Methodological pluralism in case study research: an analysis of contemporary operations management and logistics research
by Lotta Hakkinen, Olli-Pekka Hilmola
International Journal of Services and Operations Management (IJSOM), Vol. 1, No. 3, 2005

Abstract: Case studies have become a widely used research strategy in both operations management and logistics. Often these two well-connected streams are seen as belonging to the same field. However, results from a literature analysis covering over 100 journal articles presented in this paper point out several methodological differences in the use of case studies between these two disciplines. Findings suggest that case study research in operations management frequently produces normative results while logistics mainly concentrates on descriptive research objectives. The latter most often applies a systems approach to examine the research object. Operations management, on the other hand, is interested in both analytical and systems aspects. Case studies in both operations management and logistics research contain a small number of cases, most often only one. Analysis results argue that significant differences exist in the use of quantitative and qualitative methods as well as inductive and deductive reasoning between the two streams.

Online publication date: Tue, 22-Mar-2005

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