Systematic combining: an abductive approach to case research

doi:10.1016/S0148-2963(00)00195-8

Journal of Business Research

Volume 55, Issue 7, July 2002, Pages 553-560

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-2963(00)00195-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

Case studies are frequently used in industrial network research. In this article, we discuss the difficulties and opportunities characterizing the case study approach. In particular, we deal with single case research aiming at theory development. For this purpose, we suggest an approach based on ‘systematic combining’ grounded in an ‘abductive’ logic.

Section snippets

Prologue

Once upon a time, a researcher became interested in studying the outsourcing processes that was ongoing in industry. Contacts were established with a truck manufacturer that planned to make use of ‘system suppliers’ for subassembly operations. The objective of the study was to analyze the processes among the firms involved when changing from component purchasing to system sourcing. The company's intention was to outsource a number of the systems needed in a new truck model. Interviews were

Case studies — appropriate and problematic

The case study approach has not always been recognized as a proper scientific method. The main arguments against it have been that case studies provide little basis for scientific generalization (Yin, 1994). For example, Weick (1969, p. 18) expresses the opinion that case studies are too situation-specific and, therefore, not appropriate for generalization. In the second edition of the same book, however, he concludes, with reference to ‘noted investigators’, that case studies “are better tools

Systematic combining

Case studies provide unique means of developing theory by utilizing in-depth insights of empirical phenomena and their contexts. Most textbooks on research methodology fail to take account of the opportunities offered by an intertwined research process enabled by case research. They tend to describe case studies as a linear process — similar to other research methods, which have been developed for other purposes and for studies in other contexts. An understanding of the characteristics and

Matching

Systematic combining can be described as a nonlinear, path-dependent process of combining efforts with the ultimate objective of matching theory and reality. One striking feature regarding how to build theory from case studies in general is that of “frequent overlap of data analysis with data collection” (Eisenhardt, 1989). Strauss and Corbin (1990) illustrate what we label the systematic combining efforts of the researcher as a constant move “between asking questions, generating hypotheses,

Direction and redirection

Direction and redirection of the study is an important feature for achieving matching. The influences of theory on this process will be dealt with in the next section. Here, we bring up the impact of different sources of data and methods of data collection. According to Yin (1994), multiple sources allow the investigator to address a broader range of historical, attitudinal, and behavioral issues. Furthermore, Yin (p. 92) argues that any finding or conclusion in a case study is likely to be

The boundaries in the empirical world

Open system studies are complicated by the fact that reality needs somehow to be delimited. The problem is that, in the empirical world to which our studies apply, there are no natural boundaries. Studies dealing with structures, like our example, are concerned with what actors, activities, and resources to include and which interdependencies to consider. Any expansion of these boundaries provides potential discoveries of new interdependencies within the structure. New insights may bring up new

The role of the framework

The analytical framework is of great importance in the systematic combining process. Miles and Huberman (1994) distinguish between two types of frameworks. One is classified as tight and prestructured — the other as loose and emergent. Each has its pros and cons, according to the authors. Too much prior structuring of the study might “blind the researcher to important features in the case or cause misreading of local informants' perceptions” (ibid., p. 16). On the other hand, they fear that a

The evolving case

One important consequence of systematic combining is that the case evolving during a study can be regarded as a ‘tool’, as well as a ‘product’. The design of a case study, thus, becomes a matter of how to sharpen this ‘tool’ since this will be decisive of the final case, which is a ‘product’ that cannot be planned in advance. It is of great importance to the combining process to make the evolving case a platform for discussions with other researchers. As a ‘tool’ for this purpose, the empirical

The role of theory

Strauss and Corbin (1990) discuss the use of theory extensively. They conclude that the roles of theory and literature in theory-generating studies are very different from confirmatory studies. For investigations dealing with confirmation of theory, the literature enables the user to identify previous research in an area, as well as to discover black holes or white spots in it. Literature may also propose theoretical and conceptual frameworks. Furthermore, literature helps the researcher to

Epilogue

In this concluding section, two things are discussed. First, systematic combining is positioned in relation to induction and deduction. Second, issues in determining the appropriateness of case research are brought up.

Deductive approaches are concerned with developing propositions from current theory and make them testable in the real world. Inductive approaches, on the other hand, rely on ‘grounded theory’ (e.g., Glaser and Strauss, 1967) where theory is systematically generated from data. One

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Systematic combining: an abductive approach to case research

Abstract

Section snippets

Prologue

Case studies — appropriate and problematic

Systematic combining

Matching

Direction and redirection

The boundaries in the empirical world

The role of the framework

The evolving case

The role of theory

Epilogue

What is wrong with social theory

Am Sociol Rev

Issue-based nets: a methodological approach to the sampling issue in industrial networks research

Quantity and quality in social research

History and social theory

Beyond the two disciplines of scientific psychology

Am Psychol

The logic of naturalistic inquiry

Organising industrial activities — an analytical framework

Case studies in business market research

Case research as a methodology for industrial networks: a realist apologia

Building theories from case study research

Acad Manage Rev

Theoretical sensibility

The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research