Implication of Paradigm Conflicts on Theory Development in Strategic Management

Abstract

The strength of strategic management largely results from its ability to integrate diverse ideas and theories from different fields of study and apply them to real-world organizational issues. However, strategy researchers generally lack an understanding of the potential issues surrounding the paradigm conflicts that are often involved in interdisciplinary research. In response, this paper emphasizes the importance of epistemological paradigms in scientific research and discusses implications of paradigm conflicts on theory progression in strategic management. Suggestions to reduce such paradigm conflicts in interdisciplinary fertilization are also provided.