Cultivating and embracing plurality in abductive inquiries within strategy research

Prithwiraj Choudhury, Mahka Moeen and Audra Wormald

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: Research Summary Abduction offers a mode of scientific inquiry that focuses on formulating explanations for unexplained phenomena. By building a bridge between philosophy of science and strategic management research, this article offers a pluralistic view of abduction, highlighting abductive triggers as the starting point in seeking explanations and the essential role of both creative and selective abduction in formulating explanations. Additionally, this article provides practical guidance for the design, execution, and evaluation of abductive research, including the usefulness of abduction for studies not designed as abductive. We offer orienting considerations about abduction's steps and elements, illustrate with examples, and outline potential missteps. Abduction does not lend itself to a fixed template, and we aim to lower the barriers to using abduction in strategic management research. Managerial Summary Abductive inquiry develops explanations for unexplained observations. This article connects philosophy of science with strategic management research to highlight the variety of forms abduction can take, including generating explanations in creative abduction and adjudicating explanations in selective abduction. By providing strategic management researchers with greater clarity about abductive inquiry, the article contributes to the development of explanatory insights that can help managers identify the causes underpinning organizational outcomes and make informed strategic decisions. This contribution is relevant because strategy is concerned with how interdependent organizational choices and actions influence outcomes, requiring managers not only to predict what may happen, but also to explain why outcomes occur so that they can intervene effectively.

Keywords: abductive reasoning; inference to the best explanation; philosophy of science; research methodology; theory development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J50 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-08-20
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Published in Strategic Management Journal, 20, August, 2026. ISSN: 0143-2095

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