DISC 8351

Case Research Methods

Fall 1998

Rudy Hirschheim

Room: 290G Melcher

Wednesdays 10:30-1:00

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this course is to develop skills in the art of designing, undertaking, communicating, and publishing case-oriented research.

 

READINGS

Case Article Exemplars

    1. Barley, Stephen R. "Technology as an Occasion for Structuring Evidence from Observations of CT Scanners and the Social order of Radiology Departments", Administrative Science Quarterly, V31, N1, (March 1986), pp. 78-108.
    2. Cooper, R. "Information Technology Development Creativity", Working Paper, August 1998.
    3. Lacity, M. and Hirschheim, R. "Four Stories of Information Technology Insourcing", Working Paper, August 1998.
    4. Orlikowski, W. "Integrated Information Environment or Matrix of Control? The Contradictory Implications of Information Technology", Accounting, Management and Information Technologies, V1, N1, (1991), pp. 9-42.
    5. Markus, M. Lynne "Implementation Politics: Top Management Support and User Involvement", Systems, Objectives, Solutions, V1 (1981), pp. 203-215.
    6. Markus, M. Lynne "Electronic Mail as the Medium of Managerial Choice", Organizational Science, V5 (1994), pp. 502-527.

Case Method

    1. Benbasat, I; Goldstein, D; and Mead, M "The Case Research Strategy in Studies of Information Systems", MIS Quarterly, V11, N3 (Sept 1987), pp. 369-386.
    2. Eisenhardt, Kathleen M. "Building Theories from Case Study Research", Academy of Management Review, V14, N4 (1989), pp. 532-550.
    3. Lee. Allen "A Scientific Methodology for MIS Case Studies", MIS Quarterly, (March 1989), pp. 33-50.
    4. Miles, Matthew B. and Huberman, A. Michael Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook, Sage Publications, 1994.
    5. Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Second Edition, Sage Publications, 1994.
    6. King, J. and Applegate, L., "Crisis in the Case Study Crisis: Marginal Diminishing Returns to Scale in the Quantitative-Qualitative Research Debate", (1997) http://www.hbs.edu/applegate/cases/research/.

Comparing Methods

    1. Galliers, R.D. "Choosing Appropriate Information Systems Research Approaches: A Revised Taxonomy", H.E. Nissen, H.K. Klien, and R. Hirschheim (editors), Information Systems Research: Contemporary Approaches and Emergent Traditions, Elsevier Science Publishers (North Holland), 1991, pp. 327-345.
    2. Lee, A. "Integrating Positivist and Interpretive Approaches to Organizational Research," Organization Science, V2, N4, 1991, pp. 342-365.

Computer Tools

    1. Weitzman, Eban A. and Miles, Matthew, Computer Programs for Qualitative Data Analysis: A Software Sourcebook, SAGE Publications, 1995.

 

GRADING

Article Reviews /Presentations 25%

Class Participation 25%

Case Study Project 50%

 

ARTICLE REVIEWS

Each student will review 2 published articles in his or her chosen research area which employ case-methods. These reviews will be written and will also be presented to the class. One week prior to class presentation, copies of the article will be duplicated and distributed by the presenter to the rest of the class. Written reviews will be distributed to the class at the beginning of the presentation.

ARTICLE REVIEWS SHOULD INCLUDE (but not be limited to) THE FOLLOWING:

  1. Research Approach/strategy: appropriateness relative to the research question and purpose (e.g., à la Galliers and Jenkins)
  2. Research Design: appropriateness relative to the research purpose (theory building, theory testing, providing description)
  3. Validities: internal, construct, external
  4. Data Collection Methods: strengths and weaknesses
  5. Analysis: internal logic (conclusions follow from evidence, consistent), strength of argument (e.g., see Lee's rigor in case studies), clear chain of evidence, believable

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION

All students are responsible for reading, critically analyzing, and participating in discussions on every paper presented in class.

 

CASE STUDY PROJECT

Each student will write up a case (qualitative) analysis of an IT related project in an actual organization. In preparation for this analysis, one Interim Case Summary will be developed and presented. The purpose of these summaries is to help students with their analyses early on in the semester.

INTERIM CASE SUMMARIES SHOULD INCLUDE (but not be limited to) THE FOLLOWING:

1. Chosen approach: (Degree of)Theory building versus theory testing.

2. A priori theory and associated research questions.

3. Interview Schedule: Who (list of people and positions) and Why (indicate why each person is an important source based on research questions) and How far along are you.

4. Other Data Collection: What and Why and How far along are you.

5. Relevant background of industry, firm, department, etc..

6. List of interview questions and why they are relevant to your research questions.

7. Coding scheme.

8. Brief chronology of events relevant to research questions.

9. Current status of your knowledge surrounding answers to research questions.

10. Methodological Notes: How analysis has been done, problems encountered, etc.; confidence in results, suggestions for next summary (or for final paper), etc.

 

Tentative Course Schedule

Date Topic Readings

8/26 Course Overview; What is Case Research? P1-P2

9/2 Case Research Method M1-M6

9/9 Case Research Examplars C1-C2

Turn In and Discuss Critical Analysis of C1

Critical Discussion and Analysis of C2 (Randy Cooper)

9/16 Case Research Examplars (cont'd) C3-C6

Critical Discussion and Analysis of C3

Assignment to Firm/Project of Choice

9/23 At Firm

9/30 At Firm

10/7 At Firm

10/14 Interim Summaries

10/21 Paper Presentations (students)

10/28 Paper Presentations (students)

11/4 At Firm

11/11 At Firm

11/18 At Firm

11/25 Case Study Presentations

12/2 Case Study Presentations