ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to show the value of utilising paradigms and articulating the research philosophy to effectively direct a new research endeavour. The explicit utilisation of paradigms has various benefits: allowing a fundamental categorisation of the research field, incorporating challenging viewpoints (paradigmatic pluralism), offering new conceptual perspectives when taking a different ontological perspective, and gaining legitimacy outside the field of PM. Paradigms can serve as a powerful facilitator not only for directing research towards significant contributions that progress the research field, but also for guiding doctoral students through the research process.
