Theories and Perspectives in Business Administration

Preface 11

              1 Theories and perspectives 13

Ulla Eriksson-Zetterquist, Magnus Hansson and Fredrik Nilsson

An example: The case of the video game industry 14

What is theory? 17

What theory is not, theorizing may be 20

Use of theory 22

Theory in action 26

The following chapters 28

References 30

              2 Agency theory 33

Peter Öhman and Emilia Florin Samuelsson

Introduction 33

Central assumptions accompanied by classical works 35

A basis for research development and methodological considerations 42

Advantages and critique 44

Stakeholder theory and stewardship theory as complementary theoretical perspectives 46

Examples of contemporary studies  50

Further reading 53

References 54

              3 The business network approach 57

Anna Bengtson, Johnny Lind and Cecilia Pahlberg

Introduction  57

Central assumptions and theoretical claims 59

Using the approach in research 63

Examples of classic works  67

The business network approach applied in different areas of business studies  71

How can this perspective help us understand contemporary issues?  77

Further reading 78

References 80

              4 Contingency theory 83

Helén Anderson and Jan Greve

Introduction 83

Classical contingency studies in organization theory  85

A theory about effective fit between organization and environment 89

Contemporary contingency studies  98

How does the contingency framework help us understand contemporary issues? 102

Further reading 104

References  105

              5 The resource-­based view 109

– strategy inside-out

Fredrik Tell

Introduction 109

RBV and RBT 110

The emergence and proliferation of the resource-based view 124

Classical works 125

Contemporary studies and new subdivisions  129

How does this perspective help us understand contemporary issues? 137

Further reading 139

References 140

              6 Transaction cost economics 145

Tobias Johansson and Hans Knutsson

Introduction 145

The nature of the firm 147

The foundations of TCE 148

Empirical evidence and empirical applications 157

Contemporary issues 165

Further reading 166

References  167

              7 The neoclassical perspective 169

Peter Frii and Oscar Stålnacke

Introduction  169

Central assumptions and claims applied to business research 171

Classical works  178

Contemporary studies and new subdivisions  183

Contemporary issues and the use of neoclassical theories 187

Further reading 189

References 190

              8 Decision-making in organizations 193

– from the cognitive revolution to algorithm governance

Alexander Styhre

Introduction 193

The cognitive revolution and the work of Herbert Simon 196

Decision-making in practice: Heuristics, rules of thumb, and other cognitive devices 204

Methods for studying decision-making 207

Machine-based decisions: Algorithms and algorithm governance 208

Algorithm governance and the implications for decision theory 210

Summary and concluding remarks 212

Further reading 213

References 213

              9 Institutional theory 217

Maria Norbäck and Linda Wedlin

Introduction 217

Central assumptions, theoretical claims, and most applied methods  220

Isomorphism 222

Legitimacy 223

Decoupling 225

Examples of classical works  229

Contemporary studies  232

Institutional theory and contemporary global challenges 238

Further reading 240

References  242

              10 Actor-network theory 247

– delight in the details

Hans Kjellberg and Ebba Sjögren

Introduction 247

Basic principles and considerations regarding methods 250

Classical studies: The ABC of ANT  254

Translation into business administration  260

How to, or some common problems of use 262

Contemporary work and research directions  265

Further reading 266

References 267

              11 Symbolic interactionism 271

Peter Svensson and Sofia Ulver

The meaning of throwing things 271

A silent theory 272

The theory and its methodological consequences 274

Methodological consequences 283

Two classical symbolic interactionists: Cooley and Goffman 285

Symbolic interactionism and business administration 288

The relevance of symbolic interactionism today  291

Further reading 293

References  294

              12 Cultural approaches 297

Pamela Schultz Nybacka and Jacob Östberg

Introduction 297

Central assumptions, theoretical claims, and the most applied methods  300

Examples of classical works 307

Contemporary studies and new subdivisions 315

How does this perspective help us understand contemporary issues? 319

Further reading 322

References 322

              13 Critical theories 325

Johan Alvehus and Charlotta Bay

Introduction 325

What is critique in critical theory? 326

Against the grain 327

The broad umbrella of critical theories 329

Key assumptions and theoretical claims 331

Critical methodology 335

Two classic works 338

Contemporary topics  343

Further reading 347

References 348

              14 Discourse and discourse analysis 351

Linda Höglund and Eva Lindell

Introduction 351

Discourse analysis 353

Examples of classic works  367

Contemporary studies and new subdivisions 369

How do discourses help us understand contemporary issues?  372

Further reading 374

References 375

              15 Practice theory 377

Jens Rennstam and Susanne Lundholm

Introduction  377

The practice approach – key characteristics  380

Theoretical roots  382

Classical studies in business administration based on practice theory 387

Contemporary studies 394

Designing research based on practice theory 401

Using practice theory for understanding contemporary issues? 404

Further reading 405

References 406

              16 Gender theories 409

– power, perception, patterns and performances

Nanna Gillberg

Introduction and background 410

Central assumptions and theoretical claims  413

Some classic works within gender studies  419

Contemporary subdivisions and studies  424

Criticisms  428

How may gender theories inform other fields? 429

Further reading 431

References 431

              17 Service marketing 435

Mikael Gidhagen and David Sörhammar

Introducing the importance of service 435

Central assumptions 439

Classic service research landmarks 446

Contemporary studies and new subdivisions in service research 452

Engagement 454

Servitization 456

Service research in the area of digitalization 458

Further reading 459

References 461

              18 Theories and perspectives 463

– analysis and conclusions

Ulla Eriksson-Zetterquist, Magnus Hansson and Fredrik Nilsson

Outlining a research project 464

On combining theories or perspectives 465

The relationship between theory and method 466

An overview of 16 theories and perspectives 468

References 485

Contributors 487

Index 493