IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v174y2022ics0040162521006600.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How can SMEs successfully navigate VUCA environment: The role of agility in the digital transformation era

Author

Listed:
  • Troise, Ciro
  • Corvello, Vincenzo
  • Ghobadian, Abby
  • O'Regan, Nicholas

Abstract

Organizational agility, that is the ability to anticipate or respond quickly to external changes, is essential to survive and compete in today's turbulent landscape, characterized by technological advancements and digitalization. Research on capabilities that enable firms to be agile in the so called VUCA environments, is still nascent. Hence, it is important to explore the antecedents of firm agility and to identify the factors enabling them to better compete. Even more so in the case of SMEs, as they are more vulnerable in hypercompetitive business environments and, at the same time, agility has been less studied in this context. Focusing on SMEs, the study investigates three antecedents of agility, namely digital technologies capability, relational capability and innovation capability, and the effects of agility on three outcomes, namely financial performance, product, and process innovation. Our findings indicate that these capabilities contribute to build organizational agility in SMEs and that, in turn, agility has a positive impact on performance, thus confirming that agility contributes to the success of SMEs and that digital technologies play a central role in this process. Thus, it is of strategic importance for SMEs to increase their efforts to develop these capabilities to build enduring businesses. They should nurture a relational and innovative culture, as well as transform their business culture starting from digital technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:174:y:2022:i:c:s0040162521006600
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121227
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162521006600
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121227?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. Santanu Mandal, 2018. "An examination of the importance of big data analytics in supply chain agility development," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 41(10), pages 1201-1219, May.
    2. Curtis P. Armstrong & V. Sambamurthy, 1999. "Information Technology Assimilation in Firms: The Influence of Senior Leadership and IT Infrastructures," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 10(4), pages 304-327, December.
    3. Ben Youssef, Adel & Boubaker, Sabri & Dedaj, But & Carabregu-Vokshi, Mjellma, 2021. "Digitalization of the economy and entrepreneurship intention," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    4. Bresciani, Stefano & Ferraris, Alberto & Del Giudice, Manlio, 2018. "The management of organizational ambidexterity through alliances in a new context of analysis: Internet of Things (IoT) smart city projects," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 331-338.
    5. Rialti, Riccardo & Zollo, Lamberto & Ferraris, Alberto & Alon, Ilan, 2019. "Big data analytics capabilities and performance: Evidence from a moderated multi-mediation model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    6. Swafford, Patricia M. & Ghosh, Soumen & Murthy, Nagesh, 2008. "Achieving supply chain agility through IT integration and flexibility," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(2), pages 288-297, December.
    7. Alegre, Joaquín & Sard, Maria, 2015. "When demand drops and prices rise. Tourist packages in the Balearic Islands during the economic crisis," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 375-385.
    8. Martine Selm & Nicholas Jankowski, 2006. "Conducting Online Surveys," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 435-456, June.
    9. 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.
    10. Yang, Jie, 2014. "Supply chain agility: Securing performance for Chinese manufacturers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 104-113.
    11. Hervas-Oliver, Jose-Luis & Sempere-Ripoll, Francisca & Boronat-Moll, Carles, 2021. "Technological innovation typologies and open innovation in SMEs: Beyond internal and external sources of knowledge," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    12. Hullova, Dusana & Trott, Paul & Simms, Christopher Don, 2016. "Uncovering the reciprocal complementarity between product and process innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(5), pages 929-940.
    13. Marco Brand & Victor Tiberius & Peter M. Bican & Alexander Brem, 2021. "Agility as an innovation driver: towards an agile front end of innovation framework," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 157-187, January.
    14. Wamba, Samuel Fosso & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Akter, Shahriar & Ren, Steven Ji-fan & Dubey, Rameshwar & Childe, Stephen J., 2017. "Big data analytics and firm performance: Effects of dynamic capabilities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 356-365.
    15. Alireza Shiranifar & Mohamadhossein Rahmati & Farbod Jafari, 2019. "Linking IT to supply chain agility: does knowledge management make a difference in SMEs?," International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 34(1), pages 123-138.
    16. Yuan, Shengjun & Musibau, Hammed Oluwaseyi & Genç, Sema Yılmaz & Shaheen, Riffat & Ameen, Anam & Tan, Zhixiong, 2021. "Digitalization of economy is the key factor behind fourth industrial revolution: How G7 countries are overcoming with the financing issues?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    17. Cegarra-Navarro, Juan-Gabriel & Soto-Acosta, Pedro & Wensley, Anthony K.P., 2016. "Structured knowledge processes and firm performance: The role of organizational agility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 1544-1549.
    18. Li, Huanli & Wu, Yun & Cao, Dongmei & Wang, Yichuan, 2021. "Organizational mindfulness towards digital transformation as a prerequisite of information processing capability to achieve market agility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 700-712.
    19. Bhatti, Sabeen Hussain & Santoro, Gabriele & Khan, Jabran & Rizzato, Fabio, 2021. "Antecedents and consequences of business model innovation in the IT industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 389-400.
    20. Kohtamäki, Marko & Parida, Vinit & Patel, Pankaj C. & Gebauer, Heiko, 2020. "The relationship between digitalization and servitization: The role of servitization in capturing the financial potential of digitalization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    21. Ojha, Divesh & Salimath, Manjula & D’Souza, Derrick, 2014. "Disaster immunity and performance of service firms: The influence of market acuity and supply network partnering," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(PB), pages 385-397.
    22. 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).
    23. 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).
    24. Nyamrunda, Frank Charles & Freeman, Susan, 2021. "Strategic agility, dynamic relational capability and trust among SMEs in transitional economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    25. Phillips, Fred & Linstone, Hal, 2016. "Key ideas from a 25-year collaboration at technological forecasting & social change," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 158-166.
    26. Yusuf, Yahaya Y. & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Musa, Ahmed & Dauda, Mohammed & El-Berishy, Nagham M. & Cang, Shuang, 2014. "A relational study of supply chain agility, competitiveness and business performance in the oil and gas industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(PB), pages 531-543.
    27. Felício, J. Augusto & Caldeirinha, Vítor & Dutra, Ademar, 2019. "Ambidextrous capacity in small and medium-sized enterprises," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 607-614.
    28. Boly, Vincent & Morel, Laure & Assielou, N’Doli Guillaume & Camargo, Mauricio, 2014. "Evaluating innovative processes in french firms: Methodological proposition for firm innovation capacity evaluation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 608-622.
    29. Michael J. Tippins & Ravipreet S. Sohi, 2003. "IT competency and firm performance: is organizational learning a missing link?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(8), pages 745-761, August.
    30. Demir, Robert & Campopiano, Giovanna & Kruckenhauser, Christian & Bauer, Florian, 2021. "Strategic agility, internationalisation speed and international success — The role of coordination mechanisms and growth modes," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    31. Smail Benzidia & Naouel Makaoui, 2020. "Improving SMEs performance through supply chain flexibility and market agility: IT orchestration perspective," Post-Print hal-03029925, HAL.
    32. Carmeli, Abraham & Dothan, Ari, 2017. "Generative work relationships as a source of direct and indirect learning from experiences of failure: Implications for innovation agility and product innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 27-38.
    33. Ernesto Cassetta & Umberto Monarca & Ivano Dileo & Claudio Di Berardino & Marco Pini, 2020. "The relationship between digital technologies and internationalisation. Evidence from Italian SMEs," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 311-339, April.
    34. Shin, Hojung & Lee, Jae-Nam & Kim, DaeSoo & Rhim, Hosun, 2015. "Strategic agility of Korean small and medium enterprises and its influence on operational and firm performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 181-196.
    35. K. D. Joshi & Lei Chi & Avimanyu Datta & Shu Han, 2010. "Changing the Competitive Landscape: Continuous Innovation Through IT-Enabled Knowledge Capabilities," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(3), pages 472-495, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sufyan, Muhammad & Degbey, William Y. & Glavee-Geo, Richard & Zoogah, Baniyelme D., 2023. "Transnational digital entrepreneurship and enterprise effectiveness: A micro-foundational perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    2. Khurana, Indu & Dutta, Dev K. & Singh Ghura, Amarpreet, 2022. "SMEs and digital transformation during a crisis: The emergence of resilience as a second-order dynamic capability in an entrepreneurial ecosystem," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 623-641.
    3. 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).
    4. Soluk, Jonas & Decker-Lange, Carolin & Hack, Andreas, 2023. "Small steps for the big hit: A dynamic capabilities perspective on business networks and non-disruptive digital technologies in SMEs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Kraus, Sascha & Kumar, Satish & Lim, Weng Marc & Kaur, Jaspreet & Sharma, Anuj & Schiavone, Francesco, 2023. "From moon landing to metaverse: Tracing the evolution of Technological Forecasting and Social Change," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    6. 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.
    7. 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).
    8. 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).
    9. Mortati, Marzia & Magistretti, Stefano & Cautela, Cabirio & Dell’Era, Claudio, 2023. "Data in design: How big data and thick data inform design thinking projects," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    10. Zhi-Guang Li & Yanrui Wu & Yao-Kuang Li, 2023. "Technical Founders, Digital Transformation and Corporate Technological Innovation: Empirical Evidence from Listed Companies in China’s STAR Market," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 23-03, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    11. Annosi, Maria Carmela & Capo, Francesca & Appio, Francesco Paolo & Bedetti, Ivan, 2023. "Unveiling micro-foundations of digital transformation: Cognitive models, routines, and organizational structures in agri-food SMEs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    12. Zhu, Xiumei & Li, Yue, 2023. "The use of data-driven insight in ambidextrous digital transformation: How do resource orchestration, organizational strategic decision-making, and organizational agility matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    13. Malodia, Suresh & Mishra, Mahima & Fait, Monica & Papa, Armando & Dezi, Luca, 2023. "To digit or to head? Designing digital transformation journey of SMEs among digital self-efficacy and professional leadership," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    14. Anna Visvizi, 2022. "Sustainability in International Business: Talent Management, Market Entry Strategies, Competitiveness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-3, August.
    15. Santos, Susana C. & Liguori, Eric W. & Garvey, Erin, 2023. "How digitalization reinvented entrepreneurial resilience during COVID-19," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    16. Idiano D’Adamo & Assunta Di Vaio & Alessandro Formiconi & Antonio Soldano, 2022. "European IoT Use in Homes: Opportunity or Threat to Households?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-18, November.
    17. Dilek Cetindamar & Mile Katic & Steve Burdon & Ayse Gunsel, 2021. "The Interplay among Organisational Learning Culture, Agility, Growth, and Big Data Capabilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
    18. Wang, Qian & Du, Zhuo-Ya, 2022. "Changing the impact of banking concentration on corporate innovation: The moderating effect of digital transformation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    19. 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).
    20. Eilers, Karen & Peters, Christoph & Leimeister, Jan Marco, 2022. "Why the agile mindset matters," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    21. Su, Jingqin & Zhang, Yajie & Wu, Xianyun, 2023. "How market pressures and organizational readiness drive digital marketing adoption strategies' evolution in small and medium enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    22. Marek Bodziany & Zbigniew Ścibiorek & Zenon Zamiar & Anna Visvizi, 2021. "Managerial Competencies & Polish SMEs’ Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Insight," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-22, October.

    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. 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).
    3. 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).
    4. 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).
    5. Bhatti, Sabeen Hussain & Santoro, Gabriele & Khan, Jabran & Rizzato, Fabio, 2021. "Antecedents and consequences of business model innovation in the IT industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 389-400.
    6. Wamba, Samuel Fosso & Dubey, Rameshwar & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Akter, Shahriar, 2020. "The performance effects of big data analytics and supply chain ambidexterity: The moderating effect of environmental dynamism," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    7. Osama Musa Ali Al-Darras & Cem Tanova, 2022. "From Big Data Analytics to Organizational Agility: What Is the Mechanism?," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, June.
    8. Ashrafi, Amir & Zare Ravasan, Ahad & Trkman, Peter & Afshari, Samira, 2019. "The role of business analytics capabilities in bolstering firms’ agility and performance," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 1-15.
    9. Mansour Alyahya & Meqbel Aliedan & Gomaa Agag & Ziad H. Abdelmoety, 2023. "Understanding the Relationship between Big Data Analytics Capabilities and Sustainable Performance: The Role of Strategic Agility and Firm Creativity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-17, May.
    10. Vincent Montenero & Cristina Cazorzi, 2021. "Attempts by MNCs to Expand the Creative and Innovative Spirit through the Concept of Agility: Role of Global Managers," Post-Print halshs-03286310, HAL.
    11. Ye, Fei & Liu, Ke & Li, Lixu & Lai, Kee-Hung & Zhan, Yuanzhu & Kumar, Ajay, 2022. "Digital supply chain management in the COVID-19 crisis: An asset orchestration perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    12. Ahmad Ibrahim Aljumah & Mohammed T. Nuseir & Md. Mahmudul Alam, 2021. "Traditional marketing analytics, big data analytics and big data system quality and the success of new product development," Post-Print hal-03538161, HAL.
    13. 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.
    14. Oesterreich, Thuy Duong & Anton, Eduard & Teuteberg, Frank & Dwivedi, Yogesh K, 2022. "The role of the social and technical factors in creating business value from big data analytics: A meta-analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 128-149.
    15. Diéssica Oliveira-Dias & José Moyano-Fuentes & Juan Manuel Maqueira-Marín, 2022. "Understanding the relationships between information technology and lean and agile supply chain strategies: a systematic literature review," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 312(2), pages 973-1005, May.
    16. Rialti, Riccardo & Zollo, Lamberto & Ferraris, Alberto & Alon, Ilan, 2019. "Big data analytics capabilities and performance: Evidence from a moderated multi-mediation model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    17. Li, Lixu & Ye, Fei & Zhan, Yuanzhu & Kumar, Ajay & Schiavone, Francesco & Li, Yina, 2022. "Unraveling the performance puzzle of digitalization: Evidence from manufacturing firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 54-64.
    18. 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.
    19. Cheng, Cong & Zhong, Huihui & Cao, Liebing, 2020. "Facilitating speed of internationalization: The roles of business intelligence and organizational agility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 95-103.
    20. Enrique de Diego Ruiz & Paloma Almodóvar & Ignacio Danvila del Valle, 2023. "What drives strategic agility? Evidence from a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA)," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 599-627, June.

    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:174:y:2022:i:c:s0040162521006600. 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.