Ontological Shift or Ontological Drift? Reality Claims, Epistemological Frameworks, and Theory Generation in Organization Studies

Abstract

Minor shifts in emphasis between the process and entitative dimensions of management constructs can be an effective method of theory generation. However, such shifts require corresponding adjustments in both ontology and epistemology. Where ontology and epistemology drift out of alignment, there is significant potential for confusion. I describe and illustrate four kinds of epistemic-ontological movement using a range of examples, particularly from the communities of practice literature, and I discuss implications for both theory and practice.