Boundary Conditions: What They Are, How to Explore Them, Why We Need Them, and When to Consider Them
Boundary Conditions: What They Are, How to Explore Them, Why We Need Them, and When to Consider Them
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DOI：
10.1177/1094428116641191
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发表时间：
2017-10-01
影响因子：
9.5
通讯作者：
Wagner, Stephan M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Busse, Christian;Kach, Andrew P.;Wagner, Stephan M.
边界条件（BC）一直被认为是理论发展中的一个重要元素，涉及理论的who，where，when等方面。然而，对于BC到底是什么，如何甚至应该探索它们，以及为什么它们的理解很重要，仍然有些模糊。本研究通过深入的理论方法分析来解决这些重要问题。本研究对组织研究方法有四方面的贡献：首先，它对BC的概念进行了更准确、更明确的界定。第二，它通过建议和并列新的工具和方法，扩大了对如何探索业连的理解。它还说明了BC探索过程，借鉴两个实证案例的例子。第三，分析了探索行为文化的原因，认为行为文化的探索促进了理论的发展，增强了研究的有效性，缩小了研究与实践的差距。第四，它综合分析为12个尝试性的建议，学者们应该如何处理周围的BC问题。作者希望这项研究有助于改变对BC的共识，并引起更多的关注BC。
Boundary conditions (BC) have long been discussed as an important element in theory development, referring to the who, where, when aspects of a theory. However, it still remains somewhat vague as to what exactly BC are, how they can or even should be explored, and why their understanding matters. This research tackles these important questions by means of an in-depth theoretical-methodological analysis. The study contributes fourfold to organizational research methods: First, it develops a more accurate and explicit conceptualization of BC. Second, it widens the understanding of how BC can be explored by suggesting and juxtaposing new tools and approaches. It also illustrates BC-exploring processes, drawing on two empirical case examples. Third, it analyzes the reasons for exploring BC, concluding that BC exploration fosters theory development, strengthens research validity, and mitigates the research-practice gap. Fourth, it synthesizes the analyses into 12 tentative suggestions for how scholars should subsequently approach the issues surrounding BC. The authors hope that the study contributes to consensus shifting with respect to BC and draws more attention to BC.