Construct Transportability: A Choice That Matters

Construct Transportability is the conveyance of a latent construct from prior research for reuse in new theoretical models without the loss of meaning or reliance on the nomological network. The basis of construct transportability is fundamental to building upon existing literature. Recent reviews of the IS literature suggest inconsistencies in measurement models of similarly defined latent constructs. Their theoretical meaning appears to be neither inherently reflective nor formative thus creating a dilemma for researchers to determine the measurement model for reuse. This study addresses the construct transportability issue using IT Capabilities, which was represented empirically in the literature as four different latent constructs (1st and 2nd order constructs as both formative and reflective). We empirically evaluate these measurement representations. The tradeoffs of each representation are discussed with insights provided as to how construct selection impacts the research model and the loss of meaning that may accrue.