Is Theory Useful?

The point about a 'Scientific theorY' has traditionally been that it provides a 'guarantee of truth.' While it has, on the one hand, proved difficult to establish such theory within fields like work, organization and leadership, the growing competition and complexity facing most modern organizations makes for an increase in the demand for theory. The purpose of this contribution is to explore what functions theory can play in a context where people are looking for help to unravel complexity, give meaning to experience, make ordered comparisons possible and provide reference points for learning. When these become the primary functions, what happens to 'theory'?