This paper discusses major theoretical and methodological issues that strategic management researchers must consider when developing and testing configuration theories. The theoretical issues include: (1) number of domains, (2) causality, and (3) temporal stability. The methodological issues are: (I) specification of key constructs, (2) effects of data aggregation, (3) the choice of unit of analysis, and (4) the appropriateness of research methodologies. Greater attention to these issues should result in more accurate findings and more meaningful interpretations.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.