IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v179y2022ics0040162522001822.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Why the agile mindset matters

Author

Listed:
  • Eilers, Karen
  • Peters, Christoph
  • Leimeister, Jan Marco

Abstract

Volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) are drivers in today's business world. To perform amid this accelerated change and the digitalization progress, organizations are implementing agility. However, such an implementation does not happen without stumbling blocks and some fail. One reason for this is actors’ agile mindset (AM), which is necessary to deal succefully within a VUCA environment. Knowledge of the AM is in its infancy and conceptualization and measuring tools for it are lacking. Furthermore, the relation of the AM in terms of strategic agility and performance is still unclear. Our study aims to close these gaps. We examine AM through 15 interviews and a survey (N = 449) to predict strategic agility and performance. As a result, we conceptualize AM as an attitude that comprises four dimensions: attitude towards 1) learning spirit, 2) collaborative exchange, 3) empowered self-guidance, and 4) customer co-creation. Furthermore, we describe how actors with an AM deal with new technologies. We found that AM affects organizational performance mediated by strategic agility. These findings contribute to the agility and management research by providing a conceptualization and measuring instrument for AM. Furthermore, its relevance for strategic agility is explained and its relationship with organizational performance outlined.

Suggested Citation

  • Eilers, Karen & Peters, Christoph & Leimeister, Jan Marco, 2022. "Why the agile mindset matters," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:179:y:2022:i:c:s0040162522001822
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121650
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162522001822
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121650?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Perotti, Francesco Antonio & Ferraris, Alberto & Candelo, Elena & Busso, Donatella, 2022. "The dark side of knowledge sharing: Exploring “knowledge sabotage” and its antecedents," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 422-432.
    2. Sukanya Panda & Santanu Kumar Rath, 2017. "The effect of human IT capability on organizational agility: an empirical analysis," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 40(7), pages 800-820, July.
    3. Benedikt Simmert & Philipp Alexander Ebel & Christoph Peters & Eva Alice Christiane Bittner & Jan Marco Leimeister, 2019. "Conquering the Challenge of Continuous Business Model Improvement," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 61(4), pages 451-468, August.
    4. Linda Holbeche, 2019. "Designing sustainably agile and resilient organizations," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(5), pages 668-677, September.
    5. Akhtar, Pervaiz & Khan, Zaheer & Tarba, Shlomo & Jayawickrama, Uchitha, 2018. "The Internet of Things, dynamic data and information processing capabilities, and operational agility," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 307-316.
    6. Troise, Ciro & Corvello, Vincenzo & Ghobadian, Abby & O'Regan, Nicholas, 2022. "How can SMEs successfully navigate VUCA environment: The role of agility in the digital transformation era," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    7. Shams, Riad & Vrontis, Demetris & Belyaeva, Zhanna & Ferraris, Alberto & Czinkota, Michael R., 2021. "Strategic agility in international business: A conceptual framework for “agile” multinationals," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    8. Škare, Marinko & Soriano, Domingo Riberio, 2021. "A dynamic panel study on digitalization and firm's agility: What drives agility in advanced economies 2009–2018," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    9. Debellis, Francesco & De Massis, Alfredo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Frattini, Federico & Del Giudice, Manlio, 2021. "Strategic agility and international joint ventures: The willingness-ability paradox of family firms," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    10. Sharifi, H. & Zhang, Z., 1999. "A methodology for achieving agility in manufacturing organisations: An introduction," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(1-2), pages 7-22, May.
    11. Thomas C. Powell & Anne Dent‐Micallef, 1997. "Information technology as competitive advantage: the role of human, business, and technology resources," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(5), pages 375-405, May.
    12. Scuotto, Veronica & Beatrice, Orlando & Valentina, Cillo & Nicotra, Melita & Di Gioia, Leonardo & Farina Briamonte, Massimiliano, 2020. "Uncovering the micro-foundations of knowledge sharing in open innovation partnerships: An intention-based perspective of technology transfer," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    13. Rainer Alt & Jan Marco Leimeister & Thomas Priemuth & Stephan Sachse & Nils Urbach & Nico Wunderlich, 2020. "Software-Defined Business," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 62(6), pages 609-621, December.
    14. Bye Wynne, 1977. "Behavioral Science---Systems and Perspectives," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 7(4), pages 76-78, August.
    15. Fiona Cannon, 2017. "The Agility Mindset," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-319-45519-8, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ciampi, Francesco & Faraoni, Monica & Ballerini, Jacopo & Meli, Francesco, 2022. "The co-evolutionary relationship between digitalization and organizational agility: Ongoing debates, theoretical developments and future research perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Hadjielias, Elias & Christofi, Michael & Christou, Prokopis & Hadjielia Drotarova, Maria, 2022. "Digitalization, agility, and customer value in tourism," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    3. Troise, Ciro & Corvello, Vincenzo & Ghobadian, Abby & O'Regan, Nicholas, 2022. "How can SMEs successfully navigate VUCA environment: The role of agility in the digital transformation era," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    4. Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid & Amoozad Mahdiraji, Hannan & Busso, Donatella & Yahiaoui, Dorra, 2022. "Towards agility in international high-tech SMEs: Exploring key drivers and main outcomes of dynamic capabilities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    5. Chen, Xihui Haviour & Tee, Kienpin & Chang, Victor, 2022. "Accelerating Innovation Efficiency through Agile Leadership: The CEO Network Effects in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    6. Lythreatis, Sophie & Singh, Sanjay Kumar & El-Kassar, Abdul-Nasser, 2022. "The digital divide: A review and future research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    7. Škare, Marinko & Soriano, Domingo Riberio, 2021. "A dynamic panel study on digitalization and firm's agility: What drives agility in advanced economies 2009–2018," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    8. Sohag, Kazi & Riad Shams, S.M. & Darusalam, Darusalam & Devalle, Alain, 2021. "Information digitalisation and local institutional agility: evidence from ASEAN countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    9. Ahmed, Adeel & Bhatti, Sabeen Hussain & Gölgeci, Ismail & Arslan, Ahmad, 2022. "Digital platform capability and organizational agility of emerging market manufacturing SMEs: The mediating role of intellectual capital and the moderating role of environmental dynamism," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    10. AlNuaimi, Bader K. & Kumar Singh, Sanjay & Ren, Shuang & Budhwar, Pawan & Vorobyev, Dmitriy, 2022. "Mastering digital transformation: The nexus between leadership, agility, and digital strategy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 636-648.
    11. Christofi, Michael & Pereira, Vijay & Vrontis, Demetris & Tarba, Shlomo & Thrassou, Alkis, 2021. "Agility and flexibility in international business research: A comprehensive review and future research directions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    12. Sultana, Saida & Akter, Shahriar & Kyriazis, Elias, 2022. "How data-driven innovation capability is shaping the future of market agility and competitive performance?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    13. Cherbib, Jihene & Bahri, Fadia & Berraies, Sarra & Chebbi, Hela, 2023. "Towards the co-evolution of multinationals' and local firms' global strategies in an uncertain environment: Insights from International Joint Ventures," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    14. Elias Hadjielias & Michael Christofi & Shlomo Tarba, 2022. "Contextualizing small business resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from small business owner-managers," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1351-1380, December.
    15. Tobias Knabke & Sebastian Olbrich, 2018. "Building novel capabilities to enable business intelligence agility: results from a quantitative study," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 493-546, August.
    16. Martín-Rojas, Rodrigo & Garrido-Moreno, Aurora & García-Morales, Víctor J., 2023. "Social media use, corporate entrepreneurship and organizational resilience: A recipe for SMEs success in a post-Covid scenario," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    17. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    18. Bui Thi Minh Thu & Nguyen Thi Bich Thu, 2023. "The effect of the relationship between integrating information systems and total quality management on company organizational performance in Vietnam," HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE - ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY, vol. 13(2), pages 145-160.
    19. David Giauque & Frédéric Cornu & Karine Renard & Yves Emery, 2023. "Opportunity to Use New Ways of Working: Do Sectors and Organizational Characteristics Shape Employee Perceptions?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-21, July.
    20. Mahmoona Khalil & Kausar Fiaz Khawaja & Muddassar Sarfraz, 2022. "The adoption of blockchain technology in the financial sector during the era of fourth industrial revolution: a moderated mediated model," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2435-2452, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:179:y:2022:i:c:s0040162522001822. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.