Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research Articles

Ecosystem Services Approach in Turnicki National Park Planning: Factors Influencing the Inhabitants’ Perspectives on Local Natural Resources and Protected Areas

Despite changing paradigms in nature conservation, protected areas, such as national parks, remain key tools for nature conservation. Today, protected areas are perceived as socio-ecological systems, therefore using an ecosystem services approach may help in their designation. Here, we focus on the planned Turnicki National Park located in the far eastern part of the Polish Carpathian Mountains and conflict between proponents of the park establishment and local stakeholders. We used an ecosystem services-driven questionnaire survey among local communities to analyze interactions between the perception of ecosystem services and opinions about national parks, and the role of social and economic status in shaping these opinions. We found links between opinions towards national parks and other factors: age, life span in a municipality, level of education, and an average net income. Respondents who perceived benefits from nature were more positive towards national parks in general and the Turnicki National Park specifically; however, those who prioritized provisioning services were more skeptical. Also, we distinguished four Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis models which describe factors shaping opinions on national parks, respectively. The study has shown that the ecosystem services lens perspective can help in exploring the factors crucial while establishing the protected areas in specific social and economic context. The main implication for the study is careful consideration of the role of national park to protect the local environment in harmony with social needs and economic development.

The Sustainability Journey of Chinese Ready-Meal Companies Going Global: Configurational Analysis Using the Technology-Organization-Environment Framework.

In the new wave of globalization, China's pre-cooked meal industry has rapidly emerged as a significant player in the food supply chain domain, owing to its convenience and diverse choices. Amidst intensifying market competition, crafting a sustainable supply chain for overseas expansion has become an indispensable core element for driving corporate internationalization. This study focuses on the sustainability generation mechanism of the overseas supply chain of Chinese pre-cooked meal A-share listed companies, employing the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method. Herein, an in-depth analysis of 388 data points from 17 listed companies has been conducted. The study systematically reveals the key factors affecting the sustainability of overseas supply chains and identifies three critical sustainability generation paths: the technology-driven and norm compliance model (path 1), the market sensitivity and product innovation model (path 2), and the robust operation and risk control model (path 3). The present study not only introduces a novel perspective on the application of a TOE framework within the realms of sustainable supply chain management and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria but also offers clear directions for companies to enhance sustainability in their overseas expansion process. This includes strengthening technological research and development, compliance construction, market adaptability, product diversity, infrastructure construction, and risk management. Moreover, the research findings provide valuable insights for policymakers in promoting the internationalization of the pre-cooked meal industry and enhancing industry competitiveness.

Risk culture and employee performance for optimal organizational success: the mediating role of employee satisfaction and employee engagement

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of risk culture on employee performance by exploring the mediating roles of employee satisfaction and employee engagement in the relationship between risk culture and employee performance. Design/methodology/approach The study employed partial least squares-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess both the direct effects and mediation effects, using a sample of 311 employees from the banking and insurance sectors. In contrast to PLS-SEM, a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) technique was also applied to discern the causal configurations that lead to improved employee performance. Findings The findings revealed a significant direct effect of risk culture on employee performance, employee satisfaction and employee engagement. The findings also revealed that employee satisfaction significantly mediated the relationship between risk culture and employee performance, whereas the mediating role of employee engagement is partially significant. The fsQCA findings illustrated that a diverse combination of risk culture dimensions, employee satisfaction and employee engagement can result in enhanced employee performance. Practical implications This study provides important implications for the banking and insurance industries, suggesting that organizations should prioritize the development of a strong risk culture to improve employee-related outcomes such as performance, satisfaction and engagement, which are key factors for achieving optimal organizational success. Originality/value The paper specifically highlights the importance of integrating risk culture into human resource management, providing valuable insights for organizations seeking to enhance their risk management practices and culture.

Multiple pathways to organizational legitimacy: Information visibility, organizational listening, and cross-sector partnerships

Given the critical role of legitimacy in attracting key resources for organizational survival and growth, organizational and strategic communication research has long sought to understand the mechanisms essential in improving organizational legitimacy. Guided by stakeholder research and configurational thinking, we examine three interconnected communication mechanisms for relationship management in organizational legitimation: (a) information visibility, (b) organizational listening, and (c) cross-sector partnerships. Based on survey and archival data from 44 U.S. nonprofit organizations, we employed a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to identify the pathways to high or low organizational legitimacy. Our results reveal the combinations of these factors can complement or substitute for one another to explain legitimacy. Specifically, high pragmatic legitimacy requires effective listening to stakeholders and collaborating with government agencies. By contrast, in low pragmatic legitimacy, organizations are often hindered by limited capacity for information visibility, ineffective listening to stakeholders, and no collaboration with corporate partners. These results suggest theoretical contributions to stakeholder research in public relations and organizational and strategic communication scholarship, as well as practical implications for improving organizational legitimacy for mission-driven organizations.

Research on the Configuration Paths of Low-Carbon Transformation of Heavily Polluting Enterprises

In the context of escalating environmental and climate concerns, it is imperative for enterprises to embark on carbon emission reduction initiatives. Exploring the driving pathways for corporate low-carbon transformation is crucial for the development of a green economy. In this paper, various configuration pathways that may drive heavily polluting industrial enterprises towards green and low-carbon transformation were investigated based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) theoretical framework and the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method. The results indicated the following: (1) the low-carbon transformation of heavily polluting enterprises is the result of the joint action of multiple factors; (2) there are eight pathways that can promote corporate low-carbon transformation, roughly divided into single-factor driving types (including MEA drive, DT drive, and GI drive), dual-factor driving types (DT–ER drive and DT–ESGR drive), and multi-factor driving types (including GI–DT–MEA–ER drive, GI–FS–ER drive, and GI–FS–ESGR drive). It can be concluded that there can be certain substitutions between green technology innovation and digital transformation, and environmental regulations and ESG ratings. (3) GI and DT are crucial to the low-carbon transformation of heavily polluting enterprises, and the latter has a more significant impact on promoting low-carbon transformation. MEA is also worthy of attention. The research conclusions not only provide theoretical support for the low-carbon transformation of heavily polluting industrial enterprises but also have valuable reference significance for other industry enterprises, and even the whole of society, to achieve green sustainable development.

Forging Innovative Leadership: The Power of Agility, Diversity, and Risk-Taking Configurations

Innovation is crucial for achieving and maintaining a competitive edge, especially evident in the digital business landscape, where the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions are occurring concurrently. Leadership behavior significantly influences the direction of organizations toward innovation. This study investigated whether a propensity for risk taking, along with a commitment to diversity and agility, promotes or impedes leaders’ innovative behavior. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis was employed to assess the data gathered from an online survey of 119 global leaders. The results exposed four distinct routes to fostering innovative behavior and three paths leading to noninnovative behavior that should be evaded. All conditions play a vital role in triggering innovative behavior. Conversely, the lack of these conditions can result in noninnovative leadership. This study’s novelty rests on the empirical evidence it provides about the paths guiding leaders toward innovative behavior and avoiding the danger of noninnovative leadership. These findings can assist managers and HR departments in pursuing certain paths for hiring and training managers to boost innovative behavior and preclude paths leading to noninnovative conduct.

Examining Generative AI User Intermittent Discontinuance from a C-A-C Perspective

As a passive behavior, intermittent discontinuance may lead to user defection and undermine the continuous development of generative artificial intelligence. From a cognition-affect-conation perspective, this research examined the enablers and inhibitors of generative AI user intermittent discontinuance. We adopted a mixed method of structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The results indicated that privacy concern and information hallucination influence cognitive dissonance, which further leads to intermittent discontinuance. In contrast, perceived intelligence, anthropomorphism, and personalization influence affective commitment, which prevents intermittent discontinuance. The results imply that generative AI companies need to be concerned with both cognitive dissonance and affective commitment in order to prevent user intermittent discontinuance.

HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT PLAY A ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIG DATA INDUSTRY? BASED ON THE fsQCA RESEARCH OF 31 PROVINCES AND CITIES IN CHINA

This study employs fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to explore factors influencing the development of the big data industry in 31 provinces and municipalities in China. By analyzing eight representative variables across four dimensions—new infrastructure construction, data resources and applications, government services, and resource input—the study aims to uncover configurations and pathways that affect industry growth. The results reveal four effective strategies: combining infrastructure with data application, integrating government services with data application, coupling infrastructure with resource investment, and focusing solely on government services. Core variables such as optical cable length, policy environment, and service environment require governmental intervention to foster development. Therefore, continuous enhancement of new infrastructure construction, supporting the development of small and medium-sized Enterprises in big data, strengthening the big data industry and government service environment, and increasing investments in talent and capital are recommended to drive industry progression.

New public management marketizers versus Neo-Weberian state modernizers? Institutional configurations of social impact bond utilization among 18 OECD countries

ABSTRACT Social Impact Bonds (SIBs), a New Public Management (NPM)-style commissioning model, contain elements of other reform framings, widening their appeal and potential for variation in differing reform contexts. This study implements a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), seeking configurations explaining SIB uptake across 18 OECD countries. The two high-utilization configurations produce an Anglo-American model of NPM marketizers and a European model of Neo-Weberian State (NWS) modernizers, whereas the four low-utilization configurations include exclusively NWS modernizers and maintainers, suggesting SIBs as a fertile case study of public management reform tools adapting and trajectories merging in differing national administrative cultures and contexts.

Factors influencing continuance intention in blended learning among business school students in China: based on grounded theory and FsQCA

ABSTRACT This research study aims to explore the factors that influence continuance intention in Blended learning (BL) among business school students in China. By employing a grounded theory approach and utilizing the Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (FsQCA) method, the research investigates the complex interplay of various variables that contribute to business school students’ intention to continue participating in BL programs. The study includes a comprehensive analysis of factors such as self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, task-technology fit, social influence, and satisfaction. The findings provide valuable insights into the factors that drive business school students’ continuance intention in BL, specifically within the business school context in China. Moreover, the study highlights the non-linear relationships and various configurations of these factors that result in high levels of continuance intention. The results contribute to the existing knowledge base and inform educational institutions in designing effective strategies to enhance business school students’ engagement and promote the long-term success of BL initiatives.

Social media marketing and brand loyalty: exploring interrelationships through symmetrical and asymmetrical modeling

Purpose This study aims to examine the interrelationships between social media marketing activities, self-brand connections, brand equity, trust and loyalty. Design/methodology/approach A total of 402 valid responses were collected from Amazon MTurk, and the data were subjected to partial least squares structural equation modeling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Findings Findings indicate that social media marketing activities strongly and positively influence self-brand connection, brand equity and brand trust. Moreover, brand loyalty was strongly and positively influenced by self-brand connection, brand equity and brand trust. Moreover, the findings from fsQCA indicate that three causal paths lead to a high level of brand loyalty, and one causal path determines a low level of brand loyalty. Originality/value This research extends current knowledge by bridging the literature between social media marketing activities and branding using self-brand connections. Additionally, this study uses the strength of two complimentary methods – symmetrical and asymmetrical modeling – to uncover how social media marketing activities bridge customer-brand relationships.

Why users continue E-commerce chatbots? Insights from PLS-fsQCA-NCA approach

ABSTRACT The study investigates the drivers of intention to continue using chatbots. Data were collected from 476 users and analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS), fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), and necessary condition analysis (NCA) approaches. Based on PLS results, all technology continuance theory (TCT) relationships were verified except for the influence of confirmation and perceived ease of use on perceived usefulness. Information, service, and system quality influence perceptions. Social avoidance and distress positively moderate the impact of attitude on continuance intention. fsQCA revealed five configurations of variables resulting in high continuance intention, and NCA identified perceived ease of use and system quality as necessary conditions. The study extended the literature by identifying the predictors of continuance intention to use chatbots, enriching TCT, demonstrating the moderating influence of social avoidance and distress, and using the PLS-fsQCA-NCA approach. The findings offer practical implications for businesses, enabling them to retain chatbot users.

Examining generative AI user addiction from a C-A-C perspective

The rapid development of generative AI represented by ChatGPT has attracted a large number of users, but also brings problems such as user addiction, which may undermine its sustainable development. Drawing on a cognition-affect-conation (C-A-C) perspective, this research examined generative AI user addiction. We used a mixed method of structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to conduct data analysis. The results show that perceived anthropomorphism, perceived interactivity, perceived intelligence, and perceived personalization influence flow experience and attachment, both of which further affect user addiction. The fsQCA revealed three configurations triggering user addiction, among which flow experience and attachment are the common core conditions. The results imply that generative AI companies need to prevent user addiction and ensure a sustainable development.

Immersive time in the metaverse and visits to the physical world: why not both? A holistic customer engagement framework

Purpose Through the theoretical lenses of media richness, perceived realism and customer engagement, this study aims to investigate the mechanisms that promote customer engagement in metaverse-mediated environments in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) context, as well as the impact of customer engagement on customers’ metaverse usage intensity and future visit intention. Design/methodology/approach A survey of customers who have experience with metaverse-mediated MICE activities was conducted. Data from 267 respondents were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to test our research framework. Findings Media richness dimensions, including multiple cues, immediate feedback and personal focus, were found to enhance perceived metaverse realism, which in turn affects the dimensions of customer engagement, leading to customers’ metaverse usage intensity and future visit intention. The fsQCA analysis identifies three configurations that lead to high event visit intention. Practical implications This research helps developers and marketers better understand how rich media contents create realistic experiences in the metaverse, aiding them to devise strategies for customer engagement and improve resource allocation. Originality/value Despite its potentially revolutionary impacts, empirical studies on the mechanisms driving customer engagement in the metaverse and its effects are scarce. This study contributes by revealing the multiple-phase mechanism of the customer engagement journey in the metaverse-mediated MICE context. By expanding the media richness theory into this area, our study provides new insights by illustrating how media richness dimensions create multisensory experiences and real-time interactions, enhancing perceived metaverse realism and customer engagement. It also addresses the debate on whether metaverse-mediated events substitute or complement real-life events.

Why co-working spaces in an analogical environment exhibit different recovery abilities under the COVID-19 shock? Evidence from China

Although co-working spaces have attracted significant attention as a type of platform organisation in the sharing economy, little is known about why some spaces faced with an analogical environment demonstrate obvious differences in recovery abilities after sudden shocks, such as the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To understand this novel phenomenon, we collected data from the Chengdu high-tech zone and employed grounded theory and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify the possible causal configurations for high levels of resilience in small and medium-sized platform organisations. Our findings reveal that (1) there are five antecedent configurations that multi-morphologically lead to the same outcome; (2) compared with other antecedent conditions, networking ability and diverse value co-creation with customers play more important roles in the formation of a high level of co-working spaces’ resilience; (3) under certain circumstances, a substitutional relationship exists between industrial experience and communication ability; and (4) when the endogenous factors of organisations (e.g. their abilities and resources) coincide with complex external environments, organisational resilience is expressed. In this manner, our study contributes to the organisational resilience literature and research on co-working spaces. Some practical suggestions for the sustainable development of co-working spaces are also provided.

Internationalization of Clusters: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) of Township Industrial Clusters

This study aims to examine the internationalization of clusters, a driving force of the rising of multinational firms from emerging markets. We explored the question from the knowledge and relational dimension of clusters. We examine how the configuration of four factors, namely, component knowledge, architecture knowledge, horizontal competition, and vertical coordination, within a cluster jointly affect the degree of cluster internationalization by utilizing the Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method. Using Data of 34 township clusters in Suzhou City, China, we identified three models that lead to a high cluster internationalization level.

Drivers of innovation in infrastructure development projects: A configurational analysis of boundary spanning roles

Innovation can provide new opportunities to improve project efficiency. However, enabling innovation is challenging, especially in public infrastructure development projects. Several impeding factors, such as limited contractual incentives and complexity, are prevalent in contract-based collaborative environments. Literature suggests that boundary spanners play an important role in driving innovation by seizing opportunities. This study aims to identify configurations of boundary spanning roles in typical project situations— varying in contract type and complexity— to facilitate innovation. The empirical data is from 58 projects and analyzed using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). Results show that depending on the project conditions in terms of contract type and complexity, different combinations of boundary spanning roles can be taken up by project managers or other team members to facilitate innovation. This study highlights that in high-complexity situations, boundary spanning roles play a critical role in maintaining good relationships with collaborators, which is instrumental in developing innovation.

A study on the configuration of factors influencing overweight and obesity in adolescents based on fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis

AbstractObjectiveOverweight and obesity among adolescents are grave public health issues around the world. Although the conditions that contribute to obesity have been extensively researched, little is known about how multiple conditions interact to cause overweight and obesity. The current study intends to investigate the histomorphic configuration pathways of several conditions of adolescent overweight and obesity by gender.MethodThe data came from a social survey conducted in June 2021 in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. The sample collected was 14‐year‐old adolescents, including 167 boys and 137 girls. The school physicians examined the participants' weight and height, and questionnaires were used to collect risk indicators from adolescents, such as sleep duration, electronic screens times, consumption of sugary drinks and fried foods, and physical activity. Simultaneously, a Fuzzy Qualitative Comparative Analysis will be performed to investigate the combinations of diverse conditions.ResultWe found that there is no determining necessary condition that, once present, directly determines that an individual is in a state of overweight and obesity. Simultaneously, this study revealed nine alternative configurational paths of overweight and obesity in teenagers of different genders, with a concordance of 0.805 for six male groupings and 0.916 for three female groupings. The outcomes of overweight obesity in adolescents under different genders are similar but not identical.ConclusionThis study examined the interactions of a number of conditions from the individual, behavioral, learning and living environment that led to the same overweight obese outcome among adolescents of different genders. Our research will be useful to policymakers in that interventions should take into account the combined effects of a number of different aspects rather than focusing on a single factor that causes overweight and obesity.

Configurational paths of entrepreneurial activity: An analysis based on the technology–organization–environment framework

AbstractEntrepreneurial activity is crucial for economic progress and resolving societal issues. Utilizing the technology–organization–environment (TOE) theoretical framework, this study builds a systematic model to investigate the trajectories of entrepreneurial activities across 31 provinces in China from 2019 to 2021. We employ the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method. Our analyses indicate that (1) multiple factors impact both high entrepreneurial activity and non‐high entrepreneurial activity; entrepreneurial activity is significantly different between advanced and catching‐up regions; (2) there are two types of paths that lead to high entrepreneurial activity, namely technology driven and technology–institution driven. These paths are dynamic, gradually transitioning from technology driven and technology–institution driven to industry–resource driven; and (3) non‐high entrepreneurial activity may result from poor technological infrastructure and lack of human capital. These findings elucidate the different routes through which entrepreneurial activity is generated in China and offer valuable theoretical and practical insights.

Factors that affect individuals in using digital currency electronic payment In China: SEM and fsQCA approaches

While China's Central Bank digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) presents certain advantages over third-party payment platforms like WeChat and Alipay, its promotion faces bottlenecks and research gaps. This study employs the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to construct a research model that identifies the various factors influencing individual adoption of DCEP. By gathering 401 surveys, this study validates the hypotheses and relationships between variables using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). Additionally, it employs the fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method to explore the factors that impact adoption intention. The SEM results reveal that perceived security, perceived usefulness, and comparative advantage significantly and positively influence the willingness to use DCEP, while perceived security and perceived usefulness also positively influence comparative advantage. Furthermore, the study finds that comparative advantage serves as an intermediary in the relationships between perceived security and usage intention, perceived security and usage intention, and perceived usefulness and usage intention. Interestingly, the fsQCA analysis reveals that privacy concerns, while commonly regarded as an important factor in affecting electronic payments, did not significantly impact usage intention in the SEM analysis. However, combining privacy concerns with other variables significantly influences usage intention. This study suggests that the analysis of factors influencing DCEP usage should be wider than single-factor analysis and account for the effects of multiple-factor combinations.