This paper aims to understand the basic principles of case studies and case study as a research method. The paper studies history and different types of case studies and their different applications. Using case study as a research method is also analyzed in terms or its unique characteristics and similarity to traditional research methods. The analysis studies case study research design and analysis processes with examples from different industries and studies key distinguished characteristics of case study research method. The paper finds flexibility of research and usefulness in learning and evaluation as two main strengths of case study research, while limited generalization and over-generalization as two main weaknesses. The paper supports the argument of the limited use of case studies in business and finance due to their main weakness point of low generalization characteristics. The paper recommends a more scientific and systematic approach in analyzing and interpreting case studies to ensure their applicability to other applications. Through the consideration of case study time period, researcher profiles, size of the research object, sample, country and industry, more generalization abilities can emerge for case study applications. The paper also suggests having case studies and case study researches as ways of improvement rather than being just problem-solving approaches.
The Digital Guanxi: Opportunities in China’s New Collaborative Digital Business in Light of the Recent Economic and Political Transformation
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The paper aims to discover the most promising digital business opportunities in the new China today, and how those new opportunities can be related to the collaborative social networking culture which goes deeply in Chinese consumers. The paper analyzes the enormous digital business environment in China in terms of e-commerce, digital marketing, consumers, IT outsourcing, and software development and innovation in order to determine the most digital business opportunities that can be leveraged by collaboration and cooperation norms existing in Chinese culture. The paper also sheds the light on the recent economic and political transformation held by the Chinese government in order to establish a solid open economy and encourage private investments from global and domestic markets. The analysis discovers huge opportunities in China’s digital business that can be leveraged by the collaboration culture for both consumer and business audience. Classification to China’s digital audience and current key global and domestic players in the digital market is provided. The market is still far from maturity with enormous growth rate. While local key players dominate the market, new market entry depends primarily on new digital product features that can leverage social interactions and networking. Current key players copy Western style social networking business model without taking advantage of the Chinese cultural collectivity. The market size is huge, however, concentrated in urban areas and specific income levels. The research finds most opportunities in consumer digital social shopping, mobile social shopping and business professional digital networking. The paper provides many implications and recommendations for international and domestic investors that include ideas for new digital products and market penetration strategi
Introduction to Research Science and Methodologies
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The paper aims to provide an introduction to research science and to offer readers familiarity of its key methods and practices. The paper addresses broad definitions of research science, and its major types of methodologies and their nature. Quantitative and qualitative methods are defined in terms of key characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The use of more than one data collection or research method is also discussed and analyzed highlighting various integration approaches along. The paper analyzes key characteristics of quantitative and qualitative methods as well as different approaches of integrating both methods. The paper concludes with simple statements to define key motives and principals behind qualitative and quantitative research methods, why integration is needed and when it is useful. Implications and recommendations for the future of research are displayed for discussion. The research advises more focus on information and telecommunications future role in quantitative and qualitative methods. The research claims many untapped potentials that have to be leveraged in that area. The paper also claims great importance to method integration to the extent of supporting the creation of a new Integration Strategy function is the typical research processes where it has its own professionals or specialists. Traditional method integration should be developed into more dynamic ways that allows the integration even on the operational level by combining quantitative and qualitative questions in a more pre-determined and structured way in order to obtain more accurate results. Paper finally advises for integration strategy to be derived by research objectives that range from higher data quality, quantity to phenomena analysis.
Factors and Motives Affect Patient Satisfaction Interacting with Medical Service Providers
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This paper aims to determine the right factors and motives that affect patient satisfaction when interacting with medical service providers. From a starting point, the paper focuses on emergency room public medical unit in a developing country arguing that some factors affect patient satisfaction differ depending on location, type of service and culture. While some factors differ, the paper argues that emotional factors not only found to be common across all locations and cultures, they are also the most important factors that affect patient satisfaction. Research begins by reviewing previous literature in patient satisfaction topic and analyzing them from factors chosen, methodology, and instruments. The paper suggests a tri-based research design to conduct a proper satisfaction survey based on integrating three methods; questionnaire, in-depth interviews, and observation. The paper argues that questionnaire alone is not enough to determine true motives and perceptions that drive patient satisfaction. The research concludes by recommendations on designing proper survey and supporting it by the right tools that help the improvement of such future researchers.
ITWorx: Shifting from Transformational Internationalization to Globalization
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ITWorx, a privately-held software company headquartered in Cairo, Egypt has been a true Egyptian success story in the IT and software industry. The company enjoyed a huge growth since its inception in 1994 to become the largest software company in Egypt and the Middle East operating in six countries. With its perceived savvy and young management, friendly working environment, and innovation, the company was acquired in 2008 by a group of international investors. Synchronized with the global financial crises in late 2008, the company experienced operating losses for the very first time, high employee turnover, increasing loss of market share, and internal performance issues. The paper analysis the software industry, critical success factors, competitive environment, and ITWorx’s management and strategies. The paper spots root causes for the declining performance that are due to the lack of a clear strategic vision from ITWorx top management. Transferring the company to a software products company from its service-oriented mindset ads to the difficulty of the situation. The paper concludes by providing strategic alternatives for ITWorx management and possible implications to take the company to its next step in becoming a true global organization. Recommendations for ITWorx management are summarized into putting more focus on globalization, minimizing unnecessary localization, build a new product division and innovation functions, and penetrating key focus markets.
Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) Case Analysis: The No. 2 world player is challenging the No. 1 – Kellogg
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The paper analyzes the case study developed in 2007 of Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW): The No. 2 world player is challenging the No. 1 – Kellogg. Nearly 17 years after its foundation in the year 1990, Cereal Partner Worldwide or CPW is looking at its current position as the world number two breakfast cereal producer after Kellogg. Aiming to leverage both parent companies’ capabilities; General Mills and Nestlé, CPW plans to take further steps towards stronger global sales and integrated global marketing. In a saturated consumer product industry, the company aims to develop a blue ocean strategy through developing strategic core competencies and an international competitiveness in order to outperform its competitors and achieve further growth. Taking the US and Canadian markets out of the equation, the paper aims to find effective global marketing strategies that empower CPW brands performance in Europe, the Middle and Far East, Africa and Latin America. Through analyzing the macro environment conditions, market and competitive benchmarking and value chain, the paper illustrates two critical success factors for CPW; first its product R&D, innovation and diversification strategies. Second its emerging local markets responsiveness and localization of products and after sales services. In light of this analysis, the paper highlights the potentials and recommendations for CPW to unify efforts into creating core competitiveness and create a blue ocean strategy creating new demand and market space in the global arena.
Dyson Vacuum Cleaner Case Analysis: Shifting from domestic to international marketing with the famous bagless vacuum cleaner
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After dominating the local UK market and successfully developing a new market in the US, Dyson, the ambitious vacuum cleaners manufacturer still competes in the mature global market of vacuum cleaners. Adopting a differentiation strategy since its inception, the company aims to take its brand to the next level and to expand into new grounds. This comes in a critical time after a declining market share in its high end vacuum cleaners segment, and withdrawing its innovative and very expensive washing machine from markets. The paper attempts to select the most potential global markets for Dyson to put more marketing investments. The paper suggests those markets to be mostly Scandinavian. The paper also aims to shed the light on the mass distribution strategy adopted in the US market by Dyson. Finally the paper studies the opportunity for Dyson to repeat the huge success of its vacuum cleaner to enter new product category of washing machines.
