Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research Articles

Developing a Manufacturing Industrial Brain in a Smart City: Analysis of fsQCA Based on Yiwu Knitting Industry Platform

Developing a Manufacturing Industrial Brain in a Smart City: Analysis of fsQCA Based on Yiwu Knitting Industry Platform

International container intermodal competitiveness: An empirical study from Chinese hub ports

The global energy crisis and environmental degradation have prompted ports to strive for green transformation. Intermodal transport, as a green and efficient form of organization in the transport sector, currently has a lot of room for development. How can the competitiveness of intermodal transport be enhanced while realizing the green sustainability of ports? This study objectively evaluates the competitiveness of international container intermodal competitiveness of hub ports and analyzes the characteristics of 16 Chinese ports from 2011 to 2020. The obstacle degree model (ODM) and the panel Tobit model considering random effects are utilized to explore the complex multidimensional elements affecting the competitiveness of intermodal transport in ports. In addressing the imbalanced characteristics of intermodal transport in ports, a variety of augmentation pathways are devised using the dynamic multi-time period fuzzy-sets qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method. The results found that: (1) The competitiveness of intermodal transport in ports shows a “three echelons” structure, requiring the implementation of appropriate augmentation strategies. (2) Elements affecting the competitiveness of intermodal transport in ports are multidimensional, underscoring the significance of holistically considering internal and external elements. (3) The key to enhancing the competitiveness of intermodal transport in ports lies in striking a balance between economic development and prudent attention to multiple dimensions to ensure sustainability. This study enriches the empirical research on intermodal transport in ports. It provides valuable references for ports seeking new avenues of growth and for governments with effective management practices.

Consumers' adoption intention to Metaverse applications: An exploration through fsQCA approach

AbstractMetaverse is an emergent technology that facilitates consumer interaction and participation in various activities within an integrated virtual environment. Considering the Metaverse's swift growth, comprehension of the perspectives and inclinations of its prospective users is critical. Considering configuration and complexity theories, this article examines the causal patterns of factors and fragmented perspectives concerning using Metaverse applications (M‐apps). It does so by examining how functional (ease of use, privacy), social (interactivity, presence), and personality (locus of control, openness to experience) factors combine as causal configurations to describe consumer adoption (MTA). Hence, fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis is employed to empirically examine the proposed configurational model by analyzing a sample of 372 Chinese consumers of different M‐Apps. The notable MTA was determined to be explained under four distinct solutions with varying configurations of function, social, and personality in various combinations. The findings of this paper's complexity analysis constitute a scholarly and practical contribution to consumer acceptance of M‐apps, allowing for the customization of Metaverse functionality to meet every consumer's needs.

Sustainable recycling management: configuration of risk factors and resilience strategies

PurposeRecycling is associated with positive social and environmental impact, but previous studies have overlooked the cost of recycling operations. Based on the dynamic capability view, the purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate risk factors and resilience strategies within the recycling industry, prioritize these factors and identify the optimal combination of resilience strategies and risk factors to improve market performance.Design/methodology/approachThe research questions were addressed in three subsequent studies. In Study 1, qualitative interviews were conducted to identify risk factors and strategies to mitigate those risks. In Study 2, quality function deployment methodologies were implemented via case studies derived from three different companies. Based on the results of Studies 1 and 2, in addition to the use of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, Study 3 aimed to determine the optimal combination of risk factors and strategies impacting market performance.FindingsThe results across the three studies revealed a number of risk factors as well as which risk factors and resilience strategies have the greatest impact on market performance. Specifically, it was found that higher levels of readiness, response and recovery strategies lead to greater market performance, whereas weak readiness, response and recovery strategies, along with low societal, environmental and health and safety risk factors, significantly inhibit performance.Originality/valueThis research extends current understandings of market performance in relation to recycling industry management and offers insight for decision-makers toward combating significant risk factors in business-to-business settings.

Exploring the combination of individual and organizational–environmental factors in the expression of radical and incremental creativity

AbstractInnovative products and services are key factors in corporate competitiveness, and the expression “employee creativity” is the top priority factor in leading corporate innovation. This study aims to investigate the differences between the predictive variables for the expression of radical and incremental creativity and the combinations of the predictive variables, which aid in the expression of two types of creativity. A research survey was conducted with 600 employees working in newspaper, broadcasting, and film businesses. The results were derived by conducting a fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fs/QCA) on 513 useful samples. Using necessity and sufficiency analysis of a fs/QCA, the results indicate that the three personal factors—job expertise, creative process engagement, and work engagement—are commonly required for two types of creativity. Conversely, organizational–environmental factors, a risk‐taking climate, and external networking behavior are only predictive variables of radical creativity. This study's results provide insights regarding the personal and environmental resources that employees must secure to express radical and incremental creativity. Because a clear difference was found in the factors required for the expression of the two types of creativity, based on the results of this study, Human Resource Development(HRD) can devise an effective method to support the expression of the two types of differential creativity.

INTERACTIVE ORIENTATION OF ADOLESCENTS IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL SPACE

Relevanse. The paper presents the results of a research of interactive orientation in the context of its influence on the communication of adolescents in the inclusive educational space. Methodology. Methods: comparative analysis, quantitative and qualitative analysis of the obtained data using mathematical and statistical methods, generalization of conclusions. The sample of research consisted of 240 students (aged 11 - 14), 30 of whom had special needs (18 boys and 12 girls). The experimental base of our study was 14 inclusive classes of Ukrainian schools. Results. The obtained results provide grounds for statement that the orientation towards interaction is more characteristic of teenagers with typical development than their peers with special needs. A moderate negative correlation was found between interactive and marginal orientations. Therefore, adolescents who strive for interaction are less infantile and more capable of adequate perception and acceptance of the interlocutor. Conclusions. The importance and peculiarities of the interactive orientation of adolescents who are participants in the inclusive educational space have been revealed. This determines the importance of socio-psychological activities to reduce the level of concentration on personal interests or tendency to marginalization and, thus, increase the level of adaptability in communication, as teenagers with typical development and their classmates who have special needs. This will contribute not only to the optimization of the inclusive educational space, but also to the expansion of their opportunities for selfrealization in various spheres of society.

Evaluating REDD+ progress and results-based incentives in Sri Lanka: A comparative analysis across Southeast and South Asian countries

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of REDD+ progress in South and Southeast Asian nations, investigating the intricate relationship between specific conditions and outcomes. Utilizing a two-step Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), it identifies the Outcome Enabling Configurations (OEC) that drive successful REDD+ results through transformational change (TC). The amalgamation of conditions observed in Sri Lanka demonstrates moderate effectiveness in REDD+ readiness and implementation. Key QCA insights underscore the significance of active participation in forest conservation, government policies shifting from conventional forest practices, and accessible funds for performance-based incentives, underpinned by formal commitments among stakeholders. Inferences drawn emphasize the need to synergize remote and proximate conditions within institutional and policy frameworks, propelling transformative change in REDD+ policies. Concurrently, interventions in existing forest, climate change, and REDD+ policies are pivotal to enhance core aspects and mitigate pressure on forest resources. Moreover, dynamic monitoring and adaptability are vital for advancing REDD+ goals, particularly in the evolving landscape of developing nations’ implementation.

Reconceptualizing Franchisee Performance: A Configurational Approach in a Base‐of‐the‐Pyramid Context

AbstractThis paper proposes and tests a new conceptual framing for franchisee performance that draws on institutional complexity to explore the interaction of corporate, market, and relational logics of performance. Extant research draws on corporate and market logics to explain performance; however, this does not explain individual franchisee performance in complex institutional environments such as Base‐of‐the‐Pyramid (BoP) markets where relational logics may be more important, thereby limiting explanations of how franchisee outlets perform. Drawing on data from a network of 58 franchise outlets in the context of Kenya, we conduct a configurational analysis related to sales outcomes. We leverage fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to map out the conditions under which franchisees exhibit higher sales performance. Results show that three distinct configurations can lead to increased sales performance. Our results paint a nuanced picture of combinations of factors that result in franchisee success with relevance to the BoP context and beyond.

Mindfulness and psychological capital: examining the role of intention from the person perspective in a multi-week mindfulness training program

PurposeWhen evaluating the efficacy of mindfulness interventions, most studies take a linear approach to explore how an intervention impacts different outcomes for individuals, and rarely is the role of intention examined. This research takes a configural approach to consider how various elements of a participant’s training expectations and their experience in the training condition combine to predict increases in psychological capital.Design/methodology/approachEmployees from hospital settings were randomized into three conditions (mindfulness training, active control (Pilates), and wait-list control group) and completed surveys at three time points (baseline, post-training and three months post-training). A qualitative comparative analysis was applied to see what combinations of motivational elements were associated with increases in psychological capital.FindingsWe find that all three conditions can boost their psychological capital based on different configurations involving efficacy beliefs, baseline states of well-being (psychological capital and perceived stress) and changes in levels of mindfulness and perceived stress.Research limitations/implicationsIndividual characteristics, like motivation, expectancy and baseline needs, are an important consideration in addition to the training condition itself when determining whether a training is efficacious.Practical implicationsIt is of increasing importance that organizations find ways to support employee well-being. Offering a variety of psychological and physical interventions can improve psychological capital. Applying needs assessments that clarify the desires, needs and expectations employees hold may help with intervention efficacy.Originality/valueThe current study offers an innovative methodology through which realist evaluation approaches can consider multiple factors to predict outcomes.

Corporate governance for sustainable development: A study on mechanism configuration

There is a dearth of configuration analysis on the factors that constitute corporate governance mechanisms within the framework of corporate sustainable goals in existing literature. Specifically, the impact mechanisms related to various combined mechanisms have not been comprehensively defined. This study employs Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) approach to explore the effects of various configurations of corporate governance mechanisms on sustainable development, based on a sample of 2959 Chinese listed companies. Our analysis identifies four distinct pathways that facilitate the achievement of sustainable development goals: 1) enlarging board size, providing managerial incentives, establishing sustainability committees, and enhancing corporate transparency; 2) promoting board diversity, providing managerial incentives, establishing sustainability committees, and enhancing corporate transparency; 3) reducing ownership concentration, providing managerial incentives, establishing sustainability committees, and enhancing corporate transparency; 4) encouraging individual investment, providing managerial incentives, establishing sustainability committees, and enhancing corporate transparency. Additionally, a comparative analysis of different pathways has revealed substitutional relationships between board size and diversity, ownership concentration and investor structure, while highlighting the complementary relationship of managerial incentives, sustainability committees, and corporate transparency. Challenging the erstwhile linear research paradigm, this study contributes to understanding the pathways for achieving sustainable development goals from a configurational perspective and elucidates the relationships between corporate governance mechanisms. It offers novel and comprehensive evidence for examining the intricate nexus between corporate governance mechanisms and sustainable development. Keywords: Stakeholder theory; Sustainable development; Corporate governance mechanisms; Mechanism configurations; fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA).

The heterogeneous paths to improve eco-environmental quality in China: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

The heterogeneous paths to improve eco-environmental quality in China: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

The bold decision to go “all in”: Understanding the reasons behind consumers' willingness to migrate to the metaverse

AbstractThe study explores the reasons that drive and hinder consumers' willingness to migrate to the metaverse. To determine them, a mixed‐methods approach is used: phase 1 (qualitative) involves conceptual development of a model based on in‐depth consumer interviews, and in phase 2, the conceptual model is empirically tested via structural equation modeling. Results show that social presence is a crucial enabler, while realistic and symbolic threats are significant inhibitors of the willingness to migrate. Preusage cognitive dissonance significantly mediates the relationships between social escapism, social pressure, realistic threat, symbolic threat, and willingness to migrate. Specifically, the mediating influence between empowerment and willingness to migrate is higher for individuals with low metaverse anxiety. Results of the artificial neural network technique indicate that social presence is the most significant antecedent of willingness to migrate, and results of the fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis highlight the presence of six distinct configurations that indicate a high willingness to migrate. This study enriches the behavioral reasoning theory by examining the interplay of the reasons influencing the willingness to migrate. Further, it contributes to the intergroup threat theory by investigating the potential link between willingness to migrate and the presence of realistic and symbolic threats.

Exploring the push-pull factors influencing parenting efficacy of fathers of children with ASD: a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis.

This study aimed to explore the core factors and configurations influencing parenting efficacy for fathers of children with ASD in Western China by using a configuration analysis. Understanding the push-pull factors related to parenting efficacy for fathers raising children with ASD can support the fathers of children with ASD to participate in education affairs and improve the quality of family education, which is of significant importance to both individuals and society. This study recruited 156 fathers of children with ASD from China. The results suggested that there was more than one (sub) configuration for achieving a high level of parenting efficacy among fathers of children with ASD. (b) The configurations could be summarized into three main types as follows: "working within the system*flexible working time," "high level of education*high level of other support," and "severe disability*fewer interaction with wife." (c) The two variables, "family income" and "community support," were not as important as they were shown in previous studies, and their effects often depended on how they interact with other variables. Findings highlighted the validity of deploying configuration analysis (based on the ecosystem theory) to establish the relationship between independent variables and the parenting efficacy of fathers of children with ASD. The discovery of more than one configuration led to a new consensus on how multiple factors influence parenting efficacy. Implications were suggested for practitioners, policymakers, and future research alike.

How Brick-znd-mortar Bookstores Can Survive in Desperate Times in the Internet Era — A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of the Operation Status of 40 Physical Bookstores in 8 Provinces

With the rapid development of the Internet era, physical bookstores have suffered setbacks in their development and are exploring survival measures. This study investigates the profitability path of physical bookstores in the Internet era, provides guidance for bookstores to provide products and services in the new environment, and provides a theoretical basis for the government to formulate policies to help physical bookstores and other real economy to develop in a high quality. The study uses fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to explore the impact of six conditions, such as diversification and economy of scale, technology and automation application, on the profit and loss of physical bookstores. The study identifies the necessary condition as well as the configuration influence paths for the profitability of physical bookstores in the context of the Internet, analyses how physical bookstores can target their development according to different paths, and puts forward practical suggestions.

A Systematic Review of Applications of Generative Design Methods for Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Energy efficiency is a principle of architectural design that reduces environmental impact. Generative design can offer alternative options to improve energy efficiency in buildings, but significant gaps exist in the application due to accessing complex knowledge. This study aimed to explore publications on generative design and energy efficiency in buildings and identify generative methods for energy efficiency topics. This study conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA methodology in December 2023 by searching publications from databases including Scopus, Google Scholar, and Thai Journals Online. Descriptive analysis examined 34 articles, showing the publication year, source, and citations. Comparative qualitative and descriptive analysis identified generative methods. Publications are increasing over time, and further growth is expected related to the accessibility of computational design and practical applications. Tools and frameworks demonstrated reduced energy usage compared to prototypes or traditional design approaches. The most studied is thermal performance, which was reduced by 28%. Energy performance achieved up to a 23.30% reduction, followed by others and daylighting. In addition to single-topic studies, there are also studies with multiple topics. Evolutionary algorithms are standard. Parametric search strategies have increased. Exploration reveals rule-based and mixed methods. Machine learning and AI garner attention.

Enhancing SMEs resilience through digital innovation: a stage-based analysis

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), inherently vulnerable entities, prompting a pivotal question of how to enhance SMEs’ organizational resilience (OR) to withstand discontinuous crises. Although digital innovation (DI) is widely acknowledged as a critical antecedent to OR, limited studies have analyzed the configurational effects of DI on OR, particularly stage-based analysis.Design/methodology/approachUnderpinned by the dynamic capabilities view, this study introduces a multi-stage dynamic capabilities framework for OR. Employing Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), digital product innovation (DPI), digital services innovation (DSI) and digital process innovation (DCI) are further deconstructed into six dimensions. Furthermore, we utilized fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore the configuration effects of six DI on OR at different stages, using data from 94 Chinese SMEs.FindingsFirst, OR improvement hinges not on a singular DI but on the interactions among various DIs. Second, multiple equivalent configurations emerge at different stages. Before the crisis, absorptive capability primarily advanced through iterative DPI and predictive DSI. During the crisis, response capability is principally augmented by the iterative DPI, distributed DCI, and integrated DCI. After the crisis, recovery capability is predominantly fortified by the iterative DPI, expanded DPI and experiential DSI. Third, iterative DPI consistently assumes a supportive role in fortifying OR.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the extant literature on DI and OR, offering practical guidance for SMEs to systematically enhance OR by configuring DI across distinct stages.

Translating Laughter: A Critical Examination of Humor in three Arabic Versions of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn

Translating Laughter: A Critical Examination of Humor in three Arabic Versions of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn

An fsQCA approach to identifying pathways to K-9 students’ online learning engagement

Student engagement has been shown to function as a pathway leading to valued educational outcomes. This study used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to reveal how various configurations of sex, grade level, teaching presence, social presence, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and parental support lead to high online learning engagement (OLE) in a sample of 516 compulsory education (K-9) students from three provinces in Central and Eastern China. The results indicated that eight configurations of the conditions were required to attain high OLE. Of these, one configuration was sufficient to explain high OLE for all students regardless of sex and grade level, five different configurations lead to high OLE for elementary school students, and one configuration explained high OLE for boys and girls regardless of grade level. Identifying these specific configurations could help teachers to design and provide personalized online learning experiences that enhance student engagement.

Drivers of adaptive resilience of public sector organizations: an investigation into the individual characteristics of hybrid professional managers

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of resilience of public sector organizations. Drawing from Upper Echelons Theory, this study investigates the relationship between configurations of demographic and background characteristics of hybrid professional managers and organizational adaptive resilience. Specifically, it focuses on heads of 34 Italian public clinical laboratories in the Veneto Region during the first wave of the pandemic. Based on fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, the findings show four different combinations of attributes that lead to high levels of adaptive resilience. A key role is played by being a female manager and possessing a high level of organizational tenure.

Technological Capabilities on Business Outcomes: Evidence from Meta-Analysis and FsQCA

ABSTRACT A meta-analysis of 161 empirical studies analyzed technological capabilities (TC) through meta-analytical structure equation modeling (MASEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Our findings show that TC has mean positive effect size estimates across business outcomes. The combinative approach of TC presents different insights about its impact on various business outcomes. This approach highlights a theoretical view while attempting to understand the impact of TC on business outcomes.