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Qualitative case study methodology provides tools for researchers to study complex phenomena within their contexts. When the approach is applied correctly, it becomes a valuable method for health science research to develop theory, evaluate programs, and develop interventions. The purpose of this paper is to guide the novice researcher in identifying the key elements for designing and implementing qualitative case study research projects. An overview of the types of case study designs is provided along with general recommendations for writing the research questions, developing propositions, determining the “case ” under study, binding the case and a discussion of data sources and triangulation. To facilitate application of these principles, clear examples of research questions, study propositions and the different types of case study designs are provided. Key Words: Case Study and Qualitative Methods

Abstract: Diagrams are often conceived as static representations. In this paper, by contrast, we explore how conceptual graphic representations can be used as communicative devices for knowledge-intense activities in groups. We do so by reviewing and extending existing cognitive and communicative dimensions and criteria. The aim of our research is to formalize the description of diagrams used in management discussions, analyzing their communicative and collaborative functions in order to better use them in knowledge creation and sharing in teams. We start with reviewing and merging the literature on cognitive and communicative dimensions and the literature on boundary objects, as well as information visualization, in order to compile the most relevant dimensions for knowledge creation and sharing in team. Thus, we cluster those dimensions obtaining eight macro-dimensions. We propose a formal analysis of diagrams which can be used as a tool for selecting and modifying appropriate visualizations for different knowledge-intensive activities in teams. An application example illustrates this approach.

Replications play an important role in verifying empirical results. In this paper, we discuss our experiences performing a literal replication of a human subjects experiment that examined the relationship between a simple test for consistent use of mental models, and success in an introductory programming course. We encountered many difficulties in achieving comparability with the original experiment, due to a series of apparently minor differences in context. Based on this experience, we discuss the relative merits of replication, and suggest that, for some human subjects studies, literal replication may not be the the most effective strategy for validating the results of previous studies. Categories and Subject Descriptors:

Many software production processes advocate rigorous development testing alongside normal code writing, which implies that both test code and production code should co-evolve. To gain insight in the nature of this co-evolution, this paper proposes three views (realized by a tool called TeMo) that combine information from a software project's versioning system, the size of the various artifacts and the test coverage reports. We validate these views against two open source and one industrial software project and evaluate our results both with the help of log messages, code inspections and the original developers of the software system. With these views we could recognize different co-evolution scenarios (i.e., synchronous and phased) and make relevant observations for both developers as well as test engineers

Abstract. In this manuscript, we discuss several challenges for analyzing qualitative data in a study composed of an international research project team. The subject of the study is an exploratory examination of requirements engineering in an international and cross-cultural work environment. In undertaking this study, we have recognized that an important challenge in our study’s methodology, analysis of qualitative interviews, is that the members of the research team live in different countries, rely on different languages and originate from different cultures. Interestingly, we also recognize that these challenges are in many ways analogues to those inherent in the subject we are researching, requirements engineering. To explore these issues, we begin the paper by discussing requirements engineering and the challenges of working across distance, languages and cultures. We then discuss similar challenges for our analyzing the qualitative research data we plan to collect. Next are presented the research method and strategy we are developing to overcome these challenges. 1.

In this paper we analyse the use of patterns across a number of fields including architecture, software development and educational technology design. Focusing on the reusability of a pattern outside its area of development, we have identified several issues related to the context and the value system of a pattern. The paper draws together lessons learned from different fields where patterns are already used and described. We conclude with a recommendation of pattern descriptors and guidelines which improve their applicability in varying value systems.

In this paper, we discuss challenges for planning and executing qualitative research conducted by an international research project team. The study comprised an exploratory examination of strategies of offshoring and onshoring for software development. An important methodological challenge is that the members of the research team live in different countries, rely on different languages and originate from different cultures. These challenges are in many ways analogous to those inherent in the subject we are researching, distributed software development. To explore these issues, we present the difficulties we faced on collecting and analyzing the qualitative data. Our main contribution is the identification of challenges, strategies to overcome them, and a set of lessons learned.

This paper analyses the issue of innovation in developing countries with reference to local production systems populated by small enterprises. In these contexts innovation may result from imitation and from spillovers from foreign direct investments; however, the literature shows that these opportunities frequently find serious obstacles and are less fruitful than expected; for this reason we suggest a third way that result from the adoption of a specific theoretical and policy approach. We identify three concepts that represent basic principles in the definition of this framework; clusters (as well as other territorial agglomerations and networks), innovation systems (national, regional and local) and learning (of codified and tacit knowledge through absorptive and adaptive capacity). We argue that these three kinds of concepts taken together may help creating the necessary dynamism to produce innovations in developing economies, thus raising their competitiveness. A section on policy implications is finally drafted to specify possible functional, horizontal and vertical programs that policy-makers may design to promote the innovation capacity of local production systems in developing countries.

SUMMARY: The use of ICT has over the years in different ways influenced and to a certain degree also changed roles and processes within the building project. A better understanding and overview of how ICT affect on the complex mechanisms within the early stages of the planning process can be seen as central to achieve project success. This paper presents a framework for exploring the ICT impacts on the architectural design process, focusing on ICT benefits and challenges regarding four essential design process aspects: the generation of design solutions, the communication, the evaluation of design solutions and the decision-making. The framework is founded on the suggestion of three hierarchical building project levels, the micro (individual)-, meso (group)- and macro (overall)-level. Several benefits and challenges of ICT regarding the four architectural design process aspects are explored and the outline of an ICT impact matrix summarizes the key points of the exploration. Furthermore, the paper gives an example of how the framework could be applied to a real-life project for supporting the exploration of how ICT impact on the architectural design process in practice.