Case Studies

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Case Studies
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Case studies

• To give unique understanding rather than form
  generalisations
• Used for hypothesis development and the evolution
  of research questions
• Prelude to a larger cross sectional study
• Provide a flavour in the form of vignettes

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Four categories

• To explain the causal links in real-life
  interventions often too complex for more
  general approaches
• To describe the context around the intervention
• Illustrative to give examples to others
• To evaluate and intervention or practice

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Case study types

• Cases of individuals
• Company
• Supply chain
• Customers
• Market

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Benchmarking

• To compare with theory
• To compare with best in class
• Must establish measurement criteria

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Methods

• Multiple methods are used and multiple sources of
  evidence
• Observation
• Secondary data
• Interviews
• Internal surveys

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Problems

• Hard to generalise so what is the value of case
  studies too particular!
• Hard to avoid researcher bias often a
  participant
• Hard to avoid unrepresentative subjects

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Structure of a case study

• Context/background a rich description of what
  is going on.
• Compare rich description with theory
• Validate analyse secondary sources company
  annual reports etc.
• Find out reasons interviews with key
  participants
• Find out effects wider survey
• Conclusions and evaluation

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Lashley Statnikova 2003
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Eisenhardt Theory Building
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Essential References

• Eisenhardt K. M., 1989. Building Theories From
  Case Study Research, Academy of Management. The
  Academy of Management Review 14, 4 532-550.
  Available at
• http//pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/sillito/cpsc-601.23
  /readings/eisenhardt-1989.pdf
• Yin R. K. 2003. Case study research, design and
  methods London Sage Publications
• Meredith, J. 1998, Building operations management
  theory through case and field research, Journal
  of Operations Management, 16, 4, 441 454.
• Lashley, K. and Statnikova, K. 2003. Qualitative
  Research Case Study,
• http//www2.owen.vanderbilt.edu/david.dilts/Mgt676
  _Research_Methods/12_Case_Studies.ppt
• Stam E. 2008, Case Study Research, University of
  Cambridge,
• http//www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/resmeth/slides/08case
  _study_research_cam.ppt
• Tzortzopoulos P. 2008. Case Study Research, 8th
  BuHu Conference 27th June 2008.
• http//www.ipgrc.buhu.salford.ac.uk/2008/docs/Case
  20study20research_Patricia.ppt