The influence of great theoretical works on subsequent empirical work : An investigation of top management journals

The present paper seeks to understand the influence of great works through the relationship between theoretical and empirical publications. The authors examined three samples of articles published in the Academy of Management Review and used the grounded theory approach of qualitative analysis to help identify differences and similarities between theory articles that have led to empirical tests and those articles that have not. It was found that those theory articles with concise introductions drawn from disparate academic domains, proposed empirical designs, methodologies, and measurement strategies, and discussions that reiterate the need for the prescribed theory are more likely to receive empirical consideration than those theory articles that do not include these factors.