A process theory is a system of ideas which explains how an
entity
An entity is something that Existence, exists as itself. It does not need to be of material existence. In particular, abstractions and legal fictions are usually regarded as entities. In general, there is also no presumption that an entity is Lif ...
changes and develops.
Process
A process is a series or set of activities that interact to produce a result; it may occur once-only or be recurrent or periodic.
Things called a process include:
Business and management
* Business process, activities that produce a specific s ...
theories are often contrasted with variance theories, that is, systems of ideas that explain the
variance
In probability theory and statistics, variance is the expected value of the squared deviation from the mean of a random variable. The standard deviation (SD) is obtained as the square root of the variance. Variance is a measure of dispersion ...
in a
dependent variable
A variable is considered dependent if it depends on (or is hypothesized to depend on) an independent variable. Dependent variables are studied under the supposition or demand that they depend, by some law or rule (e.g., by a mathematical functio ...
based on one or more
independent variable
A variable is considered dependent if it depends on (or is hypothesized to depend on) an independent variable. Dependent variables are studied under the supposition or demand that they depend, by some law or rule (e.g., by a mathematical function ...
s. While process theories focus on how something happens, variance theories focus on why something happens. Examples of process theories include evolution by
natural selection
Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype. It is a key mechanism of evolution, the change in the Heredity, heritable traits characteristic of a population over generation ...
,
continental drift
Continental drift is a highly supported scientific theory, originating in the early 20th century, that Earth's continents move or drift relative to each other over geologic time. The theory of continental drift has since been validated and inc ...
and the
nitrogen cycle
The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates among atmosphere, atmospheric, terrestrial ecosystem, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems. The conversion of nitrogen can ...
.
Process theory archetypes
Process theories come in four common
archetype
The concept of an archetype ( ) appears in areas relating to behavior, historical psychology, philosophy and literary analysis.
An archetype can be any of the following:
# a statement, pattern of behavior, prototype, "first" form, or a main mo ...
s. Evolutionary process theories explain change in a population through variation, selection and retention—much like biological evolution. In a dialectic process theory, "stability and change are explained by reference to the balance of power between opposing entities" (p. 517). In a teleological process theory, an agent "constructs an envisioned end state, takes action to reach it and monitors the progress" (p. 518). In a lifecycle process theory, "the trajectory to the final end state is prefigured and requires a particular historical sequence of events" (p. 515); that is, change always conforms to the same series of activities, stages, phases, like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.
Applications and examples
Process theories are important in management and software engineering. Process theories are used to explain how people are
motivated and how decisions are made, how software is designed and how software processes are improved.
Motivation theories can be classified broadly into two different perspectives: content and process theories.
*
Content theories
Content theories are theories about the internal factors that motivate people. They typically focus on the goals that people aim to achieve and the needs, Drive theory, drives, and desires that influence human behavior, their behavior. Content the ...
deal with ''“what”'' motivates people and it is concerned with individual needs and goals. Maslow, Alderfer, Herzberg and McClelland studied motivation from a “content” perspective.
*Process theories deal with the "process" of motivation and are concerned with ''"how"'' motivation occurs.
Vroom,
Porter and Lawler (see:
Victor Vroom#Theory of Expectancy),
John Stacey Adams and
Edwin Locke studied motivation from a "process" perspective.
Process theories are also used in education, psychology, geology and many other fields; however, they are not always called "process theories".
See also
*
Interactions of actors theory
*
Process-oriented psychology
*
Process philosophy
Process philosophy (also ontology of becoming or processism) is an approach in philosophy that identifies processes, changes, or shifting relationships as the only real experience of everyday living. In opposition to the classical view of change ...
*
Process architecture
Process architecture is the structural design of general process systems. It applies to fields such as computers (software, hardware, networks, etc.), business processes (enterprise architecture, policy and procedures, logistics, project management ...
References
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Management science