Suggestions for students How to read this book

In the preparation phase of the research, Flowchart 1 and the corres- ponding Table 1.4 can be studied to get a general picture of the steps that are needed for designing and conducting a research project. In Table 1.5, we indicate the required activities for each step of Flow- chart 1, the expected results, and the applicable quality criteria, and where the reader can find support in the book. In the next step of the preparation, general Chapter 3 “Principles of research”, could be studied followed by an inspection of all the flowcharts shown in Appendix 3. After that Chapters 4 “Theory-testing research general”, Chapter 8 “Theory-building research general”, and Chapter 10 “Practice- oriented research general” could be studied. In the research phase, most research activities depend on the research strategy. Since our book focuses on the case study, we provide only advice for the case study strategy. If an experiment or survey was selected, the researcher must use references other than this book. If the decision was made to do a case study, one of the Chapters 5, 6, 7, 9, or 11 could be studied depending on the specific type of case study that is conducted. Information on measurement can be found in Appendix 1: “Measurement”. This appendix applies to any type of research strategy. In the implications and report phase, the outcome of the research is dis- cussed and reported. Here the example chapters always in combination with the methodological reflections could be read for discussing the implications of the research for theory and practice, for getting ideas on the outline of the research report, and for possible other topics to be dis- cussed see Appendix 4: “Writing a case study research report”. Table 1.4 Suggestions for students to design and conduct a research project Phase Step Chapter Preparation 1. Define research topic – 2. Define the general research objective and 3 the general type of research 3. Define the specific research objective and 4, 8, 10, the specific type of research Appendix 3 Research 4. Choose the research strategy 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 5. Select instances 6. Conduct measurement Appendix 1 7. Conduct data analysis 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 Implications and report 8. Discuss results 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 9. Report the research See Flowcharts 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 3C See Flowcharts 2, 3 8. Discuss results 4. Choose the research strategy 7. Conduct data analysis 2. Define the general research objective and general type of research 1. Define research topic 6. Conduct measurement 9. Report the research Start End 5. Select instances 3. Determine the specific research objective and specific type of research Theory-oriented: theory-testing, theory-building; Practice-oriented: hypothesis-testing, hypothesis- building, descriptive Theory-oriented or practice-oriented Experiment, survey, or case study One N, small N, or large N Quantitative, qualitative, or combination Quantitative statistical, or qualitative visual inspection Theory-oriented research: implications for theory Practice-oriented research: implications for practice Theory-oriented research: towards experts Practice-oriented research: towards practitioners Flowchart 1 A stepwise approach to research Step Activity Result Quality criterion Chapter in this book Chapter in this book for all research strategies for case studies only 1. Research Generate ideas Selection of Specific, well-defined – – topic for research topics the research topic topic 2. General Orientation Choice of the Clear choice between 3.1 Theory-oriented and – research of practice and general research practice-oriented practice-orientd research objective theory about the objective and theory-oriented research topic research objective 3. Specific Exploration: for Specification of Research objective is 3.2 Principles of theory- 5.1 How to test a sufficient research theory-oriented the research specific. For theory- oriented research; or a necessary condition objective research using the objective by oriented research: 3.3. Principles of practice- with a case study; empirical cycle; for specifying the initial theory-testing, oriented research; 6.1 How to test a practice-oriented propositions for replication, or theory- 4.2 Specifying propositions deterministic relation research using the theory-oriented building, including theory-testing; with a case study; intervention cycle research or specification of 4.3 Business relevance of 7.1 How to test a hypotheses or propositions; for propositions; probabilistic relation with a variables for practice-oriented 8.2 Principles of theory- case study; practice-oriented research: hypothesis- building research; 9.1 How to design and research testing, hypothesis- 10.1 Hypothesis-building conduct a theory-building building, or descrip- research practice-oriented case study; tive, including research; 11.1 How to design and specification of the 10.2 Hypothesis-testing conduct a practice-oriented hypotheses or research practice-oriented case study; variables research; 5.3, 5.5, 6.3, 7.3, 9.3, 11.3, 11.5 10.3 Descriptive research Methodological reflections practice-oriented research on example case studies 4. Research Evaluation of Determination of Fit between research 4.4 Research strategies in 5.1 How to test a sufficient strategy possible research the research strategy and specific theory-testing research; or a necessary condition strategies experi- strategy research objective 8.3 Research strategies in with a case study; ment, survey, case theory-building research; 6.1 How to test a study 10.1 Hypothesis-testing deterministic relation with a research practice-oriented case study; research; 7.1 How to test a A stepwise approach for research: activities, results, quality criteria, and references to relevant chapters in this book 10.2 Hypothesis-building probabilistic relation with a research practice-oriented case study; research; 9.1 How to design and 10.3 Descriptive research conduct a theory-building practice-oriented research case study; 11.1 How to design and conduct a practice-oriented case study; 5.2, 5.4, 6.2, 7.2, 9.2, 11.2, 11.4 Example case studies; 5.3, 5.5, 6.3, 7.3, 9.3, 11.3, 11.5 Methodological reflections on example case studies 5. Selection of Evaluation of Selection of the Fit between research 4.4 Research strategies in 5.1 How to test a sufficient instances possible instances instances objective and theory-testing research; or a necessary condition of the object of selection of instances 8.3 Research strategies in with a case study; study theory-building research; 6.1 How to test a 10.1 Hypothesis-testing deterministic relation with research practice-oriented a case study; research; 7.1 How to test a 10.2 Hypothesis-building probabilistic relation with a research practice-oriented case study; research; 9.1 How to design and 10.3 Descriptive research conduct a theory-building practice-oriented research case study; 11.1 How to design and conduct a practice-oriented case study; 5.2, 5.4, 6.2, 7.2, 9.2, 11.2, 11.4 Example case studies; 5.3, 5.5, 6.3, 7.3, 9.3, 11.3, 11.5 Methodological reflections on example case studies Continued Step Activity Result Quality criterion Chapter in this book Chapter in this book for all research strategies for case studies only 6. Measurement Evaluation of Determination of Measurement validity Appendix 1 Measurement Appendix 1 Measurement; possible data measurement and reliability 5.2, 5.4, 6.2, 7.2, 9.2, 11.2, sources, methods methods 11.4 Example case studies; for accessing data 5.3, 5.5, 6.3, 7.3, 9.3, 11.3, 11.5 sources e.g. Methodological reflections interview, on example case studies measurement instrument, observation, procedures 7. Data Statistical Formulation of Internal validity 4.4 Research strategies in 5.1 How to test a sufficient analysis analysis; or rejection theory-testing research; or a necessary condition visual inspection confirmation of 8.3 Research strategies in with a case study; “pattern proposition for theory-building research; 6.1 How to test a matching” theory-oriented 10.1 Hypothesis-testing deterministic relation with research. Formula- research practice-oriented a case study; tion of concepts research; 7.1 How to test a or rejection 10.2 Hypothesis-building probabilistic relation with a confirmation of research practice-oriented case study; hypothesis for research; 9.1 How to design and practice-oriented 10.3 Descriptive research conduct a theory-building research practice-oriented research case study; 11.1 How to design and conduct a practice-oriented case study; 5.2, 5.4, 6.2, 7.2, 9.2, 11.2, 11.4 Example case studies; 5.3, 5.5, 6.3, 7.3, 9.3, 11.3, 11.5 Methodological reflections on example case studies Continued results with study due to 8.4 Outcome and 5.3, 5.5, 6.3, 7.3, 9.3, 11.3, 11.5 experts and methodological Implications; Methodological reflections practitioners and practical 10.1 Hypothesis-testing on example case studies choices; research practice-oriented contribution of research; the study to the 10.2 Hypothesis-building research objective – researchpractice-oriented consequences of research; the results for the 10.3 Descriptive research theory, or con- practice-oriented research sequences of the results for practice for practice- oriented research; suggestions for replications in theory-oriented research; specul- ations regarding the consequences of the results for practice for theory-oriented research or speculations regarding the consequences of the results for theory for practice- oriented research 9. Report Writing and Report that Logical coherence – 5.2, 5.4, 6.2, 7.2, 9.2, 11.2, rewriting includes at least between paragraphs 11.4 Report of example the sections: and sentences case studies; Introduction, Appendix 4: Writing a case Methods, Results, study research report Discussion Although the research process is depicted here as a sequence of con- secutive steps, in practice it is an iterative process that often requires stepping back to previous phases of the research process. Also many “trade-off ” decisions must be made, for example between depth of the research and progress of the project. Then it is important to justify decisions and to estimate its consequences for the outcome of the research.

1.4.3 Glossary and flowcharts

One of the aims of this book is to define technical terms precisely and to use them in a consistent way. We refer to the glossary in Appendix 5 for an overview of these terms. In order to keep track of the steps that are needed for designing and conducting different types of research we present flowcharts at several places in the book. For an overview, these flowcharts are also presented in Appendix 3. Ragin, C.C. 1992, Introduction: cases of “what is a case?”, pp. 1–17 in: Ragin, C.C. and Becker, H.S. eds 1992, What is a case? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Yin, R.K. 1984, Case study research: design and methods. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage. Yin, R.K. 1994, Case study research: design and methods 2nd, revised edn. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage. Yin, R.K. 2003, Case study research: design and methods 3rd, revised edn. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage.

1.5 References

A review of case studies in business research Raf Jans and Koen Dittrich The aim of this chapter is to provide a background to this book’s approach to case study research. We want ■ to find out how common the case study is in business research and in which scientific journals case studies are published and to describe the types of case studies that were published in a variety of business research areas in the period 2000–2005; and ■ to review how the aims, strengths, weaknesses, and require- ments of case study research have been discussed in those scientific journals. In this chapter we review studies that are presented as case studies by their authors and the journals in which they were published. We have accepted the definition of “case study” as used in these publications which differ considerably, and have not used our own definition of the case study. This implies that publications of research that could be considered case study research but presents itself as something else such as “ethnography” are not included, and that an unknown num- ber of publications of research that is not case study research according to our definition is included. We have limited our analysis of case study methodology in business research to five main fields; 1 Strategy, 2 Finance and Accounting Finance, 3 Marketing, 4 Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management HRM, and 5 Opera- tions and Supply Chain Management Operations. In our selection and