Partial Least Squares is an Estimator for Structural Equation Models: A Comment on Evermann and Rönkkö (2021)

In 2012 and 2013, several critical publications questioned many alleged PLS properties. As a consequence, PLS benefited from a boost of developments. It is, therefore, a good time to review these developments. Evermann and Rönkkö (2023) devote their paper to this task and formulate guidelines in the form of 14 recommendations. Yet, while they identified the major developments, they overlook a fundamental change, maybe because it is so subtle: the view on PLS. As mentioned by Evermann and Rönkkö (2023, p. 1), “[PLS] is a statistical method used to estimate linear structural equation models” and consequently should not be regarded as a standalone SEM technique following its own assessment criteria. Against this background, we explain which models can be estimated by PLS and PLSc. Moreover, we present the Henseler-Ogasawara specification to estimate composite models by common SEM estimators. Additionally, we review Evermann and Rönkkö’s (2023) 14 recommendations one by one and suggest updates and improvements where necessary. Further, we address their comments about the latest advancement in composite models and show that PLS is a viable estimator for confirmatory composite analysis. Finally, we conclude that there is little value in distinguishing between covariance-based and variance-based SEM—there is only SEM

All you need to know about publishing Social Inclusion Research in high-quality IS Journals?

This 90-minute PDS is organized and presented by SIG Social Inclusion with the goal of providing practical and meaningful guidance to scholars (at various stages of their careers) interested in pursuing and successfully publishing Social Inclusion research. Our goal is to dispel the perception many hold that Social Inclusion research is difficult to publish in top IS journals. The PDS will facilitate dialogue between scholars and journal editors to surface success factors and key requirements/attributes to publishing in highquality IS journals. The PDS outcome will be a summary of best practices and characteristics of effective interactions with top journals. Throughout the session, the PDS facilitators will conduct activities with the audience that will empower audience members to ask questions and leave with actionable steps they can use to enhance their social inclusion research. The session will conclude with Q&A with all panelists

What Motivates First-generation College Students to Consider an IT Career? An Integrative Perspective

A career in information technology (IT) presents a viable source of economic advancement for college graduates, but ethnic minority students remain underrepresented in the IT workforce. Such underrepresentation is often exacerbated by their first-generation student (FGS) status. Yet, it remains unclear what leads to FGSs’ IT career choice compared to their counterparts. To address this gap, this study aims to reveal the factors motivating FGSs to consider an IT career and examines the association of influencing factors with personal and demographic factors (gender, race, ethnicity). This qualitative research overlays capital theory and social cognitive career theory to develop an integrated sensitizing framework and draws on individual difference theory in interpreting the findings. Our analysis of the open-ended narrative responses of 193 surveys collected from a minority-serving university revealed 10 key factors influencing IT career choice. A theoretical model incorporating individual differences, generational status, and environmental influences is proposed to advance the discussion of influencing factors in IT career choice toward further theory building and empirical testing. The paper concludes with implications for motivating the IT career choice of the ethnic minority, first-generation student population

Counterpoint: Representing Forged Concepts as Emergent Variables Using Composite-Based Structural Equation Modeling

Yu, X., Zaza, S., Schuberth, F., & Henseler, J. (2021). Counterpoint: Representing Forged Concepts as Emergent Variables Using Composite-Based Structural Equation Modeling. ACM SIGMIS Database: the DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems, 52(SI), 114-130. https://doi.org/10.1145/3505639.3505647Studying and modeling theoretical concepts is a cornerstone activity in information systems (IS) research. Researchers have been familiar with one type of theoretical concept, namely behavioral concepts, which are assumed to exist in nature and measured by a set of observable variables. In this paper, we present a second type of theoretical concept, namely forged concepts, which are designed and assumed to emerge within their environment. While behavioral concepts are classically operationalized as latent variables, forged concepts are better specified as emergent variables. Additionally, we propose composite-based structural equation modeling (SEM) as a subtype of SEM that is eminently suitable to analyze models containing emergent variables. We shed light on the composite-based SEM steps: model specification, model identification, model estimation, and model assessment. Then, we present an illustrative example from the domain of IS research to demonstrate these four steps and show how modeling with emergent variables proceeds.authorsversionpublishe

Emotional Dissonance and the Information Technology Professional: A Methodological Replication Study

This study is a methodological replication of Emotional Dissonance and the Information Technology Professional by Rutner, Hardgrave, and McKnight (2008). Though we adopted the original study\u27s hypotheses and research methodology, we add to that research by investigating generational differences, increasing the sample size, and including respondents from multiple firms and industries. In this replication, we were able to 1) establish continued support for the direct impact of emotional dissonance on work exhaustion, 2) increase the explanatory power, and 3) provide broader generalizability through sampling subjects from multiple firms. We discuss both the practical and theoretical implications of these findings

Exhaustion from Information System Career Experience: Are the Implications for Turn-Away Intention Different for Millennials?

As evidence suggests that exhaustion is particularly pronounced in Millennials, we investigate if generational differences affect the drivers of information systems (IS) career turn-away intention (TAI). An indication of such differences would be of importance toward retaining professionals in the IS workforce as Millennials will soon become the largest generation in the U.S. workforce. To elucidate such differences, this paper presents a methodological replication of Exhaustion from Information System Career Experience: Implications for Turn-Away Intention by Armstrong, Brooks, and Riemenschneider (2015). While we did not determine significant generational differences, our findings contrast from the original study. Specifically, we found support for the impact of exhaustion from IS career experience on TAI, while an evaluation of resources no longer influences career-level exhaustion

What CEOs Have to Say: Insights on the STEM Workforce

Establishing and maintaining the supply of skilled STEM workers are issues that many businesses are currently facing. CEOs can provide unique perspectives on the roles of parents, educators and schools, industry and community partners, and government on this issue. To this end, a Qualtrics panel was used to survey 45 CEOs located in the state of Georgia in the southeastern United States. CEOs responded to open-ended questions that were later analyzed using topic modeling techniques to uncover the themes and the factors that have the potential to increase the number of STEM-capable graduates and, ultimately, a sustained STEM workforce. The results of this study indicate that CEOs perceive parents, educators and schools, industry and community partners, and government as key players who are recommended to interact, engage and collaborate to successfully create a sustained pipeline of STEM talent. Business leaders, university business programs, and business faculty should stay abreast of the factors affecting the supply and demand of STEM workers, and this paper adds value by reporting on CEO perspectives on this important problem

Mental Health and Information Technology Catalysts as Determinants of Innovative Work Behavior

Interpersonal interactions, such as impromptu face-to-face workplace conversations, facilitate knowledge transfer and spur innovation within individual work roles; however, the move to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these dynamics. This research examines how innovation can be maintained in remote work settings by considering Information Technology (IT) catalysts (a combination of IT mindfulness, IT identity, and IT empowerment) during disruptive events and crises. We also highlight the importance of remote workers’ mental health and coping as precursors for IT catalysts to stimulate innovative work behaviors. Our paper contributes to information systems (IS) theory by establishing remote workers’ mental health and coping as distal factors of innovation and precursors to IT catalysts. In addition, we extend IS theory by establishing the relationships among the IT catalyst factors as well as their impact on innovative work behaviors. Our research provides insights for organizations interested in sustaining innovation, especially during crises or other stress-inducing events or conditions