Part Two of the PhD course provides an opportunity for discussion about the concepts and importance of theory and theorising in business research. Thus, the course offers PhD students the basic tools to: 1) envision and build theory, and to some extent also deliver; 2) insights into the instruments and concepts of validating theory. As such, we offer students guidance to link research questions to theory, for defining constructs, thinking through mechanisms and processes that link constructs, and deriving (new) theoretical models (or building on existing ones) based on those relationships. We seek to illustrate how to use analyses as well as grounded and emergent approaches to theory construction based on some of the ‘classic’ theories used by researchers at the MGMT department. In this way, PhD students are enabled to develop ideas across theoretical and analytical levels, as well as from neighbouring research fields. The explicit aim of the course is to provide students with a deeper appreciation of theory-building in order to support them in crafting effective research papers and grant applications.
Finally, as a secondary aim, Part Two of the course strives to create an 'esprit de corps' and opportunity for research-based communication among the PhD students and at MGMT in general, and thus to highlight possible venues for research collaboration across the different research fields. Therefore, while students learn about different formats of research outputs, processes, and theory validations relative to the specific research fields, they are also exposed to the potential and advantages of cross-disciplinary research.
As a follow-up to the assignment of Part One of the course, we ask each participant to prepare a three-page (max.) document wherein they ‘reformulate’ their PhD proposal using the following seven questions as a framework:
1. What is the phenomenon/mystery (X) in your study? What is your study a case of? Why is it interesting?
2. What do we know about X (super short literature review)?
3. What don’t we know about X?
4. What specific question(s) about/mechanisms leading to X are you investigating?
5. What do you do theoretically and in terms of methods to address what we don’t know about X? Why is it appropriate/timely?
6. What new/counterintuitive insights (theoretical and practical) about X are your study potentially generating? Why are these insights important and interesting?
7. What are the boundary conditions and limitations of your study?
The three pages must be submitted by 1st. dec. 2025 (to this email: liw@mgmt.au.dk). Subsequently, each participant receives three pages from two participants for a careful and supportive review. These are used in class as the outset for small group discussions (groups of approx. three PhD students).
This part of the PhD course:
1) Provides the student with an improved understanding of the role of theory in the wide domain of business research
2) Introduces the students to the tricks and trades of the role of theory in social science research - particularly - in a business school environment.
Part Two runs for three consecutive days and is taught by Lars Frederiksen.
Please note: All lecturers and group work on this is located at Fuglesangs Allé 4, 8210 Aarhus V.
Preliminary Schedule (may be subject to change)
DAY 1: 8 Dec. 2025 (9:15-16:00), Location: Building 2610, Room: 514
9:15-10:15: Welcome back, expectations, and a general discussion about the production of scientific knowledge (recap from the first part of the course).
10:15-10:30: Break
10:30-12:00: Prof. Lars Frederiksen: What is theory and what is not theory: A broad introductory discussion of what is considered a theoretical contribution, what is not considered theory, how to use and develop theory. This section takes its point of departure in the major academic journals in management.
12:00-13:00: Lunch, 2628-212A - Valhalla
13:00-15:00: Prof. Klaus Grunert: Decision-making in consumer research: We trace the development of consumer behaviour research in marketing from its beginning in the 60s, emphasizing the role of theory development and the factors contributing to the rise and demise of theories in the social sciences. As most consumer behaviour theory deals with individual decision-making, and much of it draws on cognitive social psychology, we will also address the usefulness of this type of theory in areas outside marketing and consumer behaviour.
Literature:
Simonson, I., Carmon, Z.,Dhar, R., Drolet, A. & Nowlis, S.M. (2001). Consumer research: In search of identity. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 249-275.
Malter, M. S., Holbrook, M. B., Kahn, B. E., Parker, J. R., & Lehmann, D. R. (2020). The past, present, and future of consumer research. Marketing Letters, 31(2), 137-149.
15:00-15:15: Break
15:15-16:00: First group discussion of three-page assignments
DAY 2: 9 Dec. 2025 (9:15-16:00), Location, Building 2610, Room, 514
9:00-9:15: Good morning
9:15-11:15: Associate Prof. Susan Hilbolling: Building (process) theory with qualitative data. In this session, I draw on a paper (Hilbolling et al., 2022) that resulted in my PhD to illustrate and explain how I used and build theory with qualitative data, with a special focus on process theorizing (inspired by Ann Langley and others). As preparation, focus on the introduction, theoretical background, and discussion of the paper, and reflect on how we framed the paper and its contributions. In the session I will tell you more about the process (the “behind the scenes”) of how we developed the paper. The second reading is a debate between different influential qualitative theory scholars. They discuss how they think about building theory and how it links to data collection and analysis, which gives a nice overview of their differences and similarities.
Literature:
Hilbolling, S., Deken, F., Berends, H., & Tuertscher, P. (2022). Process-based temporal coordination in multiparty collaboration for societal challenges. Strategic Organization, 20(1), 135-163. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476127021992705
Gehman, J., Glaser, V. L., Eisenhardt, K. M., Gioia, D., Langley, A., & Corley, K. G. (2018). Finding Theory–Method Fit: A Comparison of Three Qualitative Approaches to Theory Building. Journal of Management Inquiry, 27(3), 284-300. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492617706029
11:10:00-11:15: Short relocation break11:15-12:00: Group discussion of three-page assignments
12:00–13:00: Lunch, 2628-212A - Valhalla
13:00-15:00: Professor Kees van Kersbergen: Theory in political science. This presentation offers an overview of the place and role of theory in political science, in particular in political science’s sub-disciplines, political theory, international relations and comparative politics. The role of theory is important, albeit different, in all three sub-disciplines. However, as in other academic disciplines (see the Swedberg-text), there has been a tendency in political science to prioritize (teaching) methods and techniques for theory-testing (the so-called ‘context of justification’) and to neglect theorizing, i.e., the much less rule-guided (if not messy) process of producing theory (the ‘context of discovery’). As will be explained, this is unfortunate for various reasons.
Literature:
Swedberg, Richard (2012). “Theorizing in Sociology and Social Science: Turning to the Context of Discovery.” Theory and Society 41(2012):1–40.
15:00–15:15: Break
15:15-16:00: Second, group discussion of three-page assignments
DAY 3: 10 Dec. 2025 (9:15-15:00), Location, Building 2610, Room, 514
9:00-9:15: Good morning
9:15-10:15 Prof. Heidi H. Salomonson: What theoretical contribution do you aim to give to your academic field? Based upon the knowledge you have gained so far in the course, an editor’s note from one of the only journals dedicated to publishing theoretical articles in my field, being public management as well as an example of a theoretical article from former PhD student Mette Østergaard Pedersen at MGMT we will discuss different ways to theorize and develop a theoretical contribution to one’s field. Before the lecture, please read the articles by Emmerson (2022) as well as by Pedersen and Salomonsen (2023) and most importantly, reflect and write a tentative answer to the questions below. When answering question two, please feel free to base your reflections on other articles etc. from the course, rather than the one by Emerson for this lecture.
Literature:
Emerson, K. (2022) On Theory and Theory Building in Public Administration, Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, 5: 3-10
Pedersen, M. Ø and Salomonsen, H. H. (2023). Conceptualizing and measuring (Public) Reputation Management, Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, 6(1): 40–53
10:15-11:00: Prof. Lars Frederiksen: Using and building theory with abduction? A deductive or inductive position and approach in one’s research activities (i.e., ontological and epistemological consequences) often implies how the process of theory use, development and contribution emerges and is enacted. Via class discussion, we explore how and why an abductive approach to research similarly has implications for theory employment and theorizing.
Literature:
Bamberger, Peter A (2018). "AMD—Clarifying what we are about and where we are going." Academy of Management Discoveries 4, 1: 1-10.
Swedberg, Richard. (2014) “INTRODUCTION: Why Theorize and Can You Learn to Do It?” In The Art of Social Theory, STU-Student edition., 1–10. Princeton University Press.
11:10-11:15: Short relocation break
11:15-12.00: Third group discussion of three-page assignments
12:00–13:00: Lunch, 2628-212A - Valhalla
13:00-15:00: Prof. Nicolai J. Foss: Theory Development in Strategic Management: will cover the evolution of strategy as a research field over the last five decades or so, considering how the field has self-defined and how this has shaped its theory-building. Additionally, I will focus on the crucial role that the disciplines (econ., soc., psych.) have played in the evolution of strategy and how assumptions imported from these fields have constrained the questions that can be asked and addressed in strategy.
Literature:
Makadok, R., Burton, R., & Barney, J. 2018. A practical guide for making theory contributions in strategic management, Strategic Management Journal, 39(6): 1530-1545.
Foss, N.J. & Hallberg, N. 2017. Changing assumptions and progressive change in theories of strategic organization. Strategic Organization, 13: 410-422.
15:00-15:15: Break
15:15-16:00: General concluding discussion. What have we learned, what was useful and how to proceed?
Preliminary literature
Astley, W.G. and Van de Ven, A.H. (1983) Central Perspectives and Debates in Organization Theory. Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 28, June, pp. 245-273.
Bacharach, S. (1989) Organizational theories: Some criteria for evaluation, AMR 14: 496-515.
Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.C., Williams, J.M. (1995) (2nd. edition) The Craft of Research. Chicago, Ill.: The University of Chicago Press.
Carton, Andrew M. "The Six Dimensions of Strong Theory." Organization Science (2025).
Colquitt, Jason A. & Zapata-Phelan, Cindy P. (2007) Trends in Theory Building and Theory Testing: A Five-Decade Study of the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Journal, 50: 1281-1303.
Cornelissen J, Höllerer MA, Seidl D. (2021), What Theory Is and Can Be: Forms of Theorizing in Organizational Scholarship. Organization Theory. July 2021. doi:10.1177/26317877211020328
Corley Kevin G. & Dennis A. G. (2011) Building Theory About Theory Building: What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution? Academy of Management Review, 36: 12-32.
Davis, M. (1971) That’s interesting! Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 1: 309-344.
Eisenhardt, K. (1989) Building theories from case study research, Academy of Management Review, 14(4): 532-550.
Emerson, K. (2022) On Theory and Theory Building in Public Administration, Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, 5: 3-10
Foss, N.J. & Hallberg, N. 2017. Changing assumptions and progressive change in theories of strategic organization. Strategic Organization, 13: 410-422.
Ghoshal, S. (2005) Bad management theories are destroying good management practices, AMLE, 4(1): 75-91.
Hunt, S. (2015) Explicating the inductive realist model of theory generation. AMS Review,5, 20–27.
Lange, D., & Pfarrer, (2017). Sense and structure: the core building blocks of an AMR article. Academy of Management Review, 42, 3, 407–416.
Langley, A. (1999) Strategies for theorizing from process data, Academy of Management Review, 24(4): 691-710.
Locke, K.; Golden-Biddle, K. (1997) Constructing opportunities for contribution: structuring intertextual coherence and 'problematizing' in organizational studies, AMJ, 40(5), 1023-1062.
Makadok, R, Burton, R., Barney, J. (2018) A practical guide for making theory contributions in strategic management, SMJ, 39(6): 1530-1545
Pedersen, M. Ø and Salomonsen, H. H. (2023) Conceptualizing and measuring (Public) Reputation Management, Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, 6(1): 40–53
Smith, K. & Hitt, M. (2005) Epilogue: Learning to develop theory from the masters, Great Minds in Management: The Process of Theory Development, Oxford University Press, pp. 572-589.
Suddaby, R. (2006) What Grounded Theory Is Not, Academy of Management Journal, 49, 4, 633-642.
Sutton, Robert I. & Staw, B.M. (1995) What theory is not, Administrative Science Quarterly, 40: 371-385.
Weick, K. E. (1995). What theory is not, theorizing is, Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 385-390.
Whetten, David A. (1989) What constitutes a theoretical contribution? Academy of Management Review, 14: 490-495.
Wood, G. Phan PH, Wright, M. (2019) From the Editors: The problems with theory and new challenges in theorizing, Academy of Management Perspectives, 32(4): 405-411.
Varian, H. “How to build an economic model in your spare time, people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~hal/Papers/how.pdf
Zeithaml, V. A., Jaworski, B. J., Kohli, A. K., Tuli, K. R., Ulaga, W., & Zaltman, G. (2020). A theories-in-use approach to building marketing theory. Journal of Marketing, 84(1), 32-51.
Zuckermann, E. : On Genre: www.google.com/url=https://assets.super.so/6b4b5d92-904a-4e7b-95bd-914dd1d1528f/files/a8bf52c7-9e35-4b18-8a1f-ce4f2bc4ddcb.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjq1fOFhIqPAxXknf0HHZiVJdYQFnoECBUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1Wfr9NigJS7VFvIx01xCoq