12996: Crossing Methodological Boundaries: The Impact of Abductive Logic in Management Studies

Monday, July 28, 2025

13:45 - 15:15 CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Bella Center: Hall C- C2-m2

Session Type: Symposium (panel)
Orientation: Research
Highlight: Showcase Symposium
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/QGWaRd

Organizer(s)

MP

Martina Pasquini

IE Business School, Spain

Panelist(s)

IF

Igor Filatotchev

King's College London, United Kingdom
PF

Peter Fleming

-, United Kingdom
MG

Marco S. Giarratana

IE Business School, Spain
CO

Clifford Oswick

City U. London, UNITED KINGDOM

This symposium explores the pivotal role of abduction in advancing management research, focusing on its ability to bridge theory and empirics while balancing creativity and rigor. Abduction fosters theoretical innovation by inferring mechanisms linking variables, even when unobservable, yet its ambiguity may yield competing explanations or overly broad theories. The panel will address three themes: the role of abduction in linking theory and data, balancing creativity with methodological rigor, and opportunities and challenges of AI in abductive theorizing. Through presentations and a moderated discussion, the symposium invites critical dialogue on the value, limitations, and future of abduction in management scholarship.