Theory building trends in international management research: an archival review of preferred methods

Abstract

A number of distinguished scholars believe that for theory development to occur within a field, qualitative research must precede quantitative research in order for the field to progress toward maturity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the international management literature from 1991-2007 to ascertain current levels of use of qualitative, quantitative, conceptual and joint (quantitative and qualitative) research methods in the field. Results indicate that scholars employ quantitative methods more than qualitative methods. The implications of these findings for future theory development and the generation of context relevant international management knowledge are discussed. JEL D83

Servant leadership, trust and implications for the “Base-of-the-Pyramid” segment in South Africa

“…He offers Nelson Mandela as an example of a servant leader. Kriek et al (2009) suggest that the African concept of Ubuntu, which embraces hospitality, caring about others, being willing to go the extra mile for another and that a person is a person through other persons, is also consistent with the servant leadership approach.…”

“…However, while the majority of leadership theories have originated in the West (Kriek, Beaty & Nkomo, 2009), there are few models of leadership that have been empirically tested outside of the United States or in South Africa (Beaty, Nkomo & Kriek, 2006). Yet, Covey (2006) suggests that the servant leadership approach might be particularly appropriate for South Africa because this model is characterized by moral authority, humility, service and sacrifice in order to foster trust and respect, the critical foundations of teamwork.…”

Examining the entry of Walmart into South Africa: A stakeholder management perspective

“…Here survey research methodology could be utilised and survey items constructed by drawing on the themes that emerged from the findings of this investigation. Further research is important because, as Kriek, Beaty and Nkomo (2009) point out, there is a dearth of research investigating local management phenomena grounded in the realities of local emerging market contexts.…”

Content analysis of published articles in the South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences

“…There is consensus that the quality of an article generally increases when it is done and written in collaboration with fellow researchers (Smart & Bayer, 1986;Yitzhaki, 1994). It has therefore been suggested that interdisciplinary research and international partnerships should be encouraged by editors to produce even more rich and diverse inputs in research and published findings (Kriek, Beaty & Nkomo, 2009). Future authors should take note of this, and could also take into consideration that nowadays many research scholarships and grants (such as those from the NRF) seem to encourage interdisciplinary research.…”

“…Other studies have analysed the outputs of academic research by focusing mainly on the content of an article, its length, the various research approaches and the theory-building trends (Inkpen & Beamish, 1994;West, 2007;Beaty, Nkomo, & Kriek, 2009).…”