The issue of how to report field work is important in all
research, but it can be argued that it is particularly
critical in interpretive case studies. Interpretive researchers
are not saying to the reader that they are
reporting facts; instead, they are reporting their interpretations
of other people's interpretations. It is thus
vital, in order to establish some credibility to the
Interpretive case studies in IS research GWalsham 79
reader, that they describe in some detail how they have
arrived at their 'results'. Reporting on 'soft' human
issues is not an excuse for sloppiness.
So what should be reported in an interpretive case
study? As a minimum, reporting on the collection of
field data should include details of the research sites
chosen, the reasons for this choice, the number of
people who were interviewed, what hierarchical or
professional positions they occupied, what other data
sources were used, and over what period the research
was conducted. With respect to data analysis, reporting
should include how the field interviews and other data
were recorded, how they were analysed and how the
iterative process between field data and theory took
place and evolved over time. Orlikowski (1993) provides
a good example of careful reporting on the above
topics.
Before leaving the topic of reporting methods, one
further caveat is worth mentioning. Van Maanen
(1989) reminds us that establishing validity in the eyes
of a reader is part of the art of persuasion, and is as
much a matter of rhetorical style and flair as it is of
accuracy and care in matters of theory and method. In
other words, care in reporting is important, but is not
sufficient, and Van Maanen suggests that the researcher
must try to persuade by 'presenting a coherent
point of view told with grace, wit and felicity' (p. 32).