Chapters 10–11: Practice-oriented research Overview of the book

This book can be read from the beginning to the end. However, it is also possible to read the book in another sequence, or to select for reading some specific topics of interest. Below we give suggestions to readers who are interested in specific topics, and readers such as stu- dents who want to use the book as a textbook for designing and con- ducting a research project.

1.4.1 Reading specific topics

Table 1.3 refers to specific topics that can be read separately from other parts of the book. Table 1.3 Suggestions for reading specific topics Topic Chapter Principles of research in general not only case study research 3, 4, 8, 10 Overview of the authors’ main ideas on case study research 1, 4 Literature review of case studies in business research 2 Case studies for theory-testing 5, 6, 7 Case studies for theory-building 9 Case studies for practice-oriented research 11 “How to” design and conduct case study research 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 9.1, 11.1 Examples of case study research 5.2, 5.4, 6.2, 7.2, 9.2, 11.2, 11.4 Methodological reflections on the examples of case study research 5.3, 5.5, 6.3, 7.3, 9.3, 11.3, 11.5

1.4 How to read this book

1.4.2 Suggestions for students

This book provides guidance for designing and conducting a case study. In Flowchart 1 all flowcharts are presented additionally in Appendix 3 we present a stepwise approach for the process of design- ing and conducting research in general, from the formulation of the first ideas about a research topic to the final reporting of its results. In this stepwise approach, three phases can be distinguished: ■ preparation phase – steps 1, 2, 3; ■ research phase – steps 4, 5, 6, 7; ■ implications and report phase: steps 8, 9. 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