Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA)

Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) is a relatively new technique that is quickly making its way into various social science and other research domains.

• NCA is being used in an increasing number of publications, especially in business and management research.
• A necessary condition is an essential component of an outcome; without it, the outcome cannot happen.

o?? For instance, a poor GMAT score will prevent a student from being admitted to a PhD program, and intelligence is a prerequisite for innovation.

• NCA is used as the primary technique or in conjunction with regression-based techniques like multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM).

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Note: This list may not be comprehensive, and researchers should identify relevant applications of NCA for their respective domains. Due to inadequate peer review procedures, articles in journals deemed predatory are not included in the list.

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Seminal Paper on NCA

Dul, J. (2016). Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA): Logic and Methodology of “Necessary but Not Sufficient” Causality. Organizational Research Methods, 19(1), 10–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428115584005

Step-by-step guidelines on NCA

Richter, N.F., Hauff, S., Ringle, C.M., Sarstedt, M., Kolev, A.E., Schubring, S. (2023). How to Apply Necessary Condition Analysis in PLS-SEM. In: Latan, H., Hair, Jr., J.F., Noonan, R. (eds) Partial Least Squares Path Modeling. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37772-3_10

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Statistical test on NCA

Dul, J., van der Laan, E., & Kuik, R. (2020). A Statistical Significance Test for Necessary Condition Analysis. Organizational Research Methods, 23(2), 385–395. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428118795272

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Guidelines on NCA

Dul, J. (2024). A different causal perspective with Necessary Condition Analysis. Journal of Business Research, 177(March), 114618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114618

Dul, J., Hauff, S., & Bouncken, R. B. (2023). Necessary condition analysis (NCA): review of research topics and guidelines for good practice. In Review of Managerial Science (Vol. 17, Issue 2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-023-00628-x

Dul, J. (2016). Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA): Logic and Methodology of “Necessary but Not Sufficient” Causality. Organizational Research Methods, 19(1), 10–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428115584005

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SEM-ANN-NCA Guidelines

Leong, L.-Y., Hew, T.-S., Ooi, K.-B., Tan, G. W.-H., & Koohang, A. (2024). An SEM-ANN Approach - Guidelines in Information Systems Research. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 00(00), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2024.2329128

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Book chapters on NCA

Dul, J., Hauff, S., & Tóth, Z. (2021). Necessary condition analysis in marketing research. In R. Nunkoo, V. Teeroovengadum, & C. Ringle (Eds.),?Handbook of research methods for marketing management?(pp. 51–72). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Dul, J., Karwowski, M., & Kaufman, J. C. (2020). Necessary condition analysis in creativity research. In V. D?rfler & M. Stierand (Eds.),?Handbook of research methods on creativity?(pp. 351–368). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Dul, J. (2020). Conducting Necessary Condition Analysis. Sage: London.

Richter, N.F., Hauff, S., Ringle, C.M., Sarstedt, M., Kolev, A.E., Schubring, S. (2023). How to Apply Necessary Condition Analysis in PLS-SEM. In: Latan, H., Hair, Jr., J.F., Noonan, R. (eds) Partial Least Squares Path Modeling. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37772-3_10

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fsQCA and NCA

Dul, J. (2016). Identifying single necessary conditions with NCA and fsQCA. Journal of Business Research, 69(4), 1516–1523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.134

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PLS-SEM and NCA

Cassia, F., & Magno, F. (2024). The value of self-determination theory in marketing studies: Insights from the application of PLS-SEM and NCA to anti-food waste apps. Journal of Business Research, 172(December 2023), 114454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114454

Hauff, S., Richter, N. F., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2024). Importance and performance in PLS-SEM and NCA: Introducing the combined importance-performance map analysis (cIPMA). Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 78(January), 103723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2024.103723

Richter, N. F., Schubring, S., Hauff, S., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2020). When predictors of outcomes are necessary: guidelines for the combined use of PLS-SEM and NCA. Industrial Management and Data Systems, 120(12), 2243–2267. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-11-2019-0638

Sukhov, A., Olsson, L. E., & Friman, M. (2022). Necessary and sufficient conditions for attractive public Transport: Combined use of PLS-SEM and NCA. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 158(July 2021), 239–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2022.03.012

Troiville, J., Moisescu, O. I., & Radomir, L. (2025). Using necessary condition analysis to complement multigroup analysis in partial least squares structural equation modeling. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 82(March 2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2024.104018

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Research Papers on NCA

Arenius, P., Engel, Y., & Klyver, K. (2017). No particular action needed? A necessary condition analysis of gestation activities and firm emergence. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 8(July), 87–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2017.07.004

Backe, S., Pinel, D., Askeland, M., Lindberg, K. B., Korp?s, M., & Tomasgard, A. (2023). Exploring the link between the EU emissions trading system and net-zero emission neighbourhoods. Energy and Buildings, 281, 112731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112731

Bergh, D. D., Boyd, B. K., Byron, K., Gove, S., & Ketchen, D. J. (2022). What Constitutes a Methodological Contribution? Journal of Management, 48(7), 1835–1848. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063221088235

Calver, P., & Simcock, N. (2021). Demand response and energy justice: A critical overview of ethical risks and opportunities within digital, decentralised, and decarbonised futures. Energy Policy, 151(February), 112198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112198

Cheung, M. L., Leung, W. K. S., Aw, E. C. X., & Koay, K. Y. (2022). “I follow what you post!”: The role of social media influencers’ content characteristics in consumers’ online brand-related activities (COBRAs). Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 66(February), 102940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.102940

Czakon, W., Klimas, P., & Kawa, A. (2023). Re-thinking strategic myopia: A necessary condition analysis of heuristic and firm’s performance. Industrial Marketing Management, 115(October), 99–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2023.09.015

Diaz-Rainey, I., & Tzavara, D. (2012). Financing the decarbonized energy system through green electricity tariffs: A diffusion model of an induced consumer environmental market. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 79(9), 1693–1704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2012.05.012

Escadas, M., Jalali, M. S., Septianto, F., & Farhangmehr, M. (2024). Are emotions essential for consumer ethical decision-making: A Necessary Condition Analysis. Business Ethics, the Environment and Responsibility, 33(3), 468–485. https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12619

Garvey, A., Norman, J. B., Büchs, M., & Barrett, J. (2022). A “spatially just” transition? A critical review of regional equity in decarbonisation pathways. Energy Research and Social Science, 88(April), 102630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102630

Hauff, S., Guerci, M., Dul, J., & van Rhee, H. (2021). Exploring necessary conditions in HRM research: Fundamental issues and methodological implications. Human Resource Management Journal, 31(1), 18–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12231

Karwowski, M., Dul, J., Gralewski, J., Jauk, E., Jankowska, D. M., Gajda, A., Chruszczewski, M. H., & Benedek, M. (2016). Is creativity without intelligence possible? A Necessary Condition Analysis. Intelligence, 57, 105–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2016.04.006

Knol, W. H., Slomp, J., Schouteten, R. L. J., & Lauche, K. (2018). Implementing lean practices in manufacturing SMEs: testing ‘critical success factors’ using Necessary Condition Analysis. International Journal of Production Research, 56(11), 3955–3973. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2017.1419583

Linder, C., Moulick, A. G., & Lechner, C. (2023). Necessary Conditions and Theory-Method Compatibility in Quantitative Entrepreneurship Research. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 47(5), 1971–1994. https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587221102103

Loh, X. M., Lee, V. H., & Leong, L. Y. (2022). Mobile-lizing continuance intention with the mobile expectation-confirmation model: An SEM-ANN-NCA approach. Expert Systems with Applications, 205(August 2021), 117659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2022.117659

Richter, N. F., & Hauff, S. (2022). Necessary conditions in international business research–Advancing the field with a new perspective on causality and data analysis. Journal of World Business, 57(5), 101310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2022.101310

Richter, N. F., & Hauff, S. (2022). Necessary conditions in international business research–Advancing the field with a new perspective on causality and data analysis. Journal of World Business, 57(5), 101310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2022.101310

Solaimani, S., & Swaak, L. (2023). Critical Success Factors in a multi-stage adoption of Artificial Intelligence: A Necessary Condition Analysis. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management - JET-M, 69(April), 101760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2023.101760

Tóth, Z., Dul, J., & Li, C. (Spring). (2019). Necessary condition analysis in tourism research. Annals of Tourism Research, 79(October), 102821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2019.102821

van der Valk, W., Sumo, R., Dul, J., & Schroeder, R. G. (2016). When are contracts and trust necessary for innovation in buyer-supplier relationships? A Necessary Condition Analysis. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 22(4), 266–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2016.06.005

Vis, B., & Dul, J. (2018). Analyzing Relationships of Necessity Not Just in Kind But Also in Degree: Complementing fsQCA With NCA. Sociological Methods and Research, 47(4), 872–899. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124115626179

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NCA Calculator: https://www.erim.eur.nl/necessary-condition-analysis/software-and-calculator/nca-calculator/

?NCA Software for R: https://www.erim.eur.nl/necessary-condition-analysis/software-and-calculator/nca-software/

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Dr. Raja Sankaran, PhD from IIM-Ranchi (profile) is a Mendeley Advisor. He has over 3 decades (33+ years) of industry and teaching experience and has been conducting 90+ FDPs / workshops on various research topics. Apart from this, he has also conducted 100+ Trainings in 30+ countries for about 5 years. Link to various Trainings & FDPs conducted.

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