Case study:

Case study is used to research few objects for numerous considerations. A case study is an empirical study that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context when the boundaries between the phenomenon and context are not clearly evident and are used multiple sources of evidence. An important advantage with case study research is the opportunity for a holistic view of a process (Gummesson, 1991). That is to enable the researcher to study many different aspects, examine them in relation to each other, view the process within its total environment and also utilise the researcher’s theoretical knowledge and understanding. The case studies are the preferred strategy when
(1) “how” or “why” questions are being posed,
(2) when the investigator has little control over events and
(3) when the focus is on a contemporary phenomenon within some real life context (Yin, 1994).
Sources to a case study are not limited to qualitative research, quantitative methods could be used as well (Yin, 1994). The nature of a case study could also be of either quantitative or qualitative nature. A quantitative case study tests a theory while a qualitative case study creates theories (Merriam, 1994). Main sources of information in the case studies should be documentation (research papers, books, manuals, internal reports etc), interviews (with technical and management personnel) and direct observations (industrial studies).