Why It Matters
I need to shift from 'solving problems' to 'problematizing solutions'. If I can't articulate theoretical novelty, my work is just a technical report, not a PhD.
What To Learn
- Master the 'That's Interesting!' criterion (Davis, 1971): How to deny an assumption held by the audience.
- Distinguish 'Gap-Spotting' (incremental) from 'Problematization' (challenging root assumptions) (Sandberg & Alvesson).
- Internalize the 'Mechanism' requirement: Explaining *how* X leads to Y, not just that it does.