Bridging rigour and relevance: Weber’s research approach to understand knowledge integration in creative processes of teams spanning over time and space

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to call for an in-depth reflection on Weber’s research approach based on the notions of adequate causation and objective possibility. Design/methodology/approach – The paper illustrates the main characteristics and premises of the research approach. It further exemplifies its application through a qualitative study that investigates “How” and “Why” knowledge integration occurs in the creative processes of teams spanning over time and space. In so doing, it argues that Weber’s epistemology could remain a valid point of reference to shift from the generation of empirical propositions through qualitative research to the quantitative analysis of empirical regularities recurring into a large number of empirical cases. Findings – This paper shows how Weber’s research approach could assist researchers in overcoming the dichotomy between rigour and relevance in qualitative research within organization and management studies. Originality/value – The work offers new ways of looking at established ideas within organization and management studies, through new lenses as alternative ways of knowing social phenomena available to scholars, to produce theoretical knowledge relevant for and applicable into practice.