PhD Course – Phenomenon-Driven Theory Development


General Information

Prior-registration for the course is necessary. Registration was open from April 15th to May 15th, 2024.


SCHEDULE SUMMER TERM 2024

Lectures
26.08.2024 09:00 - 17:00 OEC 1.134
27.08.2024 09:00 - 17:00 OEC 1.134

Attendance: Physical attendance in the classroom is required for in-person classes and attendance (participation) will be part of the grade.


Course Description

Background
Generating new theory is among the most challenging, and most rewarding, of academic endeavors. Theory not only helps distinguish academic scholarship from journalism and consulting, it also helps establish the identity and boundary of an academic discipline. A significant starting point for theorizing is oftentimes the researcher’s intellectual dwelling with the phenomenon under study. Phenomenon-based theorizing is a powerful way of developing theories relevant to explain novel yet poorly understood phenomena (Fisher et al. 2021; Gregory & Henfridsson, 2021; Van de Ven, 2007).

Objective
The objective of the course is to familiarize the student with theory development in management and business technology research. The focus is on methods and practices that help the researcher to develop theories that are novel, insightful, and logical.

Learning Objectives
By the end of the module, the student should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of theory::

  • What theory is, what theory is not
  • Boundary conditions
  • Perspectives of theory
  • Nature of theory
  • Levels of theory
  • “good” theory

Demonstrate an understanding of theorizing:

  • Reasoning
  • Perspectives of theorizing
  • “Good” theorizing
  • Variance theorizing
  • Process theorizing

Demonstrate an understanding of writing theory papers:

  • Positioning theory papers
  • Making theory accessible
  • Psychology of writing theory papers
  • Theoretical contribution
  • Problematization