In this chapter the research strategy is accounted for, and the context specifications and content clarifications is explained.
3.2.1 Research strategy
Qualitative research comprises several research strategies, including pragmatic qualitative research, grounded theory, case studies, phenomenology, ethnography, action research, narrative approaches, art-based approaches, collaborative approaches, and evaluation (Savin-Baden &
Major, 2013). In this thesis case study has been chosen as the most appropriate research strategy, as explained in the following section.
Case study as research strategy
In the introductory chapter the background and our motivation for undertaken this study are presented, as well as the research question. Based on this, the unit for data collection and analysis is organizations that develop and/or produces CoPS, with emphasis on the engineering phase in projects. Case studies are usually used when the unit of analysis is an individual, a group, or an organization. Further, the research question often starts with “how” or “why”. As the unit of analysis in this thesis is organizations, and as the research question starts with the word “how”, it is regarded appropriate to choose case study as research strategy. Using case study as research strategy requires that the researchers have no control of behavioral events, and that it is focused on contemporary occurrences. In addition, the context of the phenomenon of study is significant and there are usually multiple variables and sources of evidence (Yin, 2014). In this thesis contemporary events are under focus, and the authors have no control of behavioral events.
Additionally, the context in which the phenomenon is studied is significant and the case is complex with several variables. This underpins our decision to use case study as research strategy.
Yin (2014) argue that conducting case study research is a linear, but iterative process, as illustrated in the figure below. This process is used as a base during the execution of this case study.
36 Figure 3, Case study research process (Yin, 2014)
There are a number of advantages with case study research. It is flexible, it allows for depth of investigation, it is thorough, responsive, and it has a wide appeal. There also several challenges associated with case study research. Walker (1983) suggests the following three concerns: Case study research can be viewed as an invasive intrusion in subjects’ lives, it can lead to a simplistic and incorrect world view, and it is an approach through which it is possible to harm those who are constantly changing practices. Savin-Baden and Major (2013) adds three concerns to Walker’s (1983) list: The dependence on a single case, the boundedness of a case, and the eclectic nature of case studies. These concerns may be actual, but there is a huge difference between researchers’ views on case study research concerns. As an example, Flyvbjerg (2006) addresses and correct five misunderstanding about case study research. We are of the opinion that there are weaknesses associated with performing a case study research, but that it all comes down to what the purpose of the study actually is. In this particular study, we are of the opinion that case study research is the appropriate choice as our goal is to gain knowledge of how LPD and KM is used in the organizations under study.
37 3.2.2 Context specifications and case clarifications
As this study is a master thesis, we were provided with a strict time limit of approximately four and a half months to complete it. This is an important limitation that must be accounted for.
Further, as we attempt to gain knowledge and understanding regarding how organizations use LPD and KM during engineering of CoPS in projects, we consider the engineering phase, and everything associated with it, as part of the case. The remaining project phases, as well as the rest of the organization, are not included in the case.
Yin (2014) presents four different case study designs: 1) Holistic (single-unit of analysis) single case design, 2) Embedded (multiple units of analysis) single case design, 3) Holistic multiple-case designs, and 4) Embedded multiple-multiple-case design. Single multiple-cases offer the opportunity to provide an in-depth analysis and are appropriate to use when exploring critical, unusual,
revelatory, typical, or longitudinal cases. On the other hand, multiple cases offer the opportunity to replicate the study (Yin, 2014; Savin-Baden & Major, 2013).
Due to several aspects, a holistic multiple-case design was chosen for this thesis. Generally, evidence from multiple cases are often considered more compelling, which makes the overall study considered more robust (Yin, 2014; Savin-Baden & Major, 2013). Due to the research question presented in this thesis, we considered it useful to have several cases, instead of a single case, in order to create more width. As KM and LPD are terms and theories which are affected by the way individuals perceive them, it is reasonable to believe that the use of KM an LPD will differ in some extent between different organization. This can be due to organizational structure, culture, and individuals involved. The goal of this thesis is to gain an understanding of how LPD and KM may be used in practice. This can be done by conducting a single case study. However, that will only generate knowledge about how that particular organization makes use of these concepts Conducting a multiple case study creates the opportunity to gain knowledge about how several organizations make use of LPD and KM, which will generate a broader contribution to the existing theory. A multiple case study usually requires more time and resources compared to a single case study (Yin, 2014; Savin-Baden & Major, 2013). This made it difficult to include several cases in this study, as we had limited resources and a strict timeframe. With this in mind, we chose to conduct our research on two different organizations which operate in two different
38 industries. In other words, this thesis includes two separate cases, on which the same case study is conducted.
When conducting case study research, the cases are selected based on their relevance to the area of research (Eisenhardt, 1989). The goal is to choose cases that most likely will generate
knowledge about the phenomenon under study. In this thesis, we wanted to examine
organizations that develop and/or produce CoPS. Hence, this was the main criteria when we discussed which organizations to contact. It was also vital that the organizations were familiar with, and used KM and LPD to some extent, that they were approximately the same size, and with somewhat comparable project structures. As our aim was to examine how LPD and KM were used during the engineering phase in projects, we were dependent on project-based
organizations which conduct some engineering of products or systems in order to satisfy specific customer needs. Both case study organizations in this study develop and produces CoPS. Further, they both, to some extent, customize these CoPS during engineering in projects.