Case Study: Focused Approach

3.3.4.1. Definitions and use of the Case Study

Yin (2009) provided a definition of a case study as “an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon in depth and within its real-life context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident” (P.18). Yin also added that such an approach has the strength to assist researchers in investigating an elaborate phenomenon in a natural setting. Yin (2009) also noted that a case study approach should be used when questions such as “how” and “why” are being asked and that it is preferable to use this approach to answer questions about a contemporary set of events over which the researcher has no control.

Denscombe (2010) argued that the case study helps a researcher to examine the studied phenomena or real-life situations. It also allows the researcher to gain an in-depth picture of

the relationships and processes within the phenomenon. Therefore, a case study is more common in qualitative studies than in quantitative studies. From a different perspective, Huberman and Miles (2002) provided a broader benefit in that the case study approach allows the combination of both quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (interviews and documents) data to serve different purposes and to accomplish different aims.

3.3.4.2. The Design of the Case Study and the Unit of Analysis

Yin (2009) stated that it is vital that the case study design is identified before carrying out the research making sure that the selection takes on board the aim of the research and the questions. Identifying the design for the case study will allow a researcher to collect data accurately and make sense of the findings and of the link between them and the collected data. According to Yin (2009), the design can be: (1) single-case design, (2) multiple-case design. In terms of a single design the focus of the research will be on one case in order to confirm critical issues or to investigate a new and unique case. On the other hand, a multiple- case study allows a researcher to examine the phenomenon in more than one case and the possibility of comparing between the case study findings would be greater than that which a researcher can achieve in a one case design.

A single case study has been used for this study. According to Yin (2014), single case study can be used when investigating a critical, unusual, common, revelatory and longitudinal case. As FIDIC conditions of contracts are the mostly being used form of contract within the Middle East region, it is considered as a critical case for this study. According to Siggelkow (2007) and Farquhar (2012), a single case study is capable of covering a greater depth on understanding a phenomenon and is, therefore, appropriate for this study.

In terms of the unit of analysis, Ragin & Becker (1992) stated that the most critical component relates to the fundamental problem of defining what the “case” is that forms the unit of analysis. According to Yin (2009), the definition of the unit of analysis relates to the way in which a researcher has defined the initial research questions. In this research the unit of analysis is considered as “the large modifications introduced to standard conditions of contract”.

3.3.4.3. The Selection of the Respondents

According to Yin (2009), cases should be selected bearing in mind the purpose of the research. The aim of the study is to investigate the modifications introduced to the most commonly used Standard Conditions of Contract form in the construction industry within the

Middle East region to improve construction management performance; therefore the focus is on the large modification introduced to the standard contractual form with the boundary of the case study being the standard contractual form.

This research considers major stakeholders in the construction industry within the Middle East region. Also, this research considers all perspectives within any construction project to be represented by considering contractors, designers, project managers, and lawyers’ points of view. Concerning the responders to be considered, this research covered the three largest Middle Eastern contractors, the two largest engineering consultancy firms, one of the largest project management consultancy services company, and one of the largest dispute and conflict resolution legal firms in the Middle East all have been in the field of construction for more than half a decade. The above seven organizations have a weighty presence within the construction industry in the Middle East and the data obtained from them was representative and reflected accurately the industry’s perspective.

3.3.4.4. The Position of this Study

Since the main focus of the research is on the modifications being introduced to the Standard conditions of contract clauses, which represent a particular contemporary phenomenon as discussed earlier, the large modifications being introduced to the standard form of contract sub-clauses is the core of the case study. The same was investigated with the seven organizations participating in this study. Figure 8 provide details about the case study parameters.

Figure 8: Case Study Parameters Organization 7 Organization 6 Organization 5 Organization 4 Organization3 Organization 2 Organization 1 Large Modification Introduced to the Standard Con tractual Clauses