In defence of the case study methodology for research into strategy practice

Abstract

In defence of the case study methodology for research into strategy practice RESEARCH CONTEXT AND BACKGROUNDThe objective of the wider study was to answer the research question 'How is strategic information systems planning (SISP) practised by senior managers?' The research involves investigating the practice of SISP by senior managers set in a public service context, thus answering enduring calls for studies into information systems (IS) strategising behaviour within organisations located in a public service context (Rocheleau, 2007;Rubin, 1986). An effective IS strategy is recognised as contributing to improved firm performance (Leidner et al., 2011;Ravichandran and Lertwongsatien, 2005), as well as being a key enabler of business strategy (Preston and Karahanna, 2006). IS strategy has been a significant concern for practice, dominating management agendas in recent decades (Teubner, 2013) and becoming integral to business positioning and processes (Stace et al., 2012).The specific purpose of this article is to elucidate the methodological approach employed to achieve the wider study's goal. The strategy-as-practice (SAP) and SISP literature sets are the two core strands of literature informing the research question as posed. Each literature set has made a unique contribution to the formulation and execution of the chosen research design. THE REVIEWED LITERATUREAn overview of each domain of literature now follows, with particular emphasis upon the core constructs that informed the approach to enquiry. The SAP domainVaara and Whittington (2012) trace the origins of the wider practice perspective back to the works of Wittgenstein (1951) and Heidegger (1962). Wittgenstein is viewed as having the most significant influence upon the placement of the practical dimension of philosophy front and centre of philosophical debate in modern times (Deslandes, 2011 Abstract: This paper aims to illustrate how the case study methodology may be used in novel and productive ways for research into strategy practice. Instigated by the quest for a research design that could target the 'practice' of strategic information systems planning (SISP), a review of the strategy-as-practice (SAP) literature uncovered parallels with the SISP domain from a methodological standpoint. A SAP perspective was employed in conjunction with the case study methodology to investigate SISP (the strategy practice) on the part of senior managers (the practitioners) at the meso level (the level of praxis). Ultimately, this approach was found to offer original insights and uncover valuable new directions for future academic enquiry.

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“…Most scholars have been able to align on the boundaries of a phenomenon, the need for contextualizing the case, and the importance of a paradigm and framework. They also agree that rich, varietal data and careful, inductive analysis add to the rigor of the procedure (Easton, 2007;Hughes & McDonagh, 2017;Noor, 2008;Poulis et al, 2013;Tsang, 2013;Welch et al, 2009).…”

“…As case study gained popularity as a qualitative research method in the 1980's and beyond, many researchers attempted to put consistent standards around its design so that the academic world would accept its validity. Most researchers agreed in general with Yin, Stake, and Merriam's perspectives that case studies focus on a specific event, bound by criteria such as time and space (Easton, 2007;Hughes & McDonagh, 2017;Noor, 2008;Poulis, Poulis, & Playkoyiannaki, 2013;Tsang, 2013;Welch et al, 2009). Moreover, they also assented that case study should be rooted in a research paradigm, shaped by a framework, and outline the context of the case (Easton, 2007;Hughes & McDonagh, 2017;Noor, 2008;Poulis et al, 2013;Tsang, 2013;Welch et al, 2009).…”

“…Moreover, they also assented that case study should be rooted in a research paradigm, shaped by a framework, and outline the context of the case (Easton, 2007;Hughes & McDonagh, 2017;Noor, 2008;Poulis et al, 2013;Tsang, 2013;Welch et al, 2009). Finally, there was alignment amongst researchers that the value of case study was the ability to capture multiple data sources to get thick descriptions and rich detail to describe their phenomena through inductive analysis (Easton, 2007;Hughes & McDonagh, 2017;Noor, 2008;Poulis et al, 2013;Tsang, 2013;Welch et al, 2009).…”

“…For example, Noor (2008) took a strong stance on a positivist paradigm and used Yin's scientific approach to shaping his multi-site case study in Malaysia, whereas Hughes and McDonagh (2017) took a constructivist approach channeling Stake in their research of Irish information technology firms. Both used multi-case sites to enrich their data and strengthen particulars to avoid generalizing (Hughes & McDonagh, 2017;Noor, 2008).…”

“…For example, Noor (2008) took a strong stance on a positivist paradigm and used Yin's scientific approach to shaping his multi-site case study in Malaysia, whereas Hughes and McDonagh (2017) took a constructivist approach channeling Stake in their research of Irish information technology firms. Both used multi-case sites to enrich their data and strengthen particulars to avoid generalizing (Hughes & McDonagh, 2017;Noor, 2008). Easton (2009) offered a new perspective by applying critical realism as a paradigm, asserting that true reality exists in addition to co-created realities, and thus both should be explored in a case study to avoid generalization from the researcher's bias.…”