Anecdotal Quote by Henry Mintzberg
“Anecdotal data is not incidental to theory development at all, but an essential part of it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning”, 1994
Anecdotal evidence is essential, not peripheral, for building theory.
In simple terms: Stories are core to theory development.
Integrate real examples into research.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- academic work
- policy design
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How to balance anecdotes with data?
- When do stories become misleading?
Over‑reliance on anecdotes can bias conclusions.