3 research outputs found
A Methodological Demonstration of Set-Theoretical Approach to Social Media Maturity Models Using Necessary Condition Analysis
Despite being widely accepted and applied across research domains, maturity models have been criticized for lacking academic rigor, especially methodologically rigorous and empirically grounded or tested maturity models are quite rare. Attempting to close this gap, we adopt a set-theoretic approach by applying the Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) technique to derive maturity stages and stage boundaries conditions. The ontology is to view stages (boundaries) in maturity models as a collection of necessary condition. Using social media maturity data, we demonstrate the strength of our approach and evaluate some of arguments presented by previous conceptual focused social media maturity models
A Set Theoretical Approach to Maturity Models: Guidelines and Demonstration
Maturity Model research in IS has been criticized for the lack of theoretical grounding, methodological rigor, empirical validations, and ignorance of multiple and non-linear paths to maturity. To address these criticisms, this paper proposes a novel set-theoretical approach to maturity models characterized by equifinality, multiple conjunctural causation, and case diversity. We prescribe methodological guidelines consisting of a six-step procedure to systematically apply set theoretic methods to conceptualize, develop, and empirically derive maturity models and provide a demonstration of it application on a social media maturity data-set. Specifically, we employ Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to identify maturity stage boundaries as necessary conditions and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to arrive at multiple configurations that can be equally effective in progressing to higher maturity
Set-Theoretic Approach to Maturity Models
Despite being widely accepted and applied, maturity models in Information Systems
(IS) have been criticized for the lack of theoretical grounding, methodological rigor,
empirical validations, and ignorance of multiple and non-linear paths to maturity. This
PhD thesis focuses on addressing these criticisms by incorporating recent
developments in configuration theory, in particular application of set-theoretic
approaches. The aim is to show the potential of employing a set-theoretic approach for
maturity model research and empirically demonstrating equifinal paths to maturity.
Specifically, this thesis employs Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to identify
maturity stage boundaries as necessary conditions and Qualitative Comparative
Analysis (QCA) to arrive at multiple configurations that can be equally effective in
progressing to higher maturity. Furthermore, this thesis prescribes methodological
guidelines consisting of detailed procedures to systematically apply set theoretic
approaches for maturity model research and provides demonstrations of it application
on three datasets.
The thesis is a collection of six research papers that are written in a sequential manner.
The first paper reviews literature on maturity models in IS, identifies research gaps and
proposes use of configurational theory to address these challenges. The second paper
conceptualizes stage boundaries as necessary conditions and demonstrates the
application of Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) on a social media maturity
dataset. Building on the second paper, the third paper conceptualises maturity stage
characteristics in terms of configurations using Qualitative Comparative Analysis
(QCA). Overall, the third demonstrates empirically the existence of multiple paths to
maturity and provides IS researchers with a six-step procedure and detailed guidelines
to systematically apply set theroretic approaches to maturity models (STAMM). The
fourth paper then uses the social media maturity dataset, computes maturity scores
using different quantitative methods prescribed in maturity models literature and
proposes recommendations for maturity model designers. The fifth and sixth papers are
demonstrations of applicability of STAMM on different datasets. The fifth replicates
and extends a prior research study on ITIL maturity and compares the findings with the
results using STAMM. Finally, the sixth paper argues for a multi-method approach by
combining STAMM and PLS-SEM in understanding the conditions associated with IT
service management (ITSM) maturity.
This PhD thesis contributes to the academic discussion on how maturity occurs
through configurations. The key contribution is STAMM, a set-theoretic procedure model and method, which employs FsQCA and NCA to empirically demonstrate
multiple paths to maturity (or equifinality). It also contributes to set-theoretic
approaches, in particular QCA and NCA. Finally, this thesis contributes to multimethod
approach by harmoniously integrating PLS-SEM, QCA and NCA, thus adding
to the limited body of multi-method literature