By the end of this chapter, you will be able to do the following:

3.1 Argue the criticality of theory for managers, researchers, students, and policymakers.

3.2 Articulate important distinctions in discerning good theory.

3.3 Evaluate when a new theory is needed from the unit and programmatic theory perspectives.

3.4 Devise how to prune the theoretical landscape by judging the importance of theory falsification, and distinguishing between falsification and failed confirmation.

3.5 Describe how theory elaboration improves theory and compare and contrast theory elaboration and other forms of theorizing.

3.6 Articulate the decision-making process for choosing a theory elaboration perspective.

3.7 Propose how to conduct a theory elaboration study by describing five ways to advance theory and explaining how the implementation approaches and tactics advance theory.

3.8 Articulate how bridging levels of analysis improves theory.