Table 4. Trustworthiness of the study... | Emerald Publishing

Table 4.

Trustworthiness of the study and findings, descriptions from Lincoln and Guba (1985)

Trustworthiness criteria	Description	Method of addressing in this study
Credibility
Prolonged engagement	Being involved in the empirical setting long enough to understand the context in which the phenomenon is being studied	• The company has been studied for over a decade, during which much time has been spent with the company in both formal and informal settings • The investigation has expanded over time to include different actors connected with the Swedish furniture industry
Persistent observation	Taking the time needed to reach sufficient depth in the research	• The prolonged engagement has allowed the research to continuously return to prior findings and investigate areas that are both related to and underpinning these earlier findings
Triangulation	Crosschecking data to ensure that a true picture is achieved. Four types of triangulation were considered: data, investigator, theory and methodological (Flick, 2009)	• Several types of data are included, such as interviews, qualitative and quantitative secondary data, both internal and external, as well as participation that allows to experience artifacts • There has been one main investigator, who was complemented with a secondary investigator that worked with the data. In addition, numerous researchers have collaborated on specific aspects of the case study since 2010 • Although there has not been a typical theoretical triangulation, the frameworks applied have evolved • The methodology has been abductive, however, not for the purpose of triangulation
Peer debriefing	Exposing the researcher and the research to a disinterested peer with the purpose of exploring aspects of the research that may otherwise remain implicit within the researcher’s mind	• Parts of the research have been subject to peer review in both international journals and conferences, as well as internal and external to the university
Negative case analysis	Revising the hypothesis with hindsight	• Not applicable in our context, as our research did not include any preconceived hypotheses. However, assumptions were made during the research that have been frequently tested and discussed
Referential adequacy	Keeping some of the data raw to facilitate a revisiting of the findings	• This was not possible as the interviews were not recorded • Secondary data was kept in its raw form
Member checks	Allowing informants to review the data	• This was done in all stages of the research, except for informal discussions and the retailer visits. When visiting the retailers, the findings were discussed with the CEO immediately after leaving each retailer to ensure that the findings were consistent
Transferability	Providing a deep description that allows someone interested to determine whether a transfer of the findings is possible	• This is difficult to achieve in the space given in an article. However, attention has been paid to be as clear as possible in the case description and the methodology
Dependability	Providing an opportunity for the reader to examine the process of inquiry	• The research process is described in the methodology
Confirmability	Assessing the product of the research and the consistency between theory, framework, data and findings	• Through the approach of systematic combining, theory, framework, data and findings have continuously been co-developed, improving consistency

Trustworthiness criteria	Description	Method of addressing in this study
Credibility
Prolonged engagement	Being involved in the empirical setting long enough to understand the context in which the phenomenon is being studied	• The company has been studied for over a decade, during which much time has been spent with the company in both formal and informal settings• The investigation has expanded over time to include different actors connected with the Swedish furniture industry
Persistent observation	Taking the time needed to reach sufficient depth in the research	• The prolonged engagement has allowed the research to continuously return to prior findings and investigate areas that are both related to and underpinning these earlier findings
Triangulation	Crosschecking data to ensure that a true picture is achieved. Four types of triangulation were considered: data, investigator, theory and methodological (Flick, 2009)	• Several types of data are included, such as interviews, qualitative and quantitative secondary data, both internal and external, as well as participation that allows to experience artifacts• There has been one main investigator, who was complemented with a secondary investigator that worked with the data. In addition, numerous researchers have collaborated on specific aspects of the case study since 2010• Although there has not been a typical theoretical triangulation, the frameworks applied have evolved• The methodology has been abductive, however, not for the purpose of triangulation
Peer debriefing	Exposing the researcher and the research to a disinterested peer with the purpose of exploring aspects of the research that may otherwise remain implicit within the researcher’s mind	• Parts of the research have been subject to peer review in both international journals and conferences, as well as internal and external to the university
Negative case analysis	Revising the hypothesis with hindsight	• Not applicable in our context, as our research did not include any preconceived hypotheses. However, assumptions were made during the research that have been frequently tested and discussed
Referential adequacy	Keeping some of the data raw to facilitate a revisiting of the findings	• This was not possible as the interviews were not recorded• Secondary data was kept in its raw form
Member checks	Allowing informants to review the data	• This was done in all stages of the research, except for informal discussions and the retailer visits. When visiting the retailers, the findings were discussed with the CEO immediately after leaving each retailer to ensure that the findings were consistent
Transferability	Providing a deep description that allows someone interested to determine whether a transfer of the findings is possible	• This is difficult to achieve in the space given in an article. However, attention has been paid to be as clear as possible in the case description and the methodology
Dependability	Providing an opportunity for the reader to examine the process of inquiry	• The research process is described in the methodology
Confirmability	Assessing the product of the research and the consistency between theory, framework, data and findings	• Through the approach of systematic combining, theory, framework, data and findings have continuously been co-developed, improving consistency

Source: Table is made by authors