European Management Journal 33 (2015) 1–3

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

European Management Journal

j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s e v i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / e m j

Call for Papers

European management research using Partial Least Squares Structural

Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM)

The Guest Editors invited for this special issue are:

Nicole F. Richter, Hamburg University of Technology, Germany
Gabriel Cepeda, University of Seville, Spain
José L. Roldán, University of Seville, Spain
Christian M. Ringle, Hamburg University of Technology, Germany and University of Newcastle, Australia

The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM; e.g., Haenlein & Kaplan, 2004; Hair, Hult, Ringle, & Sarstedt, 2014;
Reinartz, Haenlein, & Henseler, 2009) method has recently gained increasing attention, especially for the management information systems
(Ringle, Sarstedt, & Straub, 2012), as well as in marketing (Hair, Sarstedt, Ringle, & Mena, 2012) and strategic management (Hair, Sarstedt,
Pieper, & Ringle, 2012) disciplines, but also in accounting (Lee, Petter, Fayard, & Robinson, 2011), family business research (Sarstedt, Ringle,
Smith, Reams, & Hair, 2014), operations management (Peng & Lai, 2012), and in organizational research (Sosik, Kahai, & Piovoso, 2009).
The method is currently regarded as suitable and, to some extent, a favorable alternative to the more restrictive traditionally used CB-
SEM method. Researchers and practitioners alike appreciate the various advantageous features of PLS-SEM. Methodological research has
suggested a wide range of extensions that offer users more flexibility and even more proficient analyses. Among others, these advances
include the consistent PLS algorithm (Dijkstra, 2014; Dijkstra & Henseler, 2012), the confirmatory tetrad analysis to empirically assess
the measurement model type (i.e., formative or reflective; Gudergan, Ringle, Wende, & Will, 2008), approaches to analyze hierarchical
component models (e.g., Becker, Klein, & Wetzels, 2012; Ciavolino & Nitti, 2013; Ringle et al., 2012; Wetzels, Odekerken-Schroder, & van
Oppen, 2009; Wright, Campbell, Thatcher, & Roberts, 2012), such as circumplex models (Furrer, Tjemkes, & Henseler, 2012), mediator anal-
ysis (Castro & Roldán, 2013; Klarner, Sarstedt, Höck, & Ringle, 2013; Picón, Castro, & Roldán, 2014), PLS-SEM-specific data segmentation
techniques (e.g., Becker, Rai, Ringle, & Völckner, 2013; Rigdon, Ringle, & Sarstedt, 2010; Rigdon, Ringle, Sarstedt, & Gudergan, 2011; Ringle,
Sarstedt, & Schlittgen, 2014; Ringle, Sarstedt, Schlittgen, & Taylor, 2013; Sarstedt, 2008; Sarstedt, Becker, Ringle, & Schwaiger, 2011; Sarstedt
& Ringle, 2010), the analysis of interaction effects (Cepeda, Martelo, Barroso, & Ortega, 2013; Henseler & Chin, 2010; Henseler & Fassott,
2010), nonlinear effects (Dijkstra & Henseler, 2011; Henseler, Fassott, Dijkstra, & Wilson, 2012; Rigdon et al., 2010), and multi-group anal-
ysis procedures (e.g., Rigdon et al., 2010; Sarstedt, Henseler, & Ringle, 2011).
Hair et al.’s (2012) recent review of PLS-SEM use in top-tier management journals shows that the method has gained increasing ex-
posure. With a few exceptions (e.g., Furrer et al., 2012; Gudergan, Devinney, Richter, & Ellis, 2012; Haenlein & Kaplan, 2011; Klarner et al.,
2013; Lew & Sinkovic, 2013), management researchers and practitioners’ recognition of the method is still relatively limited given its use-
fulness. Advanced PLS-SEM techniques are specifically not broadly used in management research, which means that opportunities are
overlooked to provide more profound analyses and conclusions by implementing the PLS-SEM method.
Given these developments, this European Management Journal special issue, which is devoted to PLS-SEM, aims to publish empirical manu-
scripts applying PLS-SEM as a suitable analysis method and that have strong implications for the management discipline in a European context.
The following suggestions include (but are not limited to) possible PLS-SEM applications that will be suitable for this special issue:

• PLS-SEM studies addressing management topics such as the sources of competitive advantage, business strategy, organizational culture,
leadership, organizational learning, knowledge management, international management, entrepreneurship and innovation, interna-
tional business and cross-cultural studies, organization studies and business ethics
• The application and further development of the recently proposed consistent PLS algorithm (e.g., new goodness-of-fit criteria)
• Issues related to the estimation and assessment of formative and reflective measurement models
• Applying PLS-SEM to study mediating and moderating effects (including related issues such as modeling of non-linear effects), as well
as a discussion of the subsequent conclusion in respect of management research and practice
• Uncovering unobserved heterogeneity and segmentation issues in PLS-SEM
• State-of-the-art PLS-SEM multi-group analyses (including related issues such as measurement model invariance testing) and their im-
plications for management studies
• Modeling longitudinal data with PLS-SEM
• Building hierarchical model structures with PLS-SEM (second or higher order models) and their applications in management studies
• Using PLS-SEM to assess common method bias.

[Link]
2 Call for Papers/European Management Journal 33 (2015) 1–3

Every manuscript submitted to this special issue needs to provide a clear theoretical and conceptual contribution to management prac-
tice in Europe, in addition to any potential methodological contribution. All submissions will be subject to the EMJ’s usual double-blind
peer-review process and should respect the journal’s general publication guidelines. All submissions should be submitted electronically
to [Link] until September 30, 2015.
The European Management Journal (EMJ) is a generalist, academic review covering all fields of management including, but not limited
to, business ethics, business strategy, entrepreneurship and innovation, information systems, international business and cross-cultural
studies, marketing, organization studies and general management, as well as supply chain and operations management. EMJ aims to present
the latest thinking and research on major management topics in the form of articles that meet high academic quality standards, while
still being accessible to non-specialists. Interdisciplinary research and cross-functional issues are particularly favored. The journal takes a
broad view of business and management, and encourages submissions from other disciplines if they contribute significantly to problems
that managers and researchers face.

Publication schedule

Available online 12 January 2015

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