Qualitative middle-range research in operations management: The need for theory-driven empirical inquiry

Soltani, Ebrahim, Ahmed, Pervaiz K., Liao, Ying Ying, Anosike, Paschal U. (2014) Qualitative middle-range research in operations management: The need for theory-driven empirical inquiry. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 34 (8). pp. 1003-1027. ISSN 0144-3577. (doi:10.1108/IJOPM-11-2012-0486) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:34883)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-11-2012-0486

Abstract

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the potential of a qualitative middle-range research approach to contribute to the advancement of operations management (OM) field.

Design/methodology/approach

–To better signify such contribution, it takes insight from Merton's (1968) notion of middle-range theory as a means to create pathways of propositions that link substantive concepts and practices of OM in both context-specific and context-free operational environments.

Findings

– The paper brings to the fore the argument that achieving the primary objective of filling the “theory-methods” void in OM can be achieved through adoption of a qualitative middle-range approach.

Originality/value

– The originality of this paper hinges on the premise that theory-oriented qualitative field research that is able to incorporate experiences of different stakeholders of the OM intervention is highly likely to benefit OM theory advancement as well as OM practice.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1108/IJOPM-11-2012-0486
Uncontrolled keywords:	Qualitative research, Literature review, Methodology for operations management, Middle-range theory
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HA Statistics > HA33 Management Science
Institutional Unit:	Schools > Kent Business School
Former Institutional Unit:	Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Kent Business School (do not use)
Depositing User:	Catherine Norman
Date Deposited:	02 Aug 2013 09:52 UTC
Last Modified:	20 May 2025 11:50 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/34883 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Soltani, Ebrahim.

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