Publication | Closed Access
Building theories from case study research
11.4K
Citations
0
References
2009
Year
Empirical Case StudyCase StudiesOrganizational CommunicationCase-based ReasoningProject ManagementManagementBusinessCase StudyEpistemologyCase Study ResearchKnowledge ManagementLogical CoherenceInformation ManagementStrategic ManagementCase AnalysisResearch QuestionsTheory BuildingTechnology Transfer
The case‑study approach shares some hypothesis‑testing features but also includes unique within‑case analysis, replication logic, and an iterative, data‑driven process that is especially suited to new topic areas. The paper outlines the inductive theory‑building process in case studies, from research question formulation to closure. The resulting theories are novel, testable, and empirically valid, and are judged by framebreaking insights, parsimony, logical coherence, and strong evidence grounding.
- This paper describes the process of inducting theory using case studies from specifying the research questions to reaching closure. Some features of the process, such as problem definition and construct validation, are similar to hypothesis-testing research. Others, such as within-case analysis and replication logic, are unique to the inductive, case-oriented process. Overall, the process described here is highly iterative and tightly linked to data. This research approach is especially appropriate in new topic areas. The resultant theory is often novel, testable, and empirically valid. Finally, framebreaking insights, the tests of good theory (e.g., parsimony, logical coherence), and convincing grounding in the evidence are the key criteria for evaluating this type of research.