scholarly journals Qualitative comparative analysis: justifying a neo-configurational approach in management research

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Coutinho Parente ◽  
Ryan Federo
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Causal Model ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Configurational Approach ◽  
Causal Complexity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically reflect and offer insights on how to justify the use of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) as a research method for understanding the complexity of organizational phenomena, by applying the principles of the neo-configurational approach. Design/methodology/approach We present and critically examine three arguments regarding the use of QCA for management research. First, they discuss the need to assume configurational theories to build and empirically test a causal model of interest. Second, we explain how the three principles of causal complexity are assumed during the process of conducting QCA-based studies. Third, we elaborate on the importance of case knowledge when selecting the data for the analysis and when interpreting the results. Findings We argue that it is important to reflect on these arguments to have an appropriate research design. In the true spirit of the configurational approach, we contend that the three arguments presented are necessary; however, each argument is insufficient to warrant a QCA research design. Originality/value This paper contributes to management research by offering key arguments on how to justify the use of QCA-based studies in future research endeavors.

scholarly journals Effective contracting for high operational performance in projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kapsali ◽  
Jens K. Roehrich ◽  
Pervaiz Akhtar
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Fuzzy Set ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Contractual Incompleteness ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine combinations of contract clauses in order to ascertain which combinations correlate to high operational performance (OP). Design/methodology/approach Two hypotheses were formulated from contracting theory and tested on data collected from 45 projects. Fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis was used and validated with multiple regression and simulation. Findings The hypotheses were tested to determine whether combinations of classical, relational, and/or associational contract clauses correlate to high OP. The results show that whereas high OP correlates to combinations of relational and associational contract clauses, classical and relational clauses should not be combined. Research limitations/implications Directions are proposed to guide future research in order to produce a more nuanced testing of contractual complementarity. Practical implications The managerial implications of the findings include a more thorough understanding of the use of contract clauses and of which clauses managers should combine to achieve high OP. Originality/value This study contributes to the theory of contractual incompleteness and complementarity, specifically in the context of project contracting. The analysis produced two theoretical implications: first, that better performing contracts are created when combining relational and associational contract clauses; and second, that in projects, relational and classical contract clauses are not complementary with regards to realizing high OP.

Neuropsychological profile of entrepreneurs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esteban R. Brenes ◽  
Gabriel Rodríguez ◽  
Joseph Acuña ◽  
Yadira Villalobos ◽  
Caleb A. Pichardo
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Institutions ◽  
Neuropsychological Profile ◽  
Neuropsychological Characteristics

PurposeBy analyzing variables from the fields of business and neuropsychology, this document examines alternative combinations of behavioral economics and neuropsychological characteristics that would explain a successful entrepreneurial profile.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on information gathered through a survey of 1,080 entrepreneurs. The findings offer interesting perspectives for academics, professionals and government institutions, which illustrate various neuropsychological characteristics that a person must have to be a successful entrepreneur. The method consists of a novel perspective that integrates qualitative comparative analysis (QCAs), a method based on Boolean algebra that offers a study from a configurational perspective.FindingsFrom the mixture of configurations, the paper explores following possible traits of an entrepreneurial mindset: cognitive flexibility, risk-taking, decision-making and teamwork.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature on emerging attempts and approaches to understand the entrepreneurial mindset and the possible skillset that underpins successful entrepreneurship.

scholarly journals Alignment of business in robotic process automation

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Zhang ◽  
Bo Liu
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Process Automation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Robotic Process Automation ◽  
Business Alignment ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to find out how business aligns with robotic process automation (RPA) and whether the alignment has the same factors as for IT–business alignment. Design/Methodology/Approach Condition configurations for positive and negative impact for business alignment with RPA. Findings The positive and negative configurations that possibly impact business alignment with RPA. Research limitations/implications There are some human instincts during conditions dichotomization and limited number of cases. Practical implications The findings can be used to guide practice application in real industry. Originality/value This paper adopted crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis to find condition configurations for alignment of business and RPA for more generalization.

scholarly journals Embracing Causal Complexity

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilmos F. Misangyi ◽  
Thomas Greckhamer ◽  
Santi Furnari ◽  
Peer C. Fiss ◽  
Donal Crilly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Set Theory ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Configurational Approach ◽  
Configurational Theory ◽  
Causal Complexity

Causal complexity has long been recognized as a ubiquitous feature underlying organizational phenomena, yet current theories and methodologies in management are for the most part not well-suited to its direct study. The introduction of the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) configurational approach has led to a reinvigoration of configurational theory that embraces causal complexity explicitly. We argue that the burgeoning research using QCA represents more than a novel methodology; it constitutes the emergence of a neo-configurational perspective to the study of management and organizations that enables a fine-grained conceptualization and empirical investigation of causal complexity through the logic of set theory. In this article, we identify four foundational elements that characterize this emerging neo-configurational perspective: (a) conceptualizing cases as set theoretic configurations, (b) calibrating cases’ memberships into sets, (c) viewing causality in terms of necessity and sufficiency relations between sets, and (d) conducting counterfactual analysis of unobserved configurations. We then present a comprehensive review of the use of QCA in management studies that aims to capture the evolution of the neo-configurational perspective among management scholars. We close with a discussion of a research agenda that can further this neo-configurational approach and thereby shift the attention of management research away from a focus on net effects and towards examining causal complexity.

Holistic configural models for sustainable entrepreneurs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun-Huang Huarng ◽  
Tiffany Hui-Kuang Yu
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Fuzzy Set ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Personal Traits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Opportunity ◽  
Start Ups

PurposeThis research explores causal combinations (personal traits, external factors and self-fulfillment) that could provide holistic views leading to sustainable start-ups via data collected from Taiwanese entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ five-point Likert scale measurements in the questionnaires and fuzzy-set/Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) for the investigation.FindingsThe study finds four types of sustainable entrepreneurs. Conservative resilient entrepreneurs have an absence of both openness and neuroticism. Conservative achieving entrepreneurs have an absence of openness and the presence of conscientiousness. Conservative-hired entrepreneurs have an absence of both openness and unemployment. Lastly, conservative opportunistic entrepreneurs exhibit an absence of openness and the presence of business opportunity.Originality/valueThe results add to the authors’ knowledge and understanding of the entrepreneurship literature and also offer implications for people who are interested in entrepreneurship as well as to policymakers wanting to promote new start-ups.

Followership behaviors and barriers to wealth creation

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda A. Hayes ◽  
Cam Caldwell ◽  
Bryan Licona ◽  
Thomas E. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Wealth Creation ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leaders And Followers ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
The Continuum

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to further research in the leader-follower relationship by focussing on followership. Given the need to increase organizational collaboration and cooperation, this research identifies the nature of follower buy-in behaviors and characteristics and develops a continuum of increasing follower compliance to stewardship with the organization. Design/methodology/approach – This research integrates the insights of highly regarded researchers into a continuum of follower compliance to stewardship and proposes 12 propositions of leaders and followers that address the importance of creating an environment for improved collaboration and cooperation which ultimately leads to increased organizational competitiveness and profitability. Findings – A continuum of increasing follower buy-in is proposed with the first four zones drawn from past literature (indifference, acceptance, trust, and commitment) and a fifth zone, follower stewardship, being introduced in the paper. The authors argue that understanding and fostering follower behaviors along the continuum improves organizational effectiveness. Research limitations/implications – This research offers a framework of follower behaviors and characteristics and proposes 12 hypotheses of leaders and followers to improve competitiveness and profitability that can be tested in future research. Practical implications – This paper provides valuable insights to scholars and practitioners by creating a framework of follower buy-in behaviors and characteristics that will allow leaders to increase the effectiveness of organizational culture, practices, and procedures. The research proposes 12 hypotheses of leaders and followers that can be tested for improving organizational competitiveness and profitability. Social implications – The paper identifies barriers to creating followership including under-investing in human capital, treating followers as means rather than as ends, thinking short-term, breaking commitments, and so on. Originality/value – The research develops a solid theoretical background for categorizing and measuring follower buy-in to organizations and introduces follower stewardship to management research.

scholarly journals Resource configurations for new family venture growth

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 521-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Mallon ◽  
Stephen E. Lanivich ◽  
Ryan L. Klinger
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Financial Capital ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Family ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Shed Light

Purpose Sustainable Family Business Theory states that human, social, and financial capital are important for new family venture growth, yet there may be multiple combinations that could be beneficial. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether all three types of resources are always needed for growth. Design/methodology/approach Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, a configurational method, is used to investigate which combinations of human, social, and financial capital consistently lead to new family venture growth. Findings Multiple distinct combinations of resources – usually containing some form of human capital along with either social or financial capital – were sufficient for new family ventures to grow. Research limitations/implications The findings contribute to a more accurate Sustainable Family Business Theory in terms of the resource bundles needed to achieve growth. Not all three primary resources are needed at founding for the venture to grow. Results suggest a need for renewed focus on human capital in family venture research, as well as further investigations of the resource configurations uncovered here and their effects on family firm outcomes. Practical implications Given the costs associated with acquiring resources, the findings can inform family entrepreneurs and other stakeholders purposed with assisting new family ventures regarding optimal avenues of achieving growth. Originality/value This study advances theory by demonstrating which combinations of primary resources lead to new family venture growth. The findings shed light on how human, social, and financial capital may substitute for each other, as well as how the value of each depends on the presence or absence of the others.

Content analysis of metadata, titles, and abstracts (CAMTA): application of the method to business and management research

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Donald
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Business And Management

Purpose This paper offers a “content analysis of metadata, titles, and abstracts” (CAMTA) method underpinned by a newly evolved metadata, title, abstract, introduction, methodology, results, analysis, and discussion (M-TAIMRAD) Framework. Design/methodology/approach Draws on innovations of content analysis from the field of health- care to offer a pragmatic and transparent method for conducting rigorous and valid research within the field of business and management. Findings Replicable and valid guidelines for conducting the CAMTA method are offered, including an illustration. This is followed by a critical examination of the potential applications and benefits of the method to the field of business and management research. Originality/value The CAMTA method enables researchers to assimilate and synthesise metadata, titles and abstracts as a means of identifying grounds for future research and theory development. This will help to advance the field and subsequently benefit the wider readership including fellow academics, practitioners and policymakers. The flexibility of the CAMTA method means that it can be used as a stand-alone method or combined as part of a mixed-methods approach.

scholarly journals The evolution of brand management thinking over the last 25 years as recorded in the Journal of Product and Brand Management

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleopatra Veloutsou ◽  
Francisco Guzman
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Brand Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Management Knowledge ◽  
Product And Brand Management ◽  
Made In ◽  
Management Thinking

Purpose By outlining the evolution of brand management research over the past 25 years, as reported in the Journal of Product and Brand Management (JPBM), this paper aims to analyze the changes in the way branding has been approached in research, highlight the current challenges the discipline faces and suggest future research avenues that will hopefully further enrich brand management knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This paper includes internal historical literature review and commentary. Findings After a thorough analysis of the journal’s content, the contribution that the JPBM has made in the development of brand management knowledge over the past 25 years is highlighted. Eight major shifts in brand management research and thought, and three overarching difficulties and challenges, are identified. Research limitations/implications By solely focusing on the contributions published in the journal, by no means this review is exhaustive and includes all the contributions to the discipline. Its contribution is limited to the analysis of the work, and the evolution of brand management thinking, recorded in the JPBM. Originality/value The paper highlights the evolution of brand management thought and presents imperatives and challenges to guide future research in brand management.

Knowledge-oriented leadership towards organizational performance: symmetrical and asymmetrical approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Umar Farooq Sahibzada ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
Gul Afshan ◽  
Roshi Khalid
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Knowledge Worker ◽  
Direct Influence ◽  
Worker Productivity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Worker Satisfaction ◽  
Management Staff

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the associations among knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL), knowledge worker satisfaction (KWS), knowledge worker productivity (KWP) and organizational performance (OP). The study hypothesizes that the explicit mixtures, i.e. KOL, KWS and KWP can improve OP.Design/methodology/approachThe study sample was composed of 248 academicians and management staff of higher educational institutes (HEIs). The relations were tested through Smart PLS 3.2.9. The fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was also used for examining configurational paths.FindingsThe study found a substantial direct influence of KOL on OP. The findings revealed that KOL significantly affects KWS, and KWS enhances KWP, which ultimately improves the OP of HEIs. Grounded on the fsQCA, the outcomes exposed configurational trails to the enhanced OP.Originality/valueThere is scarce of studies that determine the connection of KOL, KWS, KWP and OP. This is one of the preliminary studies that examine the association of KOL, KWS, KWP and OP in HEIs. From a procedural viewpoint, the research subsidizes by merging symmetric and asymmetric tools to further understand structural issues. The use of fsQCA discloses numerous paths to improve OP and renders asymmetric relations. fsQCA also aids to comprehend the relations that might not be directly understandable via symmetric means.

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