Advancing Organizational Science: Construct and Process Theorizing,Layers of Theoretical Explanation,and Implications for Causality and Intervention

Abstract

Organizational science has been dominated by construct theories, which focus on relationships among constructs to predict outcomes. In contrast, process theories emphasize action/event sequences, and the generative mechanisms that drive them, to explain how and why organizational phenomena unfold over time. Although these approaches have been viewed as distinctly different, we integrate them within a Layers of Theoretical Explanation Typology that encompasses construct relationships, underlying action/event process sequences, and foundational generative process mechanisms that drive the phenomena of interest. Theory building that integrates all three layers of theoretical explanation provides an explanation – the primary purpose of theory – that will improve prediction, strengthen causal inference, and provide better targeted interventions. Computational process theorizing provides improved causal inference that better specifies the who, what, where, when, why and how of organizational behavior and, hence, provides more precise specification for the design of interventions to enhance organizational effectiveness.

Plain Language Summary

Organizational science has been dominated by construct theories, which focus on relationships among constructs to predict outcomes. In contrast, process theories emphasize action/event sequences, and the generative mechanisms that drive them, to explain how and why organizational phenomena unfold over time. Although these approaches have been viewed as distinctly different, we integrate them within a Layers of Theoretical Explanation Typology that encompasses construct relationships, underlying action/event process sequences, and foundational generative process mechanisms that drive the phenomena of interest. Theory building that integrates all three layers of theoretical explanation provides an explanation - the primary purpose of theory - that will improve prediction, strengthen causal inference, and provide more detailed specification for interventions to enhance organizational effectiveness.