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 6,901–7,000 of 7,502
Learning Through Problemistic Search and Bricolage: Evidence From Entrepreneurial Ventures
Mahasuar, K. (2026) · Knowledge and Process Management · doi:10.1002/kpm.70075
Désengagement sociétal du dirigeant de PME : approche comportementale et processuelle
Maaloul, E. M. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/b27d7a5fz6ff4z4ef4za4b5zac7c4e04cd9f
Guo, L., & Zhang, M. Y. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6531582
Jouannaux, E. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/eed67ed2z7c15z499dz88edz145e14550887
Battistelli, M. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/a412a89cz7149z4fa6z96d1zc63e81c7d429
La critique dans et à travers les organisations : une approche narrative
Vacquier, R. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/079abf5fz2133z4c12z895fzfbd37c99a275
Hamani, A. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/8c27a71az3f3fz4010z96b7zb82ab4506e70
L'appropriation simultanée des outils de contrôle organisationnel. Cas du service public au Maroc
Baldi, N. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/a4b8d26bz3706z4c06z96e4z1ec137cb815c
Sourisseau, Y. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/5c17ed31zbb1fz4d94zb532za27d41a88f86
Le redressement de la PME : trajectoires de défaillance et rôle du noyau sratégique
Zemis, D. (2020) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/a2815f30z3472z4f83za545z89559e3fb607
Crafting public-private partnerships in emerging countries : a coevolution perspective
Bader, C. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/a3f4fd69z72c0z4023zab02z60fc2d00d669
Three essays on green innovation and bioeconomy
Ayoub, M. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/fa05b04cz737az471fz9a02z04b0e31f5ddd
BLONDET, P. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/207fb04az3e7dz4c89z9b70z4dcd4b7ce117
The dynamics of secrecy management in open innovation : the case of the defense industry
Langlois, J. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/b93d64fcz6dafz4a61zbe2bz4406b495cd0a
Corporate divestitures : an extended view through relational and intertemporal perspectives
Kochura, O. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/0a645c29z1684z4853zb745z6d451af68c04
Rôle et implications des brevets dans la coopétition pour l’innovation
Segbotangni, F. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/7bc49193zcab7z4773zbda4z3af5bc9334fe
L'adoption de l'innovation managériale dans les entreprises publiques : entre tensions et obstacles
Jrad, A. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/7a260da2z8cf1z40baz9206z7059dc25d1ce
Landagaray, P. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/109d0e8fzaa66z4bc2za161z6d2bcbdfa89f
Intuition as Evidence: Integrating Tacit Knowledge into Evidence-Based ManagementPreprint
Reda, L. T., Daouk‐Öyry, L., & Kroon, B. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6533879
Incarner la démocratie dans l'entreprise : une recherche-intervention dans une SCOP de conseil
Gombert, C. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/963c8005z1512z4037z8e40z35049d979e88
Social Support Needs of Anorexic Women in Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment
Čižaitė, K. (2023) · Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
La gestion de la dette technique dans le cadre des pratiques DevOps
Kanita, N. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/e6c30d90z3b9az472fz87d8zbab1b7672635
Bremaud, T. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/dcff4db3zaf7az444bz9874z26602cac040d
Processus d'apprentissage dans les syndicats : le cas de la gestion algorithmique
Howeyek, P. E. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f8e266e0z0598z4d1fza2cbzfdc384976902
Jiang, K., Le, Y., Denicol, J., Zheng, X., Liu, R., & Zhang, X. (2026) · International Journal of Project Management · doi:10.1016/j.ijproman.2026.102852
Szymkowiak, S. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/aebc43a7za3f7z4646zae20zf7db9ac27407
Social enterprises governance, from values to practices : the case of french energy cooperatives
Ranville, A. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/9c330e8bz57efz4d48zbe42zf9c4f4bf6ff5
Going Cashless : Three Essays on Digital Payments
Schirrmacher, N.-B. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/6d139eb4z6be2z4758z9fb2z9431e9d73b28
Towards Responsible Global Value Chain : Bridging Global and Local Dimensions of CSR
Mineeva, A. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/928439f5z65b9z48e5z81d9z6b50092b8e97
La consolidation du contrat psychologique en phase de maintenance : le cas des salariés des EHPAD
Cherrad, O. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/5b0637efzb2f1z4002za9a9zff4b9330ffa5
Nguyen, T. T. M. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/b9b58c19z649cz44b4z938bz9bd76595ffa2
Entreprendre au service du territoire
Slitine, R. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/2ddad9f0z3da5z407cz8964z29bd48a45d17
From being there to becoming together : Organizing co-presence in hybrid modes of working
Bancou, L. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/69248936z4049z4567z86f9z406de426680a
The trade credit transaction: on buyer–supplier relationship development
Wadell, O. (2026) · Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing · doi:10.1108/jbim-05-2025-0413
Déterminants de la trajectoire des organisations de producteurs en milieu rural à Madagascar
Jhons, V. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/5db02a3fzd019z443bz82e5z275a5195ae90
Zotto, P. D. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/4248b56azf272z4238z9011z1a3bb405f43f
The Dark Side of the Digital World : illegal Practices in the Recorded Music Industry
Neuhauser, T. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/67a59d5az7109z46dbz9d81z498ab6fea4d8
Bédat, J. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/44db3a57z58ddz46e5zb8e4zdd1338168bb4
Accounts that Matter in practice: The performative construction of sustainable valuePreprint
de Oliveira, F. S., Neto, O. R. D. M., & Oyadomari, J. C. T. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6540307
Cherif, N. S. A. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/3d0c9614z0e71z4cd8zadd3z95ad1dbf8cfb
Transitioning into openness : strategizing for sustainability with open strategy practices
Lataire, D. M. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/30206e19z44e6z40fezaf86zd94a3b146cd0
GUILHON, M. D. C. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/ce5edfdcz2ef0z4e33zb5abz45f0e7a87f35
Gomis, J. (2025) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/6f71542bzbff3z42bcz92f9z22eef6b64013
Nguyen, T. Q. T. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/dcf11e2fz43c4z4b2fzaf6ez0fefcf42baca
Face aux difficultés précoces à l'école : le processus de persévérance dans les apprentissages
Papon, L. (2023) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/a09f302fz85c1z4ecbz8485z9359fa217e25
La considération comme levier d’équilibre socioéconomique d’un système de management durable
Matte, A. B. L. (2025) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/e1f4396dz3fc4z42cezb1d1z1cfe97d66ef3
Pratiques de développement durable dans les PME : Cas du Burkina Faso
Barry, M. (2025) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/ab7ea4eaz9417z4bfeza413z22339187ee0c
Three essays on management control, gender, and valuation
AleAhmad, Y. (2024) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/4933c84ezca33z4c88z8bb4ze304b4357a90
Diskurssikamppailua verkossa: Näkökulmia organisaatioiden ja kuluttajien väliseen vuorovaikutukseen
Lillqvist, E. (2016) · Aaltodoc (Aalto University)
Ambivalent Leadership: Emotional Ambivalence as a Mechanism for Simultaneous Cooperation and ControlPreprint
Dai, F., Eddie, I., & Hastings, A. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6553945
Dodds, S., Palakshappa, N., & Bulmer, S. (2026) · Qualitative Market Research An International Journal · doi:10.1108/qmr-11-2024-0222
Regulated Leadership: A Process Model of Behavioral Integrity Under Environmental ThreatPreprint
Simpson, C. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6579407
Dynamic capabilities in business ecosystem emergence: a marketing technology case study
Råve, A., Solem, B. A. A., & Kurtmollaiev, S. (2026) · Management Decision · doi:10.1108/md-07-2025-2110
da Fonseca, R. C. Z., Fernandes, B. H. R., & Vaz, S. L. (2026) · Review of Business Management · doi:10.7819/rbgn.v28i1.4330
Dehghannejad, M., Pal, R., & Dissanayake, G. (2026) · Circular Economy and Sustainability · doi:10.1007/s43615-026-00936-w
Tiilikainen, S. (2018) · Aaltodoc (Aalto University)
Zheng, Z., Tan, Q. L., & Abdullah, M. H. S. B. (2026) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119312
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