In this article, we examine how scholars innovate research methods. Based on a review of published qualitative strategy and management research, we identify highly innovative academic papers, that is, papers that demonstrate substantial novelty in every part of the research process. We work through these papers in detail to demonstrate their novelty, highlighting concrete ways in which scholars have innovated three interconnected parts of the research process: data generation, data analysis, and presentation of findings. Based on our analysis, we develop a two-layered “iceberg” model of method innovation, which shows that important principles guide the innovative use of organizational research tools. These principles are engaging in holistic innovation, being excruciatingly clear in the presentation of methods, developing theory and method together, and being reflexive in innovating methods. Our model demystifies the largely implicit process of innovating research methods. We hope it serves to orient and encourage a more creative use of methods in future studies.

在本文中，我们研究了学者如何创新研究方法。在对已发表的定性策略和管理研究进行回顾的基础上，我们确定了高度创新的学术论文，即在研究过程的每个部分中都表现出新颖性的论文。我们将详细研究这些论文，以证明它们的新颖性，重点介绍学者创新研究过程中三个相互联系的部分的具体方法：数据生成，数据分析和发现的呈现。根据我们的分析，我们建立了方法创新的两层“冰山”模型，该模型表明重要原则指导了组织研究工具的创新使用。这些原则参与了整体创新，在方法介绍中非常清楚，共同发展理论和方法，并反思创新方法。我们的模型揭露了创新研究方法的大部分隐性过程。我们希望它有助于指导和鼓励在未来的研究中更创造性地使用方法。