Skip to main content

Research Methodology

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology ((BRIEFSAPPLSCIENCES))

Abstract

This chapter gives arguments for the methodological choices of the empirical study. Because this study re-test based on the empirical material from the flat glass industry the cyclical model of technological change it crucial that empirical study is well conducted. The research method is a comprehensive qualitative longitudinal and contextual case study. The study period of the particular technological change, float glass, starts almost four decades before the introduction of float glass and lasts two decades after it. This selection guarantees that the context is understood. The study uses rich case material collected from interviews of industrial participant, business histories, management journals etc. The quantitative statistics are also used. The validity of data analysis has been increased by pattern matching, pattern recognition, seeing evidence through multiple lenses and data triangulation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anderson P (1988) On the nature of technological progress and industrial dynamics. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Columbia University, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashton RL (1969) Solid state drive system at Ford’s float glass plant. The Glass Industry, June, pp 303–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Bain T (1964) The impact of technological change on the flat glass industry and union’s reaction to change: colonial period to the present. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker TC (1960) Pilkington Brothers and the glass industry. George Allen and Unwin Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker TC (1977a) The glassmakers. Pilkington: the rise of an international company 1826–1976. Weidenfeld and Nicholson, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker TC (1994) An age of glass. Pilkington: the illustrated history. Boxtree, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg B (1984) Det Stora Glaskriget (The glass war). Glasmästeribranschens sevice AB

    Google Scholar 

  • Cipolla CM (1991) Between history and economics—an introduction to economic history. Basil Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Daviet J-P (1989) Une multinational a la Française. Histoire de Saint-Gobain 1665–1989. Fayard, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Derclaye M (1982) La diffusion d’une innovation technique, le “float-glass” et ses consequences sur le marche du verre plat. Annales de Sciences Economiques Appliquees 38(1):133–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle PJ (ed) (1979) Glass making today. Portcullis Press Ltd, Redhill

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois A, Gadde L-E (2002) Systematic combining: an abductive approach to case research. J Bus Res 55(7):553–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Earle KJB (1967) The development of the float glass process and the future of the glass industry. Chemistry and Industry, 15 July, pp 1197–1201

    Google Scholar 

  • Edge KC (1984) Section 11, flat glass manufacturing processes (update). In: Tooley F (ed) Handbook of glass manufacture, 3rd edn, vols I and II, Books for the glass industry division. Ashlee Publishing Co., New York, pp 714/1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenhardt KM (1989) Building theories from case study research. Acad Manag Rev 14:532–550

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederiksen PC (1974) Prospects of competition from abroad in major manufacturing oligopolies: case studies of flat glass, primary aluminum, typewriters, and wheel tractors. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Washington State University

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich H (1975) Der technische Fortschritt in der Glaserzeugung. Eine Untersuchung über die Auswirkung des technischen Fortchritt auf den Strukturwandel in der Flachglasindustrie (Bochumer Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Studien Nr. 7), Bochum

    Google Scholar 

  • Grundy T (1990) The global miracle of float glass: a tribute to St. Helens and its glass workers. St. Helens, Merseyside

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagg I, Hedlund G (1978) Case studies in social science research. The European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management. Brussels (Working Paper No. 78-16)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamon M (1988) Du Soleil a la Terre, Une Histoire de Saint-Gobain. Jean-Claude Lattès, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Hast A (ed) (1991) International directory of company histories, vol III. St. James Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Havard AD (1976) Flat glass forming. Glasteknisk Tidskrift 31(3):61–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Jick TD (1979) Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods: triangulation in action. Adm Sci Q 24:602–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinkead G (1983) The end of ease at Pilkington’s. Fortune, 21 March, pp 90–92, 94, 96

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilja K (1983) Types of case study designs. In: Proceedings of seminar on methodology in management and business research, Espoo, Finland

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry AT (1982) Pilkington: reflections on an uncertain future. Multinational Bus 3:18–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundgren A (1991) Technological innovation and industrial evolution—the emergence of industrial networks. Dissertation, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • McGee J, Thomas H (1988) Making sense of complex industries. In: Hood J, Vahlne J-E (eds) Strategies in global competition. Groom Helm, London, pp 40–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles MB (1979) Qualitative data as an attractive nuisance: the problem of analysis. Adm Sci Q 24:590–601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minztberg H (1979) An emerging strategy of “direct” research. Adm Sci Q 24:683–689

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton QM (1990) Qualitative evaluation and research methods. Sage, Newbury Park

    Google Scholar 

  • Persson R (1969) Flat glass technology. Butterworths, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew AM (1985) The awakening giant: continuity and change in ICI. Basil Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew AM (1990) Longitudinal field research on change: theory and practice. Organ Sci 1(3):267–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew AM, Whipp R (1991) Managing change for competitive success. Blackwell Publishers, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilkington A (1963) The development of float glass. The Glass Industry, February, pp 80–81, 100–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilkington A (1969a) The float glass process. Proc R Soc London A314:1–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pilkington A (1969b) Glass and windows chance memorial lecture. Chemistry and Industry, 8 February, pp 156–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilkington A (1971) Float: an application of science, analysis, and judgement. Turner Memorial Lecture. Glass Technol, August

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilkington A (1976) Flat glass—evolution and revolution over 60 years. Glass Technol 17:182–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Pincus AG (ed) (1983) Forming in the glass industry in two parts. Part one—forming machines and methods. Ashlee Publishing Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter M (1980) Competitive strategy. Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter M (1981) Strategic interaction: some lessons from industry histories for theory and anti-trust policy. In: Salop SC (ed) Strategy, predation and anti-trust analysis. Federal Trade Commission, Washington DC, pp 449–506

    Google Scholar 

  • PPG (1967) Romance of glass. Public relations department, Pittsburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • PPG (1983) A century of achievement. PPG Prod Mag 91(2)2:1–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn JB (1977) Pilkington Brothers LTD. The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn JB (1980) Strategies for change. Logical incrementalism. Dow-Jones Irwin, Homewood

    Google Scholar 

  • Saint-Gobain (1965) Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, 1665–1965: Livre du tricentenaire, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Siggelkow N (2007) Persuasion with case studies. Acad Manag J 50(1):20–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson HE (1961) The glass industry—1960 a review. The Glass Industry, January, 67–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson HE (1963) The glass industry—1962 a review. The Glass Industry, January, pp 71–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Skeddle RW (1977) Empirical perspective on major capital decisions. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, Case Western Reserve University

    Google Scholar 

  • Skriba DA (1971) How a computer and glass communicate. The Glass Industry, December, pp 442–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Spoerer M, Busi A, Krewinkel HW (1987) 500 Jahre Flachglas, 1487–1987 Von der Waldhütte zum Konzern, (in German, 500 year old flachglas, 1487–1987, from a small business to a concern). Karl Hofmann Verlag, Schorndorf

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi S, Ichinose M (1980) New vertical draw process for sheet glass. The Glass Industry, April, pp 24, 29–30, 32

    Google Scholar 

  • Tooley F (ed) (1984) Handbook of glass manufacture, 3rd edn., vols I and II, Books for the glass industry division. Ashlee Publishing Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo O (1993) Pilkington goes north: competition in Scandinavian flat glass market. An unpublished teaching case

    Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo O (1995a) The flat industry—the effects of the float glass on the industry structure. Licentiate thesis B-156, Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo O (1995b) A revolutionary dominant design - the float glass innovation in the flat glass industry. Dissertation A-108, Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Uusitalo O (1997) Development of the flat glass industry in Scandinavia 1910–1990: the Impact of technological change. Scand Econ Hist Rev 3:276–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suárez FF, Utterback J (1995) Dominant designs and the survival of firms. Strateg Manag J 16:415–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent GL (1960) PPG operates largest, most modern U.S. plate glass plant. Ceramic Industry Magazine, September, pp 100–105, 136

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent GL (1962) How Ford produces plate in world’s largest integrated glass plant. Ceramic Industry Magazine, November, pp 50–55, 80

    Google Scholar 

  • Wierzynski GH (1968) The eccentric lords of float. Fortune, July, 90–92, 121–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin RK (1984) Case study research. Design and methods. Sage Publications, Newbury Park

    Google Scholar 

  • Zander U (1991) Exploiting A technological edge—voluntary and involuntary dissemination of technology. Dissertation, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • The Glass Industry (TGI) trade journal: several articles and newsletters from the issues of 1960–1984

    Google Scholar 

  • American Glass Review trade journal: Several articles and newsletters from the issues of 1971–1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceramic Industry Magazine trade journal: several articles and newsletters from the issues of 1960–1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Chemistry and Industry trade journal: several articles and newsletters from the issues of 1960–1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Several newsclippings from international business magazines and newspapers (1960–1993)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olavi Uusitalo .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Uusitalo, O. (2014). Research Methodology. In: Float Glass Innovation in the Flat Glass Industry. SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06829-9_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06829-9_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-06828-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-06829-9

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics