Case Studies of Two Latecomer Firms: Methodology

This chapter discusses the methodology used in conducting case studies of two latecomer firms in Argentina. The purpose of these case studies is to understand why and how these firms were able to survive, grow, and catch up with global competitors during multiple economic crises in the country. The selection of case studies was based on the strategic selection of extreme cases that could provide rich and contrasting results. The two firms selected were TENARIS and IMPSA, both of which are high-tech manufacturing firms that have achieved international success despite the challenging context in Argentina. The data collection for these case studies involved three main sources of evidence: internal documentation, archival records, and recorded interviews. Internal documentation included annual reports, balance sheets, and financial statements, which provided quantitative data for key performance variables and firm characteristics. Archival records consisted of newspaper articles from 1968 to 2012, which helped corroborate the information from internal documentation. Recorded interviews conducted by third parties were used to gather firsthand information from top-level management. The analysis of the case studies followed an exploratory approach to examine the evolutionary path of the two firms and identify their major technological achievements and key business milestones. A pattern-matching technique was then used to compare the successful performance of these firms with the unsuccessful performance of other manufacturing firms in Argentina. An explanatory-building approach was used to establish a link between the firms’ performances and the key drivers for catching up explained in the conceptual framework of the study. The quality of the research process was ensured through four quality tests: construct validity, internal validity, external validity, and reliability. Multiple sources of data were used to mitigate subjective and biased judgments, and analytic tactics were applied to establish meaningful relationships. Statistical generalizations were not possible due to the limited number of case studies, but the aim was to disprove the neoclassical assumption that all firms respond alike to the same incentives. In conclusion, this chapter provides an overview of the methodology used in conducting case studies of two latecomer firms in Argentina. The selection of extreme cases and the use of multiple sources of evidence contribute to the reliability and validity of the research findings. The analysis of the case studies helps understand the factors that contributed to the success of these firms in catching up with global competitors.