Comparative Configurational Process Analysis: A New Set-Theoretic Technique for Longitudinal Case Analysis

In the past 20 years, researchers have significantly advanced various management fields by examining organizational phenomena through a configurational lens, including competitive strategies, corporate governance mechanisms, and innovation systems. Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) has emerged as a primary method for empirically investigating organizational configurations. However, QCA has traditionally struggled to capture the temporal aspects of configurational phenomena. In this paper, we present configurational comparative process analysis (C²PA), which merges QCA with sequence analysis. We introduce the concept of configurational themes-recognizable temporal patterns of recurring combinations of explanatory conditions-to identify and track the temporal dynamics among these phenomena. We also outline configurational matching-a method for empirically identifying these themes by distinguishing theme-defining from theme-supporting conditions. C²PA allows researchers to explore the temporal dynamics of configurational phenomena, such as their stability, emergence, and decline at critical junctures. We illustrate the application of C²PA through a study of shareholder value orientation and discuss its potential for addressing key questions in management research.