# 34. PROCESS/path analysis

## Purpose

Does analytics capability influence business performance through organizational agility, conditional on market turbulence?

## Practice study

- File: [business-outcomes-observed.csv](../samples/business-outcomes-observed.csv)
- Observations: 500
- Data type: deterministic synthetic instructional data
- Complexity: a realistic multivariable observed-data analysis

## Exact procedure

1. Start QuickPLS and choose **New Project**. Enter a readable project name such as **PROCESS/path analysis Tutorial** and choose a local `.qpls` destination.

2. Open **Data**, choose **Import Data**, select **business-outcomes-observed.csv**, keep the detected header row, review the preview, and choose **Import**. Confirm 500 observations are available.

   ![PROCESS/path analysis imported data](../screenshots/process-path-analysis/01-data-ready.png)

3. This method does not require a latent-variable diagram. In its setup screen use these roles: X: analytics_capability; mediator: organizational_agility; moderator: market_turbulence; Y: business_performance; controls: firm_age_years and employee_count_log.

4. Review the selected outcome, predictors, groups, or analysis variables. Remove case_id and every unused teaching/reference column from the analysis selection.

   ![PROCESS/path analysis prepared model or variable roles](../screenshots/process-path-analysis/02-variable-roles.png)

5. Check that every required role is populated with a numeric variable and that outcome/predictor selections do not overlap.

6. Use **Calculate → Regression → Graph-defined Path Analysis / PROCESS**.

   ![PROCESS/path analysis calculation setup](../screenshots/process-path-analysis/03-calculation-setup.png)

7. Complete the method-specific settings:

- Author X → M → Y and X → Y
- Add the supported M × W → Y conditional path and request low/mean/high probes

8. Read **Readiness**, leave **Open Results when finished** selected, and choose **Start calculation** once. Wait for **Completed**; do not close the project while the result is being saved.

9. In **Results**, confirm **PROCESS/path analysis** is selected and inspect these outputs in order:

1. Equation coefficients
2. Direct and indirect effects
3. Conditional effects
4. Simple slopes and Johnson-Neyman output

   ![PROCESS/path analysis primary result](../screenshots/process-path-analysis/04-results-primary.png)

   ![PROCESS/path analysis secondary result](../screenshots/process-path-analysis/05-results-secondary.png)

10. Choose **Save Report** to preserve the exact result. Use **Export** for the needed table/report format. Close and reopen the project once and confirm the saved result remains selectable.

## Reading guidance

- The data are deterministic synthetic teaching data. They are suitable for reproducing the workflow, not for substantive publication claims.