Must-have, or maybe not? A sensitivity-based extension to necessary condition analysis

• Extends the necessary condition analysis (NCA) to allow for sensitivity analyses. • Introduces the NCA effect size sensitivity extension (NCA-ESSE) procedure. • Illustrates the NCA-ESSE guidelines application with an HRM example. • Verification of the NCA-ESSE’s usefulness and effectiveness for smaller samples. • Future research opportunities related to the general use of the NCA-ESSE. The necessary condition analysis (NCA) has become a prominent method for identifying must-have factors required for an outcome. With increasing sample sizes, identifying such must-have factors becomes difficult as extreme responses are more likely to occur. Addressing this concern, we introduce a novel method, the NCA with an effect size sensitivity extension (NCA-ESSE), which allows researchers to better understand the sensitivity of the NCA results to extreme response patterns. We offer guidelines for the NCA-ESSE method’s use and illustrate its efficacy using a well-known job satisfaction model. By extending NCA’s capabilities to assess the sensitivity of necessary conditions, our research enhances the method’s practical utility and helps ensure the robustness and replicability of its outcomes and conclusions.