TOWARD INNOVATION AND DIVERSITY IN MANAGEMENT RESEARCH METHODS

Drawing on a content analysis of all the articles submitted to the 199 3 Special Research Forum on Methodology and their reviews, we identify and discuss three requirements for methodological contributions: impo rtance and significance, adequate conceptual grounding, and adherence to methodologically sound and accurate strategies. We also discuss inn ovative methodological directions suggested by the submissions related to the meaning of data and measurement, the role of time in managemen t research, and appropriate boundary conditions for methodological con tributions. Finally, we introduce the articles published here, focusin g on both their commonalities and diversity.