OB Research Seminar - Joerg Dietz, HEC Lausanne

In this presentation, I share work in progress on the role of constructs in management theories, in particular when construct properties undermine sound causal reasoning. My presentation is motivated by recent work in the leadership field that has pointed to valenced leadership styles, such as ethical leadership, as cause-outcome convoluting constructs rather than as causal constructs. As a result, research on these styles, contrary to the claims of its advocates, cannot validate causal effects. However, the convolution of causes and effects in single constructs is not the only challenge to causal theorizing.  After an introduction to scientific constructs, I discuss also other types of construct flaws, such as endogenous constructs pretending to be exogenous ones.  I also raise potential reasons for these flaws and point to remedies.