MTT065F

Temporary

Case Study Analysis for SCM/OM Research

7.5

Third-cycle course

7311 (Department of Machine Technology / Engineering Logistics)

2024-12-18

Anders Gustafsson - FUN

English

If sufficient demand

To provide PhD students with knowledge and understanding of how to conduct qualitative analysis relating to case study research, especially in the domain of supply chain management (SCM) and operation management (OM) research. While case study design will be initially discussed, focus is on case study analysis as that has shown to be both the most cumbersome part of case study research, as well as the part being less transparent described and reflected on in articles based on case study research in our domain.
The course has the following objectives:
to increase understanding of the importance and challenges with the analysis part (or lack of analysis) of case study research.
to increase understanding of the importance of planning case study researchanalysis and how this corresponds to different kinds of case study researchapproaches.
to inspire with different ways of coding qualitative data, displaying the data, and making sense and theorizing from the data.
to provide classic articles that often are referred to in the SCM/OM domain when it comes to case study research, supporting students to better describe and motivate different choices they should be able to elaborate on.
to facilitate students to start describing and reflecting on their planned or performed case study researchanalysis.
to develop students to be able to reflect and describe how and why the analyzed their case studies as they did, using terminology aligned with their case study research approach.

The course is based on an introductory lecture and a seminar series that will include the following: (i) Introduction of case study research, including approaches often used in SCM/OM; (ii) Important aspects of case study research design and qualitative analysis; (iii) Data coding; (iii) Data display; (iv) Data sensemaking and theorizing; (v) case study research writing; (vi) Presentation of individual case study research analysis plan.
The students will also examine and compare different articles, both related to methodology of case study research, and especially reflecting on 3 different SCM/OM-articles each that reports on case study research.

For a passing grade the doctoral student must
understand what kind of choices that are expected to be discussed when publishing case study research in the SCM/OM domain.
understand and be able to reflect upon the “quality/trustworthiness” requirements of a case study research design within their specific field - and how different case study research approaches compare on specific elements in requirements.
demonstrate improved ability to reflect on case study research and its analysis related to different kinds of case study research approaches.
demonstrate increased knowledge about case study research analysis especially related to coding, display, sensemaking and theorizing based on qualitative data.

For a passing grade the doctoral student must
be able to review and discuss case study research in SCM/OM in terms of strengths and weaknesses related to design, coding, display, sensemaking, and theorizing.
be able to plan, and describe how they plan, to perform case study research analysis.

For a passing grade the doctoral student must be able to critically evaluate journal articles that applied case study research analysis, and be able to present their findings both orally in group and in written format.

Lectures

Seminars

Exercises

Self-study literature review

The course will have an interactive design. Thus, the doctoral students are expected to be prepared, engaged and willing to explore and discuss a variety of approaches to case study research analysis. Student will also present the take-away of the assigned reading for each seminar, as well as stepwise reflect on their own research and start plan analysis.
The course is based on an introductory lecture and a seminar series.
The students will also examine and compare different articles, both related to methodology of case study research, and especially reflecting on 3 different SCM/OM-articles each that reports on case study research.

Written report

Written assignments

Seminars given by participants

Mandatory participation at seminars. Presentation of participants (including written documentation as PPT), seminars given by participants (summarizing book chapters, including written documentation as PPT). Final written report (describing and motivating their planned qualitative analysis.

Failed, pass

Any introductionary doctoral course in Methodology, Research methods, or Qualitative Research methods.

Knowledge in Supply chain management/Operations management or related fields such as Production, Marketing, Risk management etc

First students enrolled as doctoral students in Supply chain management/Operations management/Industrial Enginnering. Second students in related areas such as Production, Marketing, Risk management etc
Third, other students working with case study research, especiallt multiple case studies.
If needed, students will be prioritized (within the prioritization groups) based on if they are active in case study research.

Qualitative Data Analysis. A Method sourcebook.

This is the main textbook in the course.
For many of the models there are also articles to read, in total about 20.

The course can be given about every second or third year, given that there are at least 2 doctoral students from the Division of Engineering logistics and at least 5 students in total.
Maximum number of students are 12.

MTT065F

2024-12-18

Anders Gustafsson - FUN