CONFIGURATION RESEARCH IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT - KEY ISSUES AND SUGGESTIONS

This paper discusses major theoretical and methodological issues that strategic management researchers must consider when developing and tes ting configuration theories. The theoretical issues include: (1) numbe r of domains, (2) causality, and (3) temporal stability. The methodolo gical issues are: (1) specification of key constructs, (2) effects of data aggregation, (3) the choice of unit of analysis, and (4) the appr opriateness of research methodologies. Greater attention to these issu es should result in more accurate findings and more meaningful interpr etations.