Learning from Previous BIM-Based Modular Construction Cases: Qualitative Comparative Analysis Approach

We investigate the set of conditions leading to major employee turnover in the governance of large listed German companies further to labour market liberalization for non-standard employment. Using the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) approach, we illustrate that substantial employee turnover in the core manufacturing sector occurs under the restrictive context of high debt as a necessary condition. In the non-manufacturing sectors, in contrast, downsizing programmes take place under a set of permissive, and alternative, combinations of sufficient conditions driven by shareholder value maximisation objectives: the presence of ownership diffusion in the ownership structure of companies, the importance of highly financialized investors (hedge funds/private equity), or the presence of CEOs with an educational background in law and/or business management. We provide important insights for understanding patterns of change in corporate governance by integrating the QCA approach with theoretical perspectives stressing the characteristics of actors’ identities in combination with their external business environments. The diffusion of new practices in contested contexts will be characterised by the presence of necessary, and restrictive, conditions whilst more favourable contexts will be associated with the presence of non-competing (i.e. alternative) sets of sufficient conditions.

Abstract. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) overlaps logistic regression in explaining events, but challenges the latter's lack of accounting for causal complexity. QCA has only to a limited degree been applied to large‐N studies or individuals as cases and has not incorporated the logic of probability. QCA and logistic regression are compared with respect to logic, procedure and outcome. Political orientations from five national surveys are adapted to the requirements of the two methods. The methods are demonstrated on explanations of individuals' party preferences. QCA and logistic regression converge and overlap in identifying degrees of causal complexity, in ascertaining model significance and in identifying antecedents to party preference. Results differ in degree, not in kind. A slightly more nuanced picture emerges using the QCA approach, whereas logistic regression delivers greater parsimony. Choice of method(s) is not arbitrary. QCA can easily be used on any large‐N research problem. It should apply probability when appropriate.

ABSTRACTThis contribution examines the relationship between socioeconomic development, corruption, the level of democracy, and women’s parliamentary representation in contemporary Asia. Previous studies have argued economic development offers women new opportunities and resources to participate in politics. Despite some notable gains in gender equality through this process, prosperous Asian nations perform poorly compared to other world regions in terms of women’s parliamentary representation. Using an emerging method of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) on a dataset of 47 Asian nations, this research suggests the level of women’s presence in legislatures throughout Asia is a result of multiple configurations of conditions beyond simply one or two explanatory variables. In contrast to the expectations of modernisation theory, this paper finds that national economic variables do not account effectively for the level of women’s political representation in Asia. Furthermore, countries with predominantly Muslim populations can still elect more women if other conditions are supportive.

This study adopts an innovative, holistic research approach based on fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fs‐QCA) to deeply delve into national cultural dimensions' role in affecting banks' sustainability disclosure practices in the Eastern European (EE) region. Accordingly, this study aims to identify whether one or more configurations of cultural dimensions derived from Hofstede's national culture framework are conducive to higher levels of sustainability disclosure, using a sample including the five largest banks in each country of the ‘Bucharest Nine’ (B9) area over 2018–2022 period. Results evidence that sustainability disclosure patterns are not homogeneous among the banks operating in B9 countries. After the introduction of Directive 95/2014/EU, banks in some countries maintained relatively constant levels of sustainability disclosure, while others experienced steady growth rates. No cultural dimension alone would likely determine higher sustainability disclosure levels among B9 banks, confirming that normative pressures influencing EE banks' sustainability disclosure practices result from a combination of more cultural facets. In particular, fs‐QCA highlights a bundle of cultural dimension configurations that mould stakeholders' expectations in investigated countries, exerting pressures on banks to enhance their transparency on sustainability issues. The presence of power distance recurs in most configurations as a factor enabling higher sustainability disclosure levels. On the other hand, in most cases, the presence of uncertainty avoidance and long‐term orientation is conducive to higher banks' sustainability and transparency.

Achieving customer engagement with social media: A qualitative comparative analysis approach

We propose a model that identifies the configurations of relations between environmental practices and other management practices that can improve employee performance, measured as labor productivity. To test our model, we use the qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) methodology, which allows us to demonstrate empirically how different configurations of management practices, including environmental practices, quality management systems, teamwork, and interorganizational relations, contribute to work systems in ways that increase labor productivity. Our results, based on data from 4,975 employees from 1,866 firms, show that environmental practices are associated with higher labor productivity only when they are combined with other management practices.

Corporate governance for sustainable development: A study on mechanism configuration

People with advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) frequently experience psychological distress due to the progressive nature of the illness and the burden of long-term treatment. Illness perception plays a critical role in emotional adjustment and health behaviors, yet the psychosocial and clinical variables shaping these perceptions are not fully understood. This study aimed to identify combinations of psychological, behavioral, and clinical factors that predict how individuals with ACKD perceive their illness, using a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) approach. The sample included 69 participants with ACKD. Illness perception was assessed via the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Predictive conditions included: anxiety (HADS-A), coping styles (Brief COPE), kidney disease knowledge (KiKS), emotional social support (MOS-SSS), neuroticism (NEO-FFI), and CKD stage. QCA results revealed multiple pathways to high illness threat perception. Configurations characterized by high anxiety, elevated neuroticism, and low active coping were consistently associated with negative illness representations. Conversely, combinations including greater disease knowledge and active coping predicted more adaptive perceptions. These findings underscore the relevance of addressing both emotional and cognitive variables when designing psychosocial interventions for people with ACKD, supporting a multidimensional approach to improving patient adjustment and health outcomes.

ESG and financial performance: A qualitative comparative analysis in China's new energy companies

Exploring organizational propensity toward inbound–outbound marketing techniques adoption: The case of pure players and click and mortar companies

This article presents the key findings on participant development in Codevelopment Action Learning (CAL) groups from the second phase of Codev-Action, a Canadian action research partnership. The study used a mixed-methods design to quantitatively measure CAL’s contribution to work self-efficacy development in 154 participants from 50 CAL groups over a roughly one-year period. The study also used cross-sectional Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) approach to identify which facilitation behaviour configurations were most likely to increase work self-efficacy among the participants who brought a topic to their group (n = 92). Quantitative results show a significant improvement in work self-efficacy, including perceived effectiveness with regard to teamwork, problem solving, and work politics. Qualitative analysis shows a set of five configurations involving 10 facilitation behaviours that, when used in CAL groups, can support increased work self-efficacy. These results provide empirical evidence for CAL’s contribution to the development of work self-efficacy. Given the well-known impact of self-efficacy on task performance, the progress made in CAL sessions is a significant asset for decision makers.

According to the upper echelon's theory, the decision‐making process in regard to competitive strategies by the top management has an enduring impact on firm performance (Hambrick & Mason, 1984). Moreover, the attributes of the individuals in top management may also affect the decision‐making process. The purpose of this research is to analyze the board gender diversity impact on the financial performance of the non‐financial companies of Pakistan. Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is employed which is premised on Boolean algebra that sets foundation for the theoretical framework of complexity theory. The sample comprises of 74 non‐financial firms listed on the KSE‐100 Index. The results are modelled as a component of the intermediate solutions with board‐ level variables and gender diversity for the outcome variable (i.e., EVA and Tobin's Q). From board level variables, the impact of gender diversity and foreign directors is identified among most of the combinations whereas leverage is the prominent variable within the firm level variables, the boards of which tend to be small. The results showed a heterogeneous nature of response as board gender diversity exhibited stronger association in some configurations and in some cases it exhibited weaker association similar to that of (Pandey et al., 2022).Originality: This study is an attempt to explore the of board gender diversity role in a firm's performance using board level and firm level variables. Therefore, this work adds to the prior research by adding a complementarity‐based methodology for analyzing board gender diversity.

Improper component management remains as a significant issue in modular construction, causing material loss, supply delays, defects from poor storage, lack of real-time monitoring and data inconsistencies. These challenges undermine the full potential of modular construction. With emerging technologies, the integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) offers promising solutions. However, the extent to which RFID–BIM workflows have been studied and applied in modular construction remains unclear. To address this gap, this study conducts a systematic review using the PRISMA methodology, focusing on peer-reviewed publications up to 2025 indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, complemented by IEEE Xplore and full-text retrieval from ScienceDirect. All database searches were done and completed on 18 June 2025, to maintain consistency across data sources. Studies were selected based on predefined criteria, targeting those addressing RFID, BIM and modular construction workflows. In this study, workflow refers to the integrated process connecting both digital and physical domains. It includes the digital flow of information between RFID systems, BIM models and databases, alongside on-site tasks such as tagging, scanning, visualization, transport and assembly of prefabricated components. In accordance with these criteria, 27 articles were finalised for detailed review. A bibliometric analysis was undertaken using VOSviewer 1.6.20, encompassing keyword co-occurrence, co-authorship network, co-citation and bibliographic coupling analyses. Thematic analysis identified key themes on RFID–BIM practices, further organised across lifecycle phases to show how they unfold throughout the modular construction process. Quantitative analysis of thematic occurrences identified workflow integration (81.5%) as the most frequently addressed topic, followed by implementation requirements (40.7%), component management (37.0%), proven outcomes of BIM-RFID implementation (33.3%) and challenges of BIM-RFID implementation (14.8%).

Legal regulation of environmental risks associated with offshore carbon capture, utilization and storage in China

- Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative enabler for modular steel construction by providing parametric modelling, coordinated detailing, digital fabrication integration, and 4D construction sequencing. Modular steel systems require high accuracy in design, fabrication, logistics, and assembly, making BIM indispensable for reducing rework, improving coordination, and enabling just-in-time production. This paper examines the integration of BIM within modular steel construction, focusing on prefabrication accuracy, clash-free detailing, sequencing simulation, and digital manufacture. The study includes a comprehensive literature review, a methodology grounded in BIM-enabled workflows, and analysis of two major case studies Chennai International Airport Terminal T2 and Shanghai Tower. Findings indicate that BIM significantly improves productivity, reduces site conflicts, minimizes waste, and enhances assembly predictability, particularly in the Indian context where BIM adoption faces challenges such as limited skills, high costs, and low SME readiness. The paper concludes with strategic recommendations for India’s modular steel industry and outlines future research directions. Key Words: Building Information Modelling (BIM), Modular Steel Construction, Prefabrication, Digital Fabrication, 4D BIM, Clash Detection, SMEs, Coordination, Steel Structures