Strategy Research Initiative

Our essay on the characteristics of high quality research in strategy (Oxley et al., 2010) concludes that the present editorial norm of publishing papers in the hybrid, informal-theory/empirical-test style is hampering advancement in our field. Consistent with this, many of our initiatives are designed to encourage the publication of more specialized papers -- ones that focus purely upon theory development or empirical analysis.

Given the paucity of such work in the management literature, it is not surprising that we are often asked for concrete examples of what, exactly, a good specialized paper looks like. To that end, we provide the following list (which is in no way intended to be exhaustive!).

Empirical

Just-the-Facts

The following papers are interesting examples of well-organized, pure empirical studies published in the management literature.

1. Casadesus-Masanell et al. 2009. Households’ Willingness to Pay for “Green” Goods: Evidence from Patagonia’s Introduction of Organic Cotton Sportswear. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy
2. Lafontaine, F. & J. Oxley 2004. International Franchising Practices in Mexico: Do Franchisors Customize Their Contracts? Journal of Economics and Management Strategy 
3. Ryall, M. D. and R. Sampson 2009. Formal Contracts in the Presence of Relational Enforcement Mechanisms: Evidence from Technology Development Projects. Management Science
4. Sorensen, J.B. 2007. Bureaucracy and Entrepreneurship: Workplace Effects on Entrepreneurial Entry. Administrative Science Quarterly 

Papers in this style that we would have preferred to see in a management journal ...

1. Bertrand, M. and A. Schoar 2003. Managing with Style: The Effect of Managers on Firm Policies. Quarterly Journal of Economics
2. Van Reenen, J. and N. Bloom 2007.  Measuring and Explaining Management Practices Across Firms and Countries. Quarterly Journal of Economics 

Papers that do a nice job on identification either in a management journal or on a topic of interest to management scholars.

1. Simcoe, T. S. and D. M. Waguespack 2011.
   Status, Quality, and Attention: What's in a (Missing) Name? Management Science 
2. Azoulay, P. and J. Wang and J G. Zivin 2010. Superstar Extinction. Quarterly Journal of Economics
3. Forbes, S.J. and M. Lederman 2010. Does Vertical Integration Affect Firm Performance? Evidence from the Airline Industry. RAND

Qualitative Methods

Crisp, clear and compelling. Inspiration and foundation for follow-on empirical and theoretical research.

1. Barley, S.R. 1986. Technology as an Occasion for Structuring: Evidence from Observations of CT Scanners and the Social Order of Radiology Departments. Administrative Science Quarterly
2. Siggelkow, N. 2002. Evolution Toward Fit. Administrative Science Quarterly
3. Tripsas, M. and G. Gavetti 2000. Capabilities, Cognition and Inertia: Evidence from Digital Imaging. Strategic Management Journal

Structural Methods

OK, we are not aware of a single structural paper  published in a management journal as of this post. The following are interesting reads that, we hope, may inspire someone ...

1. Asker, J. 2010. A Study of the Internal Organization of a Bidding Cartel. The American Economic Review 
2. Benkard, C.L. 2004. A Dynamic Analysis of the Market for Wide-Bodied Commercial Aircraft. Review of Economic Studies

Validation

Another class of work receiving little-to-no attention is that designed to replicate earlier studies. Make that: no attention.

Theory

Mathematical Methods

Precise, internally consistent, general and relevant to issues we care about.

1. Adner, R. and P. Zemsky 2006. A Demand Based Perspective on Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Strategic Management Journal
2. Brandenburger, A. and H. Stuart 2007. Biform Games. Management Science 
3. Casadesus-Masanell, R. and D. B. Yoffie 2007. Wintel: Cooperation and Conflict. Management Science
4. Cassiman, B. and M. Ueda 2006. Optimal Project Rejection and New Firm Start-ups. Management Science
5. De Fontenay, C. C. and J. S. Gans 2008. A Bargaining Perspective on Strategic Outsourcing and Supply Competition. Strategic Management Journal 
6. Ryall, M. D. 2003. Subjective Rationality, Self-Confirming Equilibrium and Corporate Strategy. Management Science 

Simulation Methods

Interesting, precise, appropriate to the question and interpretations consistent with the model.

1. Rivkin, J.W. 2000. Imitation of Complex Strategies. Management Science
2. Lenox, M.J. and S. F.  Rockart and A. Y. Lewin 2007. Interdependency, Competition, and Industry Dynamics. Management Science 

Theoretical Critiques of Empirical Work

Typically, we think of empirical work in the context of theory, but not the other way around. Yet, all of the machinery supporting quantitative empirical work is ... theoretical. Item 1 is the original empirical paper and Item 2 the critique. Neither was published in the management literature, but both could well have been.

1. Christakis, N. A. and J. H. Fowler 2007. The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years. New England Journal of Medicine
2. Lyons, R. 2011. The Spread of Evidence - Poor Medicine via Flawed Social-Network Analysis. Statistics, Politics, and Policy