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Gain more insight from your PLS-SEM results: The importance-performance map analysis

Christian M. Ringle (Institute for Human Resource Management and Organizations (HRMO), Hamburg University of Technology Hamburg (TUHH), Hamburg, Germany) (Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia)
Marko Sarstedt (Faculty of Economics, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany) (Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia)

Industrial Management & Data Systems

ISSN: 0263-5577

Article publication date: 17 October 2016

11151

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) and explain how to use it in the context of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). A case study, drawing on the IPMA module implemented in the SmartPLS 3 software, illustrates the results generation and interpretation.

Design/methodology/approach

The explications first address the principles of the IPMA and introduce a systematic procedure for its use, followed by a detailed discussion of each step. Finally, a case study on the use of technology shows how to apply the IPMA in empirical PLS-SEM studies.

Findings

The IPMA gives researchers the opportunity to enrich their PLS-SEM analysis and, thereby, gain additional results and findings. More specifically, instead of only analyzing the path coefficients (i.e. the importance dimension), the IPMA also considers the average value of the latent variables and their indicators (i.e. performance dimension).

Research limitations/implications

An IPMA is tied to certain requirements, which relate to the measurement scales, variable coding, and indicator weights estimates. Moreover, the IPMA presumes linear relationships. This research does not address the computation and interpretation of non-linear dependencies.

Practical implications

The IPMA is particularly useful for generating additional findings and conclusions by combining the analysis of the importance and performance dimensions in practical PLS-SEM applications. Thereby, the IPMA allows for prioritizing constructs to improve a certain target construct. Expanding the analysis to the indicator level facilitates identifying the most important areas of specific actions. These results are, for example, particularly important in practical studies identifying the differing impacts that certain construct dimensions have on phenomena such as technology acceptance, corporate reputation, or customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to offer researchers a tutorial and annotated example of an IPMA. Based on a state-of-the-art review of the technique and a detailed explanation of the method, this paper introduces a systematic procedure for running an IPMA. A case study illustrates the analysis, using the SmartPLS 3 software.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Geoffrey S. Hubona for sending and granting the authors permission to use the data of the study by Al-Gahtani et al. (2007). This paper uses the statistical software SmartPLS 3 (www.smartpls.com). Ringle acknowledges a financial interest in SmartPLS.

Citation

Ringle, C.M. and Sarstedt, M. (2016), "Gain more insight from your PLS-SEM results: The importance-performance map analysis", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 116 No. 9, pp. 1865-1886. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-10-2015-0449

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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