Editing Process theory

{{for|process theory in writing|Process theory of composition}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2009}}
A '''process theory''' is a system of ideas which explains how an [[entity]] changes and develops.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Van de Ven|first1=Andrew|title=Engaged scholarship: a guide for organizational and social research|date=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> [[Process]] theories are often contrasted with '''variance theories''', that is, systems of ideas that explain the [[variance]] in a [[dependent variable]] based on one or more [[independent variable]]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]], [[continental drift]] and the [[nitrogen cycle]].

==Process theory archetypes==
Process theories come in four common [[archetype]]s.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Van De|first1=A. H.|last2=Poole|first2=M. S.|title=Explaining development and change in organizations|journal=Academy of Management Review|date=1995|volume=20|issue=3|pages=510–540|doi=10.5465/AMR.1995.9508080329|s2cid=14720122 }}</ref> 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.&nbsp;517). In a teleological process theory, an agent "constructs an envisioned end state, takes action to reach it and monitors the progress" (p.&nbsp;518). In a lifecycle process theory, "the trajectory to the final end state is prefigured and requires a particular historical sequence of events" (p.&nbsp;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.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ralph|first1=Paul|title=Developing and Evaluating Software Engineering Process Theories|url=http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2818754.2818760|website=Proceedings of the 37th International Conference on Software Engineering - Volume 1|publisher=IEEE Press|pages=20–31|date=1 January 2015|isbn=9781479919345|series=Icse '15}}</ref> Process theories are used to explain how people are [[motivated]] and how decisions are made,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Poole|first1=Marshall Scott|last2=Roth|first2=Jonelle|title=Decision Development in Small Groups IV A Typology of Group Decision Paths|journal=Human Communication Research|volume=15|issue=3|pages=323–356|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2958.1989.tb00188.x|date=March 1989}}</ref> how software is designed<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Ralph|first1=Paul|title=The Sensemaking-Coevolution-Implementation Theory of software design|journal=Science of Computer Programming|date=April 2015|volume=101|pages=21–41|doi=10.1016/j.scico.2014.11.007|arxiv=1302.4061|s2cid=6154223 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Ralph|first1=Paul|title=Software engineering process theory: A multi-method comparison of Sensemaking–Coevolution–Implementation Theory and Function–Behavior–Structure Theory|journal=Information and Software Technology|date=February 2016|volume=70|pages=232–250|doi=10.1016/j.infsof.2015.06.010|arxiv=1307.1019|s2cid=12104046 }}</ref> and how software processes are improved.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Allison|first1=I.|last2=Merali|first2=Y.|title=Software process improvement as emergent change: A structurational analysis|journal=Information and Software Technology|date=1 June 2007|volume=49|issue=6|pages=668–681|doi=10.1016/j.infsof.2007.02.003|url=http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/2638/1/WRAP_THESIS_Allison_2004.pdf|hdl=10059/220|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

Motivation theories can be classified broadly into two different perspectives: content and process theories. 
*[[Content theories]] 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. [[Victor Vroom|Vroom]], [[Lyman W. Porter|Porter]] and Lawler (see: [[Victor Vroom#Theory of Expectancy]]), [[John Stacey Adams]] and [[Edwin Locke]] studied motivation from a "process" perspective.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://ozgurzan.com/management/management-theories/theories-about-motivation/ |last=Zan|first=Özgür|title=A Brief Introduction to Motivation Theory| date=2011-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226112106/https://ozgurzan.com/management/management-theories/theories-about-motivation/|archive-date=26 February 2014}}</ref>

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 architecture]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Process theory| ]]
[[Category:Management science]]