Case studies in logistics: a review and tentative taxonomy

Abstract

This paper reviews an increasingly frequent adoption of case studies as a method within which to frame data gathering in logistics research, particularly in papers reported in this journal. Because case study methods are versatile and accepted within different paradigms, a review and taxonomy is urgently required to clarify why logisticians deploy them. This paper seeks to encourage a more informed approach to this choice by proposing a tentative taxonomy of their role in logistics research designs based on a comprehensive review of recent applications. Published papers reveal studies that have deployed case studies to explore theory, validate models, refine and extend theory perhaps using multiple cases to review theory through multiple comparisons. Despite changing units of analysis and research designs, and with pragmatic reasons for adopting case studies this tentative taxonomy invites further testing to stimulate a more informed and critical adoption of case studies and to support healthy theoretical regeneration.

Keywords:

• case studies in logistics
• taxonomy of case studies
• research design
• validity