arbiter
JournalsAccount

Modelling Hierarchical Configurations in Innovation Research With Two‐Step QCA: Methodological Recommendations and an Application to Workarounds

Luc Sandfort et al.

Creativity and Innovation Management2026https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.70053article
AJG 2ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

Creativity and innovation are often understood as the result of a complex interplay of hierarchical factors, such as national, regional and firm characteristics, or between organisational and individual factors. While recent applications of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) have begun to model such configurational links, their hierarchical nature has received little empirical attention. As this paper demonstrates, theories that posit hierarchical configurations can and should be explored using the two‐step variant of QCA. The paper outlines the potential of the method for the field of creativity and innovation and helps to navigate key modelling decisions. An illustrative study explores the occurrence of informal employee innovation behaviour—workarounds—based on the Ability‐Motivation‐Opportunity (AMO) framework. The results of the two‐step QCA are superior in terms of reduced limited diversity and complexity to those of the conventional one‐step QCA. Overall, the method has considerable potential for empirically capturing the complex, hierarchical interactions inherent in many innovation processes.

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.70053

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{luc2026,
  title        = {{Modelling Hierarchical Configurations in Innovation Research With Two‐Step QCA: Methodological Recommendations and an Application to Workarounds}},
  author       = {Luc Sandfort et al.},
  journal      = {Creativity and Innovation Management},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.70053},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Modelling Hierarchical Configurations in Innovation Research With Two‐Step QCA: Methodological Recommendations and an Application to Workarounds

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.