Northern Advanced Research Training Initiative (NARTI)

A Workshop on: “Advances in case study research –

Ten things to know about doing case study

research in organizations”

with Professor Tony Hines

Wednesday 9th December 2015

Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

Room: Council Chamber, Ormond Building

This interactive workshop is designed for researchers already doing or considering case research as a strategy. It will dispel some myths about case study research and it will demonstrate how case research is a robust and rigorous approach to generate knowledge in management disciplines.

Delegates will have opportunities to discuss their own case design and ask questions about adopting case strategies. It will cover the following:-

  1. Types of case study research: what is the purpose of a case study? For example, is the intention verificationor theory building?
  2. Planning case designs and how these fit with the types of knowledge you want to generate.What are the criteria for judging quality?
  3. Is it possible to combine methods within a case design? Ontological and epistemological considerations.
  4. What are thedifferent data sources to inform case study research? For example, qualitative and/or quantitative data and there is also growing interest in using visual data in addition to documents, archival records, interviews, direct/participant observations and artefacts.
  5. How do I choose an appropriate sampling strategy? Single or multiple cases, purposive, theoretical or representative sampling?
  6. Doing case research – what does it involve? How can I ensure rigour? What are the benefits? What are the risks? How long does it take?
  7. How does a case design limit knowledge claims? Is case research generalizable? How does it contribute to our knowledge/understanding of management practice? How can case research build theory? We will consider a philosophical justification for choices we make.
  8. How do I analyze case evidence? Ensuring that there is a chain of evidence to justify claims. Some practical suggestions will be offered to delegates, linear analytic, comparative, multiple, chronology, and theory-building amongst them.
  9. How do I write the case report? Writing the case report: chronology, how to structure the evidence and develop the narrative.
  10. How can I ensure that my case research is rigorous, relevant and will make a desired contribution to knowledge for my PhD? Think like a lawyer! Examples of rigorous case study research in different management and business disciplines and the contributions to knowledge they have made will be cited as examples.

Delegates may want to prepare for the workshop by reading at least one article in their discipline/field of interest, where a case study was the approach/method adopted. The purpose of this reading is to assess strengths and weaknesses of the approach in the paper.

Workshop Programme

10.00 / Arrival and Coffee
10.15 / Introduction to case research strategies. (1,2,3&4)
11.30 / Discussion of common criticisms, how to overcome them and how to justify your approach – small groups (5,6,&7)
12.15 / Lunch
13.15 / Participants’ Research Strategies - Short presentations and discussion of participants’ empirical case research emphasising how strategies may be strengthened and justified (8 & 9)
14.45 / Coffee
15.00 / Participants’ Research and possible contributions to knowledge adopting case strategies (10)
15.45 / Summary
16.00 / Close

How to register for the workshop:

Please complete the online booking form at:

Places are limited and will be confirmed as soon as possible. Please do not book your place unless you can commit to attend. Please do not make any arrangements for travel/accommodation until your place has been confirmed. As NARTI covers the cost of the event it is expected that participants cover the cost of their travel and any accommodation required.

How to get to the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School –All Saints, Oxford Road Campus:

(Ormond Building is number 8 on the campus map)

Any questions, please contact Jo Garrick at