Leveraging effectuation for original experiments

Effectuation is a means-driven approach where individuals leverage existing resources, focus on affordable loss, and form partnerships to navigate uncertain environments and create outcomes through flexible strategies rather than predetermined plans. An effectual stance encourages experimentalists to imagine and design new experiments using available means rather than seeking new means to achieve a predefined experiment. Experimentalists have often been trained to use a causation approach, but we argue that effectuation can help overcome resource constraints and initiate original experiments in unexpected directions. We support our insights with quotes and anecdotal evidence from experienced experimentalists and underline how experimentalists can learn to combine the best of both worlds. We also highlight unresolved issues and limitations of the effectuation approach, which should not be regarded as a universal cure.