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AbstractAlthough 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that the relationship between a supervisor and a subordinate is crucial in shaping employee voice behaviour. However, where these relationships originate needs to be clarified. Studies on relational schemas suggest that the quality of these relationships depends on the relational schemas held by both leaders and subordinates. Unfortunately, these two research areas have developed independently and have yet to intersect, which limits our understanding of how social interactions between leaders and subordinates impact employee voice behaviour. Based on research from both domains, the current study examines how the supervisor–subordinate relational schema affects employees' voice behaviour. Our proposal, grounded in complexity theory, suggests that the expectations of both leaders and subordinates about their relationship model determine whether employees choose to voice their opinions to their leaders. Analyses of data from a survey of 416 matched pairs of leaders and subordinates in China conducted using fsQCA and LPA largely support our view. The results indicate that the configuration of the supervisor–subordinate relational schema among leaders and subordinates can predict the level of employee voice behaviour. Additionally, this configuration is a natural subset of the population. These findings have important implications for improving employee voice behaviour in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) on socio-technical transitions to develop a theoretical model for analyzing the stable operation of regional innovation ecosystems. Focusing on 30 provinces in China, it employs Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) and Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to systematically examine the configuration paths driving their stability. First, the findings reveal that innovation actors, resources, driving policies, industrial regulations, infrastructures, and the innovation environment are not individually necessary for stability. However, infrastructure is identified as a critical core condition. The study highlights a complex causal relationship and synergistic interplay among the six antecedent conditions. Second, the research identifies two paths to highly stable operation in regional innovation ecosystems: the ‘Innovation Actor + Infrastructure’ path and the ‘Infrastructure’ path. Finally, the results show that configurations for highly and non-highly stable operations exhibit causal asymmetry, indicating ‘different paths to the same destination.’ This study deepens theoretical insights into regional innovation ecosystems and offers actionable strategies for their stable operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the introduction and implementation of core literacy, scientific thinking (ST) has become an essential goal and key dimension of science teaching. At present, there is no agreement on how to cultivate students' ST. This study took 238 sixth grade students from a public primary school in urban China as research sample, built a theoretical model of scientific thinking development based on the theory of the Bronfenbrenner' ecological systems theory, and used multiple data to explore and analyze the impact path of ST development of primary school students using the fuzzy sets of qualitative comparative analysis method (fsQCA). The development of urban primary school students' ST is the result of multiple factors at the level of individual drive, family environment, school teaching, and social resources. The result of data analysis showed that the influence path of ST development of urban primary school students driven by multiple factors includes three paths: parent participation leading, scientific practice leading, and home-school-community integration. We have interpreted the influence mechanism of each path in detail and put forward the enlightenment for science education policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual low-carbon behavior (LCB) plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions and achieving climate mitigation goals to build a low-carbon society. Based on data collected from college students in Xi'an City, this study proposes a Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA) integrated framework that simultaneously considers eight elements and analyzes their combinatorial effects on the LCB of college students through the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis ( fsQCA) method. The analysis results show that: (1) low-carbon knowledge (LK) is a necessary condition for the implementation of LCB among college students and, along with behavioral intention (BI), plays universal and important roles in LCB implementation. (2) the combination of MOA conditions can be summarized into four different paths affecting LCB implementation among college students: 1) publicity and education (PE)-driven under the motivation-dominant mode; 2) the opportunity-pull mode; 3) enjoyment perception (EP)-driven under the motivation-dominant mode; and 4) the ability-push mode. (3) Each mode represents different characteristics and coupling paths to achieve LCB implementation among college students. This study enriches the literature on LCB and provides potential implications for guiding college students' LCB and improving low-carbon management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green innovation plays a critical role in attaining carbon neutrality and supporting high-quality economic development in China; however, its promotion remains challenging. Hence, this study uses asymmetric innovation theory and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore the drivers of green innovation in China's complex regional environments. Using data from 30 Chinese provinces, it investigates the combined effects of factors at the market, institution, and technology levels on regional green innovation. The findings indicate the following. (1) R&D investment is necessary for high-level green innovation, whereas its absence is a necessary condition for low-level green innovation. (2) Three configurations produce high-level green innovation, and these configurations coalesce into demand--regulation--subsidy--technology-driven and competition--technology-driven paths. (3) Four configurations result in low-level green innovation, and the antecedent configurations of high-level and low-level green innovation have an asymmetric relationship. This study adds to the understanding of the causal configurations that promote green innovation and provides valuable insights for policymakers in China and other developing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates the pathways for adopting IoTs and BDA technologies to improve healthcare management. Design/methodology/approach: The study relied on 445 healthcare professionals' perspectives to explore different causal pathways to IoTs and BDA adoption and usage for daily healthcare management. The Fussy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis was adopted to explore the underlying pathways for healthcare management. Findings: The empirical analysis revealed six different configural paths influencing the acceptance and use of IoTs and BDA for healthcare improvement. Two key user topologies from the six configural paths, digital literacy and ease of use and social influence and behavioural intentions, mostly affect the paths for using digital health technologies by healthcare physicians. Research limitations/implications: Despite this study's novel contributions, limitations include the fsQCA methodology, perceptual data and the context of the study. The fsQCA methodology is still evolving with different interpretations, although it reveals new insights and as such further studies are required to explain the configural paths of social phenomena. Additionally, future research should consider other constructs beyond the UTAUT and digital literacy to illustrate configural paths to healthcare technology acceptance and usage. Again, the views of healthcare professionals are perceptual data. Hence future research on operational data will support significant contributions towards pathways to accept and use emerging technologies for healthcare improvement. Lastly, this study is from a developing country perspective where emerging digital healthcare technology is still emerging to support healthcare management. Hence, more investigation from other cross-country analyses of configural paths for digital technology deployment in healthcare will enhance the conversation with IoTs and BDA for healthcare management. Practical implications: Holistically, the acceptance and use of healthcare technologies and platforms is not solely on their capabilities, but a combination of distinct factors driven by users' perspectives. This offers healthcare administrators and institutions to essentially reflect on the distinct combinations of conditions favourable to health professionals who can use IoTs and BDA for healthcare improvement. Originality/value: This study is among the few scholarly works to empirically investigate the configural paths to support healthcare improvement with emerging technologies. Using fsQCA is a unique contribution to existing information system literature for configural paths for healthcare improvement with emerging digital technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When it comes to revitalizing rural areas and securing their population, food tourism can play a useful role. As such, there is a need for an in-depth analysis of the characteristics of the food tourism market, in order to better tailor it to tourists' demands. Accordingly, this paper centres on the analysis of satisfaction as a tool for better understanding these tourists and ensuring the tourism offer is appropriately oriented towards the elements that influence their satisfaction. To do so, this paper takes a subsector within this niche market and conducts a survey of food tourists, yielding a total of 489 responses. A semi-qualitative model is applied to those responses, with the sample divided into domestic and international tourists. The results show that international tourists' satisfaction relates to a comprehensive offer of activities, while the potential offer for domestic tourists is more flexible. These results can help to better understand the complex behaviour of tourists who engage in this type of tourism and to design adequate strategies to ensure their satisfaction, involving the provision of different sets of activities that take into account different tourist segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced technologies pave the way for a variety of technology-based inventions, especially economic integrations. The idea of mobile commerce has been under consideration for the past decade. Mobile users are gradually shifting from traditional modes of payment to cashless mobile applications. After COVID-19, the use of e-modes for payments in our daily routine lives increased significantly, which requires further investigation of the factors affecting the adoption of mobile payment (M-payment) applications. Given that, this study aims to investigate the adoption of M-payment through the application of UTAUT-2 theory while extending it with monetary benefit. The data were collected from 302 respondents who were the current users of JazzCash and Easypaisa. Furthermore, this study furnishes a deeper understanding of the proposed model by utilizing the partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fsQCA approach. The findings of this research highlight that performance expectancy, price value, habit, and monetary benefit are the major and more effective motives that influence the adoption of M-payment in Pakistan. Further, the findings of this study provide an in-depth insight into consumer perspective about the major indicators that influence the adoption of M-payment and can also help practitioners deploy an appropriate strategy for their M-payment application. This study is the pioneer in evaluating the adoption of M-payment in the developing economy of Pakistan through UTAUT-2 theory with additional variable of monetary benefit offered by JazzCash and Easypaisa in terms of cashback, discounts, and perks that drive the adoption intention for M-payment. More importantly, this study also extends the prior studies by utilizing the asymmetrical approach with symmetrical findings to explore the causal configurations (i.e., the combination of UTAUT2 antecedents) predicting the adoption of M-payment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can organizational culture be intentionally changed? And if so, what are the pathways to success versus failure? We address these questions by employing a configurational perspective, which allows us to examine the impact of multiple combinations of employee perceptions and traits on planned organizational culture change. Although employees have long been the focus of culture change research, the complex interactions of factors affecting their reactions have been largely ignored. With such a focus, the study empirically identifies pathways to successful versus failed organizational culture change, drawing rare empirical evidence from 59 interviews and secondary data from one of the longest surviving examples of industrial democracy, John Lewis Partnership, which underwent change geared away from a 'civil-service' towards a high-performance culture. Applying a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), we identify multiple equifinal combinations of employee perceptions and traits (e.g., perceived organizational support, empowerment, and tenure) associated with successful or failed organizational culture change. Interestingly, we find more pathways leading to positive (i.e., 'comparing', 'acquitting', and 'tolerating') versus negative (i.e., 'disillusioning' and 'dissociating') reactions to culture change. We leverage these findings to show that employee reactions are more complex than currently considered, illustrating the value of a configurational perspective in such efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firms' strategies and business model themes (BMTs) entail choices that create a configuration of interdependent elements that ultimately affect a firm's performance. So far, extant studies on BMTs (i.e. novelty, efficiency, complementarity and lock-in) have neglected an explorative analysis of how configurations of BMTs and the choices of a firm's strategy (namely, the source of the competitive advantage and the market scope) are associated with a firm's performance in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We address this limitation by analysing a sample of 96 small firms using a configurational approach. We identified four equifinal configurations leading to high performance and five equifinal configurations associated with low performance. Overall, our results suggest that in small firms, it is essential to combine a differentiation strategy with either consistent pairs of BMTs or the search for new avenues of value creation and capture, while featuring too many BMTs might be detrimental to their growth. Our study contributes to the scholarly debate about the relationship between business models and strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to empirically explore how firms configure centrifugal and centripetal forces in promoting breakthrough innovation (BI), thus improving their strategic performance (SP) in the artificial intelligence (AI) context. Design/methodology/approach: This study applies the centrifugal and centripetal forces model to a survey sample of 285 Chinese AI firms. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and propensity score matching (PSM) are integrated to explore the configurational effects of three centrifugal forces—the autonomy of technical experts, knowledge search and alliance network—and two centripetal forces—strictness of organisational institutions (SOI) and human–human–AI collaboration (HHAC)—on BI, examining whether the configurations that enhance BI can further improve SP. Findings: The results indicate that the strictness of innovation institutions (SII) and strictness of ethical institutions (SEI) are equally important for determining SOI. Three configurations can improve BI when SOI and HHAC are the core conditions; only one of three configurations can further improve SP significantly. Originality/value: By introducing SOI composed of equally important levels of SII and SEI and HHAC, this research is one of the few empirical studies to explore the mechanisms behind the impact of centrifugal and centripetal forces on BI and SP, which may help researchers and managers address innovation challenges in the AI context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowdfunding platforms have emerged as a promising contemporary means for mobilising collective civic actions to address local or social issues, improve community cohesion and develop the public good. This empirical study taps into the understudied civic crowdfunding platforms (CCP) developed to facilitate such actions, proposing, supporting and funding public‐interest projects through crowdsourcing and microfinancing. Previous studies have shown that individuals' characteristics affect their level of civic engagement with social issues. Considering the diversity of contributor motivations, we aim to shed light on the dynamics of emergent subpopulations of citizens who participate in CCPs. To this end, we use a sequential mixed‐methods approach to integrate our fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) findings with the results of an in‐depth qualitative study, to gain rich and robust inferences and meta‐inferences. In Study 1 (n = 316), we used fsQCA to explore five distinctive configural profiles that display the heterogeneity of civic backers' motivations, including civic champions, prosocial advocates, normative supporters, reward seekers and regret‐averse contributors. In Study 2, we corroborated and complemented our fsQCA inferences through an extreme‐case study and identified four boundary conditions. Taken together, our inferences and meta‐inferences address the heterogeneity of motivations for participating in CCPs, by understanding and theorising about diverse profiles of citizen backers. Finally, we offer practical implications for successful civic crowdfunding initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes’ perfectionism is influenced by personality, which in turn leads to differences in athletic performance. This study investigates the intricate relationship between perfectionism and the Big Five personality traits, particularly within the context of athletes. We apply fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to survey data to identify which personality combinations lead to perfectionism. The study sample selected through purposive sampling from various sports disciplines within Macao and Anhui Province. Personality traits and perfectionism levels were assessed using the Simplified Chinese Big Five Personality Questionnaire (CBF-PI) and the Chinese Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Questionnaire (CFMPS). Results indicate that neuroticism and conscientiousness are crucial in predicting perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings, respectively. Three personality configurations leading to perfectionistic concerns were identified, with high neuroticism, high conscientiousness, low extraversion, and low openness being core conditions. Four configurations leading to perfectionistic strivings were identified, with low neuroticism, high conscientiousness, high agreeableness, and either high extraversion or high openness as core conditions. The study reveals the complex interactions between personality traits and challenges the variable-centered research approach. The results underscore the importance of understanding the multidimensionality and complexity of perfectionism in athletes and offer directions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric power generation safety incidents can lead to severe consequences, including casualties and widespread power outages. Previous research has mainly focused on the mechanisms and causal relationships of accidents. However, these incidents result from multiple factors working together, lacking systematic analysis. This study examines 161 electric power generation safety incidents from 2015 to 2022, utilizing Grounded Theory for coding to construct a causal model. The derived model is used as a conditional variable for fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), with accident severity as the outcome variable. Forty-five cases are selected for assigning values, and R language and fsQCA software are integrated for univariate necessary condition analysis, followed by configurational analysis. Results show the Grounded Theory-derived causal model includes six factors: human unsafe behavior, equipment factors, enterprise safety management, on-site safety management, safety qualifications of personnel, and environmental factors. Necessary condition analysis indicates incidents result from multiple conditions. Configurational analysis identifies seven paths condensed into three types: management deficiency, low safety qualifications, and unsafe behavior. Recommendations are proposed for each type, discussing intrinsic connections between variables based on conditional variables in configurational paths. The aim is to reduce electric power generation safety incidents, ensure personnel safety, and guarantee continuous electricity supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new digital technology revolution is spurring corporate digital transformation. Presently, the majority of enterprises are still in the digitalization stage. They have yet to pinpoint the key factors and suitable paths for their transformation. Therefore, this study aims to determine which and how factors affect this transformation to improve the current enterprise's digital transformation. We extract key elements affecting corporate digital transformation. Taking 98 representative businesses as examples, we utilize the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis approach (fsQCA) to investigate how different factors combine to achieve digital transformation. The results show that: (1) No single factor can achieve digital transformation for enterprises, as it requires a combination of multiple factors. (2) Four configuration paths can lead to corporate digital transformation. (3) A business can equivalently substitute resource consolidation with strategic planning and human resources to drive digital transformation. This study offers multiple paths for achieving corporate digital transformation to guide businesses in their choice of digital transformation pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intricate and challenging environments profoundly impact enterprise development. Consequently, enhancing organisational resilience (OR) has emerged as a pressing concern. To demystify this, we draw on dynamic capability theory and employ fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to investigate how digital innovation (DI) synergistically configures across R&D, Production, and Scene dimensions to bolster OR over distinct periods. Focusing on 73 Chinese ‘specialized, refined, differentiated, and innovative’ (SRDI) SMEs, results show that (1) the single DI dimension is not necessary for OR, and the multi-dimensional DI synergy effectively enhances OR. (2) In each period, there are three equivalent DI configurations to improve OR. (3) In multi-period comparative analysis, DI configuration with R&D, Production, and Scene as constant core conditions manifests ‘turning trajectory’, ‘expansion trajectory’, and ‘transition trajectory’, respectively, in enhancing OR. This study expands the research perspective on SRDI SMEs and provides new theoretical and practical ideas for rationally configuring DI synergy across different periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how academic staff achieves career satisfaction (CS) and life satisfaction (LS) under direct and different configurations of servant leadership (SL) dimensions. Using a survey of academics in Spain, China, and Pakistan, this study uses Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the direct relationship, and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to find configurations of SL dimensions that lead to career and LS. Direct relationships revealed that in each country, almost all dimensions failed to create any individual impact on CS and LS. The fsQCA results revealed an asymmetric relationship between the different SL dimensions and outcomes. Prior SL, CS, and LS research has primarily relied on symmetrical correlational methods. This is one of the first studies to use fsQCA in SL, CS, and LS in higher education literature. Furthermore, there is significantly limited research on SL in a cross-country setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unveiling the spatial and temporal distribution of urban ecological resilience and analyzing the configuration paths for enhancing its levels are crucial for promoting sustainable development in China. Our study integrates the DPSIR and EES models, considering the causal relationships between systems affecting urban ecological resilience while also examining their internal structures. Based on this, we construct an evaluation system for urban ecological resilience indicators. Utilizing the entropy-TOPSIS method, we assess the ecological resilience index (ERI) across 280 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2021, and the kernel density estimation and Markov chain are used to study the evolution process while the magnitude and source of spatial–regional differences are examined by the Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition method. Additionally, we empirically investigate the driving mechanisms toward high ERI with the focused stepwise quantitative case analysis (fsQCA) method based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework. The results find that the ERI in China shows a tendency of moderate growth in variability, with an obvious gradient distribution: higher levels in the eastern and southern and lower levels in the western and northern regions. Also, ERI exhibits evolutionary features of increasing polarization and inter-regional differentiation. Spatial disparities gradually increase with fluctuations, driven primarily by transvariation density and intra-regional differences, contributing to a dual non-equilibrium state of east–west and north–south directions. Achieving a high ERI is influenced by various antecedent variables interacting with each other, and there are three predominant driving paths among these variables, with the level of informatization playing a central role in each pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As governments in various countries and regions issue tourism-friendly policies in the post-pandemic period, the voices for tourism consumption recovery and innovative transformation have attracted great attention. Many scholars, experts and industry professionals in the field of festivals are actively exploring efficient solutions for festival marketing and sustainability. It is worth rethinking tourists' consumption psychology and perceived image regarding exiting festival products as well as the antecedents that affect festival loyalty. The Qingdao International Beer Festival, as one of the most influential festivals in China, was selected as the research case for this study. The main goal of this study was to investigate festival consumption promotion mechanisms by proposing a conceptual framework in which the associations between destination familiarity, product familiarity and loyal intentions (re-patronage and recommendation) were examined with mediators of overall festival image, perceived value and overall satisfaction. The moderating role of visitor involvement in the proposed framework was also adequately demonstrated. Moreover, the causal recipes for loyalty intentions have also been identified by employing a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and a necessary condition analysis (NCA). The research findings are expected to provide a significant reference for the recovery and improvement in competitiveness of the entire festival industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe interaction between autonomous vehicles (AVs) and pedestrians has gained significant attention, leading to the exploration of external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs) equipped on AVs to facilitate effective communication. While existing research suggests that perceptions of vehicle appearances may influence interactions between pedestrians and AVs, a comprehensive study on the eHMIs related to AV appearance remains lacking. Therefore, we conducted a virtual reality (VR) experiment to investigate how AV appearances affect pedestrians’ acceptance regarding Awareness, Intent, and Harmony during interactions with various eHMIs. Leveraging the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method, we identified specific combinations of AV appearances and eHMIs that yield either high or low-performance interactions. For example, our findings reveal that text displays exhibit high performance in terms of awareness on AVs that are aggressive and ordinary. Furthermore, we distilled design guidelines to provide actionable suggestions for the design of eHMIs, fostering the acceptance of AVs among pedestrians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile applications are able to reach multiple markets instantaneously and simultaneously in cyberspace, with varying performances over time. The purpose of this study is to advance our understanding of this process and the internationalisation patterns in the virtual world. Based on the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI), we have developed a configurational model that relates the three elements of the diffusion process – innovation, communication channels, and social systems – to the speed of dispersion across multiple markets (breadth) at different adoption rates (depth) and over different periods (timespan). A fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is conducted on a sample of 70 mobile games, which indicates that these elements have interdependent effects on rapid international expansion and play different roles in deeper and longer-term diffusion. It also demonstrates that rapid internationalisation in the virtual world benefits from communication and influence among users. This study contributes to the internationalisation speed literature by employing a demand-side perspective in the virtual world. It also contributes to the DOI literature by exploring the interdependent relationships among different elements of the diffusion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivating students' enjoyment of science is one of the significant aims of science education. However, it seems challenging to achieve this goal in most countries or economies. Using the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019 Hong Kong data, this study aims to identify multiple configurations of school conditions to develop students' science enjoyment with a School Analytics model. A fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) was employed to capture the potential asymmetric relationships and measure multiple combinations of different conditions. Results indicated that no single school condition was necessary or sufficient for high enjoyment of science (ES). While lacking instructional clarity was a sufficient condition for low enjoyment of science (∼ES). Three different configurations resulted in ES and ∼ES respectively. The combination of supportive school discipline and high instructional clarity jointly constituted a crucial science learning environment for developing science enjoyment in Hong Kong secondary schools. Under this environment, the effectiveness of science investigation was further discussed to enhance science enjoyment. Our study enlightens educational practitioners to improve students' science enjoyment with multiple combinations of school conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated how indoor and outdoor environments in Nature Cafes, serving as nature-based solutions (NBS), influence customer approach behavior using the SOR model and a mixed-method approach. Analyzing 5,456 reviews, the study identified key indoor and outdoor variables. Results revealed that green spaces within cafes and outdoor natural environments as NBS were associated with improved self-rated mental health and connectedness. The study used fsQCA analysis to determine an optimized factor combination, highlighting the moderating role of product knowledge. The findings offer a valuable framework for maximizing NBS in approach behavior, particularly in the natural cafe setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study uses person-organisation fit and norm activation theory to develop conceptual models to clarify the green leadership (GL) non-homogenous effect on employee pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in the hospitality industry. Two psychosocial antecedents, value congruence (VC) and moral consciousness (MC) were the mediators in elucidating the unexplained variations between GL and employees' PEB outcomes. The models were tested using partial least square-structural equation modeling to explain the unidimensional effect and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to clarify the diverse causal configurations sufficient to predict hotel workers' PEB. The study collected data from managers and employees in the Ghanaian hotel industry. The study findings strengthen the interactive role MC plays in employee behavioral outcomes and confirm its importance in stimulating PEB among employees in the hospitality sector. Results from the fsQCA affirm that solely using unifinality approaches for GL and PEB studies may be inadequate to provide a complete understanding of a proposed model. With the unifinality analysis, MC constituted the only variable mediating the GL and PEB relationship. Under the fsQCA, VC and MC became sufficient conditions underpinning GL's impact on employees' PEB. The study concludes with a discussion of theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural distortion risk (CDR) threatens and challenges the cultural sustainability of heritage sites. This study adopted a sequential exploratory mixed-method design comprising grounded theory and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze the influencing factors, formation process, and avoidance paths of cultural distortion risk. The results indicate that CDR is caused by the "institution-market-production" framework, which involves eight influencing factors and 21 indicators. There are no necessary conditions for CDR formation, but weak cultural production plays a universal core role in forming high CDR. Moreover, our study highlights that the generation logic of CDR consists of four configurations and that the avoidance paths cover three configurations. These findings clarify the generation mechanism of CDR and expand the theoretical system of cultural sustainability research from a risk perspective. Heritage sites can use 21 indicators to reduce the cultural distortion risks by establishing institutional guarantee mechanisms and strengthening multiparty collaborative governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since reusable launch vehicles have revolutionized access to space, space tourism has received enormous policy and research attention. However, such growth is occurring within a wider context of concerns over climate change, emissions, and space debris. Although the space industries have enormous environmental impacts, few studies have been undertaken on the sustainability of space tourism. Therefore, we aim to create and assess an extended value-beliefs-norms theory with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, trust in artificial intelligence (AI), and the benefits of AI, in comparing three types of space tourism (Earth, suborbital, and orbital). To achieve the goals, multi-method analyses of 1,000 respondents were applied, including partial least squares-structural equation modeling, multi-group analysis, fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, and deep learning. Results revealed that the extended value-belief-norm model well explains space tourist behavior, ESG also has significant roles on the research model, and the three types have unique characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent concerns exist regarding the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and science achievement, prompting ongoing research into the factors enabling some low-SES students to excel in science despite the odds. This study seeks to identify multiple combinations of individual, family, and school conditions that contribute to successful outcomes within this demographic. Utilising a sample of 1,460 low-SES Chinese students, aged 15, from the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), this study employs fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) as its methodological approach. The results reveal seven viable pathways that can equally enable low-SES students to achieve academic success in science. These pathways involve a combination of multiple factors, such as parental emotional support, school science instruction practices, and science-related attitudes and beliefs. The analysis also indicates that certain causal factors (i.e. parental emotional support, extrinsic motivation, enquiry-based science instruction practices, or teacher adaptation of science instruction), can be absent in the configurations, but can still contribute to academic resilience when complemented by other conditions (e.g. elevated levels of intrinsic motivation, epistemological beliefs about science, teacher-directed science instruction, or teacher support in science classes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Based on Lasswell's communication model, this study investigates how four categories of factors (i.e. the source, content, medium and receiver) conjointly affect the relational, financial and social outcomes (i.e. what effect) of CSA communication. Design/methodology/approach: With a survey (N = 366), this study found configurations of core CSA communication factors leading to three different CSA communication outcomes. Findings: While this study found multiways to yield three different CSA outcomes, combinational logic indicated the combined effects from source, content, medium and receiver. With content and medium, individuals' connectedness (receiver) to a CSA issue is a core factor leading to a high level of purchase intention and issue advocacy. This study also found that message strategies (i.e. informativeness, factual tone, no promotional tone) are core factors leading to a high level of trust and issue advocacy. Practical implications: With the theoretical guidance, this research contributes to strategic communication practice for various entities involved in advocacy communication by enabling an improved understanding of advocacy communication factors and triggering different communication outcomes. Originality/value: As CSA communication involves multiple strategies, conventional research agenda focusing on correlational and path analysis approaches provide limited understanding of communication practice. To fill this void, this study adopts a configurational approach to understand current CSA communication practices holistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Innovation ambidexterity is crucial for fostering growth and gaining a competitive advantage in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Previous research indicates that achieving a balance between exploration and exploitation is a multifaceted phenomenon occurring across various levels. This paper aims to examine the influence of individual, organizational and institutional factors on the ambidextrous innovation of Chinese niche leaders using a configurational perspective. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses secondary data collected from 69 Chinese niche leaders in the new equipment manufacturing industry. The authors use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to investigate how owner openness, age, digitization, the formal institutional environment and the informal institutional environment jointly influence innovation ambidexterity. Findings: By using fuzzy set analysis, this study categorizes combinations of interdependent factors that promote innovation ambidexterity. In particular, the authors pinpoint three configurations that foster high innovation ambidexterity and two configurations that lack such high levels of innovation ambidexterity. The analysis results suggest that innovation paradoxes in SMEs are linked to a nested system comprising leadership, organizational factors and the institutional environment. Originality/value: This study elucidates the mechanism of innovation ambidexterity through a configurational perspective. This research proposes and validates a framework that enables SMEs to develop ambidextrous innovation capabilities, thereby integrating organizational ambidexterity theory and shedding light on the intricately complex nature of innovation ambidexterity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology offers the potential to create an open, decentralised governance structure that empowers stakeholders to participate in decentralised engagement. However, how blockchain platforms configure their design elements to establish and maintain decentralised systems with high levels of user governance engagement requires further research. This study investigates the key design elements of blockchain platforms and their ideal configurations for promoting user governance engagement. Due to the complex and interdependent nature of the design elements, we adopt a configurational perspective accompanied by a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to uncover complex nonlinear relationships among key conditions that are relevant to decentralised governance. Our research identifies five key design elements that facilitate distributed governance (Access to decision rights, Process visibility, Protocol automation, Incentives for developers/miners, and Incentives for other stakeholders) based on existing blockchain governance literature. We analyse 14 unique blockchain platform cases that adopted on‐chain governance. Our fsQCA results reveal three ideal types of blockchain governance configurations that are sufficient for high generative user governance engagement: Centralised incentive model, Impartial incentive model, and Automation‐driven model, whereas achieving high evaluative governance engagement requires the presence of all the design elements (Comprehensive model). Also, we found Access to decision rights and Protocol automation are necessary conditions for generative governance engagement, and Access to decision rights together with Process visibility is a combined necessary condition for evaluative governance engagement. Relevant theoretical and practical implications for platform designers as well as methodological implications for applying QCA to emerging IS phenomena are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Due to the detrimental effects of the recent pandemic on the hotel sector, hotel resilience research and its impact on hotel recovery have received lots of academic attention. However, a sustainable perspective on hotel resilience, as an approach for investigating its impact on long-term hotel growth, has been largely overlooked in the hospitality resilience literature. Therefore, this paper aims to address the research gap by identifying the configuration of factors that constitute sustainable hotel resilience, leading to the growth of selected hotels operating in Poland. METHODOLOGY: Data for analysis were obtained from surveys conducted with 120 managers of one- and two-star hotels. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was chosen to achieve the goal, which belongs to the group of configurational analysis methods. FINDINGS: Due to the asymmetric nature of the method, the analysis reveals configurations of factors leading to high hotel growth and those leading to low growth. In both cases, two such factor configurations were obtained. For high levels of hotel growth, it was found that maintaining a high level of three factors simultaneously, namely employee resilience, CSR activities and leadership resilience or CSR activities, team resilience and leadership resilience, provided sufficient conditions. For low levels of growth, fsQCA indicated sufficient conditions in the form of a low level of CSR activities and leadership resilience or a low level of employee resilience and team resilience. These findings emphasize the role of combining different factors to improve hotel growth. IMPLICATIONS: The research contributes to the literature on resilience in the hospitality industry by developing a new theoretical perspective on the complex nature of combinations of factors that contribute to sustainable hotel resilience, leading to both high and low growth. The research results also provide significant implications for entrepreneurs and managers, indicating the role of different combinations of factors in determining hotel growth. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The knowledge regarding sustainable hotel resilience is still insufficient. The study identified the best combinations of factors (both internal and external) that constitute sustainable hotel resilience, which may be vital for hotel growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the configuration theory, this paper discusses the multiple concurrent causes and causal complex mechanisms affecting the performance differences among different new farmers. Using the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method, taking 40 cases of CCTV’s “ZHI FU JING” column as samples, the paper analyzes the necessary conditions for new farmers to produce high performance by the anthefactory-variable configuration composed of human capital, social capital, psychological capital, entrepreneurial learning and entrepreneurial opportunity identification. The results show that: (1) high human capital is the necessary core condition for new farmers to produce high entrepreneurial performance, lack of high entrepreneurial learning and lack of high entrepreneurial opportunity identification is the core necessary condition for low entrepreneurial performance; (2) the driving mechanism of new farmers’ high entrepreneurial performance is divided into three paths, and the driving mechanism of new farmers’ low entrepreneurial performance is divided into two paths; and (3) the ways of inhibiting new farmers’ performance and promoting their performance are asymmetrical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, collaborative innovation of public services has become a growing research field. However, how collaborative arrangements lead to innovation remains quite unclear. We propose that collaborative innovation is dependent on processes of divergence and convergence, which are enhanced by four conditions of collaborative innovation: diversity of ideas and perspectives, learning through interaction, consensus building, and implementation commitment. The combination of these conditions is explored through qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in 19 European eHealth partnerships. The results suggest a combined effect of these conditions on service innovativeness, which rejects contemporary views on the dichotomous nature of divergence and convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is entrepreneurial support a performance enhancer for SMEs? The question of the link between support and performance has been raised in the context of developed countries. What about developing countries where support is an emerging process? This research aims to analyze entrepreneurial support and learn about its contribution to the performance of Cameroonian SMEs through the fsQCA (fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis) method. This would allow us to explore a notion such as equifinality in the field of support. Based on the Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange (SPX), we selected six variables that influence the performance of 120 Cameroonian SMEs in the industrial sector. We demonstrate how the fsQCA completes the correlational methods and offers a finer understanding of the performance of the entrepreneurial support. We postulate that various combinations impact performance and that the interaction between certain combinations is necessary, but not sufficient to achieve performance. This analysis yields three configurations, with the particularitý that the CSR program is an irrelevant condition contributing to poor SME performance. Furthermore, the study provides meaningful implications for entrepreneurs, managers, and entrepreneurial support indicating combinations of factors that lead to an increase in firm performance The recommendations made aim to focus on supports deemed more effective. On a theoretical level, the use of fsQCA complements the knowledge derived from traditional analytical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy (CE) is the way forward to protect an endangered environment, promote social justice, and advance sustainable and balanced regional economic development. The proliferation of the CE concept and the circular startup (CSU) boom coincides with digital transformation, a socioeconomic change propelled by the widespread adoption of digital technologies. This paper uses a systems theory perspective to study the digital entrepreneurial ecosystem's (DEE) role in CSU formation. Fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is used to empirically explore the configurational recipes for the presence and absence of a high CSU formation rate. The results reveal that for a high CSU formation, DEE elements, such as digital protection and access, act as critical drivers, while other DEE elements take on a supportive role. The findings also show the complementarity effects, substitution effects, and neutral permutations of DEE elements among the configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of Chinese companies as key players in the global economy underscores China’s transformation into a global powerhouse. Through large sample analyses, case studies, and literature surveys, this special issue aims to enhance our understanding of this phenomenon, focusing on various aspects of the internationalization of Chinese firms over the past two decades and exploring their success as well as the challenges they face moving forward.