & von Krogh, G. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5437278
Starmann, F.-A. (2025) · Amtliche Mitteilungen (Universitätsbibliothek Paderborn) · doi:10.17619/unipb/1-2419
Baumgartner, B. (2025) · De Gruyter eBooks · doi:10.1515/9783110790344-002
Gassmann, O., Frankenberger, K., Sauer, R., Blohm, I., & Palmié, M. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-03104-4_1
Syed, R., Silva, L., & Oladeji, O. (2025) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2025/18103
Yu, P., li, Z., & Wang, C. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5709652
Making Data Reusable: Reconstructing and Repurposing Data for Novel ResearchPreprint
Kimble, L. E., Tuertscher, P., & Berends, H. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5772010
Ma'ruf, M., Setiawan, Z., & Adilla, F. (2025) · RIGGS Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business · doi:10.31004/riggs.v4i4.3541
Al-Ibrahim, H. A. H. I. (2026) · Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick) · doi:10.82444/warw.33906856
Corporate Innovation and Resilience in the United States
Shakhmuradyan, G., & Campagnolo, D. (2025) · Padua Research Archive (University of Padova)
Collaborative inclusion in South African restaurants: a case study on disability and accessibility
Mailovich, A. (2025) · Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town)
A Multi-Perspective Exploration of Employee Medical Leaves of Absence
Barnes, L. Y. (2023) · CU Scholar (University of Colorado Boulder)
Once Upon a Legend: Purpose as a Gate for Serendipity amid UnpredictabilityPreprint
Trincanato, E., Balzano, M., & Vagnoni, E. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5917604
Malmström, G. (2023) · Doria (University of Helsinki)
Cova, E., & Farnese, M. L. (2025) · Psychology Hub · doi:10.13133/2724-2943/18864
Rouse, E. D. (2025) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.5465/amj.2024.0418
Tavella, E. (2025) · European Management Review · doi:10.1111/emre.70047
Ouvrir la fabrique de l’écoblanchiment. Entre couplage faible structurel et hypocrisie volontairePreprint
Solcanu, M., & Sponem, S. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5964060
Hor, T. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5960342
Pretorius, R., Bombaerts, G. J. T., Talmar, M., & Walrave, B. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5974946
Collective understanding of organizational goals during crises: A managerial aspect
Liu, M., Čižo, E., Kokarēviča, A., & Kudiņš, J. (2025) · doi:10.59893/szv.2025.2(7
Effectual Approach to Microfinance: A Case Study of ROSCAs in Ireland
Malhotra, N. (2025) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-83708-080-920251002
A Resource-based View on Microfinance in China: Case Study of Rural Credit Cooperatives
Malhotra, N. (2025) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-83708-080-920251003
Translations, C. A., & Mériade, L. (2025) · Comptabilité - Contrôle - Audit · doi:10.3917/cca.313.0105
Senior management appointment process in Russian subsidiaries of Japanese multinationals
Sato, A. (2025) · Russian Management Journal · doi:10.21638/spbu18.2025.106
Giraldo-Mora, J. C., Hedman, J., & Avital, M. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6019424
Foundation governance for the purposeful ownership of enterprise
McNulty, T., & Thomsen, S. (2026) · European Management Review · doi:10.1111/emre.70044
Müller, C. (2025) · Kölner Universitäts PublikationsServer (Universität zu Köln)
Lima, A. P. D. A. (2024) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Miyazaki, F. R. (2023) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Value proposition of medical internet of things products: a multi-case study
Botelho, R. (2024) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Entrepreneurial ecosystems culture, narratives and networks
Silva, J. P. M., Guimarães, L. D. O., & 2024-03-05 (2024) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Pineda, A. M. (2023) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Silva, L. B. A. R. (2025) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Ciello, R. R. (2024) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Dallagnol, M. M. F. (2024) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
The influence of resource slack on innovation performance in companies
FREITAS, A. N. (2023) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Social-emotional competencies in the digital transformation environment
Kawaguchi, P. M. (2024) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Leite, D. B. (2024) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
dos Anjos, S. M. (2024) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Mounir, Y., & Hazbi, F. E. (2026) · Revue Française d'Economie et de Gestion · doi:10.5281/zenodo.18234342
Rose, M. S. (2026) · VTechWorks (Virginia Tech)
Smith, C. J. (2025) · Carleton University's Institutional Repository (MacOdrum Library, Carleton University) · doi:10.22215/etd/2025-16701
The role of everyday actors in constituting organizing visions in the digital age
Kim, I., & Whang, S.-Y. (2026) · Internet Research · doi:10.1108/intr-11-2024-1742
When Everything Changes but Much Remains the Same: A Practice-Based Explanation of Strategic RenewalPreprint
Schula, U., Som, O., & Kittler, M. G. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6114172
Juggling Paradoxical Goals: Unpacking persisting dysfunctional dynamics
Gotsi, M., Andriopoulos, C., Heracleous, L., & Papachroni, A. (2026) · Organization Studies · doi:10.1177/01708406261418188
Realização estratégica em organizações pluralistas: Papéis de alta administração e média gerência
Monteiro, E. O., Vaz, S. L., & Silva, A. C. (2025) · Revista Ciências Administrativas · doi:10.5020/2318-0722.2025.31.e14805
Saint-Michel, S., Dubouloz, S., Mattelin‐Pierrard, C., & D’herouël, S. (2025) · HAL
Paavola, L. J., & Cuthbertson, R. W. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6142545
Chung, G., & 이환수 (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6160082
Schnabl, L., Schmitz, A., Waltermann, E., & Göring-Lensing-Hebben, K. (2026) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116040
Digital Trace Data as Measurement Instruments forVariance-Theoretic Research in Information Systems
Hüllmann, J. A. (2026) · Progress in IS · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05497-5_10
Managing Digital Trace Data Research Projects
Wurm, B. (2026) · Progress in IS · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05497-5_1
Business Model Innovation Process: A Practical FrameworkPreprint
Gaspareto, M., Garrido, I. L., & Monticelli, J. M. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6184724
From Digital Trace Data to Theory: Pathways Toward Theory Construction
Amadoru, M. (2026) · Progress in IS · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05497-5_4
Digital Trace Data in Social Media Research: Constructing Opportunities and Contributions
Mirbabaie, M., & Rieskamp, J. (2026) · Progress in IS · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-05497-5_9
Diagnosing Organizational Zemblanity: From Isolated Errors to Endogenous Decline
Balzano, M. (2026) · International series in advanced management studies · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-17576-2_5
Ansah, D., Sutton, M. I., Bloemen, S., & Pel, B. (2026) · Internet Policy Review · doi:10.14763/2026.1.2059
Wessendorf, A., Munir, K. A., & Greenwood, R. (2026) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s0733-558x20260000100004
Jossou, M. C., Hernandez, S., & Tiberghien, B. (2026) · Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management · doi:10.1111/1468-5973.70122
Gava, D., da Silva, F. J. M., & Ogasavara, M. H. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6211279
Capo, F., Maiolini, R., Ramus, T., & Rullani, F. (2026) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-025-06228-x
Why Machine Learning Needs Theoretical Guidance To Support Future Theory Building
Xu, H., Zhang, N., & Wang, M. (2025) · MIS Quarterly · doi:10.25300/misq/2025/18900
Authenticity as a double-edged sword in female digital entrepreneurship: the case of Chiara Ferragni
Rosa, F. L., Giuliani, M., & Bernini, F. (2026) · Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development · doi:10.1108/jsbed-07-2025-0442
Musrepova, B., Biedenbach, T., & Jacobsson, M. (2026) · Construction Management and Economics · doi:10.1080/01446193.2026.2626730
Discursive trustworthiness strategies: the case of huawei’s global expansion (2005–2016)
Xu, S., & Liu, L. A. (2026) · Asia Pacific Journal of Management · doi:10.1007/s10490-026-10120-1
Yu, H., Hong, J. F. L., & Liu, W. (2026) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s0733-558x20260000101007
Khodaei, H., Kamp, L. M., & Xu, X. (2026) · Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity · doi:10.1016/j.joitmc.2026.100745
The Degradation of Access‐Based Business Models: Customer Misbehavior and Shared Mobility
Donézar, A. C., & Valor, C. (2026) · Business Strategy and the Environment · doi:10.1002/bse.70580
Mediated Reference Point Shifts: Breaking Free of the Family DNA
Michael‐Tsabari, N., Strike, V. M., Carney, M., & Barbera, F. (2026) · Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice · doi:10.1177/10422587261415926
Scaling Frugal Innovation-Based Startups to Accelerate Sustainable Development
More, A. B., & Shrivastava, A. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-4909-2_5
Redefining success abroad: career success schemas of self-initiated expatriate women
Abid, K., Alsarhan, F., & Polo, F. (2026) · Career Development International · doi:10.1108/cdi-05-2025-0262
Lean distribution and industrial company performance: exploratory study
Chbani, O., Ouhna, L., & Korchi, A. E. (2026) · International Journal of Lean Six Sigma · doi:10.1108/ijlss-10-2025-0292
Exploring the LAS-VICT principle of cryptocurrency exchanges: a belief–action–outcome perspective
Au, C. H., Ho, K. K. W., Shieh, P.-H., & Law, K. M. Y. (2026) · Journal of Enterprise Information Management · doi:10.1108/jeim-02-2025-0126
Lotfy, A. E. A. (2026) · Journal of Economics Finance and Management Studies · doi:10.47191/jefms/v9-i2-29
Hjortsberg, J. (2026) · International studies in entrepreneurship · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-15512-2_16
Qualitative Meta‐Analysis With System Dynamics Modeling for Process Theory Development
Sun, X., & Oliva, R. (2026) · System Dynamics Review · doi:10.1002/sdr.70022
Metadata
- Authors
- Langley, A.
- Affiliations
- Université du Québec à Montréal (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Langley, Ann
- ORCID
- Langley, Ann
- Venue
- The Academy of Management Review
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 1999-10
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 691
- ISSN
- 0363-7425 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2115497642
- Semantic Scholar
- 419fd94ab6cccf99829edebee437ef9755829fba
- Cited by
- 7,008
- References
- 106
- Citations by year
- 2026: 578 · 2025: 535 · 2024: 482 · 2023: 445 · 2022: 507 · 2021: 504 · 2020: 450 · 2019: 398 · 2018: 374 · 2017: 329 · 2016: 267 · 2015: 289 · 2014: 283 · 2013: 261 · 2012: 231
- FWCI
- 28.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Business Strategies and Management Research
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Business and International Management › Business and Management Studies
- Keywords
- process data, theorizing, theory generation, parsimony, generalizability, organizational analysis
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review