essential-guide-to-qualitative-in-organizational-research

26 –––– Case Study Research ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Jean Hartley*Case studies are widely used in organizational studies and across the social sciences, for example,in sociology, organizational psychology, anthropology, employment relations, political science.There is some suggestion that the case study method is increasingly being used (for example,Yin, 1994; Robson, 2002), and a number of publications examine the approach (for example,Yin, 1994; Stake, 1995; Eisenhardt, 1989; Abrahamson, 1992; Hamel, 1993). There is growingconfidence in the case study as a rigorous research strategy in its own right.Case studies can be theoretically exciting and data rich so it is important to analyse theirstrengths and weaknesses as well as provide a practical guide on how to conduct and managethem. This chapter examines what case studies are, the circumstances in which they are mostvaluable, the design of case studies and the relation of method to theory.WHAT IS A CASE STUDY? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Case study research consists of a detailed investigation, often with data collected over a periodof time, of phenomena, within their context. The aim is to provide an analysis of the contextand processes which illuminate the theoretical issues being studied. The phenomenon is notisolated from its context (as in, say, laboratory research) but is of interest precisely because theaim is to understand how behaviour and/or processes are influenced by, and influence context.There is an increasing interest in understanding context (for example, Rousseau and Fried,2001) as an explanatory factor in organizational behaviour. A number of methods can be usedto address this, but case studies are a key way. The case study is particularly suited to researchquestions which require detailed understanding of social or organizational processes becauseof the rich data collected in context. In organizational research, the case study is likely to beone or more organizations, or groups and individuals operating within or around theorganization (for example, particular departments, types of employee, customers or clients).Case studies can focus on other levels of analysis, from public policy (for example, Allison’s1971 study of the Cuban missile crisis) to individual psychodynamics (for example, Freud’sfamous studies; Bromley, 1986). The overall approach is similar – generally inductive analysisfocusing on processes in their social context. Yin (1994) adds the use of multiple methods aspart of the definition of case study research. In this chapter, I focus on the use of case studiesin organizational (and inter-organizational) research.A case study is not a method but a research strategy. The context is deliberately part of the* Jean Hartley would like to acknowledge the support of the ESRC/EPSRC Advanced Institute ofManagement Research under grant number Res–331–25–008 for this research.