Premium
Understanding the conceptual development phase of applied theory‐building research: A grounded approach
Author(s) -
StorbergWalker Julia
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
human resource development quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1532-1096
pISSN - 1044-8004
DOI - 10.1002/hrdq.1192
Subject(s) - grounded theory , conceptual framework , conceptual model , development theory , sociology , variety (cybernetics) , development (topology) , process (computing) , human capital theory , epistemology , management science , engineering ethics , knowledge management , human capital , computer science , qualitative research , social science , engineering , mathematics , artificial intelligence , mathematical analysis , philosophy , economics , market economy , economic growth , operating system
This article presents a provisional grounded theory of conceptual development for applied theory‐building research. The theory described here extends the understanding of the components of conceptual development and provides generalized relations among the components. The conceptual development phase of theory‐building research has been widely debated and discussed in a variety of disciplines, most notably in sociology and management theory. The breadth and number of these contributions makes it difficult for many human resource development (HRD) theorists to select the most appropriate process or framework to follow, and guidelines or a framework are needed to further the development of HRD theory. This grounded study contributes toward that gap. The study found that a five‐component framework of conceptual development emerged from creating an HRD theory on human capital transformation.