Case report papers guidelines: Recommendations for the reporting of case studies or action research in Business Management

Abstract

Objective: To provide a working guide which facilitates the accuracy, transparency, and usefulness for academics and practitioners of case report papers as an article type which are fit for publishing in impact journals. In this way, we aim to increase the use and dissemination of recommendations in aid of the writing and publication of case study and action research. Theoretical framework: A case report paper presents a story in narrative form and includes current individual or organisational concerns, situational diagnoses, interventions, outcomes including adverse events, and follow-up. The narrative should include a discussion of the rationale for any conclusions and lessons learned. Method: We analysed the prevalence of these type of articles in publications as indexed in Web of Science (WOS) and in Scopus; we explain how we customised the case report guidelines (CAse REport or CARE) to optimise them for the scientific field of Management focussing particularly on Operations Management and Human Resources Management. We shared for discussion and feedback the adapted proposal among a group of academics and professionals in the field of Management. Outcomes/Implications: Robust reporting guidelines help to improve research performance, reduce bias risk, provide information on the implementation of management practices, support the training of management professionals, and enable informed editorial decisions by journal editors and reviewers.

Keywords

• case report
• case study
• action research
• grounded theory
• reporting guidelines
• operations management
• human resources management
• evidence-based management