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Profile and enablers of agile companies: An empirical investigation

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  • Bottani, Eleonora

Abstract

Agile attributes and agile enablers, i.e., the capabilities which allow promptly responding to changes in business environment and the available leverages to achieve the agile capabilities, respectively, have been widely debated in literature. Few studies, however, provide empirical evidence about the main characteristics of agile enterprises and tools practically exploited by companies to achieve agility. This paper attempts to improve the existing knowledge on agility, by presenting the results of an empirical research, whose aim is to investigate both the profile of agile companies and the enablers practically adopted by companies to achieve agility. The empirical investigation was performed on a sample of about 190 companies, about 65% of which were small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Results of the analysis provide a detailed investigation of the agile paradigm; moreover, outcomes suggest new taxonomies for agile attributes and enablers, and in particular provide evidence of attributes and enablers that appear as most relevant in embracing an agile strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Bottani, Eleonora, 2010. "Profile and enablers of agile companies: An empirical investigation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(2), pages 251-261, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:proeco:v:125:y:2010:i:2:p:251-261
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Sujan Piya & Ahm Shamsuzzoha & Mohammad Khadem & Nasr Al-Hinai, 2020. "Identification of Critical Factors and Their Interrelationships to Design Agile Supply Chain: Special Focus to Oil and Gas Industries," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(3), pages 263-281, September.
    4. Rima Zitkiene & Mindaugas Deksnys, 2018. "Organizational Agility Conceptual Model," Montenegrin Journal of Economics, Economic Laboratory for Transition Research (ELIT), vol. 14(2), pages 115-129.
    5. El-Khalil, Raed & Mezher, Mohamad Ali, 2020. "The mediating impact of sustainability on the relationship between agility and operational performance," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 7(C).
    6. Esposito, Emilio & Evangelista, Pietro, 2014. "Investigating virtual enterprise models: literature review and empirical findings," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 145-157.
    7. Meier, Andre & Kock, Alexander, 2021. "Characteristics, Antecedents, and Consequences of Agile R&D Units' Organization - A Conceptual Framework," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 130791, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    8. Iqbal, Tahir & Huq, Faizul & Bhutta, M. Khurrum S., 2018. "Agile manufacturing relationship building with TQM, JIT, and firm performance: An exploratory study in apparel export industry of Pakistan," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 24-37.
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    14. Gastaldi, Luca & Lessanibahri, Sina & Tedaldi, Gianluca & Miragliotta, Giovanni, 2022. "Companies’ adoption of Smart Technologies to achieve structural ambidexterity: an analysis with SEM," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
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