Market representations in industrial marketing: Could representations influence strategy?

A central question in industrial marketing is whether the form in which the market of a firm is represented influences the marketing strategy. This question has been studied generally through case study research, and quantitative evidence is limited. In response to this limitation, this paper reports on a quasi-experiment investigating whether market representations have a constructive aspect in business. Empirically, this study compares two types of market representations - ostensive and performative - in order to test for influence exacted in two well-established strategies in industrial marketing - service focus and product differentiation. Results indicate that service focus is selected when market representations rely on agency in firms (i.e., performative), and product strategies are selected when structures are emphasized (i.e., ostensive). This paper contributes to methodology development by expanding the link between a case study approach and quasi-experiments explaining how quasi-experiments can replicate findings in industrial marketing.     

Small enterprises as complex adaptive systems: a methodological question?

Complexity science constitutes an emerging post-positivist interdisciplinary field of investigation of dynamical systems in the natural and physical worlds. The central concept of complexity is that interactions between parts of open systems create novel, unpredictable patterns, and that while the history of the system is relevant in understanding its dynamic, the isolation of individual parts of the system (analysis) does not reveal the casual mechanisms in the system. It is suggested that complexity science can inform our methodologies for investigating the social sciences. The paper explores whether complexity science offers ways of theory building that can take account of pluralistic or interdisciplinary research in enterprise dynamics. The authors offer a model of six theorized ontological layers, derived from the canon of research literature within a small enterprise domain, with boundaries at each end. It is suggested that dynamical concepts of agency (adaption, evolution, fitness, interdependence) coupled with the theory of evolutionary autopoietic structures generate a plausible field for the study of enterprise dynamics. A focus on ontological and experimental adequacy is necessary to develop theory within this framework. An appropriate methodology involves iterations between experimental forms of scientific analysis and the grounding of emergent or evolving theories.     

Exploring the future of ecological genomics: Integrating CTA with vision assessment

Interactive approaches to technology development provide opportunities for the development of innovative technologies which clearly connect with social practices and address the positive and negative effects as perceived by relevant actors. The challenge is to start an interactive approach early in the development of new technologies, when many options are still open for exploration and there are good possibilities for steering. Early involvement of societal actors is, however, challenged by the absence of concrete applications on which they can develop their own visions from the perspective of their own needs, interests, norms and values. Integrating Constructive Technology Assessment (CTA) with vision assessment is proposed as an approach to overcome this dilemma in the field of ecological genomics and bridge the knowledge gap between parties closely involved with ecogenomics research and other relevant actors. We present, evaluate and discuss the process of identifying guiding visions of the technology developers as a first step in this approach and end with some suggestions on how desirable futures for ecogenomics can subsequently be assessed from the perspectives of different actors.     

马克思产权理论与西方产权理论:关于方法论的比较

导致马克思产权理论与西方产权理论基本结论不同的原因在于两者立场和方法论的不同,方法论的不同主要表现在经济哲学和经济学层次上.马克思产权理论经济哲学层次的方法论是唯物辩证法和历史唯物论,经济学层次的方法论是科学抽象法、逻辑与历史一致法、有机整体方法论.西方产权理论经济哲学层次的方法论是个人主义、自由主义、功利主义以及三者完美的结合物个体理性主义,经济学层次的方法论是单纯的抽象法.通过深入比较发现,只有马克思的方法论才是科学、正确、经得起历史和实践检验的方法论,以马克思方法论为指导创立的马克思产权理论才是真正科学、系统的产权理论.     

经济学的科学性意味着什么——经济学的双重属性及其研究思维

经济学的研究对象涵盖了人与自然以及人与社会这两个关系层面,涉及到自然世界和生活世界两大领域,因此,经济学本身具有人文性和科学性的双重特性,它们也典型地体现在经济学理论研究的两个相应阶段上.但是,不管在对经济学性质的认知上存在何等的不同,经济学都不能直接归入自然科学的范畴,因为无论是在科学的内涵、研究的目的还是研究的方法上,经济学与自然科学都存在很大差异:经济学注重思辨性,其理论也带有强烈的主观性和规范性.因此,尽管我们强调经济学要朝科学化的方向发展,但其科学性的麦加并非就是以物理学为代表的自然科学.     

How to improve scenario analysis as a strategic management tool?

Scenarios are claimed to support strategic decision makers. They are especially effective in dealing with uncertainties. This paper addresses some drawbacks of the conventional scenario method, which is especially directed at handling these uncertainties, and indicates possible avenues for methodological adaptations. We take the approach, which rests in the Shell tradition, as exemplary for our discussion on the mainstream scenario methodology. This approach has some limitations when it comes to dealing with simultaneous trends and countertrends, and trends or clusters of trends that are not thought of beforehand, especially the methodological requirements of causality and consistency, which might be limiting factors in this respect. This paper indicates alternative ways for scenario construction. It discusses the use of either recombinant scenarios, context scenarios, or inconsistent scenarios and/or combinations of these scenarios. These options explicitly incorporate the notion of ‘paradoxical trend’ as the codriver of future developments into the methodology.     

VARIETY OF METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH IN ECONOMICS

Abstract.  It has been argued by some that the distinction between orthodox economics and heterodox economics does not fit the growing variety in economic theory, unified by a common methodological approach. On the other hand, it remains a central characteristic of heterodox economics that it does not share this methodological approach, but rather represents a range of alternative methodological approaches. The paper explores the evidence, and arguments, for variety in economics at different levels, and a range of issues which arise. This requires in turn a discussion of the meaning of variety in economics at the different levels of reality, methodology, method and theory. It is concluded that there is scope for more, rather than less, variety in economic methodologies, as well as within methodologies. Further, if variety is not to take the form of 'anything goes', then critical discussion by economists of different approaches to economics, and of variety itself, is required.     

列宁对俄国资本主义发展的经济史考察及其方法论特色——读《俄国资本主义的发展》

19世纪末 ,列宁继承马克思等经典作家对欧洲 ,尤其是对英国资本主义发展的经济史考察的传统 ,运用马克思主义的基本经济理论 ,对俄国农奴制改革以来资本主义在工业、农业部门的发展进行了经济史的考察和分析 ,不仅阐明了马克思主义的一些基本原理 ,大大发展了马克思主义 ,而且是列宁领导俄国革命的理论和现实依据。 2 0世纪 4 0年代 ,毛泽东对近代中国社会发展阶段和社会性质的考察和分析 ,提出新民主主义理论 ,可以看作是马克思、恩格斯、列宁的这一经济史考察传统的继承和发扬。     

Persuasive devices

This paper addresses the devices by which we persuade in thediscipline—to produce and reproduce representations ofeconomies that focus on atomistic individuals, freedom of choiceand closed systems. By means of these devices we erase fromour perceptual field those characteristics of the economic realmthat consider elements of the social nature of individuals,open system thinking, relationality and relative power, includingthe influence played by income and wealth distribution.     

Monoculture versus diversity in competition economics

Economics rightfully represents the major basis for competitionpolicy. Next to generating knowledge about competition and itswelfare effects, the currently popular ‘more-economicapproach’ is charged with a number of additional hopesand expectations. While this article highlights the benefitsof economics-based competition policy, it takes a cautious stancetowards excessive expectations, in particular regarding theidea that a monocultural, ‘unified’ competitiontheory as an exact, objective and unerring scientific approachto antitrust could make normative assessment and generalisationssuperfluous. Diversity in competition economics is advocatedin two ways. First, competition economics is empirically characterisedby a considerable pluralism of theories and policy paradigms.Second, it is demonstrated that this diversity of theories istheoretically beneficial for future scientific progress. Asno ultimate competition theory can ever be expected., the ‘more-economicapproach’ must be extended in order to embrace diversity.