¹Center for Strategic Management and Globalization, Copenhagen Business School, Frederikssberg, Denmark, and Department of Strategy and Management, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Norway

Correspondence: Nicolai Foss, Center for Strategic Management and Globalization, Copenhagen Business School, Porcelainshaven 24, Frederikssberg 2000, Denmark. Tel: 45 3815 2562; E-mail: njf.smg@cbs.dk

Abstract

The emergence over the last two decades or so of 'knowledge' as an important part of the explanatory structure of management research is an intellectual breakthrough that is comparable in terms of its transforming impact to the behavioral revolution of the 1960s. A veritable 'knowledge movement' has emerged that spans several fields in management. I take stock on alternative research strategies with that movement, distinguishing between 'capabilities first,' 'networks first' and 'individuals first' strategies. Reasons are given why more research attention needs to be allocated to the latter strategy if the knowledge movement is to continue making progress. However, the aim should ultimately be to reach towards multi-level research that combines aggregate constructs with top-down processes and bottom-up processes.