• Advanced Theory Building: Computational Process Theorizing

    Registration for PDW 12745
  • Construct relationships dominate OB theory building; process theorizing is little used. Unpacking processes is the theoretical frontier for OB. The advent of computational process theorizing (CPT), which uses simulation to put theory into motion to enable insights and evaluate its plausibility, is advancing that frontier. Many scholars are aware of CPT and are intrigued by its advantages for theory building, but CPT is also mysterious. Understanding how one translates construct thinking into process thinking and instantiates it in a CPT is daunting. This Professional Development Workshop (PDW) will provide an overview and background, conceptual foundation, and methodological grounding for building a CPT. Envisioned as a two-part full day workshop, it will provide attendees with (a) actionable conceptual tools and hands-on skills to shift from construct (factor) thinking to process (actor) thinking (morning session) and (b) basic skills to conceptualize and operationalize (in pseudo code) generative mechanisms that drive process action sequences (afternoon session). Attendees will then be equipped with a basic foundation for building CPT that can be instantiated in a computational model to generate insights regarding organizational phenomena of interest to them.

  • Knowledge of CPT
  • Registration Session*
  • Should be Empty: