Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research Articles

Analyzing the configuration of the National Innovation System for Innovation Capability: evidence from Global Innovation Index reports

National innovation capability (NIC) is an important manifestation of economic development quality and international competitiveness. Previous studies focus mainly on the static impact of factors in the national innovation system on NIC in a given year. Research is still lacking on whether these factors have continuing, stable impacts on NIC in different economies. To fill this literature gap, this study uses fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to conduct cross-economy and cross-year comparisons and discusses how the five elements of the NIS jointly affected the NIC of different economies from 2011 to 2022. The results indicate that the necessity consistency of infrastructure for NIC shows a temporal trend. There are four paths to generating high NIC in high-income economies, but only two such paths for upper middle-income economies. The path combining human capital and research, market sophistication, and business sophistication can drive both types of economies to generate high NIC. The research results have improved the transparency of innovation paths and provided a reference for different economies to achieve sustainable development.

Perceptions and configurations of balanced scorecard use: evidence from Portuguese SMEs

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify managerial perceptions, as well as individual and organizational contingencies, that influence the use of balanced scorecard (BSC) among SMEs. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a mixed methods approach to study the use of the BSC from a survey database of 414 SMEs across several industries in Portugal. Findings This paper shows the perceived benefits, reasoning and obstacles that managers face when using the BSC in SMEs. The BSC is not the first choice for strategic management control of most firms in the sample. Most SMEs in this study have an explicitly formulated business strategy. The results show that it is possible to implement the BSC in SMEs without a formalized strategy. Such findings seem to suggest that the use of the BSC may stimulate the formulation of strategies for those firms. Research limitations/implications The use of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis limits the generalization of the findings; nonetheless, the transparency of the report enables replication without restrictions. Practical implications This paper proposes that the size of the firm and the characteristics of the manager may compensate for the absence of a strategy to guide BSC use. Social implications This paper advises a match between the stage of development of the SMEs strategy and the gender of the manager, which may have implications for recruitment purposes. Originality/value This study reports alternative configurations of individual and organizational conditions that lead to the use of the BSC in SMEs as well as configurations that prevent its use.

Green human resource management in a family business setting: a fuzzy set approach

ABSTRACT Sustainability in family businesses as an entrepreneurial initiative is an emerging research field. The literature assumes that owners, managers, and employees in family businesses adopt homogeneous sustainability practices as a global construct mixing social and environmental issues. However, green human resource management (GHRM), considered as an innovative process, is focused on understanding how regular managers and employees become green-oriented and aim for business sustainability by applying green policies and practices. Based on previous green HRM research, this study proposes to apply a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to identify the combinations of key practices observed in 513 family businesses in Quebec. This perspective helps to explain some of the boundary conditions and combinations of green HRM practices in family businesses based on more realistic insights by avoiding a merely linear analysis. We highlight four different pathways connecting green HRM system to economic performance. This study is the first to explore green HRM practices in family businesses. The paper concludes by discussing how the findings advance knowledge on sustainability in family business research.

Patterns of innovation-driven tourism competitiveness: Insights from 270 Chinese cities

This paper utilizes innovation ecosystem theory to examine how an innovation ecosystem (comprising economic, technological, labor, and institutional subsystems) promotes tourism competitiveness through internal interaction. Employing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis and necessary condition analysis techniques, this study assesses the necessity and sufficiency of an innovation ecosystem for high tourism competitiveness. Findings demonstrate that industrial structure and human capital innovations are requisite for tourism competitiveness, with the former being more universally applicable. Further, this study identifies an earlier innovation-driven mechanism for superior tourism competitiveness: leveraging industrial structure and human capital, and four contemporary innovation-driven mechanisms: leveraging industrial structure, leveraging policy, leveraging technology, and leveraging industrial structure and wages. The rationalization of industrial structure and human capital enhancement serve distinct bottleneck roles. This article contributes to understanding the link between innovation ecosystems and tourism and similarly suggests approaches for enhancing tourism competitiveness through innovation system development.

Navigating uncertainty: configurations of entrepreneurial behaviors for new venture performance

Purpose The entrepreneurial process often cannot be explained by a single entrepreneurial theory. Instead, it is more likely the result of the interaction between various entrepreneurial behavior patterns and different environmental conditions. However, existing research has frequently overlooked the complexity inherent in the entrepreneurial phenomenon. Building on a configurational perspective, this study aims to examine how new ventures can use different behavioral configurations to achieve high performance amid various uncertain environments. Design/methodology/approach Based on the survey data from 143 new start-ups in China’s software industry, this study uses fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Findings This study jointly considers multiple entrepreneurial behaviors − causation, effectuation and entrepreneurial bricolage and different types of environmental uncertainty − state uncertainty, effect uncertainty and response uncertainty. The findings reveal three behavioral configurations for high/nonhigh new venture performance. Originality/value This study expands previous insights into the relationship between entrepreneurial behaviors and new venture performance from the perspective of configurational theory. Moreover, it offers new insights into the types of uncertainty, further refining our understanding of the uncertainties inherent in entrepreneurial activities.

The moderating effect of system quality on the relationship between customer satisfaction and purchase intention: PLS-SEM & fsQCA approaches

The study aims to understand the antecedents of customer satisfaction that lead to high purchase intention, encompassing moderating role of system quality to achieve purchase intention. Theoretically, this research employs the technology acceptance model to examine the proposed relationship and complexity theory to employ fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) as a robust complementary method to the partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM). The proposed conceptual model is measured using data gathered from online customers in Bangladesh's electronic market. A survey of 311 e-commerce customers, using PLS-SEM and fsQCA models, reveals that factors influencing customer satisfaction are strongly linked to achieving purchase intention. The findings from PLS-SEM show that perceived ease of use and perceived enjoyment are highly supported by purchase intention. Similarly, system quality influences purchase intention and acts as a moderator. In the fsQCA analysis, hedonic motivation and perceived enjoyment are necessary conditions to achieve a high purchase intention. The hybrid models add the methodological contribution by combining both symmetric and asymmetric relationships, thereby providing a holistic understanding of system quality as a moderating factor to achieve high purchase intention, especially in the context of the e-commerce market in Bangladesh. This research outlines implications for the theoretical and managerial perspectives to build a better relationship between factors of satisfaction and purchase intention and enable policymakers to contribute better managerial decisions.

Examining consumers' perceptions of relationship value with retailers: a multi-method approach

PurposeThis study employs a multi-method approach to investigate how perceived relationship marketing investment affects perceived relationship value and consumer gratitude, influencing consumer involvement, word-of-mouth intentions, and long-term relationships across three retail consumer types.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyses a model involving 542 consumers, employing structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to identify distinctive factor configurations across public, semi-public, and private retail organizations.FindingsA retailer’s investment in relationship marketing significantly enhances relationship value and consumer gratitude, leading to increased engagement and word-of-mouth intentions. Perceived benevolence moderates the effect of relationship marketing on gratitude. However, gratitude alone does not ensure long-term relationships. Using fsQCA, we identify four distinct consumer configurations, providing nuanced insights.Research limitations/implicationsRetail organizations broaden relationship marketing strategies to boost perceived value and elicit consumer gratitude, influencing consumer performance outcomes.Practical implicationsRetail organizations should broaden relationship marketing strategies to boost perceived value and elicit consumer gratitude, influencing consumer performance outcomes.Social implicationsManagers should develop strategies that lead to consumer gratitude toward the firm, such as journey mapping can help visualize retail delivery. Grateful consumers may contribute to firms’ profitability by influencing current and potential consumers in their social networks and communicating their expertise through review/feedback for improvement. Therefore, various strategies are needed to stimulate positive comments from grateful consumers about the firm’s excellent performance.Originality/valueThis study builds on Lawler’s affect theory, highlighting how relationship value and consumer gratitude profoundly influence exchange process outcomes. It introduces new psychological mechanisms to explain the impact of perceived relationship marketing investment on performance outcomes. Integrating these elements provides a comprehensive understanding of retailer–consumer dynamics, revealing how emotional and psychological factors shape marketing strategies and business performance. This contribution enriches theoretical frameworks and offers practical insights for enhancing relationship marketing practices.

Exploring the synergy of logistics, finance, and technology on innovation

As global environmental challenges intensify, manufacturing firms face increasing pressure to innovate sustainably. Green innovation, characterized by the development of environmentally friendly products, processes, and technologies, has become essential for firms striving to remain competitive. This study aims to investigate the influence of key factors—green logistics, green finance, and green technology—on green innovation within manufacturing firms, while exploring the mediating role of green technology in these relationships. A multi-method approach was employed, combining partial least squares structural equation modeling, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, and necessity condition analysis. 447 responses were collected from manufacturing companies in Dhaka city, Bangladesh, using structured questionnaires. The analysis revealed that green logistics and green finance have a significant positive impact on green innovation, while the influence of the green work environment was found to be positive but statistically insignificant. Additionally, green technology was identified as a significant mediator in the relationships between green finance, green logistics, and green innovation. This study offers a comprehensive green innovation model while green technology is a mediator. Furthermore, this study advances the resource-based view theory by integrating green technology as a pivotal resource that enhances a firm's competitive advantage in sustainable markets. By adopting a multi-method approach, this research provides a rigorous examination of the research questions, offering a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic interactions between green finance, green logistics, and green technology in driving innovation. Thus, this research has thought provoking implications to prioritize investments in green finance, logistics, and technology, manufacturing firms can enhance their competitiveness, improve operational efficiency, and meet evolving environmental regulations and consumer preferences.

Investigating the Drivers of Firm Internationalisation: A Fuzzy Set Analysis Using Global Entrepreneurship Development Index Data

Firm internationalisation, a key driver of global economic growth, is influenced by various entrepreneurial resources. This study explores the relationships between human capital, risk capital, risk acceptance, opportunity perception, and firm internationalisation using cross-national data from the Global Entrepreneurship Development Index (GEDI). Employing fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this study analyzes data from 137 countries. The findings highlight two primary configurations driving internationalisation: (1) risk acceptance and opportunity perception, and (2) risk capital and opportunity perception. Opportunity perception emerges as a critical factor in both configurations, while human capital is not found to be a necessary condition. These results contribute to a better understanding of the factors that foster firm internationalisation and inform policies aimed at promoting global entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Configurational risks and innovation performance of complex product systems development: A fsQCA lens

Complex products and systems (CoPS) development demands effective risk management, which is frequently impeded by a lack of clarity regarding the impact of risks on performance. This study aims to investigate how multiple risks jointly affect innovation performance in CoPS projects. Based on the configurational theory and WSR framework, we use fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) with data from 97 CoPS projects and examine the combined effects of risks on innovation performance. We identify two types leading to high innovation performance and four patterns causing low innovation performance. The results verify the asymmetrical causality of the influence of risks on innovation performance in CoPS projects. The findings contribute to broadening the relationship studies of risk and innovation performance by adopting an empirical method in the context of CoPS. Moreover, our study can help managers implement flexible risk management activities within CoPS projects, by addressing several equivalent and distinctive paths.

A Configurational Perspective on the Quality of Managers’ Counterfactual Reflections

Counterfactual reflection (CFR)—thinking about “what might have been if”—can enhance learning from experience, but only if the CFR is high-quality. Yet, what shapes differences in CFR quality remains largely unknown. Because managers typically reflect on experiences by concomitantly considering relevant factors and their collective interdependencies, we suggest that CFR quality is causally complex. To investigate this possibility, we interviewed 129 managers. In these interviews, they reflected on recently concluded business-to-business negotiations. Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, we find three equifinal configurations of negotiation factors associated with high-quality CFR and eight associated with low-quality CFR. Drawing on the interviews, we identify managers’ ability to disentangle causal linkages in their past negotiation and their motivation for high-quality CFR in the present as plausible mechanisms underlying differences in CFR quality. We find high-quality CFR only following experiences where managers possess high levels of both situation-specific ability and motivation. In contrast, experiences that leave managers feeling unable or unmotivated due to high satisfaction, indifference, or defensiveness, are linked to low-quality CFR. Overall, our study advances understanding of why there are differences in CFR quality by linking past experiences with managers’ abilities and motivation. From a managerial perspective, we suggest that organizations avoid “one size fits all” approaches to CFR. Instead, we recommend actionable measures for both reflecting managers and their supervisors to address the specific reasons that prevent managers from engaging in high-quality CFR after their negotiation experiences.

Cooperative performance and lead firm support in cleaner production adoption: SEM-fsQCA analysis of precision agriculture acceptance in Vietnam

To drive sustainable agricultural development, farmers in developing countries must prioritize adoption of precision agriculture (PA) as a cleaner production practice. This study investigates factors influencing smallholder rice farmers' behavioral intention (BI) to adopt such technology in Vietnam. Data from 568 farmers was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). This study makes a significant contribution to extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) by demonstrating the substantial positive influence of lead firm support on the intention to adopt PA technology. Also, a key novelty of this research is its exploration of the moderating role of cooperatives’ performance in enhancing the effects of external support factors, such as government and lead firms. Additionally, the fsQCA indicates that the combination of strong external support from the government, lead firms, and cooperatives can foster high adoption intentions even under challenging internal facilitating conditions. The findings may be generalized beyond Vietnam to other developing countries to offer insights for policymakers, cooperatives, and lead firms to improve agricultural efficiency and productivity.

Factors Influencing University Students’ Continuance Intentions towards Self-Directed Learning Using Artificial Intelligence Tools: Insights from Structural Equation Modeling and Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis

This study investigates the intricate causal mechanisms of university students’ sustained use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for self-directed learning (SDL) within the theoretical framework of self-determination theory (SDT). Employing a convenience sampling strategy, 387 university students from China were included in the study. Methodologically, we employed structural equation modeling (SEM) for the measurement and causal analysis, and we employed fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) for the configurational analysis. The research results emphasize several important insights. Perceived usefulness, intrinsic motivation, and satisfaction play important roles in encouraging university students’ continuance intentions. Satisfaction emerges as a pivotal mediator, bridging the connection between perceived usefulness, intrinsic motivation, and continuance intention. The system quality, the information quality, and social interaction have significant positive influences on perceived usefulness. Perceived autonomy and perceived competence display strong correlations with both intrinsic motivation and satisfaction. Moreover, the results from the fsQCA show five configurations, in which the key factors collectively shape students’ continuance intentions through complex interactions through various configurations. The findings reveal diverse configurations by which university students form continuance intentions towards using AI tools for SDL, providing detailed insights into the profound and indirect impacts on forming continuance intention behaviors. This enriches and advances the current theoretical understanding.

How coolness drives Airbnb users’ behavioural intention: findings from asymmetric and symmetric approaches

ABSTRACT A brand’s perceived coolness enhances its appeal and can be crucial to brand success. Building on the model of goal-directed behaviour (MGB), this study investigates how the perceived coolness of Airbnb, influences consumers’ behavioural intentions regarding the platform. The proposed hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The study sample consisted of 557 U.S. travellers who had had an Airbnb accommodation experience in the past six months. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was subsequently employed to uncover the causal configurations of consumers’ desire and behavioural intentions toward Airbnb. The PLS-SEM results demonstrated the critical role of perceived coolness in influencing one’s desire and behavioural intentions toward Airbnb. The fsQCA findings suggested that causal configurations inform consumers’ behavioural intentions toward Airbnb across generations. Anticipated emotions applied to all configurations. This study extends the relevant literature by incorporating perceived coolness into the MGB model in the Airbnb context. Findings also contribute to the literature by revealing causal configurations via fsQCA. Airbnb providers should seek to develop and enhance the four identified facets of perceived coolness. The consumer market should also be classified generationally. The roles of anticipated emotions cannot be ignored.

Exploring the Impact of Social Robot Design Characteristics on Users’ Privacy Concerns: Evidence from PLS-SEM and FsQCA

Although an increasing number of studies explore the factors influencing users’ privacy concerns regarding social robots, the existing understanding of this issue remains largely fragmented. Previous studies have mainly focused on the "net effect" between variables, leaving the complexity of causal configurations, and the holistic impact of design characteristics of social robots on user privacy concerns remains unclear. Based on the Stimuli-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework and Communication Privacy Management Theory (CPMT), this study integrates social robot design characteristics such as Anthropomorphism, Warmth, Competence, and Transparency into causal configurations, and uses Perceived Privacy Risk and Perceived Privacy Control as mediating variables to propose a Comprehensive conceptual model. Based on valid data from a sample of 198 Chinese social robot users, this study conducted empirical analyses of the conceptual model using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (FsQCA). PLS-SEM results show that anthropomorphism, warmth, competence, and transparency are key factors influencing privacy concerns, and perceived privacy risk mediates the relationship between warmth, information transparency, and privacy concerns. The FsQCA results further validated the findings of PLS-SEM and identified five configurations of factor combinations that led to higher levels of user privacy concerns. Among them, the combination of high anthropomorphism design, high competence, and low warmth of social robots is the core configuration that leads to users’ privacy concerns. Overall, this study broadens our understanding of social robot users’ privacy concerns and reveals the causal complexity behind social robot users’ privacy concerns. It provides some theoretical and practical insights for subsequent scholars and designers.

Factors influencing user's health information discernment abilities in online health communities: based on SEM and fsQCA.

Online health communities have become the main source for people to obtain health information. However, the existence of poor-quality health information, misinformation, and rumors in online health communities increases the challenges in governing information quality. It not only affects users' health decisions but also undermines social stability. It is of great significance to explore the factors that affect users' ability to discern information in online health communities. This study integrated the Stimulus-Organism-Response Theory, Information Ecology Theory and the Mindsponge Theory to constructed a model of factors influencing users' health information discernment abilities in online health communities. A questionnaire was designed based on the variables in the model, and data was collected. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in conjunction with fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), the study analyzed the complex causal relationships among stimulus factors, user perception, and the health information discernment abilities. The results revealed that the dimensions of information, information environment, information technology, and information people all positively influenced health information discernment abilities. Four distinct configurations were identified as triggers for users' health information discernment abilities. The core conditions included information source, informational support, technological security, technological facilitation, and perceived risk. It was also observed that information quality and emotional support can act as substitutes for one another, as can informational support and emotional support. This study provides a new perspective to study the influencing factors of health information discernment abilities of online health community users. It can provide experiences and references for online health community information services, information resource construction and the development of users' health information discernment abilities.

What drives fulfilment and repeat visits among Asian domestic travellers: the application of IGSCA and fsQCA

ABSTRACT This study examines the critical role of domestic tourism as an alternative market to international tourism post-pandemic. It analyses travel motivations alongside perceived risks and safety to assess their impact on trip fulfilment and revisiting intentions. Data from 846 respondents in China, South Korea, and Thailand revealed patterns. Integrated Generalized Structured Component Analysis (IGSCA) and Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) were used to discern the relationships influencing the desire to return. Findings highlight ‘arousal’ and ‘social sharing’ as essential for low-level fulfilment, while ‘self-actualization’ and ‘social sharing’ are key for high-level fulfilment. ‘Perceived safety’ significantly affects both levels of fulfilment, which in turn affect the intention to revisit. FsQCA identified specific necessary conditions and configurations predicting the two types of fulfilment and the intention to revisit domestic destinations.

Research on the configuration of factors influencing safety citizenship behavior of construction workers based on fsQCA

ABSTRACT Objectives. How to promote the safety citizenship behavior (SCB) of construction workers has been studied in academic circles. However, most current research methods focus on the ‘net effect' between the independent variable and SCB. Methods and Results. Based on the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method and from the perspective of ‘configuration’, this article proposes that the emergence of SCB not only depends on a single condition, but also depends on the interaction of safety leadership behavior (SLB), organizational safety climate (OSC), organizational safety support (OSS), safety attitude (SA), safety motivation (SM), safety risk perception (SRP) and psychological belonging (PB). Conclusion. The research shows that the emergence of construction workers’ SCB can be realized through different combinations of variables, and both ‘external environment-driven' and ‘interpersonal relationship-driven' paths can promote the generation of SCB. This research provides a more systematic and practical explanation for how to promote the generation of SCB of construction workers, expand the research scope of safety management and play a positive role in reducing the incidence of safety accidents in the construction industry.

High-quality marine economic development in China from the perspective of green total factor productivity growth: dynamic changes and improvement strategies

High-quality marine economic development (HMED) is regarded as a new development pattern of the marine economy in China. This paper aims to examine the dynamic changes and improvement strategies of HMED from the perspective of the green total factor productivity (GTFP) growth. First, the GTFP growth of the marine economy in China’s coastal regions for the period 2007–2020 is calculated using the bootstrapped Malmquist index. Second, the dynamic changes and spatial impacts of the GTFP growth are characterized using kernel density estimation (KDE). Moreover, a novel analytical framework to study the improvement strategies of the GTFP is developed. Within this framework, the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method is used to explore the paths to achieve HMED. The findings show that: (i) the GTFP growth for coastal regions shows significant fluctuations, suggesting that a stable pattern of marine economic development has yet to be established; (ii) the regional distribution of GTFP growth varies significantly, with provinces with fast GTFP growth gathering resources from neighboring provinces, resulting in a siphon effect; (iii) for coastal provinces that lack certain development conditions, the combined effect of other advantageous factors can be used to achieve HMED. Finally, this study presents policy recommendations for achieving HMED, which can provide insights into the design of China’s future marine economic policies.

Destination image and personality in workation tourism

ABSTRACT Workation represents an emerging and intriguing alternative type of tourism that integrates work and leisure. While it has gained substantial popularity, scholarly research in this field has been relatively constrained, particularly regarding the role of destinations. This study addresses this research gap by investigating the most salient attributes characterising an ‘ideal workation destination’. We present a theoretical model integrating components from the destination image and personality frameworks and employ fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis on a sample of 213 individuals. Compared to past work exploring the workation concept, experiences, and workationer characteristics, our research focuses on the attributes of destinations that make them attractive for this emerging tourism trend. The findings categorise workationers based on the destination attributes they prioritise, identifying three main groups: outdoor enthusiasts, extroverts, and hipsters. Understanding workationers’ diverse preferences regarding destination attributes enables tourism providers and destination management organisations in remote and undiscovered destinations to tailor their offerings and attract tourism flows seeking unique work-leisure experiences. This approach can support the revitalisation of these areas, enhancing their appeal and sustainability.