The course will deal with the use of case studies as a qualitative research method. Students will be familiarized with approaches of doing case studies in business and management research, and learn about good practices of conducting and writing up case study-based research. The course will deal with this topic in a hands-on manner, walking students through each step of the research process – including research design, case sampling, data collection, data analysis, writing up the findings, and developing theoretical contributions based on them. During each class, Students will be given the opportunity to bring in issues they encounter in their own research projects. Ultimately, it is the aim of this course to teach students how to independently conduct case study research that has the potential to be published in top peer-reviewed journals in business and management. 

Topics

Session 1 and Session 2: 

What is case study research?
Getting started: case selection and data collection
Good practices for interviewing and transcribing data
Data analysis and -coding
Building theory with cases
Addressing quality criteria
Writing up and publishing case study research

Session 3:  

Team paper presentation and discussion
Q&A individual assignment

Please note that the course does not deal with case studies to evaluate technologies (e.g., use cases in Computer Science).

Upon finishing this course, the student has:

• developed an in-depth understanding of using case-studies as a research method.
• developed necessary skills to collect and analyze case-based data.
• the ability to critically reflect and discuss on existing case-study research.
• developed necessary skills to review published case-study research in business and management journals.

Examination-immanent courses (PI) have compulsory attendance. In case of absence, the lecturer is to be informed in advance via email, especially in cases of conflicting class schedules. More details on absenteeism rules will be explained in the first class.

Learning activities consist in preparatory readings, teacher's input, discussions and other activities in class, group work and a written individual assignment. The course language is English.

Active participation in class and contributions to the discussion (20%)
Team paper presentation (30%)
Individual written assignment (50%)

Course enrolment is on the basis of "first come, first served" principle. If you have registered but cannot participate in the course, please de-register via LPIS so that your spot is available to students on the waiting list. If there is a waiting list for enrolment in the course, students on the waiting list will be notified after the end of the enrolment period and will be allocated to available spots.

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