Empirical Science: New Frontier in Operations Management Research

Abstract

This article identifies a methodological void in operations management (OM) research as the lack of empirical theory building. It addresses two questions: What is empirical science? and How can empirical theory building be nurtured in the area? The rationale for theory building in this article is derived from the classical empirical science perspective. Further, an empirically sound model OM theory is identified and evaluated, and selected theorylike statements and informal “theories” embedded in the OM literature are classified into an accepted classification scheme made up of grand theories, middle range theories, and empirical generalizations.