eXperience Method for Case Studies

The eXperience method for writing IT cases is a guideline on how to write cases on the successful introduction of information technology. The method provides the author with a set of useful material including file templates for the case (structure and recommended content), sample design for graphics for images, hints for the data collection process and more. The method was developed by a team of researchers at the Competence Center E-Business Basel.

The eXperience method was developed as an attempt to capture knowledge and experience on IT implementation projects from companies. The eventual aim was the interpretation and dissemination of such knowledge to other interest groups (knowledge transfer). It was thus also meant to support the learning process – without the need to make the same mistakes again that others have made before.

eXperience cases are written by independent authors who obtain the contents of the cases directly from the representatives involved in the IT project in the portrayed companies. The case is written with the help of a standard structure (the “case grid”).

Figure: Uniform recommended case structure (case grid)

The eXperience method has been successfully used since 2000. After more than 10 years the eXperience initiative shows the following impressive figures:

• eXperience database (→ experience-online.ch): 380 cases have been collected in an online database of which 140 are in the uniform case structure, between 5000 and 8000 monthly user sessions on the Website
• 85 authors have written cases following the eXperience method
• 13 events were held for the presentation of selected cases (Congress Orbit/Comdex, eXperience Event, KoFoBiS)
• 11 books were published by Hanser (on average 3000 copies)
• More than one thousand students have worked with eXperience cases

eXperience cases contain the “raw” data provided by the responsible people in the IT introduction project. This data can later be analysed and interpreted in various ways thus enriching the “case” into a “case study”. A number of eXperience cases have been used for research resulting into research findings that are “case-based”. The following list contains examples of articles that make use of eXperience cases:

Schubert, Petra; Williams, Susan P. (2012): Implementation of collaborative software in enterprises: a thematic analysis, in: it – Information Technology, Vol. 54, No. 5, pp. 212-219.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/727

Schubert, Petra; Williams, Susan P. (2011): A Framework for Identifying and Understanding Enterprise Systems Benefits, in: Business Process Management Journal, Vol. 17, No. 5, 2011, pp. 808-828.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/180

Schubert, Petra; Williams, Susan P.; Wölfle, Ralf (2011): Sustainable Competitive Advantage in E-Commerce and the Role of the Enterprise System, in: International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems (IJEIS), April-June 2011, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 1-17.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/181

Williams, Susan P.; Schubert, Petra (2011): An Empirical Study of Enterprise 2.0 in Context, in: Proceedings of the 24th International Bled eConference, Bled, Slovenia, June 12-15, 2011.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/183

Schubert, Petra; Legner, Christine (2011): B2B integration in global supply chains: An identification of technical integration scenarios, in: Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Vol. 20, Issue 3, September 2011, pp. 250-267.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/708

Williams, Susan P.; Schubert, Petra (2010): Benefits of Enterprise Systems Use, in: Proceedings of the 43rd Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences, Kauai, January 5-8, 2010.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/631

Schubert, Petra; Williams, Susan P. (2010): Realising Benefits from current ERP and CRM systems implementations: an empirical study, in: Proceedings of the 23rd International Bled eConference, Bled, Slovenia, June 20-23, 2010, pp. 468-480.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/706

Frick, Norbert; Schubert, Petra (2010): An Empirical Study of Investment Reasons for B2B Integration Projects, in: Proceedings of the 23rd International Bled eConference, Bled, Slovenia, June 20-23, 2010.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/179

Schubert, Petra; Williams, Susan P. (2009): Constructing a Framework for Investigating and Visualizing ERP Benefits and Business Change, in: Proceedings of the 22nd International Bled eConference, Bled, Slovenia, June 14-17, 2009.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/622

Schubert, Petra; Williams, Susan P. (2009): An Extended Framework for Comparing Expectations and Realized Benefits of Enterprise Systems Implementations, in: Proceedings of the Fifteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems, San Francisco, California, August 6th-9th, 2009.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/629

Schubert, Petra (2008): Integration Scenarios for Business Collaboration, in: Proceedings of the Fourteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), 2008.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/612

Winkelmann, Axel; Klose, Karsten (2008): Experiences While Selecting and Implementing ERP systems in SMEs: A Case Study, in: Proceedings of the Fourteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), 2008.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/613

Schubert, Petra (2007): Business Software as a Facilitator for Business Process Excellence: Experiences from Case Studies, in: Electronic Markets, Vol. 17, No. 3, 2007, pp. 187-198.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/571

Schubert, Petra (2006): MRO Procurement for Business Customers: A Longitudinal Case Study Analysis, in: Proceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), 2006, pp. 1877-1886.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/509

Schubert, Petra; Voss, Andreas (2004): User interface integration in corporate travel management: the case of the CWT Connect portal, in: Proceedings of the Tenth Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2004), New York City, pp. 2594-2600.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/330

Schubert, Petra (2004): Case Study Triamun: Solving IT Integration Problems in the Health Care Sector with the Innovative Use of an ASP Software Solution, in: Proceedings of the Tenth Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2004), New York City, pp. 2601-2609.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/329

A more detailed description of the eXperience method was published in the following AMCIS paper:
Schubert, Petra; Wölfle, Ralf (2007): The eXperience Methodology for Writing IS Case Studies, in: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), 2007.

→ http://bas.uni-koblenz.de/bas/publications_light.nsf/id/577

The official handbook for case authors has been published in German only. An unpublished version in English is available on request. Write to info@integrated-business-design.com.