What Theory is Not, Theorizing Is

Abstract

? 1995 by Cornell University. 0001 -8392/95/4003-0385/$1 . 00. Products the theorizing process seldom emerge as fullblown theories, which means that most what passes for organizational studies consists approximations. Although these approximations vary their generality, few them take the form strong theory, and most them can be read as texts created in lieu of strong theories. These substitutes for may result from lazy theorizing which people try to graft onto stark sets data. But they may also represent interim struggles which people intentionally inch toward stronger theories. The products laziness and intense struggles may look the same and may consist references, data, lists, diagrams, and hypotheses. To label these five as not theory makes sense if the problem is laziness and incompetence. But ruling out those same five may slow inquiry if the problem is theoretical development still its early stages. Sutton and Staw know this. But it gets lost their concern with as a product rather than as a process. To add complication and nuance to their message, I want to focus on the process theorizing.