ME-613 Qualitative Research Methods: The case study in International Business and Organization studies (Spring 2025)

On successful completion of the course the student should be able to:

• evaluate what qualifies as a case study
• interpret the case study methodology in relation to other qualitative methods and approaches
• appraise differences between a positivist and an alternative case study
• evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different data sources
• appraise different options for mixing qualitative and quantitative data and analysis
• justify the use of coding and other analytical strategies (including computer-aided qualitative data analysis)
• evaluate theorizing purposes for the case study beyond that of theory building
• review methodology sections in article manuscripts with greater confidence

The purpose of this advanced methods course is to introduce doctoral students to the diversity of ways of conducting qualitative case study research and to improve their own research practice. This is ‘two courses in one’ as the implications of philosophy of science for qualitative case study research are also covered. The course aims to provide an overview of recent trends and debates on the case study in International Business (IB) and organization studies. This course will focus on issues that are often left out of methodology courses and training, notably: What are the different views on the theoretical contribution that a case study can make, and what lies behind these differences? As researchers, how can we theorize from case studies? How do ontological and epistemological assumptions affect views about case study quality and design? What is the ‘disciplinary convention’ regarding the case study in your own field of research, and why does it matter? What are your options when writing up your case study for publication? What are the current trends in case research in top management journals? What can management researchers learn from case study trends in other fields, such as political science? As a case researcher, how can you best defend your methodological choices? Detailed lecture notes and handouts will be provided and examples from top journals will be collectively analyzed by course participants.

This course has a strong focus on the process and practice of conducting case studies, which necessitates interaction with fellow students and faculty. The course is intended for doctoral students who conduct or at least are considering whether to conduct qualitative case study research and who have already passed an introductory research methods course. After this course, students will be able to evaluate case research with greater confidence, enhance their own case study design, and better justify their methodological choices.

Lectures, seminars and class discussion

Student workload (135 hours):
Lectures/seminars (5 full and intensive days): 30 hours
Pre-assignment: 15 hours
Preparing for lectures and general reading: 30 hours
Writing up course paper: 60 hours

1. Pre-assignment: please find and bring to the first seminar on Day 1 a case study-based article that you admire from an academic journal in your field. Be prepared to discuss

   1. on what basis you decided this was a case study and
   2. why you think this is a quality piece of research.
2. Active participation in class
3. Analysis of PhD thesis: You will analyse and present in teams a case-study based PhD thesis. The purpose of this assignment is to reflect upon the seminar’s themes and apply your understanding of key methodological issues to the analysis of the PhD thesis. Formation of teams and the schedule for presentations will be decided upon during the first week. Each team will be able to choose a thesis to analyse.

Individual written analysis of the philosophical underpinnings and methodological choices of a qualitative article published in a top management journal (8-10 pages double-spaced). The article will be given by the lecturer in the first class.

Pass/Fail - where Pass must be equivalent to the letter grade B or better.