Must I Grow a Pair of Balls to Theorize about Theory in Organization and Management Studies?

Abstract

This essay is a provocation to debate. I argue that work in organization and management studies addressing how to theorize and construct ‘good’ theory is inherently masculinized and embraces a limited pluralism that ignores alternative, reflexive and more human ways of theorizing. As I will illustrate, most of the articles on the topic of theorizing about theory are written by men, and espouse forms of theorizing that are based on a masculinized rationality that privileges abstraction, a logic of objectivity and proceduralization. And while journal editors espouse theoretical pluralism, we are often exhorted to develop ‘theoretical balls’ by conforming to limited definitions of theory that privilege particular ways of knowing and theorizing which are considered imperative to getting published. I argue that there are other equally compelling ways of ‘theorizing’ that focus on who we are as human beings and how we experience self, life and work. I begin with a critique of the literature on theorizing theory, moving on to argue that this currently limits theorizing more humanly and imaginatively, due to ontological blindness, epistemological defensiveness, hegemonic masculinity and myopic self-referentiality. Finally, I offer alternative ways of theorizing and interpreting theory from a more human and reflexive perspective.

Scientific Articles’ Theoretical, Practical, Methodological, and Didactic Contributions

“…Theoretical contributions focus on presenting new concepts and theories or reviewing, expanding, and refuting existing theories (Bispo, 2022;Cunliffe, 2022;Faria, 2023;Swedberg, 2014). Theoretical contributions can arise from reflections and elaborations from existing theories (also called meta-theories) or analyses and reflections based on empirical data.…”

“…An important observation about theoretical contributions is that they are not limited to a compilation of existing theories or the mere description of empirical phenomena. It is necessary to present something theoretically different, an endeavor carried out and presented in multiple ways (see Cunliffe, 2022;Sandberg & Alvesson, 2021). In general, the leading international journals in administration are looking to publish theoretical contributions, assuming that theory is responsible for improving both research and practice (Bispo, 2021;Sandberg & Alvesson, 2021;Shepherd & Suddaby, 2017;Swedberg, 2014).…”

Contribuições Teóricas, Práticas, Metodológicas e Didáticas em Artigos Científicos

“…As contribuições teóricas são aquelas que dão enfoque à apresentação de novos conceitos, teorias, assim como rever, ampliar ou refutar teorias existentes e oferecer teorização (Bispo, 2022;Cunliffe, 2022;Faria, 2023;Swedberg, 2014). As contribuições teóricas podem surgir de reflexões e elaborações a partir de teorias já existentes (também chamadas de metateorias) ou ainda de análises e reflexões oriundas de dados empíricos.…”

“…Uma observação importante acerca das contribuições teóricas é que elas não se resumem a uma compilação das teorias existentes nem na mera descrição de fenômenos empíricos. É preciso apresentar algo teoricamente diferente do que já existe e isso pode ser feito e apresentado de múltiplas maneiras (ver Cunliffe, 2022;Sandberg & Alvesson, 2021). Em geral, os principais periódicos de administração no mundo estão em busca de contribuições teóricas para publicar por assumirem que a teoria é a responsável por melhorar tanto a pesquisa como a prática (Bispo, 2021;Sandberg & Alvesson, 2021;Shepherd & Suddaby, 2017;Swedberg, 2014).…”

Editorial transitions: Hail and farewell

“…No wonder that we generally read our journals in the same way that most people seem to eat brown rice, in misery, but hoping that it will be good for us. We need to open up how we theorise and how we write (see Cunliffe, 2022, for some typically provocative thinking on these issues). In this spirit, we have published many papers that use innovative formats, including a recent stimulating discussion of how renowned philosophers might approach a leadership development programme, written in the format of a three-act play (Wilson et al, 2022).…”