Process tracing in qualitative causal analysis and its contribution to the study of organizations

Abstract

The study of causal links in social sciences has had a predominantly qualitative approach. Process-tracing is a valuable alternative in research with a qualitative perspective. Although it is a method broadly applied in certain disciplines, its use in the organizational analysis has been limited. This paper intends to show the methodological strengths of the process-tracing and highlight its relevance to the study of organizations. To illustrate the methodological design and analytical potential of this method, it was applied in a case study focused on the analysis of the strategic process in a vegetarian pizza chain in Lima, Peru.

Keywords: Process-tracing; Qualitative methods; Organizational analysis; Strategic analysis.