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already known. Neumann (1997) asserts that case study research examines
very many features of a few cases in depth over a given time frame. The
author contends that cases to be examined may include individuals, groups,
organisations, movements, events, or geographic units. An interesting
definition by the Colorado State University (Writing@CSU: 1997-2004)
asserts that as a form of qualitative descriptive research, a case study refers
to the collection and presentation of detailed information about a particular
participant or small group, frequently including the accounts of subjects.
CSU also confirm that case study research looks intensely at an individual or
a small participant pool from which it draws conclusions. According to CSU,
researchers in case study research do not look for cause-effect relationships,
instead placing emphasis on exploration and description. CSU cite varying
types of case studies, namely: illustrative case studies, which primarily serve
to make the unfamiliar familiar and proVide readers with a common
language with which to view the topic in question; exploratory or pilot case
studies, which help in identifying questions and selecting the types of
measurement prior to the main investigation; cumulative case studies, which
serve to aggregate information from several sites collected at different
times; and critical instance case studies, which call into question or
challenge a highly generalised or universal assertion.
6.12.2. Critical success factors (CSF)
The critical success factor method was also applied in order to collect and
present descriptive information about rural community women and their use
of ICTs in Kenya. According to the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering
Institute (SEI: 2004), CSFs are an explicit representation of the key
performance areas of an organization. The institute further contends that
CSFs define those sustaining activities that an organization must perform
well in over time in order to accomplish its mission. Rockhart (1979) further
strengthens this definition by providing a useful summary of CSFs, which
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