Case studies in context: an examination of research influences

The significance of the context in terms of the wider environment of a single case study has been acknowledged by IS researchers. However, there are few clearly explained techniques and methods for taking into account the macro external forces in any given situation. A methodology is discussed that details a number of research influences including dialectic hermeneutics and critical realism as well as methodological techniques for data collection and analysis. When these are combined they go some way to helping the researcher consider the wider context of a case study.