Using case research to advance process theory

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Notes

¹ I highlight “building” here because it is a vague and problematic term. Generally, when I’ve come across it in the literature, it meant “originate” and develop theory with the implicit premise being that a proposition is not a theory until it is somehow “proven.” Eisenhardt (1989) uses it ambiguously stating that theory generally comes from “ … previous literature, common sense, and experience (p. 532).” However, the process of “building” theory can obscure rather than clarify by conflating initiation and development as if it made sense that a proposition could miraculously grow into a theory as there are no standardized guidelines specifying the amount and type of evidence that would create such a transition or what would happen if a cycle of 3 studies supporting a proposition were followed by 3 refuting it. Would it no longer be a theory rather than a discredited or modestly robust and strong one? Assuming a sequence of such cycles would it have a history of being, not being, then again becoming a theory?

² Actions are defined as activities undertaken through the will of an actor, generally an individual. Note that the action can alternatively be undertaken without particular intension as the result of habit or default. In contrast events are activities or the results of activities that happen to the actor. For example, if my department chair offers me a raise, to me that is an event (happens to me) to the department chair it is an action (he/she takes the action). In this sense the action/event is a question of whose perspective it is viewed from. An activity refers to an action/event combination from an external omniscient viewpoint as if it “just happened” or occurred without an intention at all such as a ripe apple falling from a tree.

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Notes on contributors

Fred Niederman

Dr. Fred Niederman serves as Shaughnessy Endowed Professor at Saint Louis University. He was selected as a Fellow of the Association for Information Systems in 2020. He serves as editor in chief for Communications of AIS. He recently published a monograph on Process Theory with NOW publishing. His work on the co-evolution of IT worker skills and generations of technology platforms has been recognized as a ‘publication of the year’ by AIS in 2015. His areas of research interest include: IS personnel, IS project management, and philosophy of science applied to IS. He has served as senior editor for Journal of AIS, selected twice as senior editor of the year, and Project Management Journal. He has served as program chair for ICIS (2010) and as a member of the doctoral consortium faculty members (2018). He is recognized as a member of the “circle of compadres” for the KMPG PhD Project.