Dr. Michael Withers
University of Notre Dame

Session abstract

Organizational researchers often seek to draw causal inferences from observational data. However, this is a challenging task, given that the relevant counterfactual outcomes are by definition unobservable. Observational settings can also involve confounding that further complicates causal inference. To address these issues, a number of methodological approaches have emerged, each with its own set of identifying assumptions. Some approaches adjust for observed differences between units, while others leverage temporal variation, discontinuities, instrumental variables, or other features of the research setting to identify causal effects. Despite the benefits they provide, these approaches support a causal interpretation only when their underlying assumptions hold. Although researchers can often evaluate the plausibility of these assumptions and test some of their observable implications, the identifying assumptions themselves generally cannot be established from the observed data alone. As such, applying these approaches requires careful consideration and evaluation. In this session, we focus on the assumptions that make causal inference possible and on the ways those same assumptions constrain it.

Presenter biography

Michael C. Withers is a professor in the Department of Management & Organization at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. He received his Ph.D. in strategic management from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. His research focuses on how organizations manage external dependencies and adapt to changing competitive environments through strategic decision-making, executive leadership transitions, and corporate governance mechanisms. His work has appeared in leading journals, including Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science, Journal of Management, and Journal of Applied Psychology. He is a Senior Editor of the Journal of Management and an Associate Editor of Organizational Research Methods.