Title: Research Note: The methodological promise of configurational thinking and the importance of equifinality in international business

Authors: Sonja Sperber

Addresses: Department of Strategy and Innovation, Institute for Strategy, Technology and Organization, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria

Abstract: In this Research Note, it is argued that a plurality of relations can only insufficiently be tested with correlational methods such as regression analyses or structural equation models. Configurational thinking - as in Qualitative Comparative Analysis - promises to broaden our understanding by shifting the focus away from isolated variables and towards a case-oriented, holistic perspective. Contributions of configurational thinking are primarily embedded in breaking some basic assumptions of correlational methods, i.e., the linearity of effects, symmetry between constructs as well as unifinality, while emphasising causal complexity. By employing an illustrative application using job embeddedness theory, it is demonstrated how configurational thinking augments our comprehension of expatriates' job embeddedness in international assignments. It elucidates that different paths can potentially lead to identical outcomes, such as turnover or retention abroad. In order to advance the field of International Business, this Research Note eventually calls for methodological pluralism to align empirical investigations with existing theories. Additionally, it showcases the explanatory power associated with approaches that accept multiple causal paths leading to the same outcome (equifinality).

Keywords: methodological approaches; configurational thinking; QCA; qualitative comparative analysis; regression; structural equation modelling; job embeddedness theory; international assignments.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2026.152255

European Journal of International Management, 2026 Vol.28 No.4, pp.702 - 716

Received: 28 Jun 2023
Accepted: 05 Apr 2024
Published online: 13 Mar 2026 *

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