IMCA Research seminar- Anne Smith, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee

Abstract

Considering Innovations in Qualitative Research to Enhance Theory Development

Qualitative research in management and organizational is growing, furthering developing theoretical insights. In this talk, I will build on this positive trend in qualitative publications to discuss novel data, analysis, and designs that may be considered to further enhance theory development. This connection of methodological innovations and theory development is the focus of the Academy of Management Journal’s push into methods papers as part of its mission, which will be discussed in this session. This talk will build on a recent and forthcoming Academy of Management From the Editors’ article (Bliese, et al., 2024) and my recent ORM  publication (Hansen et al., 2025) to discuss novel and provocative data collection and data analysis approaches and innovative designs. If time and interest allows, I will speculate about how AI might affect qualitative research.

Hansen, H., Elias, S. R. S. T. A., Stevenson, A., Smith, A. D., Alexander, B. N. B., & Barros, M. (2025). Resisting the Objectification of Qualitative Research: The Unsilencing of Context, Researchers, and Noninterview Data. Organizational Research Methods, 28(1), 3–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/10944281231215119

Bliese, P. D., Certo, S. T., Smith, A. D., Wang, M., & Gruber, M. (2024). Strengthening Theory–Methods–Data Links. Academy of Management Journal, 67(4), 893–902. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2024.4004

Bio

Anne Smith (BS, University of Virginia; PhD, MBA, University of North Carolina) is the King & Judy Rogers Professor in Business, Management & Entrepreneurship Department, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee. Her research addresses qualitative research practices as well as how organizations change and, many times, fail. Anne is currently an Associate Editor at the Academy of Management Journal (qualitative methods) and has continued to serve on the editorial board of Organization Research Methods (ORM) for over 12 years, including five years as Associate Editor. She is or has been a guest co-editor for three ORM special feature issues. For three years (2019-221), Anne co-edited Research Methodology in Strategy and Management Emerald book series. Her research has been published in journals such as Organization Science, Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, ORM, Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, and Journal of Management Inquiry.