The property of being causal – The conduct of qualitative comparative analysis in information systems research

2022 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Anton, Eduard; Oesterreich, Thuy Duong; Teuteberg, Frank

Abstract: Grounded in configuration and complexity theory, qualitative comparative analysi ... Expand

Abstract: Grounded in configuration and complexity theory, qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) combines the ad­ vantages of case-based and variable-oriented methods for rendering complex information systems (IS) phe­ nomena comprehensible. Given its manifold benefits, the QCA method has attracted considerable attention in IS research, with an increasing number of studies employing it as their methodological approach. Based on a comprehensive review and synthesis of recent QCA practices from the IS field, covering 12 years of research, we outline the most prevalent research gaps and limitations concerning QCA’s methodological application prior to identifying issues for further improvement as well as highlighting future research directions. Collapse

Topics: IS impact accounting IS discipline information system use innovation management

Methods: literature study structured literature research bibliometric analysis case study literature sample

Theories: theory of reasoned action social exchange theory fuzzy set theory

Three Personality Trait Combinations for Agile Employees: The Relationship Between the Big Five and Agile Mindset

2022 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Emmerich, Philip; Eilers, Karen; Peters, Christoph; Salomo, Soeren

Abstract: Agile IT projects need employees who not only follow agile structures but have ... Expand

Abstract: Agile IT projects need employees who not only follow agile structures but have a specific attitude called the agile mindset. While the relevance of the agile mindset is clear, findings on when it can be developed, are very limited. Stable personality traits, like the big five, influence attitude. Providing how these traits interact with the agile mindset gives orientation regarding in which cases an agile mindset is more trainable than in other cases. To investigate these relationships, we conducted an online survey with 327 students of a project management lecture. As a result of our SEM and QCA analysis, we found three combinations of personality traits that influence the agile mindset including different extents of conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness and neuroticism. We deepen and extend the theory around the agile mindset and enable practitioners to choose data-driven cases for development activities. Limitations and future research based on these results are given. Collapse

Topics: personality project management IT project fuzzy logic

Methods: structural equation modeling survey qualitative comparative analysis factor analysis conceptual modelling

Theories: big five model fuzzy set theory

Avoiding High Opportunism Is Easy, Achieving Low Opportunism Is Not: A QCA Study on Curbing Opportunism in Buyer–Supplier Relationships

2018 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Mellewigt, Thomas; Hoetker, Glenn; Lütkewitte, Martina

Abstract: Past research on how opportunism in buyer-supplier relationships can be mitigate ... Expand

Abstract: Past research on how opportunism in buyer-supplier relationships can be mitigated remains incomplete and often contradictory. Applying recent advances in qualitative comparative analysis to a sample of 137 buyer-supplier relationships in the German automotive industry, we show that there are multiple equifinal pathways to high and low opportunism. In general, our study shows that it is easier to avoid high opportunism than to consistently achieve low opportunism. On this basis, we offer new insights into countering opportunism for researchers and managers. Achieving low opportunism requires a combination of governance mechanisms, which are generally not interchangeable. In particular, relational governance mechanisms in isolation seem to be more restricted than prior research has suggested but form a powerful synergistic combination with complex contracts. Although formal governance mechanisms lack enforceability, the coordination and monitoring that they provide are critical in both avoiding high opportunism and achieving low opportunism. Performance ambiguity is especially difficult to manage. Overall, our paper shows the power of configurational approaches and encourages the development of new theory that adopts a situational contingency perspective. The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2018.1227. Collapse

Topics: asset specificity interorganizational relationship procurement management anonymity fuzzy logic

Methods: survey qualitative interview post-hoc analysis regression analysis method statistical hypothesis test

Theories: fuzzy set theory transaction cost economics

Leveraging Big Data Analytics to Improve Quality of Care in Health Care: A fsQCA Approach

2018 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Wang, Yichuan

Abstract: Academics across disciplines such as information systems, computer science and h ... Expand

Abstract: Academics across disciplines such as information systems, computer science and healthcare informatics highlight that big data analytics (BDA) have the potential to provide tremendous benefits for healthcare industries. Nevertheless, healthcare organizations continue to struggle to make progress on their BDA initiatives. Drawing on the configuration theory, this paper proposes a conceptual framework to explore the impact of BDA on improving quality of care in health care. Specifically, we investigate how BDA capabilities interact with complementary organizational resources and organizational capabilities in multiple configurations to achieve higher quality of care. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), which is a relatively new approach, was employed to identify five different configurations that lead to higher quality of care. These findings offer evidence to suggest that a range of solutions leading to better healthcare performance can indeed be identified through the effective use of BDA and other organizational elements. Collapse

Topics: big data organizational value database system decision making fuzzy logic

Methods: survey conceptual modelling PLS tool descriptive statistic fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis

Theories: fuzzy set theory dynamic capabilities theory

Applying configurational analysis to IS behavioural research: a methodological alternative for modelling combinatorial complexities

2017 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 62

Authors: Liu, Yong; Mezei, József; Kostakos, Vassilis; Li, Hongxiu

Abstract: An important limitation of regression-based analysis stems from the assumption o ... Expand

Abstract: An important limitation of regression-based analysis stems from the assumption of symmetric relationships between variables, which is often violated. To overcome this limitation within IS research, we propose the use of the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA) method. The paper elaborates on the rationale for applying this approach to IS behavioural research and how to tailor FsQCA for this purpose. A systematic interpretation of the technique covering its mathematical properties and advanced features is provided. Drawing from an illustrative study of mobile government services adoption by residents of rural areas, the paper demonstrates FsQCA's potential to supplement regression-based IS behavioural research, by (i) examining asymmetric relationships between a set of antecedents and the IS phenomenon of interest, (ii) providing nuanced coverage of necessary and sufficient conditions for emergence of an IS behavioural outcome, and (iii) identifying various configurations of conditions in association with users' demographic characteristics. © 2015 Blackwell Publishing Ltd Collapse

Topics: usage intention fuzzy logic behavioral intention government system information system use

Methods: survey structural equation modeling survey design fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis theory development

Theories: fuzzy set theory information systems theory

The Antecedents of Transaction Costs in Digital Ecosystems: A Configurational View on the Interplay of App Architecture and Platform Governance

2017 | HICSS | Citations: 1

Authors: Dellermann, Dominik; Reck, Fabian

Abstract: The locus of value creation and innovation in the software industry is shifting ... Expand

Abstract: The locus of value creation and innovation in the software industry is shifting more and more to platform ecosystems on which numerous developers create extensions with additional functionalities based on the platforms core architecture. While such complementors may strongly profit from platforms, there are considerable costs. Recent studies therefore examined the costs of fitting apps to the specifications of certain platforms; however, these works largely neglect costs arising from the transactional relationship between platform and complementor. In order to shed light on this, our work examines how design choices of platform governance and app architecture impact the emergence of four types of cost-inducing hazards within the transactional context of the ecosystem. By using a configurational approach based on fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA), we display complex interactional effects of the causal conditions on complementors’ perception of hazardous environments and thus provide valuable insights for both practice and theory on platform ecosystems. Collapse

Topics: platform governance asset specificity mobile application digital ecosystem cloud computing

Methods: survey survey design regression analysis method factor analysis confirmatory factor analysis

Theories: transaction cost economics fuzzy set theory

Transactional quality, relational quality, and consumer e-loyalty: Evidence from SEM and fsQCA

2016 | International Journal of Information Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Fang, Jiaming; Shao, Yunfei; Wen, Chao

Abstract: Customer loyalty plays a vital role in the success of e-commerce. Based on loyal ... Expand

Abstract: Customer loyalty plays a vital role in the success of e-commerce. Based on loyalty development process framework proposed by Oliver (1997), we propose an integrated model including factors derived from both transactional and relational perspectives to investigate the formation mechanism of consumer loyalty to online vendors in the context of e-tailing. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were used to analyze the survey data collected from 664 online shoppers. SEM reveals the net effect of the antecedents on e-loyalty; while fsQCA provides the combinations of causal recipes associated with the loyalty. The results from fsQCA reveal that none of the sub-constructs of transactional quality or relational quality is sufficient conditions for e-loyalty. Moreover, consumer heterogeneity in term of gender, age, and shopping motivation results in dissimilar configurations to achieve e-loyalty. The research results provide insights to both theory and practice. Collapse

Topics: electronic commerce website internet technology missing data marketing management

Methods: structural equation modeling survey confirmatory factor analysis survey design descriptive statistic