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Analyzing inconsistent cases in Management fsQCA studies: A methodological manifesto

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  • 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.

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  • 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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    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.

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