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Impact of organizational inertia on organizational agility: the role of IT ambidexterity

Author

Listed:
  • Jie Zhen

    (Chongqing Technology and Business University)

  • Cejun Cao

    (Chongqing Technology and Business University)

  • Hanguang Qiu

    (Chongqing Technology and Business University)

  • Zongxiao Xie

    (Financial Certification Authority)

Abstract

Firms have increasingly relied on information technology (IT) to remain agile in today’s hypercompetitive business environment. Drawing on the organizational inertia theory and literature on IT-enabled agile, this study examines the relationship between organizational inertia, IT ambidexterity (i.e., IT exploration and exploitation), and organizational agility. Quantitative data were collected from 326 respondents through a questionnaire survey in China and analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results show that organizational agility is negatively influenced by organizational inertia, whereas IT exploration and exploitation positively related to organizational agility and IT exploitation is the dominant force. Furthermore, IT exploration and exploitation partially mediate the relationship between organizational inertia and agility. These findings offer new theoretical perspectives on organizational agility and guide practitioners to deal with related inertia issues to effectively improve organizational agility.

Suggested Citation

  • Jie Zhen & Cejun Cao & Hanguang Qiu & Zongxiao Xie, 2021. "Impact of organizational inertia on organizational agility: the role of IT ambidexterity," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 53-65, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infotm:v:22:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10799-021-00324-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10799-021-00324-w
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    2. Jingmei Gao & Zahid Sarwar, 2024. "How do firms create business value and dynamic capabilities by leveraging big data analytics management capability?," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 283-304, September.
    3. Wang, Xiangyang & Liu, Zhiyi & Li, Jiamin & Lei, Xuefei, 2023. "How organizational unlearning leverages digital process innovation to improve performance: The moderating effects of smart technologies and environmental turbulence," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    4. Habib Saragih, Arfah & Ali, Syaiful & Suwardi, Eko & Utomo, Hargo, 2024. "Finding the missing pieces to an optimal corporate tax savings: Information technology governance and internal information quality," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    5. Liping Liu & Lichuan Cui & Qian Han & Chunyu Zhang, 2024. "The impact of digital capabilities and dynamic capabilities on business model innovation: the moderating effect of organizational inertia," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Jonathan D. Bohlmann & Michael A. Stanko & Jelena Spanjol, 2024. "Incumbent inertia, innovativeness, and performance (dis)advantages: A demand-side learning perspective," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 14(1), pages 122-142, June.
    7. 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).
    8. Bei Liu & Chengwu Li & Yin Zhong, 2025. "Challenging to Change? Examining the Link Between Public Participation and Greenwashing Based on Organizational Inertia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-20, February.

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