IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v69y2016i4p1464-1470.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Analyzing inconsistent cases in Management fsQCA studies: A methodological manifesto

Author

Listed:
  • Nair, Lakshmi Balachandran
  • Gibbert, Michael

Abstract

Cases inconsistent with theoretical expectations are by default indicators for a lack of theory-data fit, and as such are prime candidates for theory building. However, the conventional tendency is to ignore inconsistent cases in Management research. The current article focuses on the theory-building prowess of inconsistent or deviant cases which turn up during an fsQCA study. The study looks at some of the key tenets of QCA: A cross-tabulation of cause and effect can demonstrate superior explanatory completeness only if one can account for all cases (be they deviant or not). To improve the neat theory-data fit characteristic of QCA, the paper proposes two new strategies for analyzing inconsistent cases of necessity and sufficiency in fuzzy set QCA studies and discusses their contributions to methodological sophistication.

Suggested Citation

  • Nair, Lakshmi Balachandran & Gibbert, Michael, 2016. "Analyzing inconsistent cases in Management fsQCA studies: A methodological manifesto," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 1464-1470.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:69:y:2016:i:4:p:1464-1470
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.126
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296315005494
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.126?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ragin, Charles C., 2000. "Fuzzy-Set Social Science," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226702773, April.
    2. Välikangas, Liisa & Hoegl, Martin & Gibbert, Michael, 2009. "Why learning from failure isn't easy (and what to do about it): Innovation trauma at Sun Microsystems," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 225-233, August.
    3. Mahoney, James & Goertz, Gary, 2004. "The Possibility Principle: Choosing Negative Cases in Comparative Research," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 98(4), pages 653-669, November.
    4. Michael Gibbert & Winfried Ruigrok & Barbara Wicki, 2008. "What passes as a rigorous case study?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(13), pages 1465-1474, December.
    5. Lijphart, Arend, 1971. "Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 65(3), pages 682-693, September.
    6. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226702766 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. David Levi-Faur, 2006. "A Question of Size?," Springer Books, in: Benoît Rihoux & Heike Grimm (ed.), Innovative Comparative Methods for Policy Analysis, chapter 0, pages 43-66, Springer.
    8. Karen Locke & Karen Golden-Biddle & Martha S. Feldman, 2008. "Perspective---Making Doubt Generative: Rethinking the Role of Doubt in the Research Process," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(6), pages 907-918, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Andrei-Mirel Florea & Alexandru Capatina & Riana Iren Radu & Constanța Serban (Bacanu) & Madalina Georgiana Boboc & Cristina Stoica (Dinca) & Mihaela Munteanu (Pila) & Iuliana Manuela Ion (Dumitriu) &, 2019. "Limiting Factors that Influence the Formation of Producer Groups in the South-East Region of Romania: A Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Nitesh Pandey & Satish Kumar & Corinne Post & John W. Goodell & Rebeca García-Ramos, 2023. "Board gender diversity and firm performance: A complexity theory perspective," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 1289-1320, September.
    3. Andrei-Mirel Florea & Florentin Bercu & Riana Iren Radu & Silvius Stanciu, 2019. "A Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) of the Agricultural Cooperatives from South East Region of Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Sascha Kraus & Domingo Ribeiro-Soriano & Miriam Schüssler, 2018. "Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) in entrepreneurship and innovation research – the rise of a method," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 15-33, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jack S. Levy, 2008. "Case Studies: Types, Designs, and Logics of Inference," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 25(1), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Gustav Lidén, 2013. "What about theory? The consequences on a widened perspective of social theory," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 213-225, January.
    3. Jaap Woldendorp & Hans Keman, 2010. "Dynamic institutional analysis: measuring corporatist intermediation," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 259-275, February.
    4. Brice Dattée & Oliver Alexy & Erkko Autio, 2018. "Maneuvering in Poor Visibility : How Firms Play the Ecosystem Game when Uncertainty is High," Post-Print hal-02276702, HAL.
    5. Lawton, Thomas C. & De Villa, Maria Andrea & Santamaria-Alvarez, Sandra Milena, 2024. "Making Sense of Socio-Political Risks in International Business: A Configurational Approach to Embracing Complexity," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(2).
    6. Eva Thomann & Anita Manatschal, 2016. "Identifying context and cause in small-N settings: a comparative multilevel analysis," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 49(3), pages 335-348, September.
    7. David Bedford & Mikko Sandelin, 2015. "Investigating management control configurations using qualitative comparative analysis: an overview and guidelines for application," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 5-26, April.
    8. Sophia Lee, 2013. "Fuzzy-set method in comparative social policy: a critical introduction and review of the applications of the fuzzy-set method," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 1905-1922, June.
    9. Wilhelm, Miriam & Blome, Constantin & Wieck, Ellen & Xiao, Cheng Yong, 2016. "Implementing sustainability in multi-tier supply chains: Strategies and contingencies in managing sub-suppliers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 196-212.
    10. Paiola, Marco & Khvatova, Tatiana & Schiavone, Francesco & Jabeen, Fauzia, 2022. "Paths toward advanced service-oriented business models: A configurational analysis of small- and medium-sized incumbent manufacturers11A previous version of the present article was presented at the EI," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    11. Gregory Jackson, 2004. "Toward a Comparative Perspective on Corporate Governance and Labour Management," Discussion papers 04023, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    12. Rey-Martí, Andrea & Tur Porcar, Ana & Mas-Tur, Alicia, 2015. "Linking female entrepreneurs' motivation to business survival," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 810-814.
    13. Jørgen Møller & Svend-Erik Skaaning, 2017. "Explanatory Typologies as a Nested Strategy of Inquiry: Combining Cross-case and Within-case Analyses," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 46(4), pages 1018-1048, November.
    14. Eelco van der Maat, 2021. "Simplified complexity: Analytical strategies for conflict event research," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 38(1), pages 87-108, January.
    15. Jonathan Aus, 2009. "Conjunctural causation in comparative case-oriented research," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 173-183, March.
    16. Wagemann, Claudius & Buche, Jonas & Siewert, Markus B., 2016. "QCA and business research: Work in progress or a consolidated agenda?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 2531-2540.
    17. Brzinsky-Fay, Christian, 2017. "The interplay of educational and labour market institutions and links to relative youth unemployment," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 27(4), pages 346-359.
    18. Gary Goertz & James Mahoney, 2005. "Two-Level Theories and Fuzzy-Set Analysis," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 33(4), pages 497-538, May.
    19. Mas-Tur, Alicia & Pinazo, Pablo & Tur-Porcar, Ana María & Sánchez-Masferrer, Manuel, 2015. "What to avoid to succeed as an entrepreneur," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(11), pages 2279-2284.
    20. Levi-Faur, David, 2003. "Comparative Research Designs in the Study of Regulation: How to Increase the Number of Cases Without Compromising the Strengths of Case-Oriented Analysis," Centre on Regulation and Competition (CRC) Working papers 30695, University of Manchester, Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:69:y:2016:i:4:p:1464-1470. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.