Cross case analysis: Relating the empirical findings

Chapter 7 compares the 17 case studies in a cross-site analysis. The within-site analyses of Chapter 6 provide material for comparison of cross-site analyses as it enables to compare the main research variables of this study. The last cross-case analysis of this chapter presents the cases ranked according to their effect variable: knowledge productivity. The effect variable consists of two components: the results of the improvements, innovations and secondly the increased sustainable capability to innovate. In the process of drawing conclusions the qualitative findings have been transformed to Likert scales so that additional statistical computation can be performed. The findings in the cross-case display are rated on a five-point scale (1 = absent; 5 very strongly represented). Based on the numeric data a correlation matrix is constructed, that offers additional insight to what extent the different variables of the study relate to each other. The findings are presented in this chapter. Table 7.3 is used to discuss the patterns from the cross-case analysis. The results of a consultation session with representatives of the case studies are included in this chapter in order to better understand the meaning of the various findings and to share interpretations of the participants that took part in the research.