When to use it
For case study theses in management, public administration and MBA programs. Case studies are often challenged as storytelling, so the figure stresses three things: cases chosen for theoretical reasons, data sources that check each other, and findings compared with existing theory.
Make it yours
- For a single case, delete the cross-case step and add "Phases" or "Critical incidents" after within-case analysis.
- Replace the three sources with the ones you used and add counts, such as 12 interviews.
- For an applied consulting project, replace the second half with diagnosis, solution design and implementation plan.
Mermaid code
flowchart TB
A[State the research question] --> B[Literature and theoretical propositions]
B --> C[Select cases by theoretical sampling]
subgraph S1[Multiple data sources]
direction LR
D1[In-depth interviews] --- D2[Internal and public documents] --- D3[Site observation]
end
C --> S1
S1 --> E[Organize data and triangulate]
E --> F[Code the data]
F --> G[Within-case analysis]
G --> H[Cross-case comparison]
H --> I[Develop propositions or a model]
I --> J{Consistent with existing theory}
J -->|No| F
J -->|Yes| K[Conclusions]
K --> L[Managerial implications and limitations]Ask an AI for one with this structure
Send the prompt below to ChatGPT or Claude, then paste the whole reply into the editor; the code inside is detected automatically.
Draw a case study research design diagram with Mermaid flowchart TB syntax. State the research question, review literature and form theoretical propositions, and select cases. Use one subgraph for multiple data sources with three items joined by plain lines: in-depth interviews, internal and public documents, and site observation. Then organize data and triangulate, code the data, within-case analysis, cross-case comparison, and develop propositions or a model. If the result is not consistent with existing theory, return to coding; if it is, write conclusions, then managerial implications and limitations. Use a diamond for the decision and no parentheses in node text. Output only the mermaid code block.
FAQ
- Why are the data sources joined by lines and not arrows?
They are parallel, with no order between them. In the code,
---draws a line without an arrowhead.- Should company names appear on the figure?
That depends on confidentiality. If the cases are anonymous, write "Company A, Company B" and explain in the text.
- How many cases do I need?
There is no fixed rule; it depends on the question and the replication logic. Agree it with your supervisor and justify the choice in the thesis.
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Updated 2026-11-11