Research methods

This book is based on various research methods and data sources that were obtained over the last twelve or so years. These are listed below. Most of these research methods are described in more detail in other publications and I therefore refrain from doing so here. The book also contains a number of short case studies drawn from publicly available materials, with appropriate citations provided in the text.

1. A series of thirty-four interviews across nine different industries in the Greater Rotterdam area in 1995 and 1996. These nine industries included four on the buyer side (petrochemicals, shipbuilding & ship repair, transshipment, and distribution & storage) and five on the supplier side (computer services, consulting, engineering services, leasing, and temporary labor agencies). The interviews were supported by secondary data, including company reports and publicly available sources. This study focused on three questions: Why is it that we see so much more outsourcing? What are current trends in outsourcing? What are the effects of outsourcing (partly in terms of regional employment levels)? This research was reported in de Wit, Mol, and van Drunen (1998) and de Wit and Mol (1999).

2. An input–output analysis of various sectors of the Dutch economy, which showed the level of interconnection among sectors between 1977 and 1992. This research was reported in de Wit, Mol, and van Drunen (1998). By showing a growing interconnection between sectors, we found support for increased outsourcing across these sectors.

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