If I am you, I would use NVIVO and do this:

(1) Code all type of sources i.e., interview data, documents and observations according to the participants.

(2) Create Node Classifications for your participants. Then, you can add attributes in the participants classifications.

(3) Create Source Classifications for your interview, etc.

The information in the MS Excel can be used to provide information for the attributes of the sources.

Hi Leanne,

Part of your dilemma is that there are many different forms of case study - both qualitative and quantitative. NVivo is a useful tool, but many mistakenly believe it to be a labour-saving software - whereas it is a labour-intensive software if you are starting over with it. 

The attached chapter might assist.  It is nursing and midwifery-related - but the principles are generic to most disciplines. Excel is only useful for demographic data. It can't really assist you with the qualitative data. 

Dear Leanne

I wish I can help you but it is not my field. 

Regards

Saeed

I agree with Dean.  NVIVO is not necessarily a labour-saving software. If the size of the data is really overwhelming, then NVIVO is worth trying.  But if it is still manageable, other simple software can be used.

A good example is the following article:

La Pelle, N. (2004). Simplifying qualitative data analysis using general purpose software tools. Field Methods, 16(1), 85-108. doi: 10.1177/1525822x03259227

Qualitative data management software (for example, NVivo or Atlas.ti) was told to be effective and user-friendly, vide this link: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_anyone_reckon_the_best_user_friendly_software_for_qualitative_data_analysis

As far as simply using excel/word is concerned, the following paper may help.  

• Ose, S. O. (2016) Using Excel and Word to Structure Qualitative Data, Journal of Applied Social Science, 10, 2, pp. 1-16.

Great answers here - we use Nvivo for coding of qualitative interviews and other qualitative data but in terms of managing the other information we use and access database to code all admin/demographic information so we can keep track of information for each participant/case including interview/contact times - we make a new entry for each point of contact. It is a lot of work but we allocate one team member to keep track of this admin information to ensure it is entered correctly and kept up to date.

Dear Leanne,

I was in your situation 20 years ago with the same number of companies (20) and mixed data (interviews, observations, financial reports and survey results).

There are several major elements to handle the information

1) first, you create a standard SPSS file presenting each interviewee as a separate case (line) and adding some specific variables obtained from interviews and common variables for interviewees from the same companies from observations and documents. In this way, you will have the possibility to run different statistical checks on concordance/disagreement of opinions of interviews on the same topic, and also to include all data about a particular interview (date, time, etc.)

2) to make such a database useful you must create specific variables to present your impressions from observations and general results from interviews  as numerical variables. I made such variables as "SOC" for my impressions from interviews with CEOs on their preoccupation with employees needs, GOV for my impression from interviews with CEOs on their relations with local authorities etc.

3) Equally important is to design specific metrics for particular actions that reflect your general impression on a NGO resulted from the whole set of your data. For this you may look at the enclosed file. 

Success!

Igor Gurkov

Article Innovation Processes in the Russian Manufacturing Subsidiari...

Thank you all very much for your interesting and helpful answers! I will read all the links and citations attached now!! Warm regards!