Case selection Hypotheses Methodological reflection on Case Study 3

6.3.9 Data analysis

A number of 36 rank orders were generated for each retailer four tables containing three rows and six columns. Each of these 36 rank orders is inspected to see whether their order is perfect. This implies 12 tests of hypothesis 1 three rows for four dimensions of distribution costs and 24 tests of hypothesis 2 six columns for each dimension for each retailer. Both hypotheses were confirmed.

6.3.10 Implications for the theory

Case Study 3 concludes that the two hypotheses were confirmed in all cases. The implications for the theory were not discussed, apparently considering it obvious that the proposition had been proven to be true, at least for large retailers in the Netherlands. An obvious practical implication of this study’s result is that it can be taken as a fact that an increase in the number of time access windows and a decrease in window length both result in higher distribution costs, and that, for instance, organizations of retailers could use this information in discussions with local governments and with the national government regarding the economic costs of social sustainability measures.

6.3.11 Replication strategy

Case Study 3 gives no suggestions for further replications. For the devel- opment of theory, it would be important to know to which types of retailers the proposition is applicable and to which types it is not. For instance, would the proposition be true for retailers with a system of multiple, decentralized distribution centres? Or would it be true for retailers in other countries? Hence, a replication in other countries with other types of distribution system would help to develop the theory further.

6.4 References

Allen, J., Browne, M., Tanner, G., Anderson, S., Chrisodoulou, G., and Jones, P. 2004, Analysing the potential impacts of sustainable dis- tribution measures in UK urban areas, pp. 251–262, in: Taniguchi, E. and Thompson, R.G. eds, Logistics systems for sus- tainable cities. Amsterdam: Elsevier.