“Why do some companies excel while others struggle?” This thought-provoking question was posed by Prof. Dr. Eric van Heck, the Chaired Professor of Information Management and Markets at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University, during his guest lecture for the Business Research Methods (BRM) class at School of Business Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) on Monday, July 13th. The lecture took place in the 2nd Floor Auditorium of the SBM Building, ITB.
Prof. van Heck explained that a case study is an in-depth analysis of past events to understand the underlying causes of both failure and success. This approach helps researchers understand a business phenomenon more comprehensively by considering its context. He further explained that case studies are an interesting research strategy to explore.
“Case studies should not be conflated with qualitative or quantitative research, as this approach can incorporate mixed methods,” he stated. “Additionally, case studies can be conducted through observation and are useful for explaining, describing, illustrating, exploring, and evaluating phenomena.”
Throughout the session, students were presented with several case studies to demonstrate the practical application of this research approach. One notable example was a study by BRM student Daniel Wislie Halim, who examined FC Barcelona’s financial status during the COVID-19 pandemic. This example was integrated into numerous discussions, allowing students to witness firsthand how case studies are transformed into systematic research.
Prof. van Heck also outlined the stages involved in conducting a case study, including research design, data collection preparation, evidence gathering, evidence analysis, and the formulation of the case study report. He urged students to develop their skills in reading, analyzing, and interpreting data as part of the case study development process.
Concluding the session, Van Heck reinforced the idea that case studies hold significant relevance not only in academia but also in understanding various phenomena encountered in the business world. He encouraged students to embrace case studies as a dynamic research strategy for both study and application.
Written by Student Reporter (Yumna Roihana, Management 2027)
