Case study design is defined as “an empirical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident” (Yin, 2013, p. 16). Therefore, a case study research can be used, when phenomenon is broad and complex, when full depth investigation is needed and most importantly, when the phenomenon cannot be studied outside the context (Dubé & Paré, 2003; Feagin, Orum, & Sjoberg, 1991; Voss, Tsikriktsis, & Frohlich, 2002; Yin, 2013). Another attractive feature of a case study design is that it allows flexibility in terms of the methods and the researcher allowing a researcher to conduct an exploratory type of a research (Cavaye, 1996; Eisenhardt, 1989; Merriam, 1998).
Case studies are often used to describe phenomena, to develop theory, and to test theory (Yin, 2013). In case study approach, both qualitative and quantitative approaches can be used (Dubé & Paré, 2003). Qualitative data collection methods which concerns words and meanings are such as interviews, documentation, questionnaires and observations can be used (Dubé & Paré, 2003; Wohlin, Höst, & Henningsson, 2003). Quantitative data collection methods which concern numbers and measurement are such as questionnaires and time series (Dubé & Paré, 2003; Wohlin et al., 2003).
Based on the authorities in case study research (e.g. Dubé & Paré, 2003; Myers & Avison, 1997; Yin, 2013) and IT-specific case study researchers (e.g. Dubé & Paré, 2003; Myers & Avison, 1997) it seems that case study research is well suited for IT industry. Dube and Paré (2003) identify five main reasons for case studies being highly suitable for IT research:
1. The discipline in IT organizations is information systems, where interest shifts to organizational rather than technical issues (Benbasat, Goldstein, & Mead, 1987; Darke, Shanks, & Broadbent, 1998).
2. Having access to real situations allows an IT researcher to experience and report real life IT experience with the rapid changes occurring in the IT world as well as in the organization (Dubé & Paré, 2003).
3. Since being holistic is the main characteristic in case study research, case studies can be best utilized to understand the complex and wide ranging interactions among organizations, technologies, and people (Dubé & Paré, 2003). Having the capability of accommodating both qualitative and quantitative research methods, case study approach can bring richness and flexibility to the research, in-terms of analyzing complex environments (Dubé & Paré, 2003).
4. The ability of performing in-depth analysis in case-study approach opens up new ideas, opportunities and new phases of reasoning for the issues facing the IT industry and its workforce (Dubé & Paré, 2003).
5. Case study approach suits exploration and hypothesis generation. Also, case studies can be used to provide explanations and testing hypothesis (Benbasat & Weber, 1996; Dubé & Paré, 2003).
Orlikowski and Baroudi (2008) arrest that the research methodology can be selected depending on the nature of the reserch questions. If the research question is a "what" type question, then it is more likely that the question can be addressed by surveys and data analysis, which converges towards a quantitative type study (Lee & Xia, 2010). However, even if a "what" type question is served as an entry point to other questions, a “what” question can be addressed via an exploratory study such as a case study (Kaplan & Duchon, 1988). When the research question takes the form "why", "how" and "when", the question can more elegantly answered by a qualitative method and the case- study approach becomes a good candidate for the study (Lee & Xia, 2010; Yin, 2013).
While there is no silver bullet to justify that case-study best suits a particular piece of research, Yin (2013) asserts that if the research questions are meant to explain some present circumstance (e.g. in the form of “what”, “why” and “how”), the “case-study research” becomes more relevant relative to rival methods.
In the researcher’s study, the research questions are more focused on defining the present situation in a Scrum project. Therefore, the case study approach fits the bill (studying a real-life scenario). Moreover, because there is lack of control over certain variables such as the ‘organizational procedures and standards’, ‘market regulations’, as Yin (2013) advocated, the case study design becomes a very suitable approach for the candidate’s study.
Since this study focuses on identifying documentation requirements in a Scrum project (being viewed as necessary by a panel of experts) to accredit against the ISO 9001:2008 QMS standard, there are two major domains being touched by the study. One is the Scrum project concept, which is in the field of (healthcare) software development. The other is ISO 9001:2008 certification (more precisely, the documentation requirements as stipulated in ISO 9001:2008 QMS standard), which is in the field of quality systems. Since the research questions cannot be answered without actually engaging with key personnel, the case study method was chosen as the appropriate research design for the researcher’s study; the researcher observes that the case study method has been used to answer research questions of similar nature in the field of information technology (IT) (e.g. see Darke et al., 1998; Dubé & Paré, 2003). IT is a discipline where rapid changes take place within a short period of time and the case study method enables the
researcher to participate in the real-life context to experience the dynamic changes taking place in a complex work environment (James, 1989; Yin, 2013).
Finally, the case study was conducted within a pragmatic research paradigm using a mix of quantitative and qualitative data. A fully quantitative research involving large sample survey data (a cross-sectional design within a positivistic/post-positivistic paradigm) is not suitable because there is no cause-effect or correlational hypothesis to be tested. Also, large sample data collection (quantitative, qualitative or a mix of both) is not feasible for this research due to limited time and other resources (e.g. funding).