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Explanatory Case Study
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Abstract
This paper discusses explanatory case study and how it applies in research. It starts defining it as
a case study usually concentrates on explaining a question or phenomenon. The paper then
explains some of the benefits of using this type of case study, giving specific examples of the
motor vehicle industry, the economic sector, and the health sector. In the next section, the paper
differentiates explanatory case study from Historiography before finally replicating an
explanatory case study to explain how diversity can enhance innovation at workplaces.
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Introduction
Research is usually used for different reasons, including to get more information about a
subject, to prove a point, or even counter some existing topics. These processes typically involve
in-depth data mining because of the high necessity of facts. To help achieve these objectives,
several case studies types exist. These case studies usually vary in structure and design
depending on the hypothesis or the thesis that the researchers choose to use. Sometimes, the
researchers might even use case studies that overlap each other, depending on the type of
research. This paper analyzes one of the research case studies, the explanatory case study, to
highlight the rival interpretations and explanations, state where they are most applicable, and
differentiate it from Historiography. Finally, the paper replicates an experiment that used this
case study.
Rival Explanations and Interpretations
According to Ali and Mahboob (2020), an explanatory case study usually concentrates on
explaining a question or phenomenon. The author further highlights that the results from this
case study are never up for explanation because it is basically 1+1=2 kind of study. Svensson and
Nikoleris (2018) also add in describing explanatory case study that its nature cannot allow it to
deal with humans because humans will always have variables; therefore, any research or case
study that engages people or groups can never be explanatory. On the other hand, other studies
like event case studies that deal with undebatable facts can be considered explanatory. For
instance, suppose a particular motor vehicle company’s brand records numerous crashes due to
the specific brand’s faulty brakes. The case study would be explanatory because each of the hits
resulted from the cars braking systems being ineffective. In this case, the researcher would first
explain the crash before evaluating the possible causes of the brake failure. Ali and Mahboob
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(2020) also support this explanation by stating that explanatory case study is usually
straightforward, only requiring the researcher t focus on a specific line. Usually, they have clear
theses and hypotheses that only need further fact-finding or proving in other aspects.
Where Explanatory Case Study Would be Most Effective
As already mentioned, explanatory case studies always focus on explaining questions or
phenomena regarding various societal issues. They always try to answer the ‘why’ and how
questions of events whose facts are invariable (Ali & Mahboob, 2020). The previous illustration
hinted at how the method can be helpful in the motor vehicle industry, mentioning how it can
help evaluate the causes and reasons for brake failure. Other than brakes, vehicles also have
several other areas where explanatory case studies can be effective. For instance, before the
introduction of seatbelts, researchers had to research the reasons for high fatality rates from
accidents. In this case, the fact that many people were dying from road accidents was
indisputable; however, the why and how was still unresearched and unanswered. It took an
explanatory case study to answer the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions, eventually resulting in the
invention of seatbelts because research found that movements within the vehicle as they crashed
reduced people’s survival chances. For instance, the studies revealed that people who had head-
on collisions were often thrown to the windscreen, thus suffering concussions even where they
would have survived. These results answered the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions, thus informing the
invention of seatbelts to keep people on their seats to raise their survival chances during
accidents. The same studies influenced the creation of collapsible steering columns and airbags
to enhance people’s safety further as they use vehicles. These illustrations prove the relevance
and effectiveness of explanatory in the motor vehicle industry.
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An explanatory case study can also be very effective in the economic sector. In 2008, the
United States suffered another financial crisis, wreaking havoc in society as people suffered
harsh economic consequences. At this point, it was apparent that the problem existed; therefore,
the primary questions were why and how this crisis happened. Again, answering these questions
was the key to solving the situation because it would help reverse the causative factors and see
which remedies would boost the recovery process (Svensson & Nikoleris, 2018). Explanatory
case studies played a significant role in identifying these problems and finding solutions. Today,
explanatory case studies help to prevent such economic issues from recurring. Researchers keep
analyzing factors like inflation to stabilize the economy and prevent another crisis from
happening. So far, they seem to be getting it right as there has never occurred a worse
predicament than those that occurred before, even in the current state where the world is
suffering dire economic effects from the Covid-19 pandemic containment measures.
Finally, the explanatory case study approach can be very effective in the health sector.
Health practitioners often deal with facts. For instance, the Covid-19 medical condition worsened
to the point of being declared a pandemic. In this case, that the virus was spreading rapidly was
undebatable. What the health researchers needed to know was why and how this spread was
happening so rapidly. These questions informed extensive research that finally revealed the
variances and how they mutated and spread. From the case study, medics devised the most
effective ways of containing the virus and preventing further spread by advising people to
observe measures like social distancing, sanitizing, and frequent handwashing. With time, better
remedies like vaccines came in, hoping to further help in managing the problems. Explanatory
case study still happens to date to explain the different behaviors of the virus and why it mutates
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as rapidly as it does. This illustration points to how effective explanatory case studies can be in
the health sector.
Explanatory Case Study vs. Historiography
By definition, explanatory case study usually concentrates on explaining a question or
phenomenon, basically taking the 1+1=2 format because they analyze indisputable facts. On the
other hand, historiography refers to how researchers examine sources critically to write history
(Napier, 2020). It is commonly used by modern historians who wish to rewrite history or explain
why some historical events happened the way they did. Other researchers may be interested in
describing how history has evolved. Already, the evident similarity between explanatory case
study and historiography is that both of them answer the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions. However,
explanatory case studies and historiography also differ in other fronts. First, explanatory case
study usually applies when dealing with contemporary issues. For instance, the earlier illustration
in the medical sector explained how this case study has impacted the current containment
measures that governments are enforcing to suppress the further spread of Covid-19. On the
other hand, historiography usually deals with historical events (Becker, 2018). For instance,
researchers may want to explain why past historians differed in specific historical presentations.
Their research will thereby involve mining information from those historians’ works and other
sources to find answers. In this case, while historiography can thus use explanatory case study
results as its source of information, the reverse cannot happen because the latter does not rely on
past data.
Explanatory Case Study Replica
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One case study suitable for disseminating for future use is “how diversity can increase
inventions at workplaces.” The contemporary world is recording increased globalization as
people move from one nation to another, seeking better opportunities or fleeing tribulations from
their native lands. Whatever the reasons, these movements have resulted in diverse communities
of people having different cultures, qualities, qualifications, and experiences. These
characteristics have also started appearing at workplaces. It is thus essential to research how
diversity at the workplace can influence innovation. In this case, getting correct results and
analysis is critical as the research will affect how employers recruit their employees. Therefore,
lean six sigma developments will also be crucial for the research. Specifically, the methodology
will help eliminate waste issues and inadequacies in the explanatory case study’s targeted
procedures, especially at the project implementation stage.
Lean six sigma is always essential in such studies because its principles address pertinent
issues in research processes (Antony et al., 2017). For instance, lean six sigma obligates
researchers to concentrate on critical contemporary issues in the world. The study will use this
principle to explain how problems regarding workplace diversity can be solved and solutions on
how diversity can be used to promote innovation derived. Lean six sigma also demands that
every research must utilize satisfactory data when analyzing the specific factors in the case study
phenomenon. Again, this principle will guide the data collection process as the study evaluates
how diversity can improve innovative minds at workplaces. Finally, lean six sigma stipulates the
benefits of the data analysis process, which will also be essential for this explanatory case study.
Specifically, the DMAIC “(define, measure, analyze, improve, and control)” (Antony et al.,
2017) methodology that highly references the lean sigma principles will be critical in guiding the
case study. With these considerations, the study will have credible and satisfactory results that
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organizations can use during recruitments in the future. Significant to stress that as per definition,
this research deals with the indisputable fact that diversity characterizes the current society,
including the workplaces. The analysis will be critical because some employers are still reluctant
to exploit this diversity, some still discriminating against other individuals or communities. Such
employers can change their minds if the research proves how they could use diversity to their
advantage, showing how the research seeks to solve a contemporary problem.
Conclusion
The discussion above shows how explanatory case study, which usually concentrates on
explaining a question or phenomenon, is an essential research method, especially since it helps
solve contemporary issues. The study most tries to answer the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions of
events that are happening presently. This focus on current issues marks its difference from
historiography, which always focuses on history. The only significant similarity of the two
methods apart from both of them answering the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions is that the researchers
have no say in the data they use in both cases. Finally, the discussion also shows how lean six
sigma is essential for guiding a successful case study. Its principles oblige researchers to follow
steps that guarantee the quality, credible results. The methodology will thus help replicate the
case study in researching how diversity can be influential in enhancing innovation at workplaces,
as discussed above.
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References
Ali, D., & Mahboob, M. (2020). Digitization of the emerging economy: An exploratory and
explanatory case study. Journal of Governance and Regulation, 9(4).
Antony, J., Snee, R., & Hoerl, R. (2017). Lean Six Sigma: yesterday, today and tomorrow.
International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management.
Becker, C. L. (2018). What is historiography? (pp. 65-78). Cornell University Press.
Napier, C. J. (2020). Historiography. In The Routledge companion to accounting history (pp. 32-
53). Routledge.
Svensson, O., & Nikoleris, A. (2018). Structure reconsidered: Towards new foundations of
explanatory transitions theory. Research Policy, 47(2), 462-473.
